Coronavirus: Airbnb hosts offer free accommodation to NHS workers

‘By working together, we can ensure that frontline workers can find a free and convenient place to stay as they continue their critical work,’ says Airbnb

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Airbnb is offering NHS workers free accommodation during the coronavirus outbreak.

Hosts on the home rental website have agreed to waive all fees associated with stays at their properties to support medical staff on the frontline of the pandemic, with roughly 1,500 places already already on offer.

The initiative is a local expansion of Airbnb’s global plans to help house 100,000 healthcare professionals, relief workers, and first responders working with Covid-19 patients.

Airbnb has also offered to help medical workers to book their accommodation, directing them to its website for further information.

Patrick Robinson, director of public policy, at Airbnb, said: “The entire country is behind our heroic NHS and medical staff as they battle the coronavirus outbreak. We have made it our priority to stand with the Airbnb community to do what we can to help.

“By working together, we can ensure that frontline workers can find a free and convenient place to stay as they continue their critical work.

“We thank our doctors and nurses across the country from the bottom of our hearts and are grateful to hosts who have already opened their homes during these difficult times.”

The offering from Airbnb comes after several major companies have launched initiatives to support NHS workers.

Earlier this week, mindfulness app Headspace announced it would be offering free subscriptions to medical staff while food delivery service Just Eat has pledged to give NHS workers 25 per cent off on all orders.

Andrew Kenny, UK managing director of Just Eat, said of the initiative: “Millions of NHS staff are working round the clock to keep us safe, help the most vulnerable and keep this country going.

“There’s never been a more important time for us to show our support and appreciation for their heroic efforts.

“We’re all in this together. In a time that will no doubt continue to put a huge strain on our front line healthcare workers and their families, we hope this gesture helps many to enjoy a hot meal and provides a small sense of normality.”