Regional COVID-19 cases stay low

TRI-CITIES, Wash.-The Benton-Franklin Health District reports 52 new cases of COVID-19 over the last three days in Benton County, or a daily average of about 17, and 22 in Franklin County for a daily average of just 7.

The case rates for the bi-county region remain below the 200 threshold to stay in Phase 3 of re-opening, Benton at 119 and Franklin at 187.

While hospitalizations sit at 15 for the four regional facilities, or about 4-percent of all the patients receiving care.

The Oregon Health Authority reports 217 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24-hours, however, none in our area.

There are also no additional fatalities from the virus and 142 hospitalized people receiving care, a decrease from the day before.