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September 22, 2020
In response to increased levels of community spread of COVID-19 statewide, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will launch a four-week effort to provide increased access to “no barrier” COVID-19 testing in communities across the state beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Increasing testing allows us to ensure those who test positive are cared for and prevents the virus from spreading in our communities.
State health officials will work with local health officials and other community partners to offer free COVID-19 testing at four to six separate community testing events spread throughout the state each week. Testing will be:
- Free
- Available to anyone (symptomatic or not)
- Will not require health care insurance
Please share this information with your students, staff and the broader school community about the upcoming opportunities to participate in a testing event. We recognize there may be some community concern that a testing event would automatically result in a recommended learning model shift. That will not necessarily be the case. Widespread access to testing followed by isolating those who are positive, and quarantining close contacts is a proven strategy for controlling the spread and keeping businesses and schools open as much as possible. In addition to combating existing levels of disease spread, this testing will provide important data to guide efforts to combat COVID-19 and protect those who are most vulnerable to serious complications.
This week’s testing events will be held in Grand Rapids, Pine City, Waseca and St. Paul. For more information and specific details, visit MDH’s COVID-19 Community Testing webpage.
Additional Resource: MDH News Release: State launches 4-week push to increase access to “no barrier” COVID-19 testing
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