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Health care employee tests positive for COVID-19 at AC PMMA 10/21

One new case of COVID-19 was detected at Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor this week.

“Our efforts to protect the health and safety of our residents and employees continue even as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on,” said Jeanne Gerstenkorn, PMMA’s (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s) vice president for health and wellness and infection preventionist.

The essential healthcare worker called in and reported experiencing signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19 on Monday, September 27. The employee was instructed to complete a drive-through rapid point-of-care test, which was positive for the virus. The employee last worked Sunday, September 26, passing pre-shift screening and wearing personal protective equipment as required. The employee tested negative for COVID-19 during surveillance testing last week, including Thursday, September 23.

Employee surveillance testing will continue next week as required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) based on the Cowley County positivity rate for COVID-19 tests.

The Cowley County Health Department has been notified and we will follow their direction. Due to the high county positivity rate, the health department recommends continuing to suspend indoor visitation for all residents as a precaution. Outdoor visits will continue.

We will follow CDC and KDHE guidelines for when an employee or contractor may return to work. Under the current guidelines, symptomatic individuals may return to work when at least 72 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and their symptoms have improved and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Asymptomatic positive employees and contractors will quarantine for at least 10 days. Upon their return to work, we will follow CDC recommendations related to work practices and restrictions.

PMMA continues to strongly encourage all staff, residents and their families to receive the vaccine. Every person who receives the vaccine will strengthen the protection for all residents, staff and the community at-large.

All team members and residents are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines and best practices as these are continually updated. The community regularly reinforces with all staff that an individual should not report to work if he or she is experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness or not feeling well.

For more information about Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor’s response, go to PMMA’s (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s) website, presbyterianmanors.org/media-room.

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