Question: If a COVID-19 patient is in an exam room, how long should that room stay empty before being used for another patient?

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:
Does not address the question regarding infectious patient and length of time exam room should remain empty.
The question asks about cleaning an exam room but the answer is about discharging patients.

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Bad

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19
section_headers: How long does an examination room need to remain vacant after being occupied by a patient with confirmed or suspected COVID-19?
section_content: Although spread of SARS-CoV-2 is believed to be primarily via respiratory
droplets, the contribution of small respirable particles to close proximity
transmission is currently uncertain. Airborne transmission from person-to-
person over long distances is unlikely.
The amount of time that the air inside an examination room remains potentially
infectious is not known and may depend on a number of factors including the
size of the room, the number of air changes per hour, how long the patient was
in the room, if the patient was coughing or sneezing, and if an aerosol-
generating procedure was performed. Facilities will need to consider these
factors when deciding when the vacated room can be entered by someone who is
not wearing PPE.
For a patient who was not coughing or sneezing, did not undergo an aerosol-
generating procedure, and occupied the room for a short period of time (e.g.,
a few minutes), any risk to HCP and subsequent patients likely dissipates over
a matter of minutes. However, for a patient who was coughing and remained in
the room for a longer period of time or underwent an aerosol-generating
procedure, the risk period is likely longer.
For these higher risk scenarios, it is reasonable to apply a similar time
period as that used for pathogens spread by the airborne route (e.g., measles,
tuberculosis) and to restrict HCP and patients without PPE from entering the
room until sufficient time has elapsed for enough air changes to remove
potentially infectious particles.
General guidance on clearance rates under differing ventilation
conditions
is available.
In addition to ensuring sufficient time for enough air changes to remove
potentially infectious particles, HCP should clean and disinfect environmental
surfaces and shared equipment before the room is used for another patient.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Gives specific information to answer the question and additional resources
Provides good detailed information relevant to the position of the asker as a healthcare professional. Good to have links for further information.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers
section_headers: Treatment and Management
When can patients with confirmed COVID-19 be discharged from the hospital?
section_content: Patients can be discharged from the healthcare facility whenever clinically
indicated. Isolation should be maintained at home if the patient returns home
before the time period recommended for discontinuation of hospital
Transmission-Based Precautions.
Decisions to discontinue Transmission-Based Precautions or in-home isolation
can be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with clinicians, infection
prevention and control specialists, and public health authorities based upon
multiple factors, including disease severity, illness signs and symptoms, and
results of laboratory testing for COVID-19 in respiratory specimens.
See Interim Considerations for Disposition of Hospitalized Patients with
COVID-19.
For non-hospitalized persons, see Interim Guidance for Implementing Home Care
of People Not Requiring Hospitalization for
COVID-19, and
Discontinuation of In-Home Isolation for Immunocompromised
Persons.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Answer is irrelevant, the question asks about cleaning an exam room but the answer is about discharging a patient.
Does not address the question of how long a room should remain empty

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Bad