Covid-19: barrier measures and other inadequacies in the protection of bicycle delivery people

The deliverers of the meal delivery platforms of Uber Eats and Deliveroo continue to work, despite the confinement. If protective measures have been put in place by these platforms to prevent them from contracting and distributing the Covid-19, bicycle deliverers believe that they are putting themselves in danger on the ground. Some of them even suspended their activity after having developed symptoms characteristic of the disease. 

Courier for Deliveroo in Strasbourg, almost a month ago, Marine Stieber felt symptoms that made her think of Covid-19: "a cough, a headache and a feeling of fatigue". After a medical appointment, the verdict falls. "The doctor told me that I was very likely to have caught Covid-19. She ordered me to stop working until April 3," she said. 

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At the other end of France, in Bordeaux, Jérémy Wick, delivery man for Deliveroo and Uber Eats, also fell ill during this same period. "I had a big cold, cough, headache, muscle aches and tiredness," said the young man who has worked for three years as a delivery man. Suspecting a case of Covid-19, his doctor arrested him for fourteen days, until April 2. 

These two deliverers would not be the only ones concerned. Via a messaging application, Jérémy Wick says he received messages from delivery people complaining of having developed symptoms. "I have heard of a dozen similar cases since the start of confinement," he said, citing for example "Vincent, a colleague from Paris". Same observation for Marine Stieber. "Delivery men I know fell ill at the start of the confinement," she said. 

" Contactless delivery"  pointed out

To prevent the virus from spreading, Deliveroo and Uber Eats have nevertheless asked deliverers and restaurateurs to respect barrier measures, in particular thanks to "contactless delivery".

The Uber Eats service remains available and we continue to deliver to you while respecting the sanitary measures necessary for contactless delivery. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/8UUI7BRqtq

For example, partner restaurateurs are advised to deposit the meal directly in the delivery bag or to create pick-up areas for orders in the establishment. As for the deliverers, they must, when placing the order, move back at least two meters and wait for the customer to collect it. Rules in line with the precautionary measures decreed by the government. 

However, the principle of contactless delivery is disputed by several trade union organizations, including the Collective of independent deliverymen of Paris (Clap), Solidaires and CGT, who also request the cessation of meal delivery platforms during confinement. In a press release published on March 26, the CGT wrote for example that, for delivery men, "waiting times create crowds in front of restaurants". 

Call of the CGT unions to the couriers of the delivery platforms: “Friday let's confine our bikes! »Https://t.co/q9l7KAlhth pic.twitter.com/QU0s3BVwt8

An observation shared by Arthur Hay, CGT general secretary of the bicycle couriers of Bordeaux. "Deliverymen gather in front of the restaurants and talk to each other within a meter. The restaurateurs prepare to eat without gloves and without masks," he says. 

It is also difficult for delivery men to follow the procedure to the letter. "I want to do it right, but it's complicated," complains Marine Stieber, who returned to work after recovering. "As a delivery person, I'm not supposed to touch the order, but no restaurant owner puts it in my bag. They say it wastes their time. So, I collect it myself," she explains. . 

When placing the order in front of the client's home, it also encounters a recurring obstacle. "Even if overall customers play the game, it sometimes happens that some touch the edges of the bag while picking up their order, without doing it on purpose," she said. 

The D system to protect yourself

According to these deliverers, protective equipment is also missing, even if the platforms claim to reimburse purchases of hydroalcoholic gel, disinfectant wipes or disposable gloves.

For example, Marine Stieber sent a request for a hygiene kit to Deliveroo two weeks ago, but has yet to receive anything. In the meantime, she is doing with the means at hand. "I have a cloth mask, but I don't know if it's really useful," she says.

According to her, the proposed protective equipment is not suitable for its activity. "The fabric mask prevents me from breathing properly on a bicycle. And even if I had single-use masks, I would have to change them after each visit to a client," she continues. 

The risks they take on the road worry them for their health, but also for that of customers. "During the past two weeks, I had delivered around 200 people," recalls Jérémy Wick. Marine Stieber, she says she delivered "ten orders" a week before her work stoppage. It is unclear whether their customers are aware that they have become ill. Contacted by France 24, Uber Eats and Deliveroo did not answer this question. 

The necessary but insufficient financial aid 

Now healed, Marine Stieber gets on her bike again only for financial reasons. "I thought I could benefit from the compensation paid by Deliveroo in the event of quarantine or contamination of Covid-19. But they replied that I was not entitled to it, because I had not worked enough during the last weeks before my work stoppage, "she says. 

However, she should receive aid from the specific State, amounting to 1,500 euros and benefit from compensation thanks to the complementary health insurance offered by Deliveroo. The platform plans to pay 30 euros per day for up to 15 days off.

>> Read also: To what extent is the coronavirus blocking the French economic horizon?

But for the moment, Marine Stieber has received nothing and is worried. "I have seen a drop in my turnover since I started shopping again. I am barely 12 euros an hour, whereas I usually fluctuate between 15 euros and 20 euros per hour. 'time', she says. 

For his part, Jérémy Wick decided to stop working. Self-employed, he is not entitled to partial unemployment, like all the other deliverers of these platforms. So he relies on financial aid: compensation of 1,500 euros paid by the state, compensation of 84 euros from Uber Eats and 230 euros from Deliveroo. Enough to hold the time of confinement.

"My main goal is not to catch the coronavirus again or to participate in its spread. Health is priceless," he explains. This episode even opened his eyes: "I deliver more and more away and for less ... So, in the long term, I want to stop delivery by bicycle permanently."

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