Coronavirus claims at least 3 more lives in Tri-Cities since Friday, says state

There have been three more deaths in Benton County due to complications of COVID-19, pushing the total for the Tri-Cities area to 30, according to the Washington state Department of Health.

The Benton Franklin Health District is expected to release more local information early Monday afternoon, including the number of known new cases of people infected with the new coronavirus in the two counties and the ages of those who have died since Friday.

The new total includes 28 deaths in Benton County, where cases have been reported in six retirement and long-term care homes with many elderly people.

Only two counties in the state have had more deaths.

They are King County with 292 deaths and Snohomish with 70 deaths, according to the state Department of Health.

The local health district had reported 25 deaths in Benton County due to complications and two in Franklin County as of Friday.

As of Friday, the total deaths in Benton and Franklin counties included eight people who were in their 90s, nine in their 80s, five in their 70s and five in their 60s.

This is a developing story. Check back for more information.

This story was originally published April 13, 2020 at 9:48 AM.