An Aberdeen Heights employee tests positive for COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact senior living communities, Aberdeen Heights announces that an essential healthcare employee has tested positive for the virus.

“We’ll continue to keep the health and safety of our residents and employees top of mind as we remain vigilant against the virus,” said Rick Cumberland, executive director.

The employee last worked Friday, August 21. The employee sought COVID testing after feeling ill over the weekend and received a positive test result late on Saturday, August 22.

Aberdeen Heights conducted contact tracing, which determined an additional employee may have been exposed to the virus. That individual, also an essential healthcare employee, has been asked to quarantine at home.

The St. Louis County Health Department has recommended mass testing for all employees of The Glen, as well as residents in memory care and the health care center. The campus has suspended outdoor visits, group dining and group activities allowed during Missouri’s phase 1 of reopening senior living communities pending the test results. Testing will be conducted mid-week.

All employees who test positive will remain in isolation until cleared to return to work by the St. Louis 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.

Aberdeen Heights 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 Aberdeen Heights’ response, go to PMMA’s (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s) website, presbyterianmanors.org/media-room.

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