Two additional Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor residents who previously tested positive for COVID-19 have died, according to a news release from the Manor Wednesday.
“Our residents are part of our family,” said Sarah Griggs, executive director. “Every passing is difficult. We’re brokenhearted for these residents and their families.”
Three residents have now died due to COVID-19, according to the Manor.
The Manor reported the first death on Nov. 2.
Total deaths in Cowley County associated with the virus are now estimated to be 12, though local information on deaths via the City-Cowley County Health Department has been removed from its website and instead directs to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s website, which does not show the number of deaths for each county.
Statewide, total cases now number 109,225 since a national emergency proclamation was issued by the White House on March 13. Deaths across the state now number 1,215 since March and 34 new deaths have been tallied since Monday.
Cowley County has seen 150 new cases since Friday and 253 new cases since last Monday, Nov. 2. Overall, 861 cases have been confirmed in the county so far since March, according to KDHE.
This week Ark City Middle School, along with Adams, Roosevelt and Jefferson elementary schools with USD 470 have closed and reverted to remote learning until at least the end of the month. Winfield Middle School and Winfield High School have also reverted fully to remote learning.
The Ark City Presbyterian Manor campus continues to conduct routine surveillance testing of employees and weekly outbreak testing for residents in health care and assisted living, according to Wednesday’s news release.
Total number of cases over time in Cowley County. (Graph courtesy KDHE)
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requires surveillance testing of all employees, agency employees, volunteers, hospice, lab and therapy providers at the Manor’s campus to be tested for COVID-19 on a frequency determined by the county’s COVID-19 testing positivity rate.
A round of testing was completed Tuesday and the test results are still pending.
Ark City Presbyterian Manor says it will continue to work with the Cowley County Health Department and the KDHE to stop the outbreak.
“All employees, residents, and visitors are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines and best practices as these are continually updated,” the Manor said. “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.
“The community educates all residents and their families regarding preventive measures to slow the spread to COVID-19 including social distancing, practicing good hand hygiene, wearing an appropriate face covering, and sheltering in place within the community to the greatest extent possible.”
For more information about Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor’s response, go to PMMA’s (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s) website, Presbyterianmanors.org/Media-room.
