Coronavirus cases climb another 5 percent in Tri-Cities, with more people hospitalized

The number of known COVID-19 cases increased by about 5 percent in the Tri-Cities to over 800 on Friday, with the number of deaths since the start of the pandemic remaining at 42.

More people were hospitalized with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 and the number of cases in long-term care homes, in Tyson plant workers and in healthcare workers continue to climb.

The number of known new cases rose by 41 on Friday to a total of 804, according to the Benton Franklin Health District.

The local health district total includes both cases confirmed by testing and probable cases, which include people who were not tested but developed symptoms and had close contact with a person with a confirmed cases.

The number of people hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 or suspicious symptoms increased from 42 to 48 in Benton and Franklin counties on Friday.

They account for 17 percent of the patients at the hospitals in Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and Prosser, according to the local health district.

The number of healthcare workers infected by the new coronavirus since the start of the pandemic increased from 128 to 130. They can include workers in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes.

Tyson, nursing home cases

Five more people have been infected for a total of 110 in the outbreak linked to the Tyson Fresh Meats beef plant in Wallula, south of the Tri-Cities.

Now 100 cases are reported in Benton and Franklin county residents, nine in Walla Walla County residents and one in a Umatilla County, Ore., resident. A Pasco worker at the plant has died from COVID-19.

Testing of all 1,400 employees of the plant for COVID-19 was scheduled to begin Friday, with the plant shutting down at least until test results are received. Employees are being sent home to self-isolate until test results are received, likely early next week.

Eight new cases were reported in residents or staff in retirement centers and long-term care homes.

The pandemic has touched a 13th home for the elderly, with Callaway Gardens in Kennewick adding its first case to the list. No other cases are suspected there.

The cases at Life Care Center of Kennewick increased from three to nine on Friday. Avalon Health and Rehabilitation Center in Pasco had one more case, bringing its total to 25. Both nursing homes also have additional suspected cases, according to the Benton Franklin Health District.

Solstice Senior Living in Kennewick also had one more case reported on Friday for a total of 10 there, but the health district is not following any additional suspected cases there.

Fleur de Lis II had disputed a health district report that it had three cases since the start of the outbreak and the health district dropped the number of cases to one on Friday, with no additional cases currently suspected related to the Kennewick home.

The total cases in retirement centers and long-term care homes in the Tri-Cities is now 224 since the pandemic reached Eastern Washington.

Tri-Cities cases

The number of deaths reported by the local health district remained at 42 on Friday, with 38 in Benton County and four in Franklin County. About 74 percent of the deaths — 31 deaths — have been tied to senior living homes.

The Washington state Department of Health reports five deaths in Franklin County, but the Benton Franklin Health District verifies causes of all deaths using death certificates and the Department of Health includes deaths in any individual who has had a positive test result.

The total of 804 COVID-19 cases in the two counties includes 478 in Benton, with 375 of those cases confirmed by testing. Franklin County has 326 cases, with 242 of those confirmed by testing.

With more than 800 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 24, 2020 at 2:24 PM.