Tri-Cities area COVID cases jump by 114 in a day. Most hospitalized patients yet
Another 114 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Tri-Cities area were reported on Tuesday for a total of 2,226 confirmed since the start of the pandemic.
The Benton Franklin Health District also reported the highest number yet of patients in local hospitals with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The new cases include 51 in Benton County and 63 in Franklin County, for at total of 1,219 in Benton County, while Franklin County cases topping 1,000 to reach 1,007.
The new cases reported for a single day exceed the target for a full two weeks that the state Department of Health wants to see as it considers allowing the counties to move to Phase 2 of reopening.
The state agency said on Tuesday that it was putting the applications from the two counties “on pause.”
The population-based target for cases in Benton County is no more than 50 over 14 days and in Franklin County it is no more than 24 over 14 days.
The new cases reported Tuesday are almost as many as were reported in the previous three days, Saturday through Monday. Then the Benton Franklin Health District reported 122 cases for the two counties combined.
Free drive-up testing
The increase in cases comes as the National Guard prepares to help open free drive-thru COVID-19 testing on Wednesday in Kennewick and Pasco.
More testing is expected to find more cases. But it also could help contain the spread of the coronavirus if more infected people are identified and their close contacts are notified so they can voluntarily quarantine at home for two weeks.
No doctor’s orders are required for the drive-thru testing at the Toyota Center in Kennewick and the HAPO, formerly TRAC, center in Pasco. But appointments are required by calling 211 or 877-211-5445.
For testing at the Toyota Center, use the Grandridge Boulevard entrance.
The free testing will continue as long as there is a need in the community, according to the Benton Franklin Health District.
Hospital patients
The number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in Benton and Franklin county hospitals increased to 70, as reported Tuesday. It was up from 60 a day earlier and a previous high of 68.
Patients with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 accounted for 21% of the patients at hospitals in Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and Prosser on Tuesday.
State data shows that the age group most frequently hospitalized for COVID-19 treatment in Benton county are those ages 60-79, accounting for 45% of patients since the start of the pandemic.
Those 80 and older account for 30%, ages 40-59 account for 15%, 9% for those ages 20-39 and no patients younger than 20.
Data from Franklin County residents shows that 3% of those hospitalized have been younger than 20. At least one case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children related to COVID-19 has been reported in Franklin County.
Franklin County data shows 11% of hospitalized residents have been older than 80, 43% have been ages 60-79, 30% have been ages 40-59 and 13% have been ages 20-39.
No new deaths were reported on Tuesday.
The total deaths from complications of COVID-19 remain at 94 for the Tri-Cities area, with 73 deaths in Benton County and 21 deaths in Franklin County.
The local health district said on Monday it was investigating three Franklin County deaths reported by the state. But it concluded Tuesday that several local deaths included in state data were not caused by complications of COVID-19.
The Benton Franklin Health District includes deaths in its COVID-19 count if there is a positive test for the coronavirus and the death certificate shows that complications associated with the coronavirus was the primary cause of death.
This story was originally published June 16, 2020 at 1:57 PM.