Will home share hosts have to wear masks at all times in shared homes under new cleaning regs?

[Helen3]

When Airbnb announced new mandatory  cleaning regs, it says as part of this that home share hosts have to wear masks in communal areas at all times. 

In the UK hosts such myself who have asthma and other medical conditions are exempt from wearing a mask in restaurants, theatre’s, because longer term use creates breathing difficulties. 

I asked Airbnb to clarify last week as to whether hosts with relevant medical conditions would be exempted from wearing a mask  in home share situations, under airbnb’s new cleaning regs,  but sadly there has been no response.

i would not be able to wear a mask for anything but short periods so would have to give up hosting.

@Nick  @Katie 

Please can you clarify are hosts like myself going to have to stop hosting under your new cleaning regs? 

It would seem unfair that Airbnb would discriminate against hosts with long term conditions and disabilities, when governments, the hospitality and leisure sectors and others are exempting people with health conditions from wearing mask.

[Helen3]

Hello @Katie 

Just to confirm when will hosts like myself with medical conditions/disabilities  be forced to give up hosting as we live in countries which don’t  provide medical evidence that Airbnb states is necessary for us to continue to host? 

Can Airbnb tell us why they are asking for evidence when this is not a requirement that our  own government’s require when exempting us from using a mask in public spaces such as in supermarkets and  on buses. 

I presume Airbnb will be contacting our up and coming guests to notify them that Airbnb has changed it’s policy and therefore we cannot host them? 

[Debra300]

@Helen3,

You have brought up very valid points in this conversations.  I see in your responses that your home wouldn't allow you to avoid common areas with your guests.  You mentioned in your first post of this thread that you'd have to give up hosting under Airbnb's new COVID-19 health and safety policy.  Does that mean you wouldn't host guests via Airbnb, or that you'd stop hosting altogether, because you don't/want to list on other platforms?

[Helen3]

Hello @Debra300 

As it stands Airbnb wouldn’t allow me to host from November as I’m in the UK where we aren’t able to provide confirmation from our Health Service of our health conditions- as this is not a requirement that our government has.

Our government explicitly says in our Covid legislation that those with disabilities/health conditions which makes mask wearing difficult should not be asked to provide confirmation of their conditions from a health professional. 

whereas I can absolutely see the need to let guests know in advance of the booking that I won’t be able to wear a mask at all times in communal areas - I don’t understand why Airbnb would stop hosts with disabilities/long term  conditions from hosting because they are asking us to provide written confirmation from a health professional which isn’t available in our country. 

[Helen427]

@Brianwould you please as CEO of Airbnb please address my fellow Air BNB Hosts & Guests concerns?

Thanks in advance

@Caron3 @Huma0 @Super47 @Rich30 

@Jennifer2619also based in New Zealand 

@Helen3 @Helen350 @Debra300 

[Caron3]

Has anyone heard back from AirBNB recently? Asking for mask exemption documentation goes against the BC Human Rights Code. This policy in my own home is discriminating against those who are mask exempt.