Tri-Cities COVID cases higher for 2nd day in a row. Another death reported

One-hundred residents of Benton County have died from complications of COVID-19, with the latest death reported on Wednesday.

In addition, 39 residents of Franklin County have died for a total death count for the coronavirus pandemic of 139.

There were 130 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in the two counties Wednesday by the Benton Franklin Health District.

That’s an improvement from the 172 new cases reported for the two counties on Tuesday, but more than on other recent days.

The average number of new cases on the seven days before Wednesday was 91 per day, with cases showing a flat or declining trend.

State and local health officials have been hopeful that more people wearing masks in public in the Tri-Cities area has helped curb the number of cases. As recently as July 1, there were 215 new cases reported in a single day in the bicounty area.

But public health officials also are concerned that too many gatherings, some of them large, continue to be held and may be spreading the infection in the Tri-Cities area.

The Tri-Cities are now approved only for modified Phase 1 with the state not considering any applications now for any counties in the state to advance to new phases that would allow more businesses to open and more people to gather.

Under the modified Phase 1 for Benton and Franklin counties, most gatherings of nonhousehold members are prohibited, even gatherings of five or fewer household members.

An exception is made for behavioral counseling groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous meetings of five or fewer people.

Hospital cases

The death announced on Wednesday was a Benton County man in his 60s with underlying health conditions that put him at risk of a severe case of COVID-19. Being over 60 also is a risk factor for severe illness if exposed to the coronavirus.

The number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in local hospitals was back to 60, as reported Wednesday.

The number had dropped to 55 on Wednesday, but the number of patients being hospitalized locally for COVID-19 treatment has typically been in the 60s after a spike to 82 patients reported on July 16.

The 60 patients reported Wednesday as being treated for COVID, either with positive tests or awaiting test results, accounted for 18% of all patients in hospitals in Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and Prosser. They had accounted for 20% of patients a week ago.

Statewide the ages of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has been dropping, according to the Washington state Department of Health.

Since the start of the pandemic 33% of Benton County residents hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been younger than 60.

In Franklin County 52% of hospitalized residents have been younger than 60 and 3% of patients have been younger than 20.

Patient ages

The new cases confirmed on Wednesday included 78 new cases in Benton County for a total of 3,385 since the start of the pandemic.

Franklin County had 52 new confirmed cases for a total of 3,174.

The ages of people with confirmed cases also has been dropping, in part because testing is more widely available. Early in the pandemic, tests were prioritized for the sickest patients and those at most risk, who were generally older.

In Franklin County 53% of cases to date have been in people younger than 40, with 40% in people ages 20-39.

In Benton County 55% of cases have been in people younger than 40, with 43% diagnosed in people ages 20-39.

The Benton Franklin Health District does not report the number of patients recovered in part because there is not a standard definition for recovery being used in Washington state, it said.

Some other counties estimate the number of patients recovered based on patients who have not died or been hospitalized 28 days after a positive COVID test. Small counties without a lot of cases may check in with patients regularly on their status.

This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 2:01 PM.