Number of hospitalized patients with coronavirus jumps. More Tyson and nursing home cases

Twenty new known cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Tri-Cities area on Monday for a total of 689 cases, with no new deaths reported.

The 20 new cases were an increase of just 3%. On Sunday the number of new cases increased just under 5% and on Saturday cases increased by about 6%.

However, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 confirmed through testing or with similar symptoms in Benton and Franklin County jumped from 28 over the weekend to 40 on Monday. It was an increase of 43 percent.

Those cases account for 14 percent of patients in hospitals in Kennewick, Richland, Pasco and Prosser, according to the Benton Franklin Health District.

Eleven more healthcare workers are known to have been infected with the new coronavirus, bringing cases in hospital, clinic and long-term care employees to 120.

Avalon Health and Rehabilitation Center, a Pasco nursing home, had 10 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, after having just one case previously.

Benton death rate

The death toll for Benton and Franklin counties remained at 38, unchanged from Friday, including deaths reported by both Benton Franklin Health District and the Washington state Department of Health.

The state agency is reporting a fourth death in Franklin County that the local health district has not confirmed from death certificate information.

By the state’s information, Benton County has the highest death rate in the state from complications of COVID-19.

Using U.S. Census estimated populations for 2019, Benton County’s 34 deaths are one per 6,011 people. Yakima County, with 36 deaths, has one per 6,968 residents.

King County, with 346 deaths, and Snohomish County, with 94 deaths, have the highest death counts in the state. But both have lower death rates than Benton County, with one case per 6,510 people in King County and one death per 8,745 people in Snohomish counties.

Tyson, other cases

Five more COVID-19 cases were reported Monday related to an outbreak at Tyson Fresh Meats near the Tri-Cities in Wallula.

The workplace outbreak has now infected 94 people with the new coronavirus, most if not all of them workers at the plant. They include 86 in Benton and Franklin counties, seven in Walla Walla County and one in Umatilla County, Ore.

Life Care Center of Richland continues to have the most cases among retirement and long-term care centers in the Tri-Cities.

Three new cases were reported on Monday, bringing its total to 98. Cases may be in residents or staff.

An 11th center for senior living was added to the Benton Franklin County list on Monday. Life Care Center of Kennewick reported its first case.

No new cases were reported at other senior living homes, including Regency Canyon Lakes in Kennewick, which has had 52 cases.

Of the 37 deaths reported by the Benton Franklin Health District related to complications of COVID-19, 27 have been linked to retirement or long-term care homes.

Tri-Cities cases

The case breakdown as of Monday in the Tri-Cities area was 423 cases in Benton County and 266 cases in Franklin County.

Benton County cases include 325 confirmed by testing for the new coronavirus and 98 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 198 confirmed by testing and 68 additional probable cases.

With cases approaching 700 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 20, 2020 at 2:07 PM.