AC PMMA employees test positive for COVID-19 1/22

Five Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor employees tested positive for COVID-19 this week.

Four were essential health care workers and one was a non-direct resident care employee. All last worked between December 15 and January 25, passing pre-shift screenings and wearing personal protective equipment as required.

The Cowley County Health Department has been notified and their guidance will be followed for testing, quarantine and visitation.  Visitation continues with screening and precautions. Residents will be monitored for signs and symptoms and tested for COVID-19 as needed. Surveillance testing will continue for staff in accordance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance.

These cases bring our total since January 10 to 19 employees and 1 contractor. All employee tests were negative following a second round of surveillance testing on January 27.

We will follow the PMMA® Emergent Infectious Disease Policy and CDC and KDHE guidelines for when the employees may return to work. 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.