Press Release: Meadowlark Prepares for Possible Cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

By Sarah Duggan on March 16, 2020

MANHATTAN, KAN. – Meadowlark, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community in Manhattan, is preparing for possible cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus). While eight cases of COVID-19 have been identified as presumptively positive in Kansas, no cases have been suspected in Manhattan community and adjacent areas. Much about the virus is still unknown, but it is known that the population Meadowlark serves – older adults with underlying medical conditions – are at the highest risk for the most serious forms of infection associated with this new disease.

“The health and wellness of our residents and employees who support them is our number one priority,” said Lonnie Baker, CEO. “We are staying abreast of the latest information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).”

Based upon revised recommendations from CMS and the CDC, Meadowlark closed the campus to visitors effective at 2 p.m. Friday, March 13, 2020. This is an effort to combat the spread of the disease and protect the health and welfare of our residents. “We encourage loved ones to communicate with residents in other ways than in-person visits like video chat, telephone, or social media,” said Sarah Duggan, Community Relations Director. “These precautions are vital to helping us avoid and minimize the possible spread of this virus.”

Meadowlark is also educating staff, residents, and families on symptom awareness for COVID-19 and infection control best practices and have clear protocols for staff to stay home and not come to work if they are ill or symptomatic.

Detailed and specific plans already in place for a wide range of emergencies are being updated and evaluated as new information becomes available, and we are working closely with other healthcare providers in our community to help ensure the health and safety of all.

As we navigate this challenge, we remain focused on providing exceptional care and services for our residents.

“Meadowlark is dedicated to health and wellbeing of our healthcare professionals and older adults,” said Baker. “Our teams ask the public to support this important effort by taking care of themselves and adhering to our no-visitation procedure as it relates to COVID-19.”