Seven new cases of COVID-19 in Othello reported

OTHELLO — Seven new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Adams County on Monday, June 8, bringing the county’s total to 86 confirmed cases. Seventy-nine of the cases are in Othello. The other seven cases are from Ritzville and Lind; only two of those cases are new within the past two weeks.

Karen Potts, community health director for Adams County Health Department, said an increase in cases the past couple of weeks is due to large gatherings over Mother’s Day and Memorial Day weekends.

“Folks are doing things we asked them not to do,” Potts said. “We’re not seeing the social distancing and masking as we would like to see.”

As of Monday evening, 661 COVID-19 tests had been sent out from Adams County, and 551 have come back negative. Ten tests’ results are pending.

Potts also said the county has stepped up testing, which may be one of the reasons the number of positive cases has increased.

— Rachal Pinkerton