COVID-19 Updates: May 5, 2021

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Minnesota Department of Health

May 5, 2021

Minnesota News and Outreach

COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

Still need a COVID-19 vaccine?

Every Minnesotan age 16 and older is eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Visit the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector to sign up for an appointment at one of nine state vaccination sites across Minnesota: St. Paul, Bloomington, Oakdale, Mankato, Duluth, Rochester, Lino Lakes, St. Cloud, and the State Fairgrounds. Appointments are available!

You can also contact your health care provider, local pharmacy, or local public health department. Check out Find Vaccine Locations for local vaccine providers in your area.

Vaccine data

More than 2 million Minnesotans have completed their COVID-19 vaccination series. Visit COVID-19 Vaccine Data to view the dashboard for vaccine distribution and administration data for Minnesota.

Recommendations for fully vaccinated people

If you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (it has been at least two weeks since the final dose of vaccine), you can follow the updated masking, quarantine, and gathering recommendations on About COVID-19 Vaccine: For fully vaccinated people.

Minnesotans in masks after getting vaccinated

Community Testing Site Updates

Minneapolis Convention Center
COVID-19 testing at the Minneapolis Convention Center will close at 5 p.m. on May 7. Testing will move to Room 103 on May 8. Enter on the west side of the building at Lobby D doors on 2nd Avenue.

St. Cloud: River's Edge Convention Center
No testing May 24-31. St. Cloud testing resumes June 1.

St. Paul: Roy Wilkins Exhibition Hall
No testing on May 6.

Worthington Event Center
No testing May 6-9.

All community testing sites will be closed May 30-31 in observance of Memorial Day.

Visit COVID-19 Community Testing Sites to find other locations or schedule an appointment. Order an at-home saliva test at no cost: COVID-19 Test at Home.


Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Materials

We are adding new videos, print materials, and translated documents often. Check out the pages below to view, download, or print these resources.

COVID-19 Translated Materials

Materials and Resources for COVID-19 Response

Videos for COVID-19 Response


The situation is changing rapidly. Visit Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for the most up-to-date information and follow MDH on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram to stay informed.

What's New

Thank You Health Care Workers!

Health care workers have experienced high levels of emotional and physical stress during COVID-19. These realities can lead to staffing shortages as workers get sick, quarantine, or stay home to recharge.

We know health care workers deal with so many hardships every day. They have:

  • Witnessed human suffering and made life and death decisions
  • Experienced fear of getting sick or infecting family members
  • Been separated from loved ones
  • Worked without needed personal protective equipment or safeguards
  • Felt mentally exhausted

They have worked tirelessly under difficult circumstances for over a year. They have put their lives at risk, and on hold, to care for patients and residents. Health care workers have been there for them when we could not.

Thank you to our health care workers for everything you have done and continue to do!

We know we can! video thumbnail

YouTube Video: We know we can!

For tools and resources for health care leaders and workers to deal with common mental, emotional, and psychological concerns, visit Mental Health and Resiliency Tools for Health Care Workers.

It takes all of us to keep going so we can keep our communities safe. Thank you to all the Minnesotans who stepped up as public health champions this year. Your efforts save lives and improve the health of Minnesotans in so many ways. Keep doing your part to get past the pandemic.

  • Get vaccinated
  • Wash your hands often
  • Get tested if you have symptoms
  • Stay 6 feet away from other people
  • Wear a mask when recommended

COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy

COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy fact sheet

We know that pregnant people are at a higher risk of severe disease compared to non-pregnant people. There’s currently limited data on COVID-19 vaccine in pregnant people, but based on how the COVID-19 vaccines work in the body, medical researchers do not think that the vaccines are a risk for people who are pregnant.

COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy (PDF)

  • If you are pregnant, you can choose to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
  • You may want to talk with your health care provider to help you decide whether to get vaccinated, but it is not required.
  • If you are trying to become pregnant now or want to get pregnant in the future, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine when one is available to you.
  • We do not have any data to say that COVID-19 vaccination causes any problems with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta.
  • There is no evidence that fertility problems are a side effect of any COVID-19 vaccine.

Guidance and Resources

NEW:

UPDATED:

NOTE: As new Executive Orders and recommendations are issued, we will review and update the guidance and resources on our website accordingly. Look for an "Updated" date below guidance links to know when the resource was last revised.

MDH COVID-19 Public Hotline

For questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, call:

1-833-431-2053

Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.