Uber and Lyft will no longer offer shared rides in Canada and the U.S. to limit the spread of coronavirus.

The ridesharing companies are scrapping the cheaper, carpool option in accordance with public health guidance.

Uber Executive Andrew Macdonald said, "Our goal is to help flatten the curve of community spread in the cities we serve. We remain in close contact with local leaders and will continue to work with them to discourage nonessential travel."

1) Our goal @Uber is to help flatten the curve of community spread in the cities we serve. With that in mind, we are suspending our Pool option in the US and Canada. 18 cities in all, including SF, NYC and Seattle.

— Andrew Macdonald (@andrewgordonmac) March 17, 2020

Both companies will continue to operate all other regular services for the time being.

Uber will similarly continue to offer its food delivery service, UberEats. It's also offering its drivers two weeks of financial assistance for any employees diagnosed with COVID-19 that have to go into isolation for two weeks.

The company is also sending in-app messages to riders reminding them to travel only when necessary.

2) We are also sending in-app messages to riders reminding them to travel only when necessary and take steps to protect themselves and their drivers. pic.twitter.com/RKITblORhW

— Andrew Macdonald (@andrewgordonmac) March 17, 2020

Uber currently operates in 19 cities, including Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Montreal and Saskatoon. Lyft currently operates in 11 cities across British Columbia and Ontario.

Both companies launched in Vancouver in late January 2020, operating for just six weeks before they were forced to reduce services due to the growing COVID-19 outbreak.

Uber and Lyft both say that they will continue to monitor the situation closely.