Coronavirus death toll hits 18 in Tri-Cities area. 72 healthcare workers now infected

The number of deaths in the Tri-Cities area attributed to complications from COVID-19 increased to 18 on Monday.

The Benton Franklin Health District had reported 14 deaths as of Friday, with no additional deaths reported over the weekend.

All but one of those who have died have been Benton County residents. The most recent deaths include a Benton County woman in her 90s, a Benton County man in his 70s and two Benton County men in their 60s.

The total deaths now include five people who were in their 90s, five in their 80s, four in their 70s and four in their 60s.

People older than 60 and those with underlying health conditions — including diabetes and heart and lung disease — are at increased risk of serious complications caused by infection with the new coronavirus.

Two nursing homes, Regency Canyon Lakes in Kennewick and Life Care Center in Richland both have at least 40 cases each reported in residents and staff.

Although the Benton Franklin Health District does not release information on where deaths occur, Solstice Senior Living in Kennewick has said that one of its independent living residents has died, and Bonaventure Senior Living in Richland has said that three of its independent living residents died from complications of COVID-19.

The number of known cases in employees of healthcare facilities jumped from 45 reported on Friday to 72 by Monday. They could include workers at hospitals, clinics and nursing or other long-term care homes.

The local health district reported 316 total known cases of COVID-19 in Benton and Franklin counties as of Monday, up from 283 reported on Sunday, an increase of almost 12 percent.

Benton County had 224 cases and Franklin County had 92 cases, according to the Monday report.

Benton County cases include 175 confirmed by testing for the new coronavirus and 49 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 64 confirmed by testing and 28 additional probable cases.

Benton Franklin Health District has been reporting probable cases because of a shortage of supplies to test patients for COVID-19 in the Tri-Cities area, causing an inaccurate picture of the number of cases.

Cases by age

As of Monday there were 108 COVID-19 cases in people 61 or older, including 54 in people 81 or older.

There were 55 people ages 31 to 40 infected with the novel coronavirus, which was one more than those 81 or older.

The ages of 21 to 60, which encompasses the majority of the Tri-Cities workforce, had 181 cases. There were 26 known cases in people 20 and younger, including 11 cases in children younger than age 11.

The number of cases among staff and residents in long-term care homes and retirement homes increased from 82 as of Friday to 104 by Monday.

Regency Canyon Lakes has had 41 cases, Life Care Center of Richland has had 40 cases, Bonaventure Senior Living of Richland has had 13 cases, Solstice Senior Living of Kennewick had seven cases, Affinity at South Ridge in Kennewick had two cases and Parkview Estates in Kennewick had one case.

All the facilities but Parkview Estates and Affinity at South Ridge also have other suspect cases, according to the Benton Franklin Health District.

COVID-19 vs. flu

The 18 deaths reported as of Monday compares to four confirmed influenza deaths in Benton County and Franklin County in the current flu season, as of late March. All but one were in Benton County, according to the Washington state Department of Health.

It reports 91 confirmed influenza deaths statewide, including six children, with flu cases on the decline for the season. in the worst flu year in recent years, the entire flu season of 2017-18 had 296 deaths, with 252 deaths by the end of March.

In comparison, the state had reported 338 deaths related to COVID-19 as of Monday morning, with the peak of the outbreak statewide expected this week or next.

Mask recommendation

On Friday the Benton Franklin Health District recommended that all county residents wear nonmedical masks in public for their protection and the protection of others.

They should be worn in public spaces such as grocery stores, doctors offices and at work if a distance of six feet may not be maintained from others.

Ideas for masks, including using items like a bandanna or a skiing neck gaiter that covers the nose and mouth, are posted at bfhd.wa.gov.

N95 respirator and surgical masks should continue to be reserved for the use of medical workers and first responders because of their potential exposure to COVID-19 patients.

The Centers for Disease Control also is recommending that people wear cloth face masks or coverings in public settings.

It recommends care in removing them, being careful not to touch eyes, nose and mouth and washing hands after removing face covering.

Testing status

The Tri-Cities area continues to have a shortage of the supplies needed to collect and preserve samples in the Tri-Cities area.

Primarily those who are seriously ill are being tested, said Rick Dawson, a senior manager for the Benton Franklin Health District.

However, test results are being returned more quickly, leading to a surge of known cases over the past week.

Test results now are available in three to four days, down from the seven- to 10-day wait in mid March.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a rapid test method, which provides results on site in 15 minutes or less.

Kadlec Regional Medical Center is hoping to start offering the rapid test soon, and medical laboratories in the Tri-Cities also are investigating bringing the tests to the area, Dawson said.

This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 1:23 PM.