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Ride-hailing company Grab Philippines today announced that it is suspending its GrabShare service in a bid to encourage “social distancing” and curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
GrabShare is a service that allows customers of the app to share a ride and split the fare with another passenger.
In a statement sent to the media, Grab Philippines said it will be suspending the service in Metro Manila and Cebu starting Friday at noon, and will resume services “as soon as the public health situation de-escalates.”
The app’s other transport services will still be available for its commuters, but the company reminded passengers to observe proper hygiene and to choose trips wisely to contain the spread of the disease.
Read: Settle down back there! Grab PH warns drunk riders, suspends 351,000 users over fake names
As of this afternoon, the Philippines has 49 confirmed COVID-19 patients in the country, of whom two have died — a Chinese national from Wuhan, where the virus originated, and an elderly Filipina.
The World Health Organization yesterday declared COVID-19 a pandemic, noting that well over 100,000 people have been infected in over 110 countries.
