photo by: Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health

Douglas County added another COVID-19 death over the weekend.

The death, a man between 65 and 74 years old, was reported by Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health Monday. It’s the county’s first COVID-19 death added to the toll since Feb. 4. That total is now 130 since March 2020.

After adding 165 new coronavirus cases Thursday and Friday, Douglas County added even fewer — 125 — over the weekend. The number of COVID inpatients at LMH Health has also declined since Friday, from 17 to 15.  

With the new cases, Douglas County’s cumulative case count is at 24,755. However, the county is still in the “red zone,” which is defined as more than 50 new cases per day on average and the active case count exceeding 1,000.

The daily case count, based on a 14-day moving average, was 93.07 as of Monday afternoon, and the active case count was at 2,323.

The health department continues to encourage community members to follow updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and also urges 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.

The health department also offers information about where to go to get tested for COVID in Douglas County on its website.

Additionally, KDHE recently opened a new COVID testing site at the former Payless Shoe location at 1540 Wakarusa Drive. Hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.