Tri-Cities coronavirus deaths hit 43. Latest victim was 100

Another death from complications of COVID-19 was reported for the Tri-Cities area on Monday, bringing total deaths from the new coronavirus pandemic to 43.

The number of new known cases in Benton and Franklin counties increased by just 12 to 853 cases, an increase of just over 1 percent, which was among the lowest percentage increases in recent weeks.

Last week saw a couple of days with 5 to 6 percent increases.

The new total included more people linked to the outbreak at the Tyson Fresh Meats plant near the Tri-Cities than reported last week, more healthcare workers and more staff or residents in long-term care homes or retirement centers.

The latest death was a Benton County man who was older than 100, the oldest person to die due to the new coronavirus infection in the Tri-Cities area.

All but four of the deaths reported by the Benton Franklin Health District have been in Benton County residents, and all but two have been in people 60 or older who are at higher risk of serious complications of COVID-19.

All people whose deaths have been linked to infection with the new coronavirus, including the two people in their 50s, also had underlying health conditions, such as lung and heart disease or diabetes.

Although Benton County at one time had the third highest death count in the state, it now ranks fifth, according to Washington state Department of Health data last updated on the weekend.

It has been surpassed by Yakima County with 44 deaths and King, Snohomish and Pierce also have more deaths.

Tyson plant cases

The total of cases linked to an outbreak at the Tyson Fresh Meats plant near Pasco at Wallula increased to 124, up from 118 as of Saturday.

They include 114 residents of Benton and Franklin counties, nine in Walla Walla County and one in Umatilla County, Ore. A Pasco resident who worked at the plant has died of complications of COVID-19.

The Walla Walla County Department of Community Health began to test all employees at the beef slaughter and packing plant on Friday and anticipates test results beginning to return this week.

Tyson has temporarily shut down the plant and workers have been sent home to self isolate as the await test results. Workers continue to be paid.

Test results for all 1,400 workers will be reviewed by the health officers in Walla Walla and Benton and Franklin counties, the Washington state Department of Health and Tyson to determine when operations can resume at the plant.

Tyson says the plant produces enough beef in one day to feed 4 million people.

Hospital patients, other cases

The number of healthcare workers in the Tri-Cities area with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic is now 139, up from 130 reported on Friday, the most recent date reported. They can include workers in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes.

Hospitalized COVID-19 patients and those with suspected cases dropped by two to 28 on Monday. They account for 11 percent of the patients in hospitals in Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and Prosser.

The Benton Franklin Health District reported that cases in retirement and long-term care homes increased to 231, up 6 from Friday.

The local health district no longer reports cases by facilities — 13 locations had at least one case as of Friday — but for the first time identified cases in senior living centers by staff and residents.

It reported that 130 residents in long-term care and senior living homes have had COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, plus 101 workers in the facilities.

Tri-Cities area cases

The total number of cases in Benton County is now 503 and the total in Franklin County is 350, with the local health district including patients who tested positive and also probable cases that include their close contacts who developed symptoms.

Of the 43 deaths in the two counties, 31, or 72 percent, are associated with senior living or long-term care facilities.

The number of new cases reported on Monday was fewer than the last two days.

Over the weekend there were 18 new cases reported in Benton and Franklin counties on Saturday, after health officials revised an initial report to add one more case. On Sunday, it reported 19 new cases.

With cases topping 800 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 27, 2020 at 3:20 PM.