Aberdeen Heights reports three positive COVID-19 tests

Aberdeen Heights has been notified of three new COVID-19 positive tests after residents and employees were re-tested last week.

“Our top priority remains the safety of our residents and staff members,” said Rick Cumberland, executive director. “Our employees have worked very hard to ensure the safety and health of our residents throughout this pandemic, and continue to work hard to contain the virus in our community.”

Aberdeen Heights tested 106 employees on Friday, June 19. Two essential direct-care employees tested positive. One employee last worked Monday, June 15, and passed the employee screening for their shift that day.  That employee did not work their scheduled shifts the rest of the week due to illness. The second employee last worked Friday, June 19, and passed employee screenings. The employee is not showing signs or symptoms of COVID-19. Both employees were wearing personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks and gowns as required for their job responsibilities.

In addition, 78 residents of The Glen at Aberdeen Heights, which includes assisted living, memory support and health care, were tested Friday. One healthcare resident tested positive for COVID-19. The resident has been in isolation since June 15, after the community learned an agency direct-care provider who was working in The Glen tested positive for COVID-19. The resident is not showing signs or symptoms of the virus.

The community will test 33 employees on Monday, June 22, who were not able to do the test on Friday. Of the tests on Friday, 104 employee tests are still pending results. Two resident tests are pending. The remaining 75 resident tests are negative for COVID-19.

We have notified the St. Louis County Health Department and are conducting contact tracing to determine who each has been in contact with within the community. Testing and quarantining will be completed in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and health department recommendations. Residents who were in direct contact with the positive employees will be placed in isolation pending COVID-19 testing results.

All required federal, state and local agencies have been notified. We will follow any additional direction from the St. Louis Health Department.

The COVID positive resident will remain in isolation and be cared for by the COVID-19 Rapid Response Team. The resident will be re-tested and must be COVID-19 negative before returning to their regular room. Per CDC guidelines, the resident must have negative results from an FDA Emergency Use Authorized COVID-19 molecular assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from at least 2 consecutive respiratory specimens collected at least 24 hours apart (total of two negative specimens). Rapid Response Team members are following doctor’s orders for treatment protocols and following CDC infection prevention protocols.

The employees who tested positive will remain in isolation until cleared to return to work by the St. Louis County Health Department. Per CDC guidelines, team members may return to work under two scenarios. Symptomatic positive employees must have been symptom free for 72 hours without the aid of a fever reducer and demonstrate improvement in respiratory symptoms, and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.  For positive employees with no symptoms, they must have negative results from an FDA Emergency Use Authorized COVID-19 molecular assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from at least 2 consecutive respiratory specimens collected at least 24 hours apart (total of two negative specimens). 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.  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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