photo by: Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health

Douglas County’s coronavirus numbers remain on a relative downslide following the weekend.

Since Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health’s last update Friday, the county’s daily case count, based on a 14-day moving average, has dropped from 38.3 to 27, and active cases have dropped by nearly 200, from 957 Friday to 776 Monday.

The number of inpatients hospitalized for COVID at LMH Health has also dropped to six.

The county has added 30 new COVID cases to its cumulative total since before the weekend. That total, going back to March of 2020, is now 25,132.

The county’s current public health order requiring masks is set to expire Wednesday barring other action by the County Commission. The commission’s agenda for its meeting on Wednesday doesn’t include any items related to the mask order, and County Administrator Sarah Plinsky confirmed to the Journal-World Monday that it’s expected to not be renewed.

Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health 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 has a COVID testing site at the former Payless Shoe location at 1540 Wakarusa Drive. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.