Question: What steps does a business take if there is a confirmed COVID-19 case among employees?

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: General Business Frequently Asked Questions
section_headers: Suspected or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in the Workplace
What should I do if an employee has a respiratory illness?
section_content: Employees who appear to have COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever, cough, or
shortness of breath, upon arrival to work or become sick during the day with
COVID-19 symptoms should immediately be separated from other employees,
customers, and visitors and sent home.
CDC has a symptom self-checker chatbot called Clara that employers and employees may
find helpful. It has a series of questions and recommends what level of
medical care, if any, the user should seek. It is not intended to provide
diagnosis or treatment.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
This answer does not address the question. Specifics as to what needs to be done when a person tested positive should be adequately outlined
This answer does not relate to the question, as this relates to suspected COVID-19 cases, where the question asks for confirmed cases protocol.

Reviewer ratings:
Could be Improved
Bad

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: General Business Frequently Asked Questions
section_headers: Suspected or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in the Workplace
What should I do if an employee is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19?
section_content: In most cases, you do not need to shut down your facility. But do close off
any areas used for prolonged periods of time by the sick person:

Wait 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting to minimize potential for other employees being exposed to respiratory droplets. If waiting 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.
During this waiting period, open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in these areas.

Follow the CDC cleaning and disinfection
recommendations:

Clean dirty surfaces with soap and water before disinfecting them.
To disinfect surfaces, use products that meet EPA criteria for use against SARS-Cov-2external iconexternal icon, the virus that causes COVID-19, and are appropriate for the surface.
Always wear gloves and gowns appropriate for the chemicals being used when you are cleaning and disinfecting.
You may need to wear additional personal protective equipment (PPE) depending on the setting and disinfectant product you are using.

In addition to cleaning and disinfecting, employers should determine which
employees may have been exposed to the virus and need to take additional
precautions:

Most workplaces should follow the Public Health Recommendations for Community-Related Exposure.
Critical infrastructure workplaces should follow the guidance Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19.

Sick employees should follow CDC-recommended
steps. Employees
should not return to work until they have met the criteria to discontinue
home isolation
and have consulted with a healthcare provider and state or local health
department.
If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19, employers should inform fellow
employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain
confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
The question is adequately attended to
This answer relates to the specific question and gives thorough instructions.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: General Business Frequently Asked Questions
section_headers: Suspected or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in the Workplace
When should an employee suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 return to work?
section_content: Sick employees should follow steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you
are sick.
Employees should not return to work until they meet the criteria to
discontinue home isolation and have consulted with a healthcare provider and state or
local health department.
Employers should not require sick employee to provide a negative COVID-19 test
result or healthcare provider’s note to return to work. Employees with
COVID-19 who have stayed home can stop home isolation and return to work when
they have met one of the following sets of criteria:


Option 1: If, in consultation with a healthcare provider and local public health authorities knowledgeable about locally available testing resources, it is determined an employee will not have a test to determine if they are still contagious, the employee can leave home and return to work after these three conditions have been met: 


The employee has had no fever for at least 72 hours (that is, 3 full days of no fever without the use medicine that reduces fevers)
AND


respiratory symptoms have improved (for example, cough or shortness of breath have improved)
AND


at least 10 days have passed since their symptoms first appeared

Option 2: If, in consultation with a healthcare provider and local public health authorities knowledgeable about locally available testing resources, it is determined the employee will be tested to determine if the employee is still contagious, the employee can leave home after these three conditions have been met: 

The employee no longer has a fever (without the use of medicine that reduces fevers)
AND


respiratory symptoms have improved (for example, cough or shortness of breath have improved)
AND


they received two negative tests in a row, at least 24 hours apart. Their doctor should follow CDC guidelines.





Reviewer feedback on this answer:
This is a concise, and step by step guide of what a business can do if there is a confirmed COVID-19 case among employees.
This response does not address the question.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Could be Improved