16 Alzheimer's Patients in Lincoln Test Positive For Coronavirus

SMITHFIELD, RI—The Rhode Island Department of Health confirmed on Wednesday that approximately 16 residents and 6 employees in the memory-care unit at Atria Lincoln Place in Lincoln have tested positive for COVID-19.

The residents and staff members are tested every Tuesday and the results came back Wednesday morning, according to a Tweet sent out by WPRI reporter Brandon Truitt on Wednesday morning and affirmed by the state health department.

The outbreak is one of the largest inside an assisted-living facility in several months, according to Rhode Island COVID-19 data.

"The response we are doing with the facility is cohorting cases, reviewing and enhancing infection control measures, and quarantining contacts," said Rhode Island Department of Health spokesperson Joseph Wendelken in an email. "Staff and residents will be tested regularly as long as the cluster of cases persists."

The outbreak at Atria Lincoln Place comes after The Rhode Island Department of Health released a recommendation that all nursing homes and assisted living facilities transition back to Level 3 restrictions for a two-week period ending on December 13. Under Level 3 restriction, no visitation is permitted unless required under federal guidance or in certain other circumstances.

"We feel like we are doing everything possible to protect our residents and staff in the face of an unprecedented public health situation including proactive testing, contact tracing, and infectious disease protocols that are continually being upgraded as conditions evolve," said Atria Senior Living Regional Vice President Stephen Squatrito in a statement. "We have also taken precautions to optimize staff and resident safety through the holidays and beyond."

The facility said that the employees who have tested positive for the virus are in quarantine and the residents who tested positive are quarantining within the facility and receiving proper care by staff members who are designated to only assist COVID-19 patients.