A Newton Presbyterian Manor employee positive for COVID-19

A non-direct resident care employee at Newton PresbyterianManor has tested positive for COVID-19.

The employee notified leadership that they tested positive for COVID-19 late yesterday. The employee last worked on Tuesday, July 27, passed pre-shift screening and wore personal protective equipment as required.

The Harvey County Health Department has been notified. We will proceed with testing all non-vaccinated employees on Monday, August 2, which will fulfill the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) mandated testing requirement. We will follow the health department guidance on testing any non-vaccinated assisted living and health care residents.

As a precaution, indoor visitation has been suspended for health care residents. Indoor and outdoor visitation continues for assisted living residents.

We will follow CDC and KDHE guidelines for when the employee may return to work. Under the current guidelines, symptomatic employees may return to work when at least 72 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and the employee’s symptoms have improved and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Asymptomatic positive employees will quarantine for at least 10 days. Upon their return to work, we will follow CDC recommendations related to work practices and restrictions.

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.