Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor residents, employees positive 1/22

Thirteen new cases of COVID-19 were detected at Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor between December 30 and January 7, and one resident who previously tested positive for the virus died.

“We are saddened by the resident’s death,” said Sarah Griggs, executive director. “Every resident is important to us, and we mourn each death. I invite you to join our team in praying for the resident and the resident’s family during this difficult time.”

Three cases were residents in the health care center, where six additional essential health care workers tested positive. The remaining seven employees are non-direct resident caregivers. The employees last worked between December 31 and January 6. All passed pre-shift screening and wore personal protective equipment during their last shifts worked. This brings our total new cases among residents and employees on our campus since December 21 to 34, with 12 residents and 22 staff members.

The Cowley County Health Department has been notified and their guidance will be followed for testing, quarantine and visitation.  Per their guidance, visitation continues to be suspended in health care and memory care at least through January 13. However, because the newest cases are not related to the cases in the health care center or memory care, residents do not need to be tested again unless they exhibit signs or symptoms of the virus.

The COVID positive residents will recover in isolation and be cared for by designated staff following doctor’s orders for treatment protocols and following CDC infection prevention protocols. We will follow PMMA’s Emergent Infectious Disease (EID) Policy and CDC and KDHE guidelines for when the resident may come out of isolation.

We will follow CDC and KDHE guidelines and the PMMA Emergent Infectious Disease Policy 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.