Parsons Presbyterian provides New COVID-19 update

With the Labette County positivity rate for COVID-19 testing above 17 percent, Parsons Presbyterian Manor reports six new cases of COVID-19 among campus employees. The campus also conducted its first COVID-19 vaccination clinic on January 7.

Parsons Presbyterian Manor tested residents and staff twice last week due to an outbreak at the community that started November 28. Through two rounds of employee surveillance testing January 4 and January 7, the six new cases were identified. Resident mass testing January 5 and 7 revealed no new cases.

We tested 44 employees and 7 contractors on Monday, January 4. Three non-direct resident care employees and two essential health care workers tested positive for COVID-19. One of the non-direct resident care employees last worked December 31. Two other non-direct resident care employees last worked January 4. The two essential health care workers last worked January 1 and January 3. All five employees passed pre-shift screenings and wore personal protective equipment as required. Three of the five employees reported close contacts who recently tested positive for COVID-19.

On Thursday, January 7, we tested 46 employees and 8 contractors. One new case of COVID-19 was detected. The employee is a non-direct resident care employee who has not worked since before Christmas.

We will follow CDC and KDHE guidelines for when the employees may return to work. Under the current guidelines, symptomatic employees may return to work when at least 72 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 or contractors will quarantine for at least 10 days. Upon their return to work, we will follow CDC recommendations related to work practices and restrictions.

We will continue to monitor residents for signs and symptoms of respiratory illness and COVID-19 on every shift.

We encourage all staff members and residents to follow CDC guidelines and best practices as these are continually updated.  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 staff to stay at home if they are experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness or not feeling well.

As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available, it should play an instrumental role in eventually moving toward resuming our normal operations. Every person who receives the vaccine will strengthen the protection for all residents, staff and the community at-large. PMMA strongly encourages our families, employees and residents to carefully consider obtaining a vaccine for themselves as well as their loved ones.

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