Benton, Franklin counties clear 4,000 COVID cases since pandemic began

TRI-CITIES, Wash.- The Benton-Frankin Health Department had not reported a daily COVID case count since last Thursday because of the holiday, so it stands to reason Monday's data release would be high.

The four-day total for Benton County was 181 cases, 288 in Franklin, or an average of 45 and 72 a day, respectively. Now, 4,075 people have tested positive for the virus during the duration of the pandemic in our region.

Two Benton County men in their 80s also died from the virus, one with underlying health issues.

So far, just under 20,000 people have been tested in the bi-county area.