mteb/FeedbackQARetrieval huggingface dataset:
Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19
What personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn by environmental services (EVS) personnel who clean and disinfect rooms of hospitalized patients with COVID-19?
In general, only essential personnel should enter the room of patients with
COVID-19. Healthcare facilities should consider assigning daily cleaning and
disinfection of high-touch surfaces to nursing personnel who will already be
in the room providing care to the patient. If this responsibility is assigned
to EVS personnel, they should wear all recommended
PPE when
in the room. PPE should be removed upon leaving the room, immediately followed
by performance of hand hygiene.
After discharge, terminal cleaning may be performed by EVS personnel. They
should delay entry into the room until a sufficient time has
elapsed
for enough air changes to remove potentially infectious particles. We do not
yet know how long SARS-CoV-2 remains infectious in the air. Regardless, EVS
personnel should refrain from entering the vacated room until sufficient time
has elapsed for enough air changes to remove potentially infectious particles
(more information on clearance rates under differing ventilation conditions
is
available).
After this time has elapsed, EVS personnel may enter the room and should wear
a gown and gloves when performing terminal cleaning. A facemask (if not
already wearing for source control) and eye protection should be added if
splashes or sprays during cleaning and disinfection activities are anticipated
or otherwise required based on the selected cleaning products. Shoe covers are
not recommended at this time for personnel caring for patients with COVID-19.
Homelessness and COVID-19 FAQs
Should homeless encampments be cleared?
Connecting people to stable housing should continue to be a priority. However,
if individual housing options are not available, allow people who are living
in encampments to remain where they are. Encourage people living in
encampments to increase space between people and provide hygiene resources in
accordance with the Interim Guidance for People Experiencing Unsheltered
Homelessness.
Homelessness and COVID-19 FAQs
Should homeless shelters screen clients?
Homeless shelters can screen clients for symptoms of respiratory infections.
Clients who have symptoms may or may not have COVID-19. Make sure they have a
separate place they can safely stay within the shelter or at an alternate site
in coordination with local health authorities. An on-site nurse or other
clinical staff can help with clinical assessments.

Provide anyone who presents with symptoms with a cloth face covering.
Facilitate access to non-urgent medical care as needed.
Use standard facility procedures to determine whether a client needs immediate medical attention. Emergency signs include: 
Trouble breathing
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion or inability to arouse
Bluish lips or face



Notify the designated medical facility and personnel to transfer clients that
the client might have COVID-19.
Homelessness and COVID-19 FAQs
What should a person who is experiencing homelessness do if they have symptoms consistent with COVID-19?
Any person experiencing homelessness with symptoms consistent with
COVID-19 (fever,
cough, or shortness of breath) should alert their service providers (such as
case managers, shelter staff, and other care providers). These staff will help
the individual understand how to isolate themselves and identify options for
medical care as needed.
Homelessness and COVID-19 FAQs
Where should a person who is experiencing homelessness stay if they are suspected to have COVID-19 or if they have tested positive for COVID-19?
Those with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should stay in a place where they
can best be isolated from other people to prevent spreading the infection.
Local health departments, housing authorities, homeless service systems and
healthcare facilities should plan to identify locations to isolate those with
known or suspected COVID-19 until they meet the criteria to end
isolation.
Isolation housing could be units designated by local authorities or shelters
determined to have capacity to sufficiently isolate these people. If no other
options are available, homeless service providers should plan for how they can
help people isolate themselves while efforts are underway to provide
additional support. Please see the Interim Guidance for Homeless Service
Providers and Interim Guidance for People Experiencing Unsheltered
Homelessness for more information.
Homelessness and COVID-19 FAQs
Can homeless service providers accept donations?
Homeless service providers can accept donations during community spread of
COVID-19, but general infection control precautions should be taken. Request
that donors not donate if they are sick. Set up donation drop-off points to
encourage social distancing between shelter workers and those donating.
According to usual procedures, launder donated clothing, sheets, towels, or
other fabrics on high heat settings, and disinfect items that are nonporous,
such as items made of plastic. Food donations should be shelf-stable, and
shelter staff should take usual food-related infection prevention precautions.
For more information about COVID-19 and food, see the Food and Drug
Administration’s website on Food Safety and COVID-19external
icon. For further information on cleaning and
disinfection, see
here.
Homelessness and COVID-19 FAQs
Are people experiencing homelessness at risk of COVID-19?
People who are homeless are at risk of COVID-19. Homeless services are often
provided in congregate settings, which could facilitate the spread of
infection. Because many people who are homeless are older adults or have
underlying medical conditions, they may also be at higher risk for severe disease than
the general population. Health departments and healthcare facilities should be
aware that people who are homeless are a particularly vulnerable group. If
possible, identifying non-congregate settings where those at highest risk can
stay may help protect them from COVID-19.
Homelessness and COVID-19 FAQs
How can people experiencing homelessness protect themselves when COVID-19 is spreading in their community?
Many of the recommendations to prevent
COVID-19 may be difficult for
a person experiencing homelessness to do. Although it may not be possible to
avoid certain crowded locations (such as shelters), people who are homeless
should try to avoid other crowded public settings and public transportation.
If possible, they should use take-away options for food. As is true for
everyone, they should maintain a distance of about 6 feet (two arms’ length)
from other people. They also should wash their hands with soap and water for
at least 20 seconds as often as possible, and cover their coughs and sneezes.
Institutes of Higher Education
Planning and Preparedness
What should we do if a student, staff or faculty member shows symptoms of COVID-19?
You should establish procedures for anyone who becomes sick or arrives sick on
campus. Sick students, staff and faculty should be separated from others,
given a mask to wear, if available and sent to their place or residence as
soon as possible. Sick residents of on-campus housing should avoid contact
with individuals who are healthy.
Institutes of Higher Education
Dismissals
How long should colleges or universities be dismissed?
It depends on the situation at your school and community. You may need to
temporarily dismiss school for 2-5 days, if someone with COVID-19 was on
campus. This initial short-term dismissal allows time for the local health
officials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting
the school and for custodial staff to clean and disinfect the affected
facilities. The need for an extended dismissal will be made based on what
officials discover from contact tracing.
If there is substantial transmission in the local community, local health
officials may suggest extended school dismissals. This longer-term, and likely
broader-reaching, dismissal strategy is intended to slow transmission rates of
COVID-19 in the community.
Institutes of Higher Education
Planning and Preparedness
What can staff and students do to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
Encourage students and staff to take everyday preventive
actions to
prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, such as staying home when sick;
appropriately covering coughs and sneezes; cleaning frequently touched
surfaces; and washing hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are
not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60%
alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
Institutes of Higher Education
Dismissals
When should I suspend classes or cancel events/activities on campus?
Any decision about school dismissal or cancellation of events should be made
in coordination with your local health officials. Colleges and universities
are not expected to make decisions about dismissals on their own.
You may need to temporarily dismiss school for 2-5 days, if someone with
COVID-19 was on campus. COVID-19. This initial short-term dismissal allows
time for the local health officials to gain a better understanding of the
COVID-19 situation impacting the school and for custodial staff to clean and
disinfect the affected facilities. Work with the local health officials to
determine appropriate next steps, including whether an extended dismissal
duration is needed to stop or slow further spread of COVID-19.
If there is substantial transmission in the local community, local health
officials may suggest extended school dismissals. This longer-term, and likely
broader-reaching, dismissal strategy is intended to slow transmission rates of
COVID-19 in the community.
Institutes of Higher Education
Dismissals
Should we continue teaching and/or research activities if we decide to dismiss classes?
Yes, consider ways that your college/university can adapt or use alternative
teaching methods.

Review continuity plans, including plans for the continuity of teaching, learning, and research. Implement e-learning plans and distance learning options as feasible and appropriate.
Ensure continuity plans address how to temporarily postpone, limit, or adapt research-related activities (e.g., study recruitment or participation, access to labs) in a manner that protects the safety of researchers, participants, facilities, and equipment.
Consider the following approaches: 
Use of existing infrastructure and services (e.g., Blackboard, Skype, Zoom) to support efficient transition of classes from in-person to distance-based formats. This may include using strategies such as faculty check-ins, recorded class meetings or lectures, and live class meetings.
Other student support services such as online library services, print materials available online, phone- or Internet-based counseling support, or study groups enabled through digital media.


Institutes of higher education should determine, in consultation with their university system: 
How to convert face-to-face lessons into online lessons and how to train faculty to do so.
How to triage technical issues if faced with limited IT support and staff
How to deal with the potential lack of students’ access to computers and the Internet at home or in temporary housing.
Institutes of Higher Education
Planning and Preparedness
What should we do if we have a confirmed case of COVID-19 on campus or identify someone who was on campus?
Immediately notify local health officials. These officials will help
administrators determine a course of action for your college or university.
Administrators should work closely with their local health officials to
determine if a short-term closure (for 2-5 days) of all campus buildings and
facilities is needed. In some cases, you may only need to close buildings and
facilities that had been entered by the individual(s) with COVID-19. This
initial short-term class suspension and event and activity (e.g., club
meetings; on-campus sport, theater, and music events) cancellation allows time
for the local health officials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19
situation and for custodial staff to clean and disinfect the affected
facilities. It also allows the local health officials and administrators to
determine appropriate next steps, including whether an extended duration is
needed to stop or slow further spread of COVID-19.
Institutes of Higher Education
Planning and Preparedness
What should I do if there is substantial community transmission?
If local health officials have determined there is substantial transmission of
COVID-19 within the community, they will provide guidance to administrators on
the best course of action for their college or university. Similar strategies
will extend across organizations (e.g., K-12 schools, business, community and
faith-based organizations) in a collective effort to stop the spread of
COVID-19.
Measures will likely include extended class suspension and event/activity
cancellations (e.g., suspension/cancellations for longer than two weeks). This
longer-term, and likely broader-reaching, strategy is intended to slow
transmission rates of COVID-19 in the community. During extended class
suspensions, cancel extracurricular group activities and large events.
Remember to implement strategies to ensure the continuity of education,
research, and housing as well as meal programs and other essential services
for students.
Institutes of Higher Education
Planning and Preparedness
How should my school prepare when there is minimal to moderate community transmission?
Work with your local health officials to determine a set of strategies
appropriate for your community’s situation. Continue using the preparedness
strategies implemented for no community transmission, and consider the
following social distancing strategies:

Cancel large gatherings
Cancel or modify courses where students are likely to be in very close contact.
Increase space between desks.
Reduce congestion in the health clinic.
Consider if and how existing dining services should be scaled back or adapted.
Institutes of Higher Education
Planning and Preparedness
What should I consider as I plan and prepare for COVID-19?
As you plan and prepare, you should reinforce healthy practices to everyone on
campus and prepare for a potential case of COVID-19, regardless of the level
of community transmission.
As you create and update your preparedness plans, work with your local health
officials to determine the most appropriate plan and action for your college
or university. Together, you will need to consider your local community
situation—whether you have local transmission in your community, and if so,
the level of transmission (none/minimal, minimal to moderate, substantial).
CDC has created guidance for the scenarios listed below, to help colleges,
universities and their partners understand how to help prevent the
transmission of COVID-19 within their campus, and to react quickly should a
case be identified. The administrators’ guidance includes information about
the following:

How to prepare if you have no community spread of COVID-19.
How to prepare if you have minimal to moderate community spread in your community.
How to prepare if you have substantial community spread in your community.
What to do if a person with COVID-19 has entered your school.

See CDC’s full interim guidance for more
details.
Institutes of Higher Education
Dismissals
Should we temporarily cancel extracurricular group activities and large events?
If your community has cases of COVID-19, work with your local public health
officials to determine if you should temporarily cancel
events.
If you decide to dismiss classes, you should also cancel extracurricular group
activities and large events, such as club meetings, performances, social
events, athletic team practices, and sporting events. You should also
discourage students, staff, and faculty from gathering or socializing
elsewhere.
Institutes of Higher Education
Planning and Preparedness
What should I include in my emergency operations plan?
Review and update your emergency operations plan in collaboration with your
local health departmentexternal icon. Focus on the components or annexes of
the plans that address infectious disease outbreaks.

Ensure the plan includes strategies to reduce the spread of a wide variety of infectious diseases (e.g., seasonal influenza). This includes strategies for social distancing and school dismissal that may be used to stop or slow the spread of infectious disease. The plan should also include strategies for continuing education, meal programs, and other related services in the event of school dismissal.
Ensure the plan emphasizes everyday preventive actions for students and staff. For example, emphasize actions such as staying home when sick; appropriately covering coughs and sneezes; cleaning frequently touched surfaces; and washing hands often.
Institutes of Higher Education
Recent Travel
What should we do if a student or staff member recently traveled to an area with COVID-19 or has a family member who has traveled to an area with COVID-19?
Review updatedCDC information for
travelers, including FAQ for
travelers, and consult with state
and local health officials. Health officials may use CDC’s Interim US
Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Persons with
Potential Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Exposure in Travel-associated or
Community Settings to make recommendations. Individuals returning from travel
to areas with community spread of COVID-19 must follow guidance they have
received from health officials.
K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
Administrators
Planning and Responding to COVID-19
What should I do when there is substantial community transmission?
If local health officials have determined there is substantial transmission of
COVID-19 within the community, they will provide guidance to administrators on
the best course of action for child care programs or schools. These strategies
are expected to extend across multiple programs, schools, or school districts
within the community.
You may need to consider extended school dismissals (e.g. dismissals for
longer than 2 weeks). This longer-term, and likely broader-reaching, dismissal
strategy is intended to slow transmission rates of COVID-19 in the community.
During extended school dismissals, also cancel extracurricular group
activities, school-based afterschool programs, and large events (e.g.,
assemblies, spirit nights, field trips, and sporting events). Remember to
implement strategies to ensure the continuity of education (e.g., distance
learning) as well as meal programs and other essential services for students.
K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
Dismissals
If I make the decision for a school dismissal, what else should I consider?
In the event of a school dismissal, extracurricular group activities and large
events, such as performances, field trips, and sporting events should also be
cancelled. This may require close coordination with other partners and
organizations (e.g., high school athletics associations, music associations).
In addition, discourage students and staff from gathering or socializing
anywhere, like at a friend’s house, a favorite restaurant, or the local
shopping mall.
Ensure continuity of meal programs for your students. Consider ways to
distribute food to students who receive free or reduced cost meals. Check with
the US Department of Agriculture – Food and Nutrition Service for additional
information:
https://www.fns.usda.gov/disaster/USDAfoodsPandemicSchools.external
icon If there is
community spread of COVID-19, design strategies to avoid distribution in
settings where people might gather in a group or crowd. Consider options such
as “grab-and-go” bagged lunches or meal delivery.
Consider alternatives for providing essential medical and social services for
students. Continue providing necessary services for children with special
healthcare needs, or work with the state Title V Children and Youth with
Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Program.
K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
Administrators
Planning and Responding to COVID-19
How should my school prepare when there is no community transmission in our area?
The most important thing you can do now is to prepare. Schools need to be
ready if COVID-19 does appear in their communities. Here are some strategies:

Review, update, and implement emergency operations plans.
Develop information-sharing systems with partners.
Teach and reinforce health hygiene practices.
Intensify cleaning and disinfection efforts.
Monitor and plan for absenteeism.
Assess group gatherings and events. Follow current guidance about non-critical gatherings and events.
Require sick students and staff to stay home. Establish procedures for students and staff who are sick at school.
Create and test communications plans for use with the school community.
Review CDC’s guidance for business and employers.
K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
Recent Travel
What should we do if a child, student, or staff member has recently traveled to an area with COVID-19 or has a family member who has traveled to an area with COVID-19?
Review updated CDC information for
travelers,
including FAQ for
travelers, and
consult with state and local health officials. Health officials may use CDC’s
Interim US Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of
Persons with Potential Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Exposure in Travel-
associated or Community Settings to make recommendations. Individuals
returning from travel to areas with community spread of COVID-19 must follow
guidance they have received from health officials.