2 more COVID deaths in Tri-Cities. Fewer total deaths in May
Two more deaths from complications of COVID-19 were reported on Monday by the Benton Franklin Health District for a total of 84.
It also reported 120 new cases since Friday, bringing the total known cases since March to 1,738.
The state of Washington has set targets for counties for new confirmed cases to move to Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Safe Start” program to allow more businesses to reopen.
Under Phase 2 hair salons can open and dine-in restaurants can reopen at 50% capacity.
Benton County needs to have no more than 50 new cases in two weeks in Benton County and Franklin County needs to have no more than 24 cases.
The cases reported just since Friday included 52 confirmed cases in Benton County and 64 in Franklin County, with each county having two additional probable cases awaiting test results.
The new cases for both counties include 42 reported on Saturday, 40 on Sunday and 38 on Monday.
The two most recent deaths were Benton County women, both in their 70s with underlying health conditions that put them at increased risk of a severe illness if infected with the new coronavirus.
Deaths in May 2020
The number of Tri-Cities area deaths from complications of COVID-19 declined in the month of May.
Throughout the month the Benton Franklin Health District announced 32 deaths from complications of the disease.
That was down from 44 deaths announced in April. The first six deaths were announced in March.
The health district does not announce deaths until a death certificate is filed and it confirms that a person had COVID-19 and that the death was caused by complications of the illness.
All but 23 deaths, or 73%, have been associated with senior living or long-term care facilities.
That may partially explain the drop in Tri-Cities area deaths in May. Public health officials have said that outbreaks in retirement communities and senior living centers declined in recent weeks.
Known cases in the Tri-Cities increased by 774 from midnight April 30 to midnight May 31. The counts include confirmed cases and some probable cases for which test results were not available.
The local health district does not track how many of those cases are in patients who have recovered and how many are still active.
Tri-Cities area cases
The number of hospitalized patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 increased to 59 on Monday, up from 54 reported before the weekend started.
A week ago on May 25, there were 35 hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
The cases currently account for almost 21% of the patients in hospitals in Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and Prosser.
The Washington state Department of Health says 137 Benton County residents and 67 Franklin County residents with confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been hospitalized since the start of the pandemic.
The number of Tri-Cities area healthcare workers diagnosed with COVID-19 since March increased to 212, up eight since Friday.
Statewide, 1,118 people have died of complications of COVID-19 and 21,702 confirmed cases have been reported to the Washington state Department of Health.
New mask requirements
Starting June 8, workers at businesses in Washington state are required to wear masks or other facial coverings during “in-person interactions” with customers and other employees.
The Benton Franklin Health District is strongly encouraging Tri-Cities area residents also to wear masks when in public if they may be within six feet of people who they do not live with.
“We believe all of our citizens have a responsibility to protect ourselves and each other and these little matters that we are asking you to do are serious,” said Rick Dawson, senior manager of the Benton Franklin Health District.
Yakima Health District went a step further on Monday, saying that starting Wednesday people will be required to wear masks in public.
Exceptions are children, people with disabilities, people who are deaf and read lips and those advised by doctors not to wear masks for health reasons.
No penalties are planned for those not wearing face masks.
In a study in partnership with Virginia Mason Memorial over Memorial Day weekend, it observed that only 35% of the public were wearing masks in grocery stores and other business that were open.
About 80% of the public needs to wear face masks to help reduce transmission of the new coronavirus, the health district said.
“In order to safely re-open additional businesses, we must all be accountable for our individual actions,” said Dr. Teresa Everson of the Yakima Health District.
“One of these actions is to wear a mask every time you are in a place where you cannot safely social distance,” she said.
“Universal masking, along with staying at home as much as possible and other social distancing measures, are the most effective actions we can take as individuals, and as part of the community, to ensure we can slow the spread of COVID-19.”
This story was originally published June 1, 2020 at 3:47 PM.