Will Tri-Cities see another COVID wave? Here’s what could cause it

The health officer for Benton and Franklin counties likes the COVID-19 trends she’s seeing in the Tri-Cities area.

But the Tri-Cities will need to stay the course — with increasing vaccinations, wearing masks, avoiding large gatherings and staying home when sick — to help prevent yet another COVID wave in the community, said Dr. Amy Person, at a news briefing Thursday.

In the past, as infection rates have dropped, people became more complacent and less diligent about protective measures, she said.

“We will be hoping, particularly as we move into the winter months and into these holiday seasons, that people will keep up the good work,” she said.

The other threat that could result in another wave of the virus would be additional mutations of the coronavirus, she said.

The delta variant of the coronavirus is now responsible for almost all cases in the Tri-Cities. The mutation is more contagious than the original strain.

While COVID-19 is still at high levels in the Tri-Cities area, case rates are below 1,000 new cases per 100,000 people over two weeks for the first time in both counties since mid August, she said.

On Thursday, the case rate had dropped to 722 in Benton County and 925 in Franklin County.

She credits those in the community who have gotten vaccinated against COVID-19 and who wear masks in public and stay home when sick.

The percentage of people fully vaccinated climbed by just under 1% over the last week among Benton County residents and just over 1% among Franklin County residents.

Currently, almost 47% of all residents of Benton County are fully vaccinated and close to 41% of Franklin County residents are fully vaccinated.

However, vaccination rates continue to be below the Washington state rate of 58% of all residents, according to the Washington state Department of Health.

Its vaccination data does not include some people who received vaccinations through certain federal programs, such as the Veterans Administration.

Vaccine causes 1 death

Dr. Person said she was saddened to hear of the death of a Seattle-area woman in her late 30s who developed a blood clot after receiving the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

However, there have been only three other deaths confirmed in the nation associated with the rare complication of that brand of vaccine, she said.

The blood clotting risk is associated only with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine — not the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines — and is lower than the risk of clots from some types of commonly used birth control, according to the Washington state Department of Health.

No one has died in the Tri-Cities due to the COVID-19 vaccine, she said.

However, 476 deaths in Benton and Franklin counties have been attributed to complications of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

As long as the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the risks, they will continue to be recommended, Dr. Person said.

COVID pregnancy advice

She is urging pregnant women to be vaccinated after the Centers for Disease Control strengthened its advice for them last week.

Just 31% of pregnant women are vaccinated, with that percentage dropping to 25% in Hispanic women, according to the CDC.

The CDC vaccination recommendation extends to women who are breastfeeding or who expect to become pregnant soon.

Cases in pregnant women may be more severe, leading to hospitalization, including in the intensive care unit, Dr. Person said.

Pregnant women with COVID-19 are at increased risk of preterm births, stillbirths and admissions into the ICU of a newborn also infected with COVID, according to the CDC.

“It’s important that anyone who is pregnant or thinking of getting regnant get vaccinated so they can protect themselves and their child,” Dr. Person said.

People getting vaccinated now against COVID-19 may get their annual flu shot at the same time, she said.

She also reminded people who got their second Pfizer COVID shot at least six months ago that they may be eligible for a booster shot now.

The booster, to improve immunity, is approved for people 65 and older, those at risk of severe disease and people with jobs ranging from health care workers to school employees.

A Food and Drug Administration vaccine committee next week will consider whether Moderna and Johnson and Johnson boosters also should be approved.

COVID in children

The committee will consider vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 at the end of the month, with COVID-19 vaccine already approved for ages 12 and older, Dr. Person said.

The age group with the highest COVID-19 infection rate now in the Tri-Cities are children ages 5 to 14, but declining rates are being seen even in that age group, she said.

Public health officials have said previously that cases are being spread in school-age children mostly within families and in activities rather than in school classrooms.

As of Thursday, the Benton Franklin Health District was reporting an average of 130 new cases per day so far this week, starting with the weekend.-

That compares to an average of 175 new cases per day last week.

The four hospitals in Benton and Franklin counties reported 62 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 treatment as of Thursday, up from a recent low of 53 on Tuesday.

A month ago 115 patients were hospitalized locally for COVID-19 treatment.

If the number of new cases of COVID-19 continues to drop in the Tri-Cities area, hospitals can expect their number of patients with the disease to continue to decline, Dr. Person said.

In time that should also mean fewer people dying of COVID-19, she said.

“Our improvement is not a time to stop what works but a time to continue and to be vigilant so we can reach that point where COVID is not a serious concern in our community,” she said.

This story was originally published October 8, 2021 at 5:00 AM.