Woman leaves job after learning facility was housing COVID-19 positive student

BEAVER CO., Pa. — A housekeeper at a Beaver County hotel told Channel 11 she quit her job this week because she is afraid for her health -- and that of her children.

Janet Mabin said she was part of the cleaning staff at the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel in Monaca until two days ago, when she found out the facility was housing a Penn State-Beaver student who tested positive for COVID-19.

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According to university officials, one student is currently quarantining there. Through contact tracing, the school also has a few others isolated as a precaution.

Penn State-Beaver contracted the local hotel so students can quarantine according to CDC guidelines.

Students are brought over by medical transport, a campus staff member is on-site to maintain quarantine protocol, and the school provides every essential so the student never has to leave the room.

The CEO of EXCL Hospitality, the company that manages the hotel in Monaca, would not confirm the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel is a quarantine facility for Penn State. However, she did say hotels have served as a home away from home for people who have been exposed -- and her staff is trained to assume all guests are asymptomatic and could have the virus.

She told Channel 11 the hotel is taking massive precautions.

• All rooms have outside windows
• They are self-sufficient (kitchen, WiFi, independent heating and A/C)
• Staff sanitize the room when they enter and exit
• Staff wear gloves and a mask

Mabin said despite those precautions, it isn’t worth the risk of spreading COVID-19 to her family.

“If you don’t want your family sick, then you have to make a decision, and I’d make that decision every time. My kids will come first,” she said.

However, Mabin told Channel 11 she loved her job and will be happy to come back to work after the pandemic.

Cox Media Group