How do hosts protect against the spread of Coronavirus?

Natalie725
Level 10
Dublin, Ireland

How do hosts protect against the spread of Coronavirus?

How can we prevent the spread of the coronavirus in our homes, when hosting guests around the world? 

6 Replies 6
Quincy
Community Manager
Community Manager
London, United Kingdom

Hi there @Natalie725, Airbnb published an announcement a few days ago here https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Help/China-Wu-Han-pneumonia-issue/m-p/1223709/highlight/true#M26...

 

Please do keep an eye out on future updates. 

 

Quincy 

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Michelle53
Level 10
Chicago, IL

@Natalie725  Hi there. I think a lot of people are wresling with this. 

 

I'm not going to tell you what you should do, since your situation and my situation are likely to be different. I can only tell you what I am doing. 

 

1. Don't Panic. 

I am reading the daily bulletins from WHO and CDC, to get their best information to date. Being that this coronavirus is new, it is an evolving situation without all the answers.

 

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html

 

2. I am closely following cases in my area. To date, there is one case, and no transmission to anyone she was in contact with. She came into the area on Jan 13th, and no other cases to date. 

 

3. Think about a cleaning protocol. 

Viruses of all kinds live on surfaces. An estimate to use might be 48 hours (flu). I have a day blocked before and after each reservation for cleaning, and don't share the space with guests.   I always use gloves when cleaning. I use regular household products to clean - bleach, vinegar and baking soda, household soap, alcohol etc, and leave a hand sanitizer for guest use.  

 

4. Know how to protect yourself. There's plenty of advice online at WHO and the CDC

Basic procedures include :-

Frequent hand washing with soap

Covering a sneeze or cough

Avoid close contact with someone with a cough, or sneezing, or exhibiting a fever

Don't handle tissues etc

 

5. Travelers may be asymptomatic

I have not seen anything firm reported in any scientific publication about asymptomatic people passing 2019-nCoV onto others, although this can occur with other viruses such as flu. 

I would suggest to anyone travelling/visiting me that if symptoms start to appear, they seek medical attention immediately, and disclose their full travel history to the doctor. 

Outside of 2019-nCoV, colds and flu can affect any traveller, local or international. This is a good time to give that some thought. 

 

Hope this helps. 

 

 

 

 

Michelle53
Level 10
Chicago, IL

As an afterthought, I think a "Traveller Information Card" could be good if you have a lot of international travellers. 

 

One could include these things :-

Personal protection (covering coughs and sneezes, not touching one's face, hand washing etc)

What to do if one develops symptoms e.g. phone numbers to call - possibly a local emergency clinic

How to deal with shared items such as kitchen equipment, flatware etc, and food

How to properly dispose of waste e.g. tissues (maybe provide a closed bin for those)

 

 

Patricia55
Level 10
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Michelle53
Level 10
Chicago, IL

UPDATE: The spouse of the woman travelling from Wuhan to Chicago has been confirmed by the CDC as having the virus. (i.e. a close contact).

Date-wise, it seems consistent with the 14-day incubation period, if she was symptomatic after  3 - 4 days of arriving home (approx Jan 16th or 17th), although official sources haven't talked about this yet.

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/30/cdc-confirms-first-human-to-human-transmission-of-coronavirus-in-us....

Quincy
Community Manager
Community Manager
London, United Kingdom