Home and apartment rental company Airbnb is warning people who stay in Omaha listings to not throw and parties amid the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.
In a statement on Monday, the company said under normal circumstances, they allow their hosts to set the rules about parties, but that these are different times and that, "public health must come first."
"The month of May brings with it many moments worth celebrating for Nebraska residents -- from high school and college graduations to Memorial Day weekend festivities," the company said in its statement. "While Governor Ricketts has relaxed some restrictions, he also made clear that his 'Six Rules to Keep Nebraska Healthy' plan bans all non-essential gatherings, meaning our new policy means we are not allowing any type of party in Omaha until further notice."
Airbnb says they want guests clearly understand the ramifications for those who don't obey their new guidelines. "Not only will we ban guests who attempt to throw an unauthorized party in a Omaha Airbnb listing, we will be cooperating with Omaha Police in any investigations relating to parties and violations of public health mandates, consistent with our Terms of Service."
The company says they've reinforced the policy by temporarily disabling the “event-friendly” search filter, which is typically used so that guests can seek out venues for responsible parties and gatherings.
As government and health authorities relax mandates and guidance pertaining to social distancing, Airbnb says they'll, "Evaluate these policy adjustments and provide updates for our community. The safety of our hosts and guests is our priority, and we thank them for their understanding during this challenging time."