photo by: Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health

Douglas County has entered the highest severity level of COVID-19 transmission, according to the latest coronavirus data from Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health.

As of Thursday afternoon, Douglas County’s average daily case count was 60.4, and the county had 1,074 active cases. The county’s cumulative case count since March of 2020 is now 26,689, and there are currently three people hospitalized with COVID-19 at LMH Health.

Until Thursday, the health department’s community transmission indicator was color-coded — the “green” zone was the lowest level of severity, followed by “yellow,” and the “red” zone was the most severe. But in Thursday’s report, the health department’s severity levels were no longer color-coded; instead, they were referred to as “low,” “medium” and “high.”

The only thing that’s changed is the names. The severity level is still determined in the same way, using the county’s 14-day moving average daily COVID case count and the active case count. For the high-severity tier, that’s more than 50 for the average daily case count and more than 1,000 active cases, both of which the current numbers now surpass.

The transmission levels also still include guidance for how community members should modify their behavior based on the county’s current transmission risk. In the high-severity tier, those recommendations include limiting time spent in public spaces, as well as the consideration of a community mask mandate.

The last time the county entered the highest tier of severity was in early January. Shortly after that, when there was an average daily case count of 96.5 and an active case count of 1,944, Douglas County leaders announced an emergency public health order mandating masks for those age 2 and older in public spaces. The mask mandate was renewed multiple times in the following months, but it was allowed to expire at the beginning of March.

The Journal-World reached out to a spokesperson with the health department Thursday morning to see whether there had been any discussion about implementing another mask mandate, but it had not received a response by Thursday afternoon.

Masks are no longer required in Lawrence schools, and so far, the Lawrence school district has not made any changes to that policy.

District spokesperson Julie Boyle said Thursday afternoon that the district continues to monitor COVID transmission and discuss mitigation strategies, and if a decision is made to require masks in a class or at a school or schools, the district will inform staff, families, and the media of that change. Boyle noted that staff and students may continue to choose to wear masks at school, and that the district recommends mask-wearing if individuals have personal or family medical concerns.

At Monday’s school board meeting, Superintendent Anthony Lewis said that the district was considering potential mask mandates at particular schools. Boyle did not say which schools are being considered for masks, but said as staff and student cases are reported to schools, they are listed on the district’s website. Boyle said that the list — which currently indicates dozens of cases have been reported over the past week — is updated at the end of each school day.

The health department continues to recommend that Douglas County residents follow updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and also encourages the public to get vaccinated. The Food and Drug Administration in late March approved a second booster dose for certain immunocompromised individuals and people age 50 and older who received an initial booster dose at least four months ago.

Normally, the health department administers vaccinations and booster doses at its clinic on the first floor of the Community Health Building, 200 Maine St. However, this week, the clinic has been closed because staff members tested positive for COVID-19. The department said earlier this week that the clinic would reopen on Monday.

However, the department will still host a drive-thru booster clinic on Friday from 9 a.m. to noon at Lawrence Health Plaza, 330 Arkansas St. Those interested in receiving a booster can register for the clinic at ldchealth.org/getmyvaccine. Shots are also widely available at various pharmacies and doctor’s offices.

— Reporter Rochelle Valverde contributed to this story.