Ten more COVID-19 deaths reported, seven from local eldercare facilities

Ten deaths related to COVID-19 were reported in Grant County on Thursday, bringing the total to 54, according to Grant County Health District.

Seven were associated with long-term care facilities, bringing the tally of eldercare deaths linked to the coronavirus in Grant County to 26, nearly half of the total. Twenty-nine total coronavirus deaths have been reported since Nov. 1.

Four of the deceased were residents of Lake Ridge Center in Moses Lake, including a male in his 70s, a male in his 80s, and two males in their 90s. Another potential COVID-19 death at that facility is pending review of the death certificate, according to the health district.

Another two of the deceased, a man in his 70s and a man in his 80s, were residents of Columbia Crest Center, another long-term care facility in Moses Lake.

Another man in his 80s with the coronavirus who died was a resident of McKay Healthcare and Rehab Center in Soap Lake, which was the first facility to lose residents to the current outbreak in Grant County eldercare, according to the health district.

Three Grant County residents, including a Moses Lake female in her 70s and a female in her 90s whose place of residency was not stated, have also died. Both women had underlying conditions, according to the health district. A male resident of Moses Lake in his 80s who did not have underlying health conditions also died, the health district stated in a press release.

The health district also wrote that its investigations have determined that there were long-term care staff who attended the large Ritzville-area wedding and later tested positive for the coronavirus. However, because staff in these facilities care for entire units, direct contact with associated patients is not known, the health district added.