Employee tests positive for COVID-19 on Sept 15

With COVID-19 still a serious issue in the region and across the nation, Farmington Presbyterian Manor announces that an essential healthcare employee has tested positive for the virus.

“We continue to prioritize the health and well-being of our residents and employees,” said Jane Hull, executive director.

The employee last worked on Sunday, September 13.  They were tested yesterday, the same day all employees were tested as part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandated surveillance testing, which is currently taking place weekly at our community. However, this employee was tested at a respiratory clinic, per doctor’s orders, due to not feeling well.

We have been in touch with the St. Francois County Health Department and per their recommendation, we will test all health care residents as soon as tomorrow, and again four days later. The next round of employee tests will take place on Monday, September 21.

The employee who tested positive is recovering outside of the community.

All employees who test positive will remain in isolation until cleared to return to work by the St. Francois County Health Department. Under the current CDC guidelines, symptomatic employees may return to work when at least 24 hours have passed since resolution of the employee’s 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 will quarantine for 14 days. Upon the employee’s return to work, we will follow CDC recommendations related to work practices and restrictions.

Farmington Presbyterian Manor continues to screen all employees as they enter the community building for a shift and before they have any direct contact with residents.  In addition, staff members are wearing masks per CDC recommendations.

For more information about Farmington Presbyterian Manor’s response, go to PMMA’s (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s) website, presbyterianmanors.org/media-room.