One employee tests positive for COVID-19 at Arkansas City PMMA

Two rounds of employee surveillance testing at Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor revealed one essential health care worker who tested positive for COVID-19.

“Our team remains vigilant in our efforts to protect the health and safety of residents and staff,” said Jeanne Gerstenkorn, PMMA’s (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s) vice president for health and wellness and infection preventionist.

The employee is an essential health care worker who tested negative on December 14 and last worked December 12. The employee passed pre-shift screening and wore personal protective equipment as required.

The Cowley County Health Department has been notified, and the senior living community will follow any additional direction provided. Due to the employee’s negative test on December 14, the health department does not consider this employee an exposure risk for residents at the campus. The next round of testing for employees will be Monday, December 21. Employee surveillance testing will continue as required. Based on our county positivity rate for COVID-19 tests, our campus is testing staff twice a week.

The employee who tested positive will remain in isolation until cleared to work by the health department. We follow CDC and KDHE guidelines for when an employee may return to work. Under the current guidelines, symptomatic employees may return to work when at least 72 hours have passed since resolution of the employee’s fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and the employee’s symptoms  have improved and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Asymptomatic positive employees will quarantine for a minimum of 10 days. Upon the employee’s return to work, we will follow CDC recommendations related to work practices and restrictions.

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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