Aberdeen Heights reports COVID-19 positive employee, residents

An essential health care worker and two independent living residents at Aberdeen Heights have tested positive for COVID-19.

The employee, who last worked July 25, passed pre-shift screening and wore personal protective equipment as required. The employee sought testing after a close contact tested positive for the virus and received the positive test result Monday, August 2.

In addition, two independent living residents have tested positive for the virus. The residents will quarantine in their apartment until cleared to leave isolation. Through contact tracing, no staff or other residents have been identified as potential exposure risks.

We have notified the St. Louis County Health Department and will follow any additional guidance provided. We will continue to test unvaccinated staff weekly in accordance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements due to the positivity rate in St. Louis County.

Under the current guidelines, symptomatic residents may leave isolation when at least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and their symptoms have improved and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Asymptomatic positive residents will quarantine for at least 10 days.

The employee will quarantine at home until cleared to return to work. We will follow CDC guidelines for when an employee or contractor may return to work. Under the current guidelines, symptomatic individuals may return to work when at least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and their symptoms have improved and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Asymptomatic positive employees and contractors will quarantine for at least 10 days. Upon their 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.  Residents will continue to be monitored for signs and symptoms of the virus. Employees and residents are encouraged to follow CDC guidance for preventing and containing the spread of COVID-19.

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

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