Coronavirus Scare Fuels Racism Claims Among Uber Drivers, Riders

As the deadly coronavirus spreads beyond China, the ensuing panic is inflaming bigotry against people of Asian descent around the world. One venue where that’s playing out is in the back seats of Uber and Lyft cars.

In interviews and online, customers and drivers of Asian descent reported a raft of complaints, including inappropriate comments or cancellations due to their appearance or name. An Asian American driver said the number of jobs available to her plummeted recently, and a customer said she was initially rejected for an airport pickup until a white friend explained to the driver they weren’t traveling from China. In online forums, the virus is a main topic of conversation among drivers.