Aberdeen Heights worker tests positive for COVID-19

As safety and security remain a top priority amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Aberdeen Heights announces that a non-direct resident care employee has tested positive for COVID-19.

“The safety of our residents and staff members is our top concern on a daily basis,” said Rick Cumberland, executive director.

The employee last worked August 13. On Monday, August 10, the employee called in, reporting they were not feeling well. The employee did not work Monday through Wednesday, and sought COVID testing on Monday, August 10. The results were still pending when the employee returned to work after reporting they were feeling better. The employee reported early Friday morning that their test was positive. This brings our 7-day total of cases to 2 employees.

This event provided an opportunity to remind our team members that employees who have a pending COVID-19 test should not report to work until their results are known.

Contact tracing is being handled by the community, and employees who are identified will be asked to quarantine at home for 14 days.

The St. Louis County Health Department will be relied upon for further direction related to this positive test at the community.

The employee is quarantined and will not be allowed to work until they meet CDC guidelines for when an employee may return to work. Under the current 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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