photo by: Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health

Though the number of new coronavirus cases in Douglas County has remained low this week, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health has added a third COVID death to the toll.

The death that was listed Friday — a man in the 55-64 age category — took place in December 2021. According to the health department’s update, death information is updated periodically as the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Office of Vital Statistics reviews and evaluates death certificates.

Douglas County has now recorded a total of 134 COVID deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the county added only 17 new COVID cases Thursday and Friday, bringing the cumulative case count to 25,284, and the active case count has dropped a bit to 142. However, patients hospitalized for COVID at LMH Health ticked up again, from one Wednesday to two Friday.

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. Typical hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.