Taxi firms and car-hailing platforms in Beijing will face a circuit-breaker mechanism as a punishment if they fail to take coronavirus control measures effectively, Beijing authorities warned on Monday, the first day that the capital made it compulsory for passengers to scan health QR codes to use ride-hailing platforms and taxis.
The move is a response to drivers repeatedly testing positive for the coronavirus.
If they fail to take coronavirus control measures effectively, including wearing masks and disinfecting their vehicles properly, taxi firms and car-hailing platforms in Beijing will face punishment in accordance with the circuit-breaker mechanism, Xu Hejian, an official from the Beijing municipal government, said at the Monday press conference.
Because of the number of drivers testing positive, Didi was fined 1.07 million yuan ($165,240) for not abiding by epidemic prevention rules, and Huaxiaozhu was fined 340,000 yuan, according to the Beijing authorities.
Beijing reported one driver working at a ride-hailing platform in Beijing’s Shunyi district tested positive over the weekend. His case forced local authorities to track down at least 144 passengers as close contacts.
Previously, several other car-hailing drivers were confirmed as COVID-19 patients in the district.