CONCORDIA -- A Cloud County Health Center employee has tested positive for COVID-19.
Cloud County Health Center Administrator Dave Garnas confirmed today that a staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. The employee is not a resident of Cloud County and is in isolation at home.
“We take the safety of our staff and community seriously,” Garnas said. “On April 20, 2020 we began taking all patient and staff temperatures when they enter the building. This process has been effective and was how we were able to identify that this staff member did have a fever and needed to be tested and quarantined until results were available.”
Garnas also added, “Staff members experiencing symptoms are instructed to stay home and be tested if they meet KDHE guidelines. Our staff is vital to this organization and to the care of our patients and community.”
Cloud County Health Center has worked with the Cloud County Health Department to conduct a thorough investigation. In accordance with CDC and KDHE guidelines, all patients and staff who interacted with this staff member in the 48 hours before becoming symptomatic have been contacted and informed of any potential risk of exposure. The staff member was wearing personal protective equipment when interacting with patients, making the risk of spread low. If you have not been contacted, you are not at risk of exposure from this individual and there is no need to contact your healthcare provider.
Cloud County continues to have only 3 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases.
If you are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, please call your medical provider. Calling ahead of time allows healthcare workers to screen patients and lessen possible exposure within a facility.
“It is important that we all work together to protect our community from the spread of this virus” Garnas said.