Newton Presbyterian Manor employees positive for COVID-19

Two non-direct resident care employees at Newton Presbyterian Manor have tested positive for COVID-19.

Tuesday, August 31, the campus was notified a non-direct resident care employee tested positive for COVID-19 via a rapid point-of-care (POC) test. The employee last worked on Friday, August 27, passed pre-shift screening and wore personal protective equipment as required.

Following surveillance testing Monday for unvaccinated employees, the campus was notified September 2 that a second non-direct resident care employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee last worked on Wednesday, September 1, passed pre-shift screening and wore personal protective equipment as required.

The Harvey County Health Department has been notified. We will test unvaccinated employees again next week in compliance with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) mandated testing requirement. We will continue to follow the health department guidance on testing. Visitation remains suspended per order of the health department. This is the second positive employee at our campus this week.

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.