photo by: Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health

Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health reported Friday that another coronavirus death has been added to the county’s total.

The death, a man between 75 and 84 years old, occurred in December 2021 and was confirmed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Office of Vital Statistics Friday. Douglas County’s death toll since the beginning of the pandemic is now 129.

The county has added 233 new COVID-19 cases since Wednesday, bringing the total count to 23,995.

The daily case count, based on a 14-day moving average, has dipped below 200 for the first time since Jan. 6 and now sits at 193.14. The number of inpatients hospitalized for COVID-19 at LMH Health also decreased slightly and was 19 as of Friday afternoon.

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.