On a typical weekday morning, Uber and Lyft driver Michael Kockelman would have picked up five to six riders and taken them to work, school, an appointment or the airport.
But Monday was anything but typical. By 9:30 a.m., he'd only had one request for a ride.
"Nobody is going anywhere. It's like a ghost town," said the Shakopee resident, who drives full time for both ride-share companies during the winter. "We should be killing it."
In an effort to slow the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, schools have closed, employees are working remotely and air travel has dwindled during the usually busy spring break period.
Kockelman fears the disruption of the gig economy presents a serious challenge to his income, which he estimates to be $950 to $1,150 weekly.
"We [drivers] are in a tough spot," he said. "We are scared out of our wits."
Muhammad Murtaza of Burnsville said he's stopped driving for the ride-share services. He has two children and fears he might get sick and pass it onto them if an infected passenger gets in his car.
"It's too risky," he said.
