1 of every 100 Pasco residents has been diagnosed with COVID. Latest cases by city

Nearly one Pasco resident out of every 100 have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus.

The latest report from the Benton Franklin Health District shows Pasco leads the three Tri-Cities, both by the percentage increase in COVID-19 cases during the last week and also by having the highest rate of infection.

It also has the most agricultural workers, a group that has continued to work throughout the pandemic, putting them at increased risk of exposure to the new virus.

Kennewick, the largest of the Tri-Cities, has a rate of 70 cases per 10,000 people, and Richland, the smallest of the three Tri-Cities, has a rate of 39 cases per 10,000, according to data from the health district on Tuesday.

Pasco had 120 new cases in a week for a rate of 97 cases per 10,000 people.

The local health district compiles total cases by town each Tuesday. The Herald used the data to figure case rates based on the latest U.S. Census population estimates for the Tri-Cities for 2019.

Among smaller towns, Connell saw a 50% increase in cases over the last week, likely due to inmates at the Coyote Ridge Correctional Center being diagnosed with COVID-19.

West Richland is doing comparatively well with a rate of just 33 cases per 10,000 people.

But Prosser, the county seat, has reached a rate of 149 per 10,000.

Cases by city

Here’s how cities in Benton and Franklin counties are faring, with cases counted since the start of the pandemic:

▪ Pasco has had 735 known COVID-19 cases, up from 615 on May 26. It is a 19% increase.

Its rate of 97 cases per 10,000 people this week is up from a rate of 82 cases per 10,000 last week.

Its residents include 4,190 people with agriculture jobs, compared to 1,510 Kennewick residents and 313 Richland residents.

▪ Kennewick has 587 known cases, up 43 from last week’s total of 534. It is a 10% increase.

Its rate increased from 63 cases per 10,000 people to 70 cases per 10,000 in a week.

▪ Richland has had 227 cases, up 34 from 193 last week. It is an increase of 18%.

The rate increased from 33 cases per 10,000 people to 39 cases per 10,000 in a week.

▪ West Richland has had 50 cases, up three from the week before for a 6% increase.

The rate increased from 31 per 10,000 people to 33 per 10,000 this week.

▪ Prosser has had 17 more cases reported for a total of 95. It is a 22% increase.

The rate increased from 122 per 10,000 residents to 149 per 10,000 in a week.

It’s not clear whether the rate of testing done in Prosser is similar to that done in the Tri-Cities, which could affect the rate of known cases.

▪ Connell has had 24 cases, which would include inmates in the Coyote Ridge Corrections Center.

The state Department of Corrections reported 28 inmate cases at the prison in Connell in recent weeks, apparently with not all test results reported to the local health district yet.

Seven employees of the prison also tested positive, but their cases would be added to the towns where they live.

Connell cases jumped from 12 last week to 24 this week.

▪ Eltopia has had two more cases for a total of 14.

Other small communities in Benton and Franklin counties have fewer than 10 cases, and data by residence has not been made public to protect the privacy of individuals in small towns.

Coronavirus deaths

Although known cases are higher in Pasco than Kennewick or Richland, the opposite appears to be true for deaths from complications of COVID-19.

Franklin County, where Pasco is its largest city, has had 17 deaths linked to COVID-19, according to the Benton Franklin Health District.

Benton County — where Kennewick and Richland are the largest cities — has had 67 deaths.

The local health district has said that part of the difference is linked to Kennewick and Richland having the majority of the retirement communities and long-term care homes.

About 70 percent of deaths in the Tri-Cities have been linked to facilities for seniors.

This story was originally published June 3, 2020 at 5:00 AM.