3 more COVID deaths in Tri-Cities area. Hospitalizations still high

Three deaths from complications of COVID-19 in the Tri-Cities area were reported on Wednesday, bringing the total for Benton and Franklin counties to 112.

There have been 10 deaths reported this month.

Just 57 new confirmed cases were reported, down from 215 last Wednesday. But the number of tests reported also was unusually low coming off the three-day holiday weekend.

The new deaths include a Franklin County man in his 70s with underlying health conditions that are a risk factor for severe illness.

Benton County women in their 70s and 90s also died. Although no underlying health conditions were reported.

The death tally includes 83 people in Benton County and 29 in Franklin County.

The local health district only adds deaths to its tally after confirming that the person had a positive COVID-19 test result and the death certificate showed that a complication of the disease was the primary cause of death.

The new cases reported on Wednesday included 31 in Benton County for a total of 2,124 since the start of the pandemic. For Franklin County 26 new cases were reported for a total of 2,139.

The number of new cases reported typically are low on Tuesdays, but 131 were reported for Tuesday this week, up from new numbers in the 40s on Tuesday in the previous two weeks.

On Tuesday this week the health district reported 875 more people were tested and that dropped to just 129 people in Benton county an 66 in Franklin County in the Wednesday report. The report reflects totals from a day earlier.

The Benton Franklin Health District reports a slight drop in the percentage of cases in the Hispanic population.

On Wednesday the percentage was at 47%, down from just 51% at the start of the month. About 33% of the population in the two counties is Hispanic.

Hospitalized cases

The number of people hospitalized in the Tri-Cities area for COVID-19 treatment continues to be about double the number six to eight weeks ago.

The health district reported 73 COVID-19 patients, up from 70 a day earlier. However, the peak number reported since information has been made public in recent months was 89 in late June.

The patients being treated for COVID-19 — either because they had a positive test results or were awaiting test results — accounted for 22% of all patients at hospitals in Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and Prosser.

Only two COVID-19 cases have been confirmed over the past week in residents or staff of long-term care homes for elderly and disabled adults, indicating that outbreaks at the homes early in the pandemic in the Tri-Cities have been brought under control.

The total cases linked to the homes since the start of the pandemic total 385.

Steps taken by the local health district with support from the Washington state Department of Health include making sure facilities had adequate personal protective equipment, providing education on best practices to prevent spread of the coronavirus, testing of patients and staff, and helping facilities group any residents with COVID-19 in one area with separate staff for their care.

Drive-thru testing

Members of the public who want a COVID-19 test should have little trouble getting one now.

Appointments are no longer needed for free drive-thru testing by the Washington National Guard at the Toyota Center in Kennewick and The HAPO Center, formerly TRAC, in Pasco.

Testing is available first come, first served from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Participants should bring an insurance card if they have one, but those without insurance will not be denied testing.

The sites are open to anyone who believes they should be tested, including people with symptoms or who have been exposed to the coronavirus.

Test results are available by telephone in three to seven days and also will be mailed.

This story was originally published July 8, 2020 at 1:53 PM.