Aberdeen Village residents, employees test positive for COVID-19

Two residents of Aberdeen Village and four employees of the community have tested positive for COVID-19.

On Monday, October 26, we tested 40 health care residents for COVID-19 per recommendations from the Johnson County Health Department due to a previous potential exposure. Of those tested, 39 were negative and 1 resident tested positive. The resident has been moved to the area designated for COVID-19 care.

Last night, an assisted living resident was transported to a local hospital, where a COVID-19 test was administered. That test result was positive.

On Tuesday, October 27, we completed surveillance testing for 127 employees. Those results identified positive results for one employee who works in assisted living providing direct care and three non-direct care employees.

Residents in assisted living have been placed in isolation as a precaution.

“We continue to prioritize resident and employee health and safety during this time,” said Jeanne Gerstenkorn, PMMA’s infection preventionist and vice president for health and wellness.

We have notified the Johnson County Health Department and will follow their guidance. All health care residents will be tested again on Monday, November 2 and again November 9. In addition, all assisted living residents also will be tested November 2 and November 9. Employee surveillance testing will continue as required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Tuesday, November 3. Our testing frequency is determined by the county positivity rate. At this time, we are testing employees once a week.

The COVID positive residents will recover in isolation and be cared for by designated staff. We will follow CDC and KDHE guidelines for when the residents may come out of isolation. Under the current guidelines, symptomatic residents may leave isolation when at least 72 hours have passed since resolution of the resident’s fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and the resident’s symptoms have improved and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Asymptomatic positive residents will quarantine for 14 days. Designated staff members are following doctor’s orders for treatment protocols and following CDC infection prevention protocols.

We follow CDC and KDHE guidelines in determining when an employee may return to work.  Under the current guidelines, the employee may return to work when at least 72 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. If asymptomatic, the employee must quarantine for 14 days before returning to work. Upon the employee’s 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 Aberdeen Village’s response, go to PMMA’s (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s) website, presbyterianmanors.org/media-room.

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