No new COVID-19 deaths reported in Benton, Franklin Counties

KENENWICK, Wash.-- The Benton-Franklin Health District reported 18 new cases of COVID-19 in Benton and Franklin Counties Saturday, bringing the bi-county total number of cases to 822.

For the second day in a row, the agency reported no new deaths related to the virus outbreak. Since mid-March, there have been 38 deaths related to the virus in Benton County, 4 in Franklin County.

Thirty-two patients in Benton and Franklin Counties are currently hospitalized while undergoing treatment for COVID-19, making up about 12% of the total number of persons hospitalized in the Tri-Cities.

There are now 108 cases of the coronavirus linked to the Tyson meat packing plant in Wallula. The food company announced earlier this week that it planned to temporarily stop operations at the facility in order to test about 1,400 workers.

Healthcare workers make up 130 of those who have the virus.