Ridesharing company Grab Philippines will suspend its ‘GrabShare’ services beginning Friday in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) threat in the country.
In a statement on Thursday, the company said it will suspend the service in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu starting Friday at 12 noon and will resume “as soon as the public health situation de-escalates.”
The move is in compliance with the government’s call for “social distancing” as prescribed by Philippine health officials.
Grab clarified that the suspension will only cover its GrabShare service, which allows for multiple users to share a single ride, and will not affect its GrabCar, GrabCar Premium, and GrabCar 6-Seater services.
“Other Grab transport services will remain to be available to serve our commuting public,” it said.
It added that the suspension will not affect fares in its other services.
Earlier, the World Health Organization announced that it now considers Covid-19 a pandemic after its report, dated March 10, indicated a total of 113,702 confirmed cases across 109 different territories.
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country is at 49 with two deaths. (PNA)