Presbyterian Manor employees test positive for COVID-19
Two employees at Salina Presbyterian Manor have tested positive for COVID-19 this week.
The first is a non-direct resident care employee, who last worked Friday, October 29. The employee was tested during outbreak testing Monday, November 1, and was asymptomatic. The employee tested negative on October 28, and passed pre-shift screening and wore personal protective equipment as required when on campus.
The second is an essential health care worker who last worked Tuesday, October 26. The employee has been in quarantine at the direction of the Saline County Health Department since October 26 due to a close contact exposure outside of work.
The Saline County Health Department has been notified and we will follow their guidance. Due to the first case this week, the health department has re-started the timeline for outbreak testing, which will delay the re-opening of visitation in the health care center. Two rounds of testing must be conducted before visitation can re-start in the health care center. Visitation continues in other areas of the campus.
Employee surveillance testing will continue in compliance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements for testing based on county COVID-19 transmission rates.
We will follow CDC and KDHE guidelines for when the employees 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 or contractors will quarantine for at least 10 days. Upon their return to work, we will follow CDC recommendations related to work practices and restrictions.
We encourage all staff members and residents to follow CDC guidelines and best practices as these are continually updated. We have been screening employees as they enter the community building for a shift and before employees have any direct contact with residents. We educate all staff to stay at home if they are experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness or not feeling well.
Every person who receives the vaccine will strengthen the protection for all residents, staff and the community at-large. PMMA continues to strongly encourage our families, employees and residents to carefully consider obtaining a vaccine for themselves as well as their loved ones.
For more information about Salina Presbyterian Manor’s response, go to PMMA’s (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s) website, presbyterianmanors.org/media-room.
