Question: Will a patient need to get a negative Covid-19 test to return to their nursing home from a hospital or other care facility?

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19
section_headers: Is a negative test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, required before a hospitalized patient can be discharged to a nursing home?
section_content: No. For patients hospitalized with COVID-19, decisions about discharge
from the hospital should be based on their clinical status and the ability
of the accepting facility to meet their care needs and adhere to recommended
infection prevention and control practices. Decisions about hospital discharge
are distinct from decisions about discontinuation of Transmission-Based
Precautions.
For patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, decisions about
discontinuing Transmission-Based Precautions should be based on the
strategies outlined here. The test-based strategy is NOT REQUIRED and
might not be possible due to limitations on availability of testing.
If a patient with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 has not met criteria for
discontinuing Transmission-Based Precautions, they should be transferred to a
facility with the ability to adhere to infection prevention and control
recommendations for the care
of residents with COVID-19, including placement in a unit or area of the
facility designated to care for residents with COVID-19 and provision of
recommended personal protective equipment to healthcare personnel.
If the patient with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 has met the criteria
for discontinuing Transmission-Based Precautions but has persistent
symptoms (e.g., persistent cough), they should ideally be placed in a single
room, be restricted to their room to the extent possible, and wear a facemask
(if tolerated) during care activities until all symptoms are completely
resolved or at baseline. If the patient has met the criteria for
discontinuing Transmission-Based Precautions and does not have persistent
symptoms, they do not require additional restrictions.
A patient hospitalized for non-COVID-related illnesses whose COVID-19 status
is not known can be transferred to a nursing home without testing. However, to
ensure they are not infected, nursing homes should place them in
Transmission-based Precautions in a separate observation area or in a single-person room until 14
days have elapsed since admission.
As part of universal source control
measures,
all residents (including those described in the scenarios above) should wear a
cloth face covering or facemask (if tolerated) whenever they leave their room.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Answer is given after lengthy explanation of terms but also gives the facility instructions on what to do when the patient is returned to the nursing home or assisted living facility in order to keep all the other residents safe.
Clearly explains that coronavirus patients are discharged based on clinical status and that a negative test result isn't necessary.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Caring for Someone Sick at Home
section_headers: How to discontinue home isolation
section_content: People with COVID-19 who have stayed home (home isolated) can leave home
under the following conditions**:


If they have not had a test to determine if they are still contagious, they can leave home after these three things have happened:




They have had no fever for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fevers)
AND


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


at least 10 days have passed since their symptoms first appeared




If they have had a test to determine if they are still contagious, they can leave home after these three things have happened: 


They no longer have a fever (without the use of medicine that reduces fevers)
AND


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


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




People who DID NOT have COVID-19 symptoms, but tested positive and have
stayed home (home isolated) can leave home under the following conditions**:


If they have not had a test to determine if they are still contagious, they can leave home after these two things have happened: 


At least 10 days have passed since the date of their first positive test
AND


they continue to have no symptoms (no cough or shortness of breath) since the test.




If they have had a test to determine if they are still contagious, they can leave home after: 

They have received two negative tests in a row, at least 24 hours apart. Their doctor will follow CDC guidelines.



Note: if they develop symptoms, follow guidance above for people with COVID19
symptoms.
For ALL people

When leaving the home, keep a distance of 6 feet from others and wear a cloth face covering when around other people.

In all cases, follow the guidance of your doctor and local health
department.** The decision to stop home isolation should be made in
consultation with their healthcare provider and state and local health
departments. Some people, for example those with conditions that weaken their
immune system, might
continue to shed virus even after they recover.
Find more information on when to end home
isolation.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Answer refers to people who have been isolating at home and not people who have been hospitalized or going back to a nursing home or assisted living facility.
Discusses when it's safe to go outside again after infection. Doesn't specifically mentions hospitals or other care settings.

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Bad

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers
section_headers: Treatment and Management
Do patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 need to be admitted to the hospital?
section_content: Not all patients with COVID-19 require hospital admission. Patients whose
clinical presentation warrants in-patient clinical management for supportive
medical care should be admitted to the hospital under appropriate isolation
precautions.
Some patients with initial mild clinical presentation may worsen in the second
week of illness. The decision to monitor these patients in the inpatient or
outpatient setting should be made on a case-by-case basis. This decision will
depend not only on the clinical presentation, but also on the patient’s
ability to engage in self-monitoring, the feasibility of safe isolation at
home, and the risk of transmission in the patient’s home environment. For more
information, see Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for
Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a
Healthcare Setting and
Interim Guidance for Implementing Home Care of People Not Requiring
Hospitalization for Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19).

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Answer focuses more on which patients will required hospitalization and the monitoring of these individuals but there is nothing mentioned regarding when to discharge them of they live in a nursing home.
Discusses criteria for admitting people to the hospital, not for releasing them.

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Bad