Covid-19 rules in New Zealand (and other places with no local transmission)

Henry431
Level 1
Christchurch, New Zealand

Covid-19 rules in New Zealand (and other places with no local transmission)

I noticed a new requirement to agree to COVID-19 safety practices. Although I appreciate the need for the rules for a large majority of the world, New Zealand has currently recorded no local transmission of COVID-19 for weeks (and outside of Auckland for around five months). We are currently at our lowest alert level, with no restrictions beyond border controls and contact-tracing. A number of other countries and sub-national entities (e.g. Taiwan, Western Australia) are in similar circumstances. It seems excessive to apply the same rules to the entire world.

 

The cleaning rules don't really bother me, as they're basically what I would have done anyway. Maybe they're a little bit overkill here, but nothing too onerous.

 

The requirement for hosts and guests to wear masks and keep 6 feet apart at all times, however, seems very disproportionate here. Personally, it wouldn't really affect me as I don't tend to interact with guests. But it would be a significant drag for the kind of host who e.g. lets a private room and interacts a lot with their guests. In New Zealand, you can hop on a crowded bus to go on a crowded tour, then off to a crowded restaurant, all surrounded by strangers, almost none of whom will be masked. But you will see the most restrictions of any kind when you interact 1-on-1 with your Airbnb host/guest. 

 

I suspect the most likely scenario is that guests and hosts will want to ignore the masking and distancing requirements. But given the potential punishments for not complying, I suspect some people will begrudgingly comply at the cost of a worse experience, and a few others may shift away from Airbnb altogether. Some malicious actors may see non-compliance as a way to weasel their way into a free cancellation.

 

Please consider altering your rules to be less one-size-fits-all.

54 Replies 54
Helen427
Level 10
Auckland, New Zealand

@Marg11

@Marg11  I received a msg option of "later" which I clicked onto, did you not have that Option?

 

Bearing in mind that it doesn't apply until 20 November 2020 and then it would be dishonest to tick one would agree to the terms stated when under New Zealand , and other countries Laws it doesn't apply. 

 

@ et al,

No option. We will comply until my dermatitis returns from glove use, or if guests have to be reported for not wearing face masks or refusing to distance 2m inside. However, will not be using single-use gloves, single-use masks or any chemicals that we don't already use to clean and sanitise. If forced we will opt out.

 

HI @Marg11.

I too Have been totally frustrated over the new rule and consistently contacting AirBnB about the situation in NZ.Last night at 11.30pm I received a call from them. After reaffirming that we have no community transmission here the lady suggested I include a notification on my listing and said they would be happy with that.  I tried to explain they need to contact all hosts in NZ to explain this as there is so much frustration here over the mask wearing regulation.

I was phoned from this nr **. I did not get her name sadly. Sounded Asian,

I have just added this

Under the current situation with COVID you can expect me to abide by the NZ Health Board's standards and recommendations when interacting with you.
While NZ does not have community transmission I will not be wearing a mask in my own home as per AIRBnB's direction. It is your choice if you prefer to do so when interacting with me.

 

As a host you could also ask guests to sign a waiver.

 

**[Phone number removed in line with - Community Center Guidelines]

Christina1132
Level 2
Stockholm, Sweden

Hi, I am Christina a supe rhost resident in Stockholm, Sweden. Sweden have a different approach to Covid-19. Masks are not recommended, instead one should avoid to socialise and  avoid all contacts with other people if you have any symptoms.In fact we follow the recommendation from the Swedish authorities, state epidemiologist Mr.Anders Tengnell. I think it is incorrect of Airbnb to force on their idea of what is safe in conjunction with Covid-19. Also, why would I take in a guest if I have the symptoms of Corona? 

To be forced to wear a mask in your own private home is not pragmatic. When it comes to cleaning I have long before Corona, always applied thorough cleaning, in order to prevent and avoid the risk of a guest carrying bed bugs. It is also important that any guest arriving will feel that the room I am letting is clean and this is one reason how I earned my super host status with 5,0 from all guests. Cleanliness is an important success factor.

Christina
Jennifer2619
Level 2
St Arnaud, New Zealand

HI. I too Have been totally frustrated over the new rule and consistently contacting AirBnB about the situation in NZ.Last night at 11.30pm I received a call from them. After reaffirming that we have no community transmission here the lady suggested I include a notification on my listing and said they would be happy with that.  I tried to explain they need to contact all hosts in NZ to explain this as there is so much frustration here over the mask wearing regulation.

I was phoned from this nr **. I did not get her name sadly. Sounded Asian,

I have just added this

Under the current situation with COVID you can expect me to abide by the NZ Health Board's standards and recommendations when interacting with you.
While NZ does not have community transmission I will not be wearing a mask in my own home as per AIRBnB's direction. It is your choice if you prefer to do so when interacting with me.

 

As a host you could also ask guests to sign a waiver.

 

**[Phone number removed in line with - Community Center Guidelines]

I have added this to my listing, just checked in on your listing and it appears that you have agreed to the the requirements. 

Christina1132
Level 2
Stockholm, Sweden

@Helen427 @Henry431 @Ria16 @Laura3135 @Kerry358 

@David-and-Gregory0  @Christina1132  @Marg11 @Celia302 @Laura2484 @newzealand @ria16 @abbie-and-simono @rebecca373

Hi  everybody,  I have to say, there is no legal action Airbnb can apply if a guest or a host refuses to wear a mask. It would have been more humble by Airbnb if they had communicated "that they recommend guests and hosts if interacting to wear a mask". Living in Sweden the mask is not recommended for a number of scientific reasons. We follow the recommendations from The Swedish Public Health Agency and state epidemiologistan Mr. Anders Tengnell, a mask is NOT compulsory to wear not in public areas and  absolutely not in your own  home. 

Christina

 

Christina
Marg11
Level 10
Warwick, Australia

Well, at least our guests have a sense of humour. When told we must wear face masks and must stay 2m apart inside our flat they whip out a face mask, put it on then back off to the wall at 2m laughing hilariously. Of course, they say if Americans took the virus seriously they wouldn't have record infections and deaths. We can't travel but WA is safe with only returning Aussies in isolation and 1 infected. 

 

Cassandra191
Level 3
Whanganui, New Zealand

I am happy with the cleaning protocols as we basically do these things anyway. However I am not in agreeable to having to wear masks when greeting our guests and having to insist that they do the same. Therefore I am not going to agree to this protocol by the 20th November. I note that China has been excluded from this requirement presumably because they are Covid free, so there needs to be an exemption for New Zealand which also has no community transmission. Clearly if we did have community transmission I would happily wear a mask (well to be honest, I would probably stop hosting if as severe as in other countries). However to insist that New Zealanders who have worked hard to eliminate the virus have to go out and purchase masks for themselves and their guests (because let's face it our fellow NZers will be staying in our homes will not have these on hand) is not only totally unnecessary it also embarrassing and insulting. If they can exclude China they can exclude New Zealand. Our homes are not managed isolation facilities and the current cleaning, PPE and masking requirements are probably every bit as strict as those operating in the quarantine facilities with NZ citizens returning to our borders. Surely sense must prevail. I have written to Airbnb but have been told that my calendar will be blocked if I don't agree so will have to wait and see. But I won't be agreeing anytime soon until the ridiculous mask exemption is removed.  

Alan1152
Level 2
Russell, New Zealand

Nov 20 came and went with no change evident yet.  We don't wear masks here and have no community transmission and I don't sign up to standards I can't supervise and therefore can't guarantee.  This is not an infectious diseases hospital.

 

So at present we wait to see what happens.