Coronavirus deaths reach 39 in Tri-Cities. More cases at Tyson and in health workers

Another death from complications of COVID-19 was announced Tuesday by the Benton Franklin Health District, bringing the total to 39 in the Tri-Cities area.

The health district also reported increases in overall cases, in hospitalized patients who may have COVID-19, in cases tied to Tyson Fresh Meats near the Tri-Cities, in healthcare workers and in nursing homes.

There are now 727 confirmed or probable cases that are known in Benton and Franklin Counties since the start of the outbreak, an increase of about 6% since Monday, according to the health district.

The Tuesday report showed a significant jump in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 or symptoms typical of COVID-19 in recent days.

As of the weekend there were 28 cases in hospitals, increasing to 40 cases on Monday and 47 on Tuesday.

The cases now account for 16 percent of the people hospitalized in Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and Prosser.

The number of Tri-Cities healthcare workers infected with the new coronavirus since the start of the pandemic increased from 120 to 124 on Tuesday. They include workers at hospitals, clinics and long-term care homes.

Six more cases were reported linked to the Tyson beef slaughter and packing plant in Wallula south of Pasco, bringing the known cases tied to the plant to 100.

They include 91 in Benton and Franklin county residents, eight in Walla Walla County residents and one in a Umatilla County, Ore., resident.

The most recent death from complications of COVID-19 in Benton and Franklin counties was a Benton County man in his 90s.

As in all the other deaths reported in the bicounty area, he had underlying health conditions.

Washington state Department of Health is reporting one more death in Franklin County than the local health district, which has not verified the death was connected to the new coronavirus.

The 38 deaths confirmed by the Benton Franklin Health District include 10 victims in their 90s, 11 in their 80s, nine in their 70s, six in their 60s and two in their 50s. The victims were 17 women and 21 men. All but three were Benton County residents.

Of the 38 deaths reported by the local health district, 27 are linked to retirement centers or long term care homes.

Senior home cases

Four of the 11 retirement centers and long-term care homes with cases already known had additional cases as of Tuesday, according to the local health district.

Most significant was 13 new cases at Avalon Health and Rehabilitation Center, a Pasco nursing home. Its known cases, which could include staff and residents, more than doubled from 11 on Monday to 24 on Tuesday.

At Hawthorne Court in Kennewick, which offers independent and assisted living, a third and fourth case were reported on Tuesday; Fleur de Lis II adult family home in Kennewick had its third case reported; and Life Care Center in Kennewick, a nursing home, had its second case reported.

However, Fleur de Lis told the Herald on Tuesday it has had no cases and the health district list including it is incorrect.

Life Care Center in Richland, which has had the worst outbreak, held steady on Tuesday at 98 cases.

There was good news from Regency Canyon Lakes in Kennewick, which has not had a new case reported for a week. It has had 52 cases total.

It posted to social media on Monday that 16 of its residents have recovered and 11 residents continue to recover.

Those residents are in a dedicated COVID-19 unit to ensure infection control and to help prevent the potential spread of the new coronavirus.

Most staff members there who have tested positive for COVID-19 have returned to work, with Regency Canyon Lakes working with the Benton Franklin Health District to make sure it meet Washington state Department of Health guidance for returning fully recovered healthcare workers to the nursing home.

Regency Canyon Lakes continues to screen staff for illness when they arrive at work each day; clean more frequently; train staff on infection control; and check the temperatures, oxygen saturation and lung sounds of residents

Tri-Cities cases

The case breakdown as of Monday in the Tri-Cities area was 434 cases in Benton County and 293 cases in Franklin County.

Benton County cases include 337 confirmed by testing for the new coronavirus and 97 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 220 confirmed by testing and 73 additional probable cases.

With cases topping 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 21, 2020 at 2:24 PM.