Tri-Cities coronavirus cases top 600, with 38 deaths. More cases linked to Tyson plant
The number of known cases of COVID-19 topped 600 in the Tri-Cities area on Friday, as the death tally held steady at 38 in Benton and Franklin counties.
Cases increased by 31 from Thursday, a bump of about 5 percent in 24 hours to 602 cases.
The new Tri-Cities cases include most of 14 additional cases in a multi-county outbreak linked to Tyson Fresh Meats south of Pasco, three more in healthcare workers and two more linked to Life Care Center in Richland.
The number of people hospitalized with suspected or confirmed cases dropped from 35 on Thursday to 32 on Friday. They account for 11 percent of people hospitalized for any reason in Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and Prosser.
The latest death reported by the Benton Franklin Health District was a Franklin County woman in her 60s with underlying health conditions.
The state had reported a total of four Franklin County deaths on Thursday, with local officials just verifying a third death by checking death certificates on Friday. It has not verified the fourth death in Franklin County that was reported by the state.
The Franklin County deaths are in addition to 34 deaths reported in Benton County, which continues to have the third highest death count among Washington state counties.
All those who have died in the Tri-Cities area, as reported by the local health district, had underlying health conditions, which increases the risk of serious complications from COVID-19.
All but two were over 60, another risk for serious complications.
They include nine victims in their 90s, 11 in their 80s, nine in their 70s, six in their 60s and two in their 50s. They include 17 women and 20 men.
Tyson, senior homes cases
The local health district said 27 of the 37 deaths it had confirmed, or 73 percent, are tied to retirement and long-term care homes in the Tri-Cities area.
The only new cases in senior living and care homes in the Tri-Cities on Friday were two at Life Care Center in Richland, bringing its cases to 95.
The total cases since the start of the outbreak in 10 affected retirement and long-term care homes is 173.
The Benton Franklin Health District said there are now 63 people in the Tri-Cities area, where many Tyson plant employees live, with COVID-19 linked to the beef slaughter and processing plant outbreak.
There also are seven cases in Walla Walla County and one in Umatilla County, Oregon, linked to the Tyson plant.
Most, if not all of the people in the outbreak, are plant employees.
The number of employees of healthcare facilities — including hospitals, clinics and nursing homes — who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the two county area is 109.
Most of the homes for seniors with cases had just one to three cases.
Tri-Cities case count
Those with more, in addition to Life Care of Richland, include Regency Canyon Lakes in Kennewick with 52 cases, Bonaventure Senior Living in Richland with 13 cases and Solstice Senior Living in Kennewick with nine cases.
The case breakdown as of Thursday in the Tri-Cities area was 381 cases in Benton County and 221 cases in Franklin County.
Benton County cases include 295 confirmed by testing for the new coronavirus and 86 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 162 confirmed by testing and 59 additional probable cases.
With more than 600 cases in the two counties, Benton and Franklin health officials say they do not have the staff to determine how many cases are active and how many people have recovered.
Much of the local health district’s staff time is used to identify and notify close contacts of COVID-19 patients to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, with staff assigned to work seven days a week.
This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 2:03 PM.