Aberdeen Heights reports two more positive COVID-19 tests

Aberdeen Heights has been notified of two new COVID-19 positive tests employee testing concluded at the community earlier this week.

“Our top priority remains the safety of our residents and staff members,” said Lily Landy, health care administrator.

The senior living community was notified by its lab that two employees tested Monday, June 22, have tested positive for COVID-19.

One employee last worked June 21 and passed employee screening. The employee is a non-essential, non-direct resident care employee. The second employee is an essential direct-resident care employee who last worked today and also passed employee screening. Neither employee is 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.

The community reported Sunday, June 21, that 106 employees were tested June 19. Of those tested, two essential direct-resident care employees tested positive for COVID-19. The other 104 employees tested negative. An additional 31 employees were tested Monday, June 22, and 29 were negative. The final two employees were tested Tuesday, June 23, and both were negative.

Also on June 19, the community tested 78 residents of The Glen at Aberdeen Heights. The community reported Sunday, June 21, one healthcare resident tested positive for COVID-19. The resident has been in isolation since June 15, and will remain in isolation until COVID-negative. The remaining 77 resident tests are negative for COVID-19. As we have been doing since March, we will continue to monitor residents for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 during every shift. At this time, no residents are showing signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

The St. Louis County Health Department has been notified and the community is conducting contact tracing to determine who each has been in contact 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 Aberdeen Heights employees and residents of The Glen at Aberdeen Heights will be re-tested for COVID-19 next week.

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

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 once they 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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