In partnership with the French government, Airbnb has launched a local expansion of their Open Homes programme to connect medical staff and caregivers batting the coronavirus outbreak in France with free places to stay offered by local Airbnb hosts.

Across the world, hosts are already mobilising and offering free accommodation to frontline staff fighting the outbreak, as thousands of doctors, nurses, caregivers and social workers join the battle to protect communities and save lives.

Following the launch of a similar initiative in Italy last week, Airbnb will help connect hosts willing to offer their place for free to medical staff in need of a place to stay close to their place of work. The company will waive all fees for the stays and will give EUR 50 (USD 54.22) to hosts to help with cleaning costs.

Emmanuel Marill, director in France at Airbnb said: “Unprecedented times call for an unprecedented response and as the world unites to fight the coronavirus outbreak, we have made it our priority as a community to provide what support we can. By standing with our host community to offer free accommodation for caregivers and social workers, we hope we can help heroic professionals on the frontlines as they work to protect us all and save lives.”