Seven more people died from COVID-19-related illness, the Grant County Health District reported Monday, bringing the county’s total to 98 since the pandemic began in early 2020.

Two deaths were associated with the Lake Ridge Center outbreak in November, bringing the total there to 20. Both people had underlying health conditions, which put them at higher risk for complications, and were a woman in her 70s and a man in his 80s.

Five deaths weren’t associated with a long-term care facility, but were with underlying conditions. Those included a Moses Lake man in his 60s, a Soap Lake man in his 60s, two Moses Lake men in their 70s and a Coulee City woman in her 70s.

“Grant County Health District delays the announcement of COVID-19-associated deaths to give families time to notify their loved ones,” a release stated. “We also verify COVID-19 is listed as a cause of death on the death certificate to ensure we are not reporting deaths that are not attributed to COVID-19. All reported deaths of Grant County residents are attributed to COVID-19 and were verified with the death certificate, testing, and other case information.”

Additionally, the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 was identified in the state during the weekend. This disease is more contagious, but severity seems similar, the GCHD stated. The higher transmission rate might bring more cases, increasing hospitalizations and a possible increase in deaths.

For more information, visit granthealth.org.