Tri-Cities COVID-19 cases increase. Health officials worry about Memorial Day

The Tri-Cities area has 15 new known cases of COVID-19 but no additional deaths from complications of the disease, health officials reported Thursday.

The case increase was about 1%, with increases ranging from 1% to 3% for at least a week, according to data from the Benton Franklin Health District.

The number of known cases since the start of the pandemic is 1,416.

One of the new cases was in a healthcare worker, bringing the total to 196 diagnosed with COVID-19 since March. They include workers at hospitals, clinics and nursing homes.

The number of people hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases in the two counties increased by two to 38, but has been as high as 40 this month.

The patients account for 14% of those currently in hospitals in Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and Prosser.

No new cases were reported at nursing homes or long-term care homes on Thursday. Total residents infected since March remains at 184.

The Tri-Cities area continues to have more deaths from complications of COVID-19 — 77 deaths — than some other populous counties in the state.

Clark County, home to Vancouver, has had 22 deaths and Spokane County has had 31 deaths, according to the Washington state Department of Health.

Yakima County’s numbers are close to those for Benton and Franklin counties combined, with 82 deaths, according to the state Department of Health.

Statewide 1,037 people have died.

The known cases in the Tri-Cities area include 811 in Benton County and 605 in Franklin County.

The majority of the deaths, 60, are in Benton County. About 70 percent of deaths have been linked to retirement and long-term care homes, with most of the Tri-Cities facilities in Richland and Kennewick.

Memorial Day weekend

With the Memorial Day holiday weekend coming, the health district is urging people to get much-needed rest and relaxation, but to do it safely.

They are urging people to wear a face covering when they may be within six feet of people they are not living with to help protect others and help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

“I know it is uncomfortable,” said Rick Dawson, senior manager at the health district. “(But) it is what we need to do.”

You could be the one spreading the disease to friends, family members, co-workers and fellow church members, he said.

About 25% of people who have COVID-19 have no symptoms but can still infect others, he said. People also can infect people during the two days before they develop symptoms.

He also urged people not to gather in large groups, citing examples of “superspreader events.”

A rural Arkansas church had 92 people develop COVID-19 and three people die after a pastor and his wife who were infected with the new coronavirus attended church events, the Centers for Disease Control reported.

In an incident in Washington state, 52 choir members were infected and two choir members died after attending a March 10 practice of the Skagit Valley Chorale two weeks before the state’s stay-at-home order.

Group gatherings are currently banned in Benton and Franklin counties by Gov. Jay Inslee.

“Our staff here at BFHD, Benton Franklin Health District, want nothing more than things to open up,” Dawson said.

Everyone has a part to play to protect the community and allow that, he said.

“Any actions with this virus can have consequences and they can be large, and they can run the risk of putting others in danger,” he said.

This story was originally published May 21, 2020 at 1:39 PM.