7th death reported in Tri-Cities area from new coronavirus. Cases rise 13%

A seventh death attributed to complications of COVID-19 in the Tri-Cities area was reported by the Benton-Franklin Health District on Wednesday.

The most recent death was a man in his 80s.

All deaths related to the new coronavirus in the Tri-Cities area have been in Benton County. They have included two people in their 70s, four people in their 80s and a woman in her 90s.

The number of known COVID-19 cases in the Tri-Cities area increased to 189 on Wednesday, up 13% from 167 cases 24 hours earlier.

They include 142 cases in Benton County and 47 cases in Franklin County.

Benton County cases include 108 confirmed by testing for the new coronavirus and 34 additional probable cases for which testing was not done, but people developed symptoms after close contact with a person who tested positive.

Franklin County cases include 33 confirmed by testing and 14 additional probable cases.

The total number of negative test results reported to the local health district included 634 in Benton County and 211 in Franklin County for a total of 845.

The number of cases of residents or staff in retirement centers, nursing homes and other long-term care centers that are home primarily to seniors increased from 50 to 66, according to health district numbers released Wednesday.

All are at the five senior and long-term care homes that previously reported cases.

The number of health care workers with current or past cases of COVID-19 increased from 32 to 36 on Wednesday. They include workers at hospitals, clinics and long-term care centers.

Coronavirus testing

The availability of testing for the new coronavirus and the turnaround time for test results has improved in the Tri-Cities over the last week, said Rick Dawson, a senior manager for the local health district.

But testing capability is not yet at the level that health professionals would like, he said.

In mid March test results were taking seven to 10 days and are now available in three to four days, he said.

Testing remains only by order of a doctor or other health care professional.

The testing priority is hospitalized patients with symptoms and health care workers with symptoms.

Tests also are available to many people in high risk groups if they have symptoms.

They include people 65 or older, those with underlying health conditions such as lung or heart disease, and first responders and people who work in long-term care facilities.

Dr. Kathy Lofy, the Washington state health officer, says she sees some promising developments that should further ease testing bottlenecks.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved different kinds of swabs and solutions for preserving and storing samples from patients until they can be tested. A lack of testing supplies has limited testing in the Tri-Cities.

Home test kits also are coming, but are not yet approved by the FDA. They could be “game changers” for the response to the new coronavirus pandemic, she said.

This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 1:58 PM.