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Employees, contractor at Lawrence PMMA test positive for COVID-19

One direct-care employee and one non-direct care employee have tested positive for COVID-19 at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor. Additionally, a contract therapist has tested positive.

“The safety of our residents and employees remains our highest priority,” said Jeanne Gerstenkorn, PMMA’s infection preventionist and vice president for health and wellness.

Last evening, November 11, we learned that one of our direct-care employees tested positive for COVID-19. Additionally, a non-direct care employee also tested positive.

The direct-care employee last worked November 9 and screened in before their shift, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times.

The contract therapist worked this morning and was sent home upon learning of the positive result. They screened in and wore PPE.

The non-direct care employee last worked Wednesday, November 11. They screened in before their shift, wearing PPE while working.

On Tuesday, November 10, we tested 77 employees and 2 contract employees as part of our ongoing surveillance testing.

These are the first positive COVID-19 tests at our community in several months.

The Douglas County Health Department has been notified and recommends testing all assisted living residents, health care residents and staff on Monday, November 16. Staff will be tested twice per week, also at the health department’s suggestion. We will follow their recommendations. Additionally, we will pause all in-person therapy until further notice.

We will follow CDC and KDHE guidelines for when an employee or contractor may return to work. Under the current guidelines, symptomatic employees or contractors 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 or contractors will quarantine for 14 days. Upon their return to work, we will follow CDC recommendations related to work practices and restrictions.

Presbyterian Manor will follow any additional guidance from the Douglas County Health Department, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment epidemiology hotline and the CDC.

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 Lawrence Presbyterian Manor’s response, go to PMMA’s (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s) website, presbyterianmanors.org/media-room.

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