Public Health staff to conduct compliance checks on restaurants and bars

Establishments can request visits from staff as well to answer questions, provide guidance

What defines a COVID-19 outbreak?

Our disease investigators answer questions about how we define outbreaks, especially in recent days with the University of Kansas conducting entry testing of all students, faculty and staff.

Q&A: What you need to know about quarantining for COVID-19

Quarantining is a key part of controlling the spread of COVID-19; however, if you are unfamiliar with it, it can be an unnerving process. Epidemiology Supervisor Jeni McDonald addressed some common concerns people might have about quarantine.

Compliance with isolation and quarantine orders key to slowing spread of COVID-19 cases

As Douglas County has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases in recent days as part of the University of Kansas entry testing, disease investigators have been working to identify close contacts of positive cases to quarantine them.

Education Unified Command develops recommendation tool for Smart and Safe School Reopening Guidance

LAWRENCE – As part of Education Unified Command response, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health has developed the following COVID-19 Smart and Safe School Reopening Guidance to assist K-12 school districts and families in decision-makin...

Douglas County develops Education Unified Command

Building upon Douglas County’s use of the Unified Command (UC) structure to lead a comprehensive COVID-19 pandemic response, several organizations will partner to provide a coordinated reopening and response strategy among education institutions.

Contact Tracing: How does it work?

Contact tracing is a key strategy to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in our community. Learn more about how it works.

Board of Health declares racism a public health crisis

The Lawrence-Douglas County Board of Health Monday declared racism a public health crisis and directed Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health to work with the steering committee for the Community Health Plan to add a fifth issue area in the plan focused on...

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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Public Health staff to conduct compliance checks on restaurants and bars

LAWRENCE – Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health staff will begin conducting compliance checks on establishments and venues that have a liquor license to ensure they are following the local public health order issued Sept. 4.

The order r...

New public health order requires establishments to stop serving alcohol by 9 p.m.

LAWRENCE – As COVID-19 cases in Douglas County have increased, leaders of Douglas County’s Education Unified Command emphasize the community is in a critical period to control the spread of the coronavirus.

A July 3 public heal...

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 ...

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...

What defines a COVID-19 outbreak?

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Sept. 8 began releasing locations of outbreaks in Kansas, connected to five or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 or private business locations with more than 20 confirmed cases.

Lawrence-Douglas County Publ...

Q&A: What you need to know about quarantining for COVID-19

Quarantining is a key part of controlling the spread of COVID-19; however, if you are unfamiliar with it, it can be an unnerving process. Epidemiology Supervisor Jeni McDonald addressed some common concerns people might have about quarantine.

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FAQs for Education Reopening

As part of Education Unified Command response, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health has developed the following COVID-19 Smart and Safe School Reopening Guidance to assist K-12 school districts and families in decision-making for the upcoming school year...

Contact Tracing: How does it work?

Contact tracing is a key strategy to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in our community.

It’s a process that local health departments conduct regularly with communicable diseases but often outside of the public eye. Now the COVID-19 pandemic has...

FAQs for Reopening Phase 3

Gov. Laura Kelly has presented her detailed framework for a phased-in approach to begin reopening the state. Currently, Douglas County has aligned with the Governor’s plan, which is currently in Phase 3. And Local Health Officer Dr. Thomas Marce...

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.

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