photo by: Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health

Douglas County has added another COVID-19 death to its tally, but the county’s active case count and moving average of new cases per day have continued to fall.

In its update on Wednesday, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health reported 570 active cases of COVID-19, a decrease of 206 cases from Monday. Wednesday’s update was the second in a row to show a decrease of around 200 active cases; from Friday to Monday, the county’s active case count fell from 957 to 776.

The average daily case count, based on a 14-day moving average, has also dropped. It’s now 24.9, down from 27 on Monday. If active cases drop to 500 or fewer and the moving average case count remains below 25, Douglas County would enter the “green” category of the health department’s community transmission indicator, which is the least-severe category.

Since Monday, the county has added 27 new COVID cases, bringing the cumulative total since March 2020 to 25,158. Six inpatients are currently hospitalized with COVID at LMH Health.

The newly added COVID death was reported Tuesday and was a man between 65 and 74 years of age. That brings the county’s total number of COVID deaths to 131.

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.