Glasgow - Quarantine and Self Isolation

[Tim2392]

Hi everyone - first post here. 

I offer a private room in the city centre with a private bathroom (not an en-suite). Just had a request come through for someone from the USA. He has asked if I am ok with him using it as a self isolation place. Am I right in thinking that this isn’t possible as I would have to self isolate as well? 

Very confused right now! 

thanks,

Tim

[Pat271]

Did this guest have COVID?  If not, I don’t think all household members have to isolate.

This is from gov.scot:

Within your accommodation

It is important to avoid contact with other people in your accommodation in order to reduce the risk of transmitting coronavirus. The people you are staying with do not need to stay at home, unless they travelled from outside the UK with you.

Avoid contact with them and minimise the time you spend in shared spaces, like kitchens, bathrooms and sitting areas.

You should stay in a well-ventilated room with a window to the outside that can be opened, separate from other people in your home.

If you can, you should use a separate bathroom from the rest of the household. If you have to share these facilities, regular cleaning will be required after each person has used them. Make sure you use separate towels from the other people in your house, both for drying yourself after bathing or showering and for hand-hygiene purposes.

If you are staying in a hotel or guest house, you must stay away from other people who do not travel with you, so it’s important that you don’t use shared areas such as bars, restaurants, health clubs and sports facilities. Stay 2 metres apart from other people staying there at all times.

[Sandra126]

I believe you would also have to isolate. He needs a private place. But do check with authorities. 

[Kath9]

@Tim2392, I don't think you would need to self-isolate unless he or you were to get symptoms (and from @Pat271 's post above, it looks like this is the case). For example, my son returned from the UK at the start of the pandemic and had to quarantine at my house for 2 weeks, but I didn't have to self-isolate (unless of course I developed symptoms). But that was my son, so it was a no-brainer. Why would you take that risk with a stranger? Especially someone from the US, with one of the world's highest rates of COVID. No, he needs to find a private place.

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Tim2392 

If the guest has to self-isolate...... most basic question: where and how will he eat for those 2-weeks? Are you willing to go grocery shopping for him or or share the kitchen and living room with this guest (while regularly cleaning+sanitizing rigorously for your own safety)? You can't keep the guest locked in the guest room..... but you can't stop him from leaving your home for groceries or a walk. IMO, no reason for you to take on this kind of risk or headache. 

I could understand being in the same home while taking precautions for a family member but it seems like your guest should choose to go either to a hotel or private home that will provide the necessary additional services and care for self-quarantine. 

https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/searo/whe/coronavirus19/the-guideline-for-home-quarantine---...

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-how-to-self-isolate-when-you-travel-...

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/advice-for-travellers.aspx

[Katarzyna45]

Go with your gut. Reach out to the guest, and ask the guest to retract their request; or .... contact Airbnb directly, explain the situation, and have Airbnb retract the request for the guest. Never decline a booking request yourself if you can help it, because it can needlessly effect your ratings [and this circumstance favors an override to you using the 'decline' button - so long as you reach out to Airbnb and have them take the response to this booking off of your plate]. Given the potential severity of coronavirus, there is little justification for risking your long term health for a measly business transaction. I agree: There is no way to effectively isolate within your booking space given the community area arrangement of your listing - and it is not worth the trouble to improvise a make-shift space to 'try' to help this person self-isolate when there are plenty of other places available that do not require the host to bend over backwards to fabricate, with odds against them, a space that is deemed a poster child for self-isolation. 

Possible communication: "Thank you for your booking request. Did you find a place to self-isolate, or are you still in need to do so within our listing? Given that our listing requires use of common spaces, I am afraid that it is less-than-ideal for self-quarantine, and as much as we would love to host you in the circumstances,  in good-conscience we need to disclose that we believe our listing does not legally meet the standards set by authorities for the isolation aspect that are seeking. If you need assistance in finding an ideal listing to self-quarantine, please reach out to Airbnb so that they can facilitate your search. Please keep us in mind for your future bookings, however, as we would love the opportunity to host you once your needs for accommodation change to where we can meet them!"

[Anonymous]

@Katarzyna45 There are no significant consequences for declining a request. The only "rating" it affects is the Acceptance Rate, which is not visible to guests and exists only as a behavior modification tool.

Considering that people with real and pressing emergencies are unable to get through to a customer service rep these days, it would be ludicrous to tie up the line asking Airbnb to do something for you that takes only a click of a button to do yourself . 

[Katarzyna45]

@Anonymous  I respectfully beg to differ. The 'no significant consequences' as mentioned in the response has not been my experience. I have also read complaints from other hosts in these community postings of how the 'behavior modification tool' and acceptance rates have actually impacted them (mainly for superhost status). 

I respectfully stand by my warning based on the negative experience that I have been made to deal with recently by Airbnb within these coronavirus changes. Precisely because of Airbnb's recent-and-ongoing less-than-sufficient access to customer service reps for both the guests and hosts I have been monetarily penalized by Airbnb for -not- 'ludicrously' tying up their lines to ask Airbnb to do something for the guest that took me only the 'click of a button to do' myself.

I appreciate your attempt to correct my seemingly foolish cries to tie up Airbnb's customer service - but I stand by my warning based on my real monetary loss as a host who clicked a button that Airbnb told all hosts that if clicked, would not hurt the host. I will continue to insist that hosts who cannot risk financial penalty should have Airbnb or the guest click that button instead [whichever that relevant button may be - be it 'decline' or 'cancel', or any other button tied to host's recorded and seemingly insignificant clicking behaviors.

[Anonymous]

@Katarzyna45  The criteria for Superhost status are very clearly indicated in your Dashboard, and they emphatically do not include your Acceptance Rate. It sounds as though you've confused the Acceptance Rate (% of requests that you have approved) with the Response Rate (% that you have either approved or declined within 24 hours). The latter does impact your superhost status and is displayed in the listing. It might seem like a distinction without a difference, but the devil is in the details. 

Another thing you might be thinking of is a rather diabolical trap that Airbnb inexplicably set:  the "Request for the Host to cancel" that guests can submit, then subjecting hosts to penalties if they take the bait. Once again, this is completely different from declining a request for an unconfirmed booking - which has no financial penalty. (The exception here would be if Airbnb is persuaded that you have violated the Discrimination policy and suspends your listing).

A general word of advice to anyone would be to read the available Help Center texts before calling for help - and also familiarize yourself with the relevant terms before spreading misleading information on the forum.

[Helen427]

Hello @Tim2392 from across the yonder over in New Zealand, everyone needs a shelter in their lives as we know.

 Write to the guest & ask more about the purpose of their visit, is it long or short term, work contract or holiday.

 Maybe ask if they have already self isolated in  the USA.

Check also the official Gvt UK website as that's got very useful reasonably up to date info.

We've had no Covid cases in  the majority of New Zealand yet are still all in a senseless lockdown for medical matters that can be easily addressed through ones Doctor.

Incidentally on our walk this evening we meet a Medical Practitioner Doctor who said most of the younger ones in hospital for Covid related matters have "habits" that have lead to their stay.

Exercise common sense and remember just bc a person may be coming from a country that has "high numbers" of cases there's many variables and regions where there's never been any cases.

 There's biased scaremongering info in the Msn media which hasn't helped anyone alas that's how Piers Morgan & the likes operate to make money.

[Tim2392]

Thanks for your help everyone - after chatting to them and listening to my gut, we’ve found a solution!