02/26/2026
As part of our ongoing monitoring, we track Douglas County, KS emergency department (ED) visits and wastewater levels to better understand how respiratory illnesses are spreading in our community. These tools give us an early look at local trends for COVID, flu, and RSV so we can share timely updates and guidance.
In Douglas County, flu ED visits are currently at 4%, COVID ED visits are at 0%, and RSV ED visits are at 1%. In Lawrence, KS, COVID wastewater levels are categorized as medium, while flu and RSV wastewater levels are still at high levels.
Although ED visits remain relatively low overall, high wastewater levels for flu and RSV indicate that these viruses are still actively circulating in the community, even if many cases are mild or not requiring hospital care. Wastewater often detects increased viral activity before we see significant rises in healthcare visits. COVID remaining at medium levels suggests continued, steady transmission. This tells us that exposure risk is still present in everyday settings such as schools, workplaces, gatherings, and households.
We encourage those eligible to stay up to date on COVID, flu, and RSV vaccinations to reduce the risk of severe illness. LDCPH has flu, COVID, and RSV vaccines available regardless of insurance status. If you have questions or need to schedule an appointment, please call our clinic at 785-843-0721.
Additionally, please stay home when you're sick, wash hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes, and take extra precautions around those who are at higher risk.
We’ll continue monitoring trends and share updates as new data becomes available.
