The Board understands that case counts may be higher, due to a number of factors:

• Testing capabilities have been increased by other area lab organizations and hospitals and not all of the test results are reported to DPH or the Lawrence Board of Health; and
• People may be asymptomatic (or have very mild symptoms) and do not realize that they may have COVID-19 and need to be tested; and
• Providers may be offering diagnoses based on symptoms and history (rather than testing) and telling patients that they are likely positive and should stay home and self-quarantine for 14 days. (e.g, Someone might call their provider with a few symptoms and indicate that they were with someone from Biogen. In this case, the doctor may assume positive for COVID-19 and ask the patient to self-isolate at home for two weeks).

This is the process that the Lawrence Board of Health, and all local health departments, is following.