2 more coronavirus deaths in Tri-Cities area. Victims trending younger this month

Two more people in the Tri-Cities area have died of complications of COVID-19, bringing total deaths to 134.

But the new daily case count was lower than it has been in recent days, dropping to 72 cases on Wednesday.

For the previous seven days, July 14-21, an average of 114 cases a day in Benton and Franklin counties were announced by the Benton Franklin Health District.

The two new deaths were in Benton County — a woman in her 60s and a man in his 70s.

Neither was reported to have pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or heart or lung disease that are a risk for a severe case of COVID-19. However, being age 60 or older increases the risk.

Local public health officials say deaths have been trending younger this month.

In Benton County since the start of the pandemic, 48% of deaths have been in people younger than 80, including a man in his 40s. In Franklin County 72% of deaths have been in people younger than 80.

Benton County has had 98 residents die and Franklin County has had 36 people die.

Benton County has an older population than Franklin County, and also has about twice as many people.

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

Early in the pandemic outbreaks in long-term care and other senior living centers took a high toll in Benton County, where the majority of such homes are located in the Tri-Cities area.

The local health district has reported 416 cases in residents or employees of the facilities since the start of the pandemic, but only 34 so for this month.

COVID cases

The new cases reported on Wednesday include 35 people in Benton County and 37 in Franklin County.

They bring total confirmed cases to 5,865, including 2,983 in Benton County and 2,882 in Franklin County.

The local health district is not tracking the number of people who have recovered at this time from the coronavirus.

The cases announced Wednesday put the number of cases in Pasco at 2,521.

Kennewick, which is larger than Pasco, has had 1,825 confirmed cases and Richland, which is smaller than both, has had 544.

Pasco has the largest percentage of agriculture and food processing workers in the Tri-Cities. They continue to work to produce food for the nation, putting them at increased risk of exposure.

The health district also reported 942 people tested for COVID-19 in the two counties for a total since the start of the pandemic of more than 28,000 tests.

The number of people hospitalized for treatment of COVID-19 dropped to 60 as reported on Wednesday, from the Tuesday report of 64.

The month started with 89 COVID-19 patients reported at local hospitals. Patients include both those with positive tests and those awaiting test results, who require all the precautions and personal protective equipment of those with confirmed cases.

The patients being treated for COVID-19 account for 18% of patients at hospitals in Richland, Pasco, Kennewick and Prosser.

This story was originally published July 22, 2020 at 1:51 PM.