Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Thorne Crest Senior Living Community confirmed Tuesday an employee of the facility was diagnosed with COVID-19 over the weekend.

A letter from Administrator Shari McNamara to families of residents on Monday stated the last time the employee was on campus was May 26 and the employee will remain out until fully recovered.

“Resident safety is our top priority,” McNamara said. “We are doing everything we can to ensure we stop the spread of COVID-19 at our campus, including staying in very close communication with local and state health officials to ensure we are taking all the appropriate steps.”

This includes continuing to not permit visitors per the direction of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Freeborn County Public Health Department.

McNamara said the employee was wearing a surgical mask and eye protection, which is the proper personal protective equipment.

All residents who resided in the health center and assisted living are assessed at least daily, if not up to three times a day for an elevated temperature and COVID-19 symptoms.

The positive test comes as area counties continue to see new lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported. According to the Freeborn County Public Health Department, three new cases were reported in Freeborn County on Tuesday, increasing the county’s total cumulative cases to 188.

Of that total, 124 are out of isolation and one is hospitalized, the department said.

The new cases included two people in their 30s and one in their 40s.

The state health department reported 15 new cases in Mower County, bringing the county’s total cases to 537.