Pasco’s COVID cases in July alone outnumber Richland’s total count. City-by-city breakdown

The city of Pasco had more cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the first 10 days of July than Richland has had since the start of the pandemic.

Pasco continues to be the Tri-Cities town with the highest rate of COVID-19 infection, with 26 of every 1,000 residents testing positive to date.

So far in July it has had 519 new cases reported, a 36% increase in confirmed cases.

Pasco has some factors that put residents at higher risk than those in Kennewick, Richland and West Richland.

It has more agriculture workers living there than any of the other Tri-Cities and also has more food processing plants. Jobs in both industries are considered essential, with workers continuing to report to work and increasing their risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

According to the latest data released by the Benton Franklin Health District, Pasco has had 1,978 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Here’s how the other cities in Benton and Franklin counties are doing:

Kennewick

The largest of the Tri-Cities, Kennewick has had 1,358 cases, by the most recent report of the local health district released Friday.

That puts its rate at 16 per 1,000.

Its has had 311 new cases reported this month, an increase of 30%, which is the slowest increase by percentage among the Tri-Cities.

Richland

Richland has had 426 cases confirmed in its residents, with 101 of those reported in July.

It’s an increase of 31%, slightly higher than Kennewick but lower than Pasco or West Richland.

Its rate is just 7 of every 1,000 people known to have been infected with the coronavirus, a rate that has dropped to slightly lower than nearby West Richland.

West Richland

West Richland has had 116 cases of COVID-19 confirmed, including 38 reported in July.

It’s an increase of 49%, which is a larger percentage than reported for Pasco, Kennewick or Richland.

It still has one of the lowest rates of known infection locally, however, with COVID-19 confirmed in 8 of every 1,000 people.

Connell

Connell’s case rate continues to be driven by infections in inmates in the Coyote Ridge Correctional Center.

Its number of cases jumped from 129 to 173 since the start of the month, for 44 new cases.

The prison in Connell has had 226 prisoners test positive, with not all of them yet reflected in health district statistics. In addition 54 employees there have tested positive for COVID-19, but their cases are assigned to the towns they live in.

Connell has had 31 cases for every 1,000 residents.

Washington state Department of Health officials have been asked by Tri-Cities officials not to count the inmate cases against the Tri-Cities as the state agency as it considers whether to allow more businesses to reopen and small gatherings.

Prosser

Prosser’s new cases increased from 192 to 217 since the first of the month, a jump of just 13%.

Its case rate remains high, however, with 34 confirmed cases for every 1,000 people since the start of the pandemic.

Although it is not clear why Prosser has such a high rate of cases, it does have many people employed in agricultural jobs and it is close to the Yakima County line. Yakima County at times has had the worst outbreak in the state per population.

Yakima County currently ranks second among the state’s counties for total number of deaths from the virus, according to the Washington state Department of Health. King County has had 633 deaths from complications of COVID-19 and Yakima County has had 185.

Among other small towns in Benton and Franklin counties, Mesa has had 36 confirmed cases of COVID-19, Eltopia has had 30, and Plymouth, Kahlotus and Paterson each have had fewer than 10.

Benton City

Benton City cases increased by 13 to 59 since the start of the month, a 28% increase.

It has a rate of 17 cases per 1,000 people, counting cases since the start of the pandemic. Its rate is similar to Kennewick’s rate.

COVID deaths

Deaths in Benton and Franklin counties have not followed city trends.

Nearly 75% of the 114 deaths from complications of COVID-19 reported by the Benton Franklin Health District have been Benton County residents. Deaths are reported by county residence rather than where people died.

The high percentage in Benton County may be, in part, because of outbreaks of COVID-19 this spring in long-term care and retirement homes, which are mostly located in Benton County.

Benton Count also has about twice as many people as Franklin County.

In addition, Franklin County’s population tends to be younger than Benton County’s and it has a lower percentage of cases in older residents.

In Franklin County, just under 10% of people are 65 or older and in Benton County 15% of people are 65 or older.

In Franklin County, 14% of cases to date have been in people ages 60 or older, and in Benton County 22% of cases are in people 60 or older.

Being age 60 or older puts people at increased risk of a more serious illness from infection with the coronavirus, as do certain underlying conditions, some of which are more common in older people.

This story was originally published July 12, 2020 at 12:27 PM.