With another week of testing complete, Salina Presbyterian Manor reports seven new cases of COVID-19 at the campus.
One PATH® (Post-Acute to Home) program resident tested positive during weekly resident testing for COVID-19, and a second resident in the PATH program tested positive with a rapid point-of-care test after exhibiting signs and symptoms. The residents were placed in COVID-19 isolation to be cared for by designated team members following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocols and physician’s orders, a news release from Presbyterian Manor noted.
An independent living resident also tested positive with a rapid POC test after exhibiting signs and symptoms of the virus. The resident will self-isolate in their apartment until they meet the KDHE and CDC guidelines for leaving isolation following a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
“Our efforts to keep COVID-19 out of our building continue,” said Jeanne Gerstenkorn, PMMA’s vice president for health and wellness and infection preventionist. “The two-week rolling average for positive COVID-19 tests in Saline County dropped significantly, and is now hovering just above 10-percent. This virus is highly contagious, and it is vitally important that everyone in the surrounding communities continue to do their part to reduce the spread.”
Three essential health care workers tested positive with rapid point-of-care tests this week and one non-direct resident care employee tested positive in the community’s employee surveillance testing on Wednesday, January 13. The essential health care employees last worked January 10, and the non-direct resident care employee last worked January 13. The employees had passed pre-shift screening and wore personal protective equipment as required.
The residents will recover in isolation until they meet CDC and KDHE guidelines for leaving isolation. Under the current guidelines, symptomatic residents may leave isolation when at least 72 hours have passed since resolution of the resident’s fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and the resident’s symptoms have improved and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Asymptomatic positive residents will quarantine for at least 10 days.
The COVID positive employees will quarantine at home and will not be allowed to work until they meet CDC and KDHE guidelines for when they may return to work. Under the current guidelines, symptomatic employees may return to work when at least 72 hours have passed since resolution of their 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 the employee’s return to work, we will follow CDC recommendations related to work practices and restrictions.
The facility's next round of testing will be, Monday. Employees will be tested twice a week for surveillance testing and residents once a week, the news release noted.