Question: When law enforcement does a death investigation, what extra safety steps should be taken?

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: FAQs for Law Enforcement Agencies and Personnel
section_headers: What does CDC recommend for law enforcement personnel who have been in close contact (less than 6 feet) with a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19?
section_content: If law enforcement personnel have direct personal contact with an individual
with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, they should immediately use alcohol-
based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol, or wash
hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
They should also avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth. Any uniform items
(or other surfaces) that were potentially exposed should be disinfected or
cleaned as soon as feasible. For example, the duty belt or other non-porous
items can be disinfected using products that are EPA-approved for use against
the virusexternal icon. Porous items, like the uniform, should
be replaced as soon as possible and then laundered according to manufacturers’
recommendations. This is especially important if any body fluids were expelled
during the encounter (bloodborne pathogen protocols should also be followed if
applicable). Gloves should be worn when touching potentially contaminated
items or applying disinfectants and it is important to perform hand hygiene
upon removing gloves or other PPE.
Law enforcement personnel who have an exposure should be evaluated by their
occupational health program and may be able to finish their work shift before
starting home isolation.
If personnel and resources are available, it is most protective for law
enforcement personnel to stay at home until 14
days after
exposure to an individual with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 if the exposure
was prolonged (10 minutes or more) or if the exposure was of concern (e.g.,
the individual coughed into the face of the law enforcement officer). This
would best protect the health of the exposed worker, their co-workers, and the
general public.
However, if personnel and resources are not available, law enforcement
personnel (considered critical infrastructure workers) may be permitted to
work after exposure to ensure continuity of operations. To continue working,
the exposed worker should remain symptom-free, and the employer should put
into place the following prevention
strategies for the exposed worker:

Screen the worker for symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, or shortness of breath) before each work shift
Regularly monitor the worker for symptoms, under the supervision of an occupational health program
Ensure the worker practices social distancing (remaining at least 6 feet away from others)
Ensure the worker wears a facemask (or cloth face covering if facemasks are unavailable) to protect others

If an exposed worker develops symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, or shortness
of breath) and is still working, the employer should:

Send the worker home immediately and encourage them to follow CDC guidance for What to Do If You Are Sick.
Clean and disinfect surfaces in their workspace.
Follow CDC guidance to determine when the worker can return to work.

For more information, see CDC’s updated guidance for Implementing Safety
Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a
Person with Suspected or Confirmed
COVID-19.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Gives guidance on how law enforcement should interact with live individuals infected with COVD-19. Doesn't mention death inquiries at all.
This answer is excellent because it refers to law enforcement explicitly, and provides a lot of detailed information as to how law enforcement can stay safe while working during the pandemic.

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Excellent

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: FAQs for Law Enforcement Agencies and Personnel
section_headers: Should law enforcement agencies screen personnel for signs and symptoms of COVID-19?
section_content: Law enforcement agencies should encourage all personnel to self-monitor for
symptoms before they come to work. Workers who have
symptoms (fever,
cough, or shortness of breath) should notify their supervisor and stay home.
They can also enter their symptoms into the CDC Self-
Checker to determine
whether they need to seek medical care. Law enforcement agencies should ensure
that sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health
guidance, and
that employees are aware of and understand these policies.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Doesn't mention death inquiries, instead giving generic advice about when law enforcement personnel should self-isolate.
This answer is bad because it does not answer the question, even though it does refer to law enforcement workers. The answer does not provide information as to how law enforcement can stay safe while working with bodies.

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Bad

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: FAQs for Law Enforcement Agencies and Personnel
section_headers: Are there additional precautions law enforcement personnel should take during death investigations?
section_content: Upon entering a structure (home or place of business) where someone has died
and COVID-19 is a suspected cause or contributing factor, law enforcement
personnel should anticipate that others in that building could also be
infected. If the cause of death is unknown, it would be most protective to
assume that COVID-19 contributed. Law enforcement personnel should limit the
number of personnel needed to enter the building, if feasible. If the building
has not been cleared, law enforcement personnel should wear the following
PPE:

A single pair of disposable examination gloves
Disposable isolation gown or single use coveralls
Fit-tested NIOSH approved N95 respirator or higher level of protection (or a facemask if respirators are unavailable)
Eye protection (goggles or a disposable face shield).

Further, law enforcement personnel should try to maintain social distancing
(at least 6 feet distance) with others at all times, especially while in the
structure.
If the building has been cleared, then it may not be necessary to wear
respiratory and eye protection, unless there are other hazards present that
dictate their use according to an onsite hazard/risk assessment.
Law enforcement personnel should be careful not to touch potentially
contaminated surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth. However, this
is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
Law enforcement should avoid direct contact with someone who has died of
suspected or confirmed COVID-19 :

Every jurisdiction is different, but law enforcement personnel, in general, should not move or transport a body.
Consult with the medical examiner/coroner’s office to determine the appropriate next steps and protective measures for that jurisdiction. The medical examiner/coroner’s office can decide who will transport the decedent.

When the investigation is over, law enforcement personnel should take the
following steps:

Safely remove gloves and other PPE and properly dispose of them according to existing policies and procedures. Law enforcement personnel should be trained on the proper donning and doffing of PPEpdf icon.
Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or, if soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
If other reusable items (e.g., such as duty belt or gear) come into contact with individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, disinfect those items according to the manufacturers’ instructions. For disinfection, most EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective. A list of products that are EPA-approved for use against the virus that causes COVID-19 is available hereexternal icon.


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Has clear and detailed information about handling dead bodies contaminated with COVID-19.
This answer is excellent because it provides detailed information as to how law enforcement workers can stay safe from COVID while working with dead bodies, which answers the question entirely.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent