OYO offers to convert hotel rooms into payable quarantine facilities

Budget hospitality chain OYO Hotels & Homes has reached out to state governments across India with a proposal to convert its hotel spaces into pay per use self-quarantine facilities for travellers amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, a company spokesperson told TechCircle on Tuesday.

“Our outreach is also to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) as well as to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for discussion over initiatives that OYO can quickly implement for the benefit of travellers and those looking for self-quarantine isolation facilities,” the spokesperson added. 

To facilitate this, the Gurugram-based startup will also set up a central helpline number to entertain requests from the general population as well as all state governments and relevant authorities, the company statement said.

The government outreach has been limited to the startup’s home-base, India.

The Softbank backed startup has also directed its corporate office employees to work remotely since March 18, as have most startups in the recent past.

Also read: Google, Flipkart, Swiggy, gig economy startups spring to action to contain Covid-19 crisis

“We are also continually updating our customer assistance policies and rolling out several initiatives across countries to facilitate cancellation, re-booking requests etc. and ensure high levels of hygiene and cleanliness across our properties at all times,” the Oyo spokesperson added.

The highly contagious Covid-19 or Corona Virus Disease-2019 has spread to over 170 countries within a period of 85 days since its outbreak. India has so far reported at least nine deaths and over 500 detected cases of the infection.