4 more coronavirus deaths in Tri-Cities area. Death toll reaches 68
Four more Tri-Citians died from complications of COVID-19, health officials reported Monday.
They bring the total deaths from infection with the new coronavirus since the start of the pandemic to 68 in Benton and Franklin counties.
The known cases are now 1,239, including 23 cases announced on Monday, an increase of about 2 percent in 24 hours.
On Sunday, eight new known cases and on Saturday 26 new known cases were reported by the Benton Franklin Health District.
New cases were reported in healthcare workers, in employees of Tyson Fresh Meats plant south of Pasco, and in residents and staff of long-term care or retirement homes.
Three of the latest to die were Benton County residents — a woman in her 90s, a man in his 60s and a man in his 70s.
A Franklin County man in his 70s also died.
All had underlying health conditions that put them at risk of severe cases of COVID-19, in addition to their age, according to the health district.
Of the 68 total deaths, three are linked to the Wallula Tyson beef processing plant and 47 are associated with senior living or long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes.
The deaths linked to those homes increased by two since Friday, now accounting for 69 percent of total deaths.
New COVID-19 cases
Five more cases in the senior facilities were reported on Monday for a total of 280 since the start of the pandemic.
Another staff member also was reported to have tested positive for a total of 164 infected staff members.
Those healthcare workers who have cared for patients in setting like hospitals, clinics and nursing homes now include 175 diagnosed with COVID-19. The number includes five new workers as of Monday.
Hospitals reported 40 patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, down from 42 reported the day before. They account for 15% of the patients in hospitals in Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and Prosser.
The number of Tyson workers who have had COVID-19 and live in Benton and Franklin counties is now 250.
Two cases were removed from the total on the weekend because results of their tests for the new coronavirus were inconclusive, but two cases were added on Monday to the total for Tyson workers living in the Tri-Cities area.
The total cases reported to date include 714 in Benton County and 525 in Franklin County.
Most were confirmed by testing, but test results were not available for 19 percent. However, those people had symptoms and close contact with people who had positive test results.
The majority of deaths, 54, have been in Benton County residents with 14 in Franklin County residents.
The Washington state Department of Health is reporting two additional deaths in Franklin County residents, which the local health district has yet to verify by information included on death certificates.
The Benton Franklin Health District does not compile information about how many people have recovered from COVID-19, the condition of patients in hospitals or the number of COVID-19 being cared for in hospital intensive care units.
It is focusing its staff time on tracking down close contacts of people diagnosed with COVID-19 to alert them of their possible exposure so they can self-isolate.
This story was originally published May 11, 2020 at 2:01 PM.