Manor of the Plains Reports More Covid Test Results

Manor of the Plains received good news with the results of the campus-wide COVID-19 testing completed last week. All residents--independent living, assisted living and health care—tested negative for COVID-19.

Last week, the community tested 140 employees and residents for COVID-19. One employee has tested positive for COVID 19, and 10 employees will need to be retested due to issues with the samples at the lab. Those tests were completed today.

“Our residents’ health and safety is our top priority,” said John Van Hook, Manor of the Plains executive director. “Your Manor of the Plains team continues to be 100% committed to caring for your loved ones and keeping them safe especially in regard to COVID-19.”

The community has consulted with Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, our medical director, Dr. Jeremy Presley, the KDHE epidemiology hotline, and the Ford County Health Department. They have recommended that Manor of the Plains continue with the preventive measures already have in place for combatting the spread of COVID-19 in the senior living community. These measures include wearing personal protective equipment as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), employee screening as they arrive for work, and monitoring residents for signs and symptoms of respiratory illness and other COVID-19 symptoms during each shift.

“I am happy to announce that our resident who previously tested positive for COVID-19 has had two consecutive negative COVID-19 nasal swab tests and has been moved from the COVID-19 isolation area to their regular room,” Van Hook said. “In addition, two employees who previously tested positive also have had two consecutive negative COVID-19 nasal swab tests and have been cleared to return to work.”

The employee who tested positive is recuperating at home. Before returning to work, employees 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.

Manor of the Plains implemented a strict no visitor policy at the community and discontinued group activities and communal dining for the entire campus per guidelines released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the CDC on March 13. The CDC has been notified of the positive tests per CMS regulation. The community will follow any additional guidance from the Ford County Health Department and the CDC.

All residents, including independent living residents, have been strongly encouraged to follow the CDC/CMS guidelines and Kansas’ reopening plans. We continue to strongly advise our independent living residents to adhere to the no visitor “rule,” and limit the number of medically non-essential appointments, events and gatherings attended off campus. Upon returning to the community, residents are asked a series of CDC recommended questions about recent travel, ­health status, and exposure risks and receive temperature checks.

We encourage all staff members to follow CDC guidelines and best practices as these are continually updated. We have been screening employees as they enter the community building for a shift and before employees have any direct contact with residents. We educate all staff to stay at home if they are experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness or not feeling well.

For more information about Manor of the Plains’ response, go to PMMA’s (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s) website, presbyterianmanors.org/media-room.