Four new cases of COVID-19 at Newton Presbyterian Manor

Four new cases of COVID-19 were detected at Newton Presbyterian Manor this week.

Two health care residents have tested positive for COVID-19 after exhibiting signs or symptoms consistent with the virus. The residents are in isolation, where they are receiving care from designated team members who are following the PMMA® Emergent Infectious Disease (EID) policy and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) infection control and prevention protocols and physician’s orders.

One essential health care worker and one non-direct resident care employee also tested positive for COVID-19 this week. The employees last worked Tuesday, February 15 and Wednesday, February 16, passing pre-shift screening and wearing personal protective equipment as required.

The Harvey County Health Department has been notified, and the campus will follow their guidance. Employees will be tested again next week in compliance with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandated testing requirement. The campus had gone a full week without any new cases of COVID-19 prior to this positive test. This brings the community’s total new cases since February 11 to five – three employees and two residents.

Newton Presbyterian Manor will follow PMMA’s EID Policy and CDC and KDHE guidelines for when the employees may return to work and any work restrictions upon their return.

PMMA strongly encourages our families, employees and residents to carefully consider getting a COVID-19 vaccination for themselves, as well as their loved ones. Every person who receives the vaccine will strengthen the protection for all residents, staff and the community at-large.

All employees are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines and best practices as these are continually updated. The community regularly reinforces with all staff that an employee should not report to work if he or she is experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness or not feeling well.

For more information about Newton Presbyterian Manor’s response, go to PMMA’s (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s) website, presbyterianmanors.org/media-room.