Uber plans to disable Uber Pool, its shared-rides feature, in the United States and Canada, the company announced on Tuesday. The company hopes to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

"Our goal is to help flatten the curve on community spread in the cities we serve," Uber executive Andrew Macdonald said in a statement to the media.

Uber says that it will decide on other markets beyond the US and Canada on a case-by-case basis.

Uber's other services—including regular ride-hailing and meal delivery—will continue operating.

We've asked Lyft if it plans to shut down its competing service, Lyft Line, and will update if we hear back.

Officials say there are 5,204 confirmed infections in the United States, up from fewer than 100 at the start of the month.

Communities across the United States have been taking increasingly aggressive measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. A large number of school systems have suspended classes, and a growing number of states have ordered the shutdown of bars and restaurants.

On Monday, San Francisco and surrounding counties issued a "shelter in place" order requiring residents to stay in their homes, with exceptions for necessities like buying food and medicine.

With luck, these measures will slow the growth of coronavirus infections in the coming weeks.