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Second Fort Scott Presbyterian Village resident tests positive for COVID-19

A second resident at Fort Scott Presbyterian Village has tested positive for the novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). The resident was tested after the health department ordered mass testing of the community when a resident tested positive for the virus on August 13.

The community tested 71 employees and residents on August 13. This case brings the campus’ total to two COVID-19  positive residents. Due to the presence of two or more cases of COVID-19, the campus is now considered a COVID-19 cluster. A cluster is defined as two non-household cases of COVID-19 associated with a specific location during a specified time period.

The residents are being cared for in isolation per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and PMMA protocols. Fort Scott Presbyterian Village has designated a special COVID-19 response team who is providing care. The residents will remain in isolation until symptom free in accordance with CDC guidelines.

“We continue to keep resident and employee health and safety at the forefront of our efforts,” said Jeanne Gerstenkorn, PMMA’s vice president for health and wellness and chief infection preventist.

The Bourbon County Health Department and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment have been notified. Another round of campus-wide testing will be conducted next week per the health department’s recommendation. We will follow any additional instructions from the health department.

For the residents, we will follow CDC and KDHE guidelines for when the resident may come out of isolation. Under the current guidelines, symptomatic residents may come out of isolation when at least 72 hours have passed since resolution of the resident’s fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and the resident’s symptoms have improved and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. If asymptomatic, the resident will remain in isolation for 14 days. Rapid Response Team members are following doctor’s orders for treatment protocols and following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) infection prevention protocols.

Our reopening plans are on further hold, with restrictions in place on group dining and activities and continued restrictions on visitation.

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

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