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

• Published in: PLoS pathogens Vol. 16; no. 8; p. e1008756
• Main Author: Goldschmidt-Clermont, Pascal J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.08.2020; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Betacoronavirus; Biology and life sciences; Business enterprises; Contact tracing; Contact Tracing - methods; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Distribution; Economic aspects; Employees; Engineering and Technology; Enterprise resource planning; Epidemics; Forecasts and trends; Hand Hygiene - methods; Health aspects; Humans; Mass Screening - methods; Medicine and Health Sciences; Occupational health; Organizational Culture; Pandemics; Pearls; People and places; Personal Protective Equipment - supply & distribution; Physical Distancing; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Primary Prevention - methods; Professional Corporations; Quarantine; Safety and security measures; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; United States; United States - epidemiology; Viral diseases; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 1553-7374; 1553-7366; 1553-7374
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008756

This Pearl article recounts the story of a US corporation, Lennar, the nation's leading homebuilder, an essential function in the US (not allowed to lock down), when faced with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic at the end of February 2020. The culture of the company, which allowed it to proceed safely, is one of cohesion, trust, teamwork, and respect for fellow humans. Theirs is a culture in which the safety, wellness, and health of the associates (employees) and the communities they serve is the number one priority. All associates wear a name badge with first name only, and all name badges share the same family name, Lennar. At Lennar, individual success means nothing, and collective success means everything. This is the story of how Lennar took control of the COVID-19 pandemic, metamorphosed itself into an even stronger organization, better suited to deal with COVID-19, and more importantly, optimally suited for the 21st century. The lessons learned not only were instrumental to Lennar but could also apply to any company eager to reopen their business.