Operational considerations for COVID-19 management in the accommodation sector: interim guidance, 31 March 2020

Several countries have demonstrated that COVID-19 transmission from one person to another can be slowed or stopped. This document has been prepared based on the evidence currently available about Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission (human-to-human transmission primarily via respiratory droplets from, or direct contact with, an infected person), and is designed to ensure that the accommodation sector can protect the health of its staff and clients.

It should be used in conjunction with up-to-date information on the WHO COVID-19 website.

The document is addressed to collective tourism accommodation establishments such as hotels and similar establishments, holiday and other short-stay accommodation, and campsites. Private tourism accommodation providers are invited to follow the operating guidelines to the greatest extent possible. In addition, the document will help any authority involved in public health to respond to a public health event in hotels and tourism accommodation establishments, including the International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point (NFP), local health authorities, local, provincial, and national health surveillance and response system.

The measures proposed here should be reviewed and adapted to the local context by the accommodation establishment’s Workplace Health & Safety Committee, Prevention Officers and Services, and Health Consultants, or other relevant stakeholders who are responsible for health-related issues within an establishment, including administration and industry associations.