Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor received good news with the results of campus-wide testing completed last week, according to a press release from the senior living community.
All residents—independent living, assisted living, memory care and health care —tested negative for COVID-19.
Last week, the community tested 212 residents and employees. Employees tested during the campus-wide testing on June 25 also were negative for COVID-19. Two employees were out of town and will be tested this week.
In addition, follow-up testing will be done related to the two previously reported positive tests.
“Our top priority continues to be the safety of our residents and staff members,” said Sarah Griggs, executive director.
Both employees who previously tested positive will remain in isolation until cleared to work by the City-Cowley County Health Department.
Per CDC guidelines, there are two ways team members can be cleared to return to work. Team members may return to work once they have been symptom free for 72 hours without the aid of a fever reducer and demonstrate improvement in respiratory symptoms, and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
Asymptomatic employees must have negative results from an FDA Emergency Use Authorized COVID-19 molecular assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from at least 2 consecutive respiratory specimens collected at least 24 hours apart (total of two negative specimens). Upon their return to work, we will follow CDC recommendations related to work practices and restrictions.
Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor implemented a strict no visitor policy at the community and discontinued group activities and communal dining for the entire campus per guidelines released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the CDC on March 13.
“We encourage all staff members to follow CDC guidelines and best practices as these are continually updated,” the press release stated. “We have been screening employees as they enter the community building for a shift and before employees have any direct contact with residents.
“We educate all employees to stay at home if they are experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness or not feeling well.”
According to the City-Cowley County Health Departmental website Tuesday morning, 71 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the county since the pandemic began with 25 considered currently active and 45 recovered.
An Ark City man who tested positive April 1 died a week later and remains the only death in the county connected to the virus.
So far, 1,522 people have been tested in the county since a national emergency proclamation was issued by the White House on March 13.
Cowley County has a population of 34,908 people as of July 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Statewide, KDHE reported Monday 14,443 positive cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed across Kansas since March, including 1,152 hospitalizations, 270 deaths and 162,282 negative tests.
Kay County, Oklahoma, has recorded 97 cases so far and remains at seven deaths. The state of Oklahoma has now recorded 13,172 cases and 387 deaths.
