Employees test positive for COVID-19 in latest round of testing

Two non-direct care employees at Farmington Presbyterian Manor have tested positive for COVID-19.

“We remain vigilant amid the ongoing pandemic, prioritizing resident and employee safety,” said Jane Hull, executive director.

The employees last worked on December 9, screening in before their shifts and wearing personal protective equipment while at work. These were the only positive results from this round of testing. All resident tests were negative this week. 100 residents and 104 staff were tested this week.

We have notified the St. Francois County Health Department and will conduct contact tracing.  We will continue with bi-weekly employee testing next week, based on our county’s positivity rate.

We will follow CDC guidelines for when the employees may return to work. Under the current guidelines, symptomatic employees may return to work when at least 24 hours have passed since resolution of 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 at least 10 days. Upon their return to work, we will follow CDC recommendations related to work practices and restrictions.

All employees are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines and best practices as these are continually updated. We have been screening individuals as they enter the community building for a shift and before individuals have any direct contact with residents.  We educate all staff to stay at home if they are experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness or not feeling well.

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