Eight more COVID-19 deaths reported, including five long-term care residents

Eight more Grant County residents died due to a coronavirus infection, including five at long-term care facilities, according to the Grant County Health District.

This brings the total number of COVID-19 deaths in Grant County to 73.

Three of the dead were residents of McKay Healthcare and Rehab Center in Soap Lake, including a woman in her 80s, a woman in her 90s and a man in his 80s. This brings the number of coronavirus deaths at that facility to 11, with an additional death possibly related to COVID-19 awaiting further review.

A woman in her 90s who was a resident of Lake Ridge Center in Moses Lake also died, bringing the total deaths at that facility to 16, with an additional two deaths possibly related to COVID-19 awaiting further review.

A woman in her 80s who was a resident of Columbia Crest Center in Moses Lake also died, bringing the total deaths at that facility to 16, with an additional two deaths possibly related to COVID-19 awaiting further review. This brings the total deaths at that facility to 16, with an additional two deaths possibly related to COVID-19 awaiting further review.

All five residents of long-term care facilities who died had underlying health conditions putting them at greater risk of severe complications from the coronavirus.

In addition, three Grant County residents who were not residents of a long-term care facility died after contracting the coronavirus, including a woman of Moses Lake in her 50s with no underlying health conditions, a man from Moses Lake in his 70s with underlying health conditions and a man of Beverly in his 60s who had underlying health conditions.

“Our most vulnerable community members — elderly, immunocompromised, and those with chronic conditions — are especially at risk of complications due to a COVID-19 infection and we must continue to take measures to protect them from this disease,” the health district wrote in a press release. “The best way to do that is by staying home as much as possible.”

Emry Dinman can be reached via email at edinman@columbiabasinherald.com.