Airbnb has suffered a financial blow during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
James Martin / CNET
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Airbnb is expanding its offerings with a new type of rental: houses that have been thoroughly cleaned for the novel Corona virus. The short-term landlord gave Monday a new certification program These hosts can opt for the so-called “cleaning protocol”. Travelers can see and book these rentals on the Airbnb website.
The protocol consists of a series of instructions given to the hosts to clean and disinfect all of the rooms in their homes. It will contain which products and protective equipment should be used. An Airbnb spokesman declined to provide further details about the cleaning system, but said the company will learn more details in the future. He said the protocol was not allowed for the rental of shared rooms.
According to health authorities, the coronavirus can lurk on surfaces and, if not properly disinfected, lead to the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. To date, more than 3 million people worldwide have been infected with the corona virus and more than 200,000 have died.
The disease control and prevention centers say it is “unknown how long the air in a room is occupied by someone who has confirmed it.” COVID-19 remains potentially contagious, “but offers the public health institute Disinfection guidelines. These recommendations include wearing disposable gloves when cleaning and using certain disinfectant chemicals that are known to kill the virus, such as: B. bleach.
Airbnb said it is developing its new cleaning protocol under the guidance of former U.S. General Surgeon Dr. Vivek Murthy and the commercial cleaning company Ecolab. The company said hosts also need a 24-hour buffer between guests.
“These approaches will evolve as our knowledge and understanding of COVID-19 grows,” Murthy said in a statement.
Hosts who cannot run the cleaning protocol can instead opt for another new Airbnb feature that focuses on COVID-19 prevention and is called the booking buffer. With this feature, the hosts commit to keeping their home empty for 72 hours between each guest.
Airbnb has experienced a financial blow during the pandemic. It has seen tens of thousands of canceled reservations and falling revenue. The company was on its way to an IPO this spring, however These plans are reportedly being postponed.
Airbnb positions itself as an alternative to hotels to get back on track and when certain cities are reopened and accommodation orders increase. On Monday, the company praised its rental as offering amenities like a private kitchen and laundry so guests don’t have to be with other people.
“Homes have become a haven, and the future of travel will also depend on a new comfort zone that offers the privacy and benefits of another home, without crowds or high sales,” said Greg Greeley, Airbnb president for homes.
Airbnb’s new cleaning protocol will be available to hosts in May. Once the hosts have completed the program, the company will announce that their offers will be updated to reflect this on the website.