Two new cases of COVID-19 at Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor

Two new cases of COVID-19 were detected at Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor this week.

A third-party direct care contractor, who last worked November 30, tested positive during surveillance testing. The contractor passed pre-shift screening and wore personal protective equipment as required. The contractor tested negative for COVID-19 on November 24 during surveillance testing.

In addition, an essential health care worker tested positive for COVID-19 Monday, November 29. The employee last worked November 21 and passed pre-shift screening. On Monday, the employee notified a supervisor that they were experiencing signs or symptoms of COVID-19 after close contact exposure. The employee completed a drive-through point-of-care test at the community.

The Cowley County Health Department has been notified and the community will follow their direction.

Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor follows 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.