COVID Health Policy

[Louise898]

Dear Airbnb,

Please review your most recent COVID Health policy, it does not reflect the current status in our State at all.

In Western Australia we have not had a community transmission of COVID for 6 months, and we have border closures in place. Obviously, should community transmission occur we would increase our health protocols, in line with State requirements.

Greeting guests wearing a mask would be alarminst for them. Sometimes it is necessary to re-enter a room that has been sanitized prior to guests arriving.

You have made the policy document so that we have to sign it, trying to communicate with current guests is difficult with the pop-up screen constantly there waiting for a signature.

A global policy is obviously not working for hosts, based on the feedback on this site.

If this policy is not reviewed before November 20 then we will be looking at alternative platforms for hosting.

Please listen to the concerns of hosts.

[Robin4]

@Kath9 @Marg11  @Belinda55 @Emma2259 @Sam669

The thing we have to realise is that this protocol was written for Airbnb users around the world.

In New Zealand and Australia, none of this relates to us .....we do not have a Covid-19 issue to worry about. 

From my point of view I am already complying with the Covid-19 requirements......why wouldn't  you!  We just want to provide the cleanest environment possible for our guests .....it's got nothing to do with Covid-19.....it's just a basic requirement of hosting.

I got this email from Airbnb telling me I had to make sure I was wearing a mask and adhering to Airbnb's cleaning regime and making sure I kept 6 ft apart from guests or I would no longer be able to accept Airbnb bookings beyond the 20th November. Sure, I complied in a heartbeat, have been doing for moths before that email arrived.......but what a lot of complete and utter cobblers!!!!  Out of 427 reviews I have had 2 who queried my cleanliness!

This is just a bit more of Airbnb grandstanding, trying to make their hosts feel guilty for nothing they have to feel guilty about.....all for the sake of a public image!

Just tell 'em yeah....and get on with the business of hosting!

Cheers..........Rob

[Emma2259]

 @Marg11 @Belinda55 @Robin4 It’s certainly confusing! Yes most people are cleaning to the  Protocol standards anyway, apart from the PPE, which is completely unnecessary. I posted the reply from Airbnb stating that it was fine not to wear a mask if local governments are not mandating it. so I’m going with that and will see what happens after 20th November with guests, maybe a message to reassure guests it’s ok not to wear masks. Airbnb really need to clarify this for different areas though. Not sure why they’re being so stubborn. You may like to see the rest of the message I received: 

‘Thank you for your response Emma, again you will not penalise for not wearing mask because your government don't require you anymore to wear a mask and here in Airbnb we can't do anything if its government rules we need to follow as well. The more important thing to us Emma that you will make sure that your listing is properly sanitized and clean based on our Host cleanliness guidelines. You can reach out anytime. 

Thanks,
Hanna‘

so be it .. good luck everyone 😊

[Robin4]

@Emma2259 

Yeah, I have had the same thing Emma, we in South Australia have not had a case of community transmission of COVID-19 since early June.....5 months. The only cases our state is getting are returning travelers, and they are going straight into mandatory Government quarantine. Essentially, there is no coronavirus in our community. I have explained to CX that around the world there are vastly different rates of infection.....some countries/jurisdictions have no cases while others have a serious rate of infection. This is not a one shoe fits all feet situation and, as hosts we are rated on our cleanliness standards by every guests who stays. In over 430 stays I have only ever received 4 cleanliness complaints! Two I felt were justified, two were not!  We are an STR success or a failure by how much effort we put into making guests feel happy, secure and comfortable......we don't need Airbnb to mandate that!

I appreciate how we approach our hygiene standards does vary from country to country. What is seen as a 5 star standard, in some countries could conceivable be....... a tent that did not leak!

Airbnb need to let individual governments and local authorities set standards that are applicable to their jurisdictions.

Of course we are all going to say yes to Airbnb's  Covid protocol, why would we refuse.....but it's meaningless!

Cheers..........Rob

[Belinda55]

@Robin4 @Emma2259 

Totally agree it is not a one-size fits all situation, and here’s why I believe we shouldn’t sign up: Airbnb trying to coerce a global policy is overstepping their mandate.

If agreeing to the protocol doesn’t affect you too much, that is lucky for you. It doesn’t affect me too badly either as I have a self contained space, but after 7.5 years as super host with a fantastic cleanliness record I do not appreciate Airbnb’s heavy handedness in trying to override local govt requirements. There are several things in the protocol that I do not currently do, that I believe are unreasonable in my context, and therefore don’t believe I can sign up. I’m perfectly happy to follow local guidelines. If we were in a situation that did demand this level of risk management, I personally would choose to close again until the risk diminished.

As described by others in recent forums, managing the protocol in a situation of a shared home, or multiple occupancy that takes bookings from other platforms makes this absurdly complicated.

Airbnb needs to be called out on these OTT tactics, and I hope that hosts can stand together on this. I for one do not intend to roll over and have my belly scratched ...

[Marg11]

@Robin4 

I was determined not to comply but needed to send a message to this evening's guests who may be late and needed our keylock code.  Couldn't message him until I'd agreed to masks distancing, cleaning and sanitising. Wasn't sure if Airbnb would direct him and his parents elsewhere or even understand about arriving in Perth after today's 9 hours drive! 

Anyway, we will be back to interstate guests and returning Aussies soon. 

[Belinda55]

@Marg11 

We are not required to sign up until 20 Nov , so don't know why you would be blocked from sending a message? I have had no problem messaging our guests. The 'Sign on to Cleaning protocol' screen does come up from time to time, but can be dismissed ...

[Cathie19]

@Louise898 , @Marg11 , @Belinda55 , @Robin4 , @Emma2259 .

I agree with all WA hosts here, until not. The problem is that community transmission starts, before it is notified by the health authorities. 

However, maybe to show some more centralised and acceptable policy would be to add some provisos, such as if there is community transmission of more than ( number ? ), then these are the requirements:

........

If a hotspot has been declared, then : (...?)

Sadly, a blanket cleaning policy is neither beneficial to hosts or guests.

Let’s be proactive in a collective sense, taking regional, state or province and local laws into play, as well as Airbnb’s realistic input.... A cleaning policy that is globally acceptable, needs some defining boundaries, rather than a one size fits all reactive procedure.

[Emma2259]

@Belinda55 @Did you sign up? I haven’t done so, but my calendar still seems to be active. Thanks Emma

[Belinda55]

@Emma2259 

I have not signed, and all seems to be operating as normal so far ...

Let’s hope for some sense to prevail.

cheers, Belinda

[Marg11]

Well, 20 November has passed and although I signed up for the cleaning protocol only one guest has arrived wearing a mask. We are still booked 95% as we have been all year. How are you all doing?

[Carmen1596]

Hi @Marg11  - I still have not signed up for the cleaning protocol, and the sky did not fall on 20 November, and today I've just accepted a new booking with no mention of the protocols!  I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens....

[Marg11]

Well done Carmen, that's what I had planned to do until I couldn't message a guest. 

[Carmen1596]

That's what I was expecting, so I was pleasantly surprised.  Oh well!

[Emma2259]

@Marg11 I didn’t sign either and all seems ok. I have bookings until end of January, fingers crossed 🙂

[Marg11]

Goodness knows how the hierarchy would react to me cleaning and sanitising sans footwear, mask and gloves when it's too hot for any such clobber. We have resorted to individual cereal serves and removed some of the foods left by previous guests. Our govt. required tracing phone app. is working well for sign in.