Confirmed COVID-19 cases have surged in Rhode Island in recent weeks, and one of the most dramatic outbreaks is at Silver Creek Manor nursing home in Bristol. According to data released last Wednesday and again today by the R.I. Department of Health, which maintains a tracker of cases and fatalities within congregate care settings, between 80 and 84 residents of Silver Creek Manor tested positive for the virus in the last three weeks.

Employee cases are not included in those numbers.

A week ago, Silver Creek had reported zero fatalities, but a week later, according to the data released Nov. 18, there have been between 5 and 9 fatal cases.

The data released Nov. 11 also showed that two other nursing homes, Roberts Health Center in North Kingstown (40 to 44 new cases) and Mansion Center in Central Falls (45 to 49 new cases), were seeing similar outbreaks of the virus, in the same timeframe that Silver Creek went from 0 to more than 60 cases.

Until this point, the home, which according to its website has beds for as many as 128 residents, had a virtually spotless record since the beginning of the pandemic. According to Joseph Wendelken, public information officer for the Rhode Island Department of Health, there is no clear indication of the reason for the outbreak at Silver Creek Manor that officials have been able to ascertain. As soon as the extent of the outbreak was recognized, the state sent assistance to the Bristol facility.

“In close coordination with our clinical team, the Congregate Setting Support Team with the Rhode Island National Guard are supporting this facility with training, education, and infection control strategies,” said Mr. Wendelken. “The Guard went to the facility on Wednesday (Nov. 11) for an initial review and training, which included infection control. The team went back [Friday, Nov. 13] for additional training and support.”

Reached Tuesday, Nov. 17, Ms. Ciociola wrote in an email that, “Things are starting to stabilize and staff is starting to return to work following the CDC guidelines.”