Yakima County has top rate of COVID-19 cases on West Coast

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

(AP) — The highest rate of coronavirus cases in Washington state is in Yakima County, an agricultural giant that has more than double the state average of cases.

In fact, the county of 250,000 people has the highest rate of COVID-19 cases of any county on the West Coast. Health experts point to a large number of essential workers, a large number of cases in long-term care facilities and a large agricultural workforce living and working in close quarters as the causes.

“We just haven't been as much down as the rest of the state because our workforce is going to work,'' said Lilian Bravo, a spokeswoman for the Yakima Health District.

“Physically going to work every day is going to put you at a higher risk than others,'' Bravo said.

As of Friday, Yakima County had 1,203 positive cases, a rate of 455 cases per 100,000 residents, the highest in the state. Second was Franklin County at 326 cases per 100,000. The statewide average was 185 cases per 100,000 residents.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/yakima-county-has-top-rate-of-covid-19-cases-on-west-coast/ar-BB13w0CS

[captain queeg]

1. Agricultural workers. Low paid and often Hispanic. No surprise

[gladium et scutum]

2. If I remember correctly

Home to the 1,130,000 acre Yakima Indian Reservation. This reservation has about 10-11,000 residents.

[RainCaster]

3. That's GOP country

Eastern Washington has a very vocal majority of Trumpanzees there. I have family in Franklin County, some are Dems, others not so much. (Mexican hating Trump voters)

I grew up there, so I still see lots of old high school friends on a community group in Facebook. They are all whining about having to stay home. They hate our democratic governor who imposed the restrictions.