Two more deaths linked to COVID-19 in Grant County

MOSES LAKE/OTHELLO — Two more Grant County residents passed away this week after having tested positive for COVID-19. The first resident, whose passing was reported on Thursday, July 9, was a Moses Lake man in his 70s. The second, a Mattawa man in his 50s, passed away late last week. However, the death wasn’t reported until Monday, July 13. These deaths bring Grant County’s death toll linked to COVID-19 to eight.

Reporting has been a slower process in recent weeks, said Stephanie Shopbell, environmental health manager for the health district, since the state changed its criteria for listing a death as caused by COVID-19.

Earlier on, a coronavirus death was reported fairly quickly after the patient passed on if they had been diagnosed with the disease and their condition had continued to worsen leading up to their death, Shopbell said. Now, that figure won’t be reported by the district until the agency receives the patient’s death certificate listing the cause of death as COVID-19, Shopbell said.

Between Monday, July 6, and Monday, July 13, 167 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Grant County, bringing the new total to 858 cases. Moses Lake had the largest increase in cases, with 44 cases, bringing the total to 236 cases. Mattawa and Quincy each had 39 new cases, with Mattawa totaling 209 cases and Quincy totaling 205 cases. Royal City increased from 65 to 85 cases during the week. Warden and Ephrata each had eight new cases, bringing Warden’s total to 28 and Ephrata’s total to 58. Soap Lake and the rural part of Othello in Grant County each increased by four cases, leaving Soap Lake with 21 cases and rural Othello with 12 cases. The Grand Coulee/Electric City area held steady with three cases.

Of Grant County’s 858 cases, 345 people have recovered. Eleven people are currently hospitalized. Four hundred thirty-six of the cases are male and 421 are female. Of those ages newborn to 18 years old, there are 133 cases. In the 19- to 40-year-old age range, there are 380 cases. Of those 41 to 60 years old, there are 240 cases. There are 88 cases in the 61- to 80-year-old range. There are 17 cases in those 80 years old and older.

In Adams County, Othello continues to be the hot spot, adding 58 new cases between Monday, July 6, and Monday, July 13. The new total for Adams County is 244 cases, with 234 of those in Othello. There have not been any new cases anywhere else in the county for three weeks. So far, 146 patients have recovered. No one is currently hospitalized or has died.

Currently, Adams County has sent out 1,656 tests. Of those, 1,337 have been negative. Fifty-four tests are pending.

Emry Dinman contributed to this report.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at rpinkerton@suntribunenews.com.