2 Employees at Emporia Presbyterian Manor test positive for COVID-19

An essential health care worker and a non-direct care employee at Emporia Presbyterian Manor have tested positive for COVID-19.

“At this time, we will continue to prioritize resident and employee safety,” said Susan Siepelmeier, executive director.

The positive tests resulted from ongoing bi-weekly surveillance testing, which took place on Monday, December 7, and Wednesday, December 9. The employees last worked on December 6 and December 7, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) while working and screening in before their shifts.

We have notified the Flint Hills Community Health Department and will continue with bi-weekly testing at our campus.

We will follow CDC and KDHE guidelines for when an employee 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 will quarantine for at least 10 days. Upon their return to work, we will follow CDC recommendations related to work practices and restrictions.

Presbyterian Manor will follow any additional guidance from the Flint Hills Community Health Department, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment epidemiology hotline and the CDC.

All employees are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines and best practices as these are continually updated. 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.

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