photo by: Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health

In the past two days, 378 new COVID cases have been added to Douglas County’s total, and three more deaths have been reported.

The three deaths, reported by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Wednesday, were two men in the 75-84 age range and one man in the 65-74 range. Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health’s updated statistics note that COVID-19 deaths reported by the state are updated periodically as the Office of Vital Statistics reviews death certificates.

Douglas County now has a total of 128 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The county’s cumulative case count since March 2020 is now at 23,767. The total number of active cases is 4,704, and the daily case count, based on a 14-day moving average, is 220.36 as of Wednesday.

The number of inpatients hospitalized for COVID-19 at LMH Health has decreased from 24 on Monday to 20 on Wednesday.

Douglas County’s emergency public health order mandating that face masks be worn inside public spaces by anyone age 2 or older was previously extended until Feb. 9 and will remain in force until that date unless it’s otherwise rescinded or modified by the Douglas County Commission.

Local health officials continue to encourage community members to follow updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, and also urge them to get vaccinated. The health department administers vaccinations and booster doses at the clinic on the first floor of the Community Health Building, 200 Maine St., for adults and for eligible children.

To register for an appointment, visit ldchealth.org/getmyvaccine. Those interested in an appointment can also call 785-843-0721 for help with registering or with additional questions. Shots are also widely available at various pharmacies and doctor’s offices.