12/21 Aberdeen Heights employees positive for COVID-19

Six employees of Aberdeen Heights have tested positive for COVID-19.

The employees, three direct-care and three non-direct care, last worked on dates ranging from December 19 through December 27, passing pre-shift screening and wearing personal protective equipment as required.

The St. Louis County Health Department was notified, and the campus will follow any additional guidance provided. Aberdeen Heights continues to comply with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandate to test staff on a frequency determined by the county transmission rate for COVID-19 in St. Louis County.

The employees will quarantine at home until cleared to return to work. We will follow CDC guidelines for when an employee 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 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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