COVID-19 real-world data for the US and lessons to reopen business

Abstract

In March of 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had expanded to the United States. Companies designated as “essential” for the US had to maintain productivity in spite of the growing threat created by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. With this report, we present the response of one such company, the Lennar Corporation, the nation’s leading homebuilder in the US. Within days, Lennar had implemented a morning health check via its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, to identify associates (employees) who were sick, or not in their “usual state of health.” With this survey, Lennar was able to ensure that sick associates would not show up to work and, instead, would self-quarantine at home. Furthermore, with thorough contact tracing, associates exposed to COVID-19 patients (suspected or reverse transcription [RT]-PCR-test–confirmed) were also asked to self-quarantine. Through this survey—in addition to other safety measures, such as an overhaul of the company with nearly 50% of the company working from home in response to the virus, prolific communication, and many more measures—Lennar was able to function safely for its associates and successfully as an enterprise. The data that we present here are “real world data” collected in the context of working throughout a dreadful pandemic, and the lessons learned could be helpful to other companies that are preparing to return to work.