Coronavirus infecting younger people in Tri-Cities. Business outbreaks, gatherings blamed

Public health officials have seen a shift in who is being diagnosed with COVID-19 in the Tri-Cities area.

Before May a third of known cases — 33%— were in people 40 or younger.

But in May that shifted to about half of cases — 49% — in people 40 or younger.

“Young people are less likely to take it seriously,” said Annie Goodwin, spokeswoman for the Benton Franklin Health District.

In addition, when the coronavirus was first known to be circulating in the Tri-Cities, older people, known to be at risk for more severe cases of COVID-19, were most likely to be tested, Goodwin said.

Early on many cases in the Tri-Cities were in long-term care homes, said Dr. Amy Person, the health officer for Benton and Franklin counties, in a webcast for the Columbia Basin Badger Club.

But now there are more outbreaks in work places, which would mean more cases in younger workers, she said.

It is not just the large processing plants, like the Tyson Fresh Meats beef plant south of Pasco, that have had worker outbreaks, Dr. Person said.

Cases are being seen in agriculture workers and in employees of smaller businesses, including grocery stores, that have continued to operate because they are considered essential, according to the health district.

Working age cases

Overall case counts show those of working age are most likely to have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The highest number of cases are people in their 20s, with 351 known cases.

That is followed by people in their 30s with 334 known cases, people in their 40s with 318 cases, and people in their 50s with 285 cases.

People 60 and older not only may be less likely to be employed, but they also may be more careful to avoid infection because of their increased risk from infection.

Risk factors include not only their age but their increased likelihood to have underlying health conditions, such as lung disease, heart disease, diabetes or obesity.

Of the 84 deaths reported in Benton and Franklin counties from complications of coronavirus, just four people have been younger than 60. And just four have not had underlying conditions.

Those underlying conditions are widespread in the two counties. The local health district reports that 34% of residents are obese, 12% have diabetes and 11% have asthma.

Known cases in older people in the two counties include 168 cases of people in their 60s, 124 in their 70s, 96 in their 80s, and 51 in people 90 or older.

Although the number of cases drop sharply for people under 20, compared to working age people, health officials are concerned about those cases.

Children at risk

There have been 189 cases reported in people under 20, including 73 cases in children younger than 10.

People 20 and younger are at risk from multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, a severe illness associated with COVID-19.

One child in Franklin County is among at least four in the state treated at Seattle Children’s Hospital for the illness.

Parents are advised to watch for symptoms such as fever or headache, abdominal pain with or without diarrhea, fatigue and respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath, said Dr. John McGuire, chief of the Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

A diagnosis requires exposure to COVID-19, fever, and inflammation of organs — such as heart or lungs — with no other plausible diagnosis for symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Protests and rallies

Public health officials are concerned that overall cases in the Tri-Cities area have spiked in June, which they attribute in part to a spread of infection as people went to large gatherings in May. The cases show up in the late May and early June numbers.

They have included family and other social gatherings and people playing or practicing sports, including volleyball, softball and soccer, said district officials.

More recently people have gathered for rallies and protests to call out systemic racism and also to protect businesses from any vandalism or looting.

People who may be infected but have no symptoms can spread the virus at protests, particularly in droplets they expel during chanting or singing, according to health district officials.

Being outdoors is safer than being indoors, said Kathleen Clary-Cooke, spokeswoman for the Benton Franklin Heath District.

People who choose to participate in rallies and related activities should maintain six feet of distance from others and wear face coverings, she said.

“If they feel the least bit sick, they should stay home,” she said.

COVID-19 cases spike

COVID-19 cases were on the decline in May but have spiked in June in the Tri-Cities area.

Total known cases are now at 1,920.

The Tri-Cities area was able to get its new daily case count down to numbers in the teens and 20s every day but one from May 4-27.

The daily number then jumped up to the 40s for most of the days in early June and then to the 50s on Friday.

Total new known cases, all confirmed by testing, include 36 in Benton County and 21 in Franklin County on Friday, the most recent numbers released by the local health district.

The Washington state Department of Health has set targets for new cases that will be considered as Benton and Franklin counties apply to move to Phase 2 of reopening businesses.

The target, based on population, is set at no more than 50 confirmed cases total over two weeks in Benton County and no more than 24 total over two weeks in Franklin County.

Benton and Franklin counties plan to submit applications to the state within a few days to move to Phase 2 of reopening businesses and allowing small gatherings under Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start plan.

Since the case counts remain high, the proposals will include steps that can be implemented to decrease the case count.

They include a new directive from the county health officer for residents of both counties to wear face coverings in most public settings starting Monday, June 8.

No enforcement action is planned for those who do not wear masks.

“What we are trying to do is emphasize how important it is for each of us to take individual responsibility for what we need to do to reduce the spread of infection,” Dr. Person told the Badger Club.

COVID-19 deaths

The Tri-Cities area had two more deaths from complications of COVID-19 announced on Friday to bring the total for the two counties to 84 since the start of the pandemic.

The most recent deaths were a woman in her 60s and a man in his 80s, both Benton County residents with underlying health conditions.

There have been 69 Benton County residents die and 17 Franklin County residents die.

Total known local cases include 895 confirmed cases in Benton County and 718 in Franklin County. Probable cases bring the total to 1,065 cases in Benton County and 855 in Franklin County.

No test results are available for probable cases, but patients had symptoms and close contact with confirmed cases.

Statewide there have been 22,993 cases and 1,149 deaths attributed to complications of COVID-19, according to the Washington state Department of Health.