Question: When is it safe for an employee who has had or is suspected to have had COVID-19 able to safely return to work?

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:
Answer is given in the last two paragraphs and include links to the CDC-recommended steps as well as a link to when to discontinue home isolation. Information preceding details how to disinfect and make sure the facility where the sick employee was can be taken care of to be safe for others.
The answer discusses how employers should handle the situation, not specifically when it is safe for employees to return to work.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Could be Improved

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:
Detailed answer given regarding when it is safe for an employee to return to work after being sick without a lot of links to have to click to get the "criteria" from. Link is also included for the CDC guidelines that doctors should be following so that the employer can have peace of mind if employee can prove that their healthcare provider followed them.
The answer gives a good overview of when sick employees can return to work.

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
What should I do if I find out several days later, after an employee worked, that they were diagnosed with COVID-19?
section_content: 
If it has been less than 7 days since the sick employee used the facility, clean and disinfect all areas used by the sick employee following the CDC cleaning and disinfection recommendations.
If it has been 7 days or more since the sick employee used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary. Continue routinely cleaning and disinfecting all high-touch surfaces in the facility.
Other employees may have been exposed to the virus if they were in “close contact” (within approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) of the sick employee for a prolonged period of time. 
Those who have symptoms should self-isolate and follow CDC recommended steps.
In most workplaces, those potentially exposed but with no symptoms should remain at home or in a comparable setting and practice social distancing for 14 days.
Critical infrastructure workers should follow Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19. A critical infrastructure worker who is symptom-free and returns to work should wear a face mask at all times while in the workplace for 14 days after last exposure. Employers can issue facemasks or can approve employees’ supplied cloth face coverings in the event of shortages.


Employees not considered exposed should self-monitor for symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath. If they develop symptoms, they should notify their supervisor and stay home.


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
The answer is a good response to the question.
While the answer does not relate to when an infected employee is allowed back it does address the environment they were in which would need to be thoroughly disinfected after the sick employee has been sent home. Answer does include that those who were not necessarily tested as being positive but still suspected of being sick should social distance for 14 days or so.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Acceptable