Governor issues temporary, statewide Stay Home order beginning March 30

Governor Laura Kelly issued Executive Order 20-16, making Kansas the 22nd state in the nation to institute a temporary, statewide stay-home order.

COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus)

Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health continues to work with our community and public health partners to monitor the outbreak of COVID-19, the 2019 novel coronavirus. See our page with information on COVID-19.

Public Health clinic to offer same-day appointments for STD patients

Patients who need to utilize Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health’s sexually transmitted disease clinic and counseling now have an option to save their waiting time.

See Douglas County Flu Data

Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health recommends everyone at least 6 months old get a flu vaccination. The vaccination is the most effective way to avoid getting the flu, a contagious respiratory illness.

We've Changed Our Name

Our promise to the community illustrates so much more than can be confined into four walls of a building.

Douglas County is National Finalist in Culture of Health Prize

Douglas County has advanced to the next round in the annual Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize.

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Under Governor’s order, Douglas County residents to continue to stay at home, with listed exceptions

LAWRENCE – Since March 24, Douglas County residents have lived under a “Stay at Home” order as the Douglas County community continues with efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.

As Governor Laura Kelly on March 30 enacted a s...

With additional case, Douglas County now has four total travel-related cases of coronavirus disease

LAWRENCE – Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health is announcing one new case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Douglas County, bringing the county’s current total to four. Results were sent to the Kansas Department of Health and Envi...

Two more travel-related cases of coronavirus disease identified in Douglas County

LAWRENCE – Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health is announcing two new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Douglas County, bringing the county’s current total to three. Results sent to the Kansas Department of Health and Environ...

First case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) identified in Douglas County

LAWRENCE – Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health is announcing the first case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Douglas County. Testing sent to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Laboratories identified the positive c...

Douglas County Health Officer prohibits public gatherings of 50-plus people

LAWRENCE – Douglas County Health Officer Dr. Thomas Marcellino on March 17 prohibited public gatherings in the county of more than 50 people for eight weeks to help stem the COVID-19 disease outbreak. The new restriction is in line with an execu...

Douglas County selected as finalist for RWJF Culture of Health Prize

LAWRENCE – Douglas County has advanced to the final group among eight communities for the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize. As a 2020 finalist, the coalition of Douglas County partners is one step close...

Public Health clinic to offer same-day appointments for STD patients

LAWRENCE – Patients who need to utilize Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health’s sexually transmitted disease clinic and counseling now have an option to save their waiting time.

The Public Health Clinic now offers same-day appointments ...

Health Department changes name to Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health

As part of a rebranding effort, the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department has changed its name to Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health in an effort to communicate its promise to the community as an organization.

“To advance the public health...

August is National Immunization Awareness Month

As part of back-to-school preparations, making sure your children are vaccinated on time is an important step toward ensuring their long-term health. Vaccination also helps protect the health of classmates, friends, relatives and others in the community.

T...

Health Department receives national award for breastfeeding support to WIC families

Lawrence – The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department is one of only 16 agencies across the country to receive the Gold Premiere Award of Excellence for its breastfeeding support to WIC families.

Leaders with the U.S. Department of Agriculture ...

Douglas County rises in health rankings to 17th in Kansas

(Lawrence) – Douglas County improved six spots to No. 17 in Kansas, according to the County Health Rankings report released today by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. The county retur...

SCRIPT program to help pregnant mothers quit smoking

Lawrence, Kansas – Smoking during pregnancy can cause several complications for the health of both the mother and child. However, a new evidence-based program will help Douglas County expectant mothers quit smoking and offer healthier futures for them and...

Partnership to provide free health app to Douglas County residents

LAWRENCE — Douglas County, in partnership with the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department and Kansas Department of Health and Environment, will provide for free the MyStrength app to Douglas County residents.

MyStrength offers individuals supp...

Lawrence youth to celebrate anti-tobacco Kick Butts Day

(Lawrence) – Several Lawrence kids and teens will spend part of their spring break this week drawing attention to the harmful effects of tobacco use and picking up cigarette butts in downtown Lawrence.

“It’s important for our ...

Governor issues temporary, statewide Stay Home order beginning March 30

As part of ongoing efforts to limit the spread of novel coronavirus in Kansas, today Governor Laura Kelly issued Executive Order 20-16, making Kansas the 22^nd state in the nation to institute a temporary, statewide stay-home order. It will exist in conjun...

Message and Guidance to Businesses on Stay-at-Home Order

UPDATE: Kansas Governor’s Executive Order identifies framework for exemptions on local Stay-at-Home Orders

If you have a question about public health orders, you can email us at phorders@ldchealth.org

In our most recent action, our Douglas County ...

FAQ: Douglas County "Stay at Home" Order

UPDATES: See our Message and Guidance to Business on the Order, in addition to the FAQ below.

Kansas Governor’s Executive Order identifies framework for exemptions on local Stay-at-Home Orders

If you have a question about public health orders, you...

Public Health suspending clinic services to redirect staff, resources to COVID-19 outbreak

LAWRENCE – Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health is suspending most of its current clinic services, including immunizations and its STD clinic, effective Monday, March 23, and moving others to virtual appointments to support the response to the ...

Public Health supports CDC recommendation to postpone/cancel gatherings of 50-plus people

Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health supports new CDC guidelines for mass gatherings that recommend organizers for the next eight weeks cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more. The guidance is a proactive measure to reduce i...

New senior analyst sees connections in public health, environmental health data

Aihua Zhu recalls growing up in northwestern China in the Gobi Desert and experiencing dust storms that often made it difficult to breath. 

It was her first recognition of how the environment can influence people’s health, and as a new S...

Marginalized Douglas County residents identify barriers to quality employment

“Implicit bias is so powerful. Immediately you walk up, and people are already making assumptions about you.” 

 “I’m who I am, but I can’t be completely who I am because of who I work with.” 

 "Because I'm a woman of...

Kansas Supreme Court OKs local Tobacco 21 policies

The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday ruled that local governments could institute ordinances that ban the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to people under 21, known as Tobacco 21 legislation.

“It’s really exciting because the Supreme Court clear...

Douglas County, Health Department offering new online resource for wellness, mental health

Douglas County and eight community agencies now offer residents a new online resource for wellness and mental health. Livongo for Behavioral Health by myStrength, an innovative leader in digital behavioral health care, provides digital self-care resources...

Community Forum Focuses on Vaping Among Youth

Electronic cigarettes, otherwise known as e-cigarettes or vapes, have become extremely popular among young people in recent years. The National Youth Tobacco Survey showed an alarming 78% increase in vaping from just 11% in 2017 to 20.8% in 2018.

It&rs...

Health Department urges residents to be aware of bats

The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department has recently received an increase in the number of calls regarding bats. Public health officials urge residents to take precaution if they encounter them because bats are the main cause of human rabies cases i...