COVID-19 Updates: Oct. 13, 2021

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Minnesota Department of Health

October 13, 2021

Minnesota News and Outreach

COVID-19 Medication Options

COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment can help qualifying patients get better faster. It is an outpatient treatment for patients with mild to moderate symptoms that started within the past 10 days, and who are at high risk of their illness leading to hospitalization or death. It can also be given to people who have had close contact or are at high risk of being in close contact with someone with COVID-19. Learn more at COVID-19 Medication Options.

To receive this treatment, Minnesotans should contact their health care provider or visit How can I get monoclonal antibody treatment to learn more about the Minnesota Resource Allocation Platform (MNRAP), a tool that connects people with COVID-19 medications.

MNRAP is an online scheduling tool the state created to facilitate equitable access to monoclonal antibody treatments. Patients or their caregivers can fill out the MNRAP screening form to find out if they qualify for treatment. MNRAP will refer eligible patients to the nearest site with an available appointment, which includes a newly opened St. Paul clinic to expand access to treatment in the metro area.

The platform does not make the final decision about who can get a medication. It will send your information to a health care facility. The final decision is up to the health care provider at the facility that gives these types of medications.

COVID-19 Medications

Extended: Safe Travels, Minnesota

Minnesotans who get their Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the state’s vaccination clinic at MSP Airport’s Terminal 2 from October 8 through December 29 can enter into a weekly drawing for a $200 travel voucher through Sun Country Airlines. The incentive program first launched in July.

The Terminal 2 vaccination site is located at 7150 Humphrey Drive and is open every day from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is being administered at Terminal 2 before security checkpoints. Minnesotans must be 18 or over to receive the shot and enter the drawing. This opportunity is open to the general public. No boarding pass or appointment are required.

Parking vouchers are available at the MSP Terminal 2 community vaccination location. The vouchers are good for one hour of free parking to any patient visiting the Terminal 2 for the purpose of vaccination. Inquire with staff on site to receive your voucher.

For more information and official rules, visit Safe Travels, Minnesota!


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

Community Testing Sites

Several community testing sites are open on additional days to expand access to testing across the state.

  • Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC)
    Tuesday - Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Mankato Armory
    Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Moorhead: Former Thomas Edison Elementary School
    Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Morris Armory - NEW: Opens 10/19
    Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • St. Cloud Armory
    Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Winona Mall
    Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Lino Lakes, Minneapolis Convention Center, MSP Airport, and St. Paul testing site hours remain unchanged. Minnesotans can walk-in or make an appointment ahead of time. Find details at COVID-19 Community Testing Sites

Minnesotans can also take advantage of the state’s no-cost COVID-19 Vault Saliva Testing at Home program or drive through or walk in at most local Walgreens and CVS locations.

Free Testing For All Minnesotans

Guidance for Close Contacts

If you have close contact with someone who has had a positive COVID-19 test (regardless of whether a test occurs at a clinic, testing site, at home, or at another setting), follow the appropriate guidance at Close Contacts and Tracing.

If you are not fully vaccinated

  • Stay home and away from others (quarantine) and wear a mask if other people are around.
  • Get tested immediately. If the test is negative, test again three to five days after the last time you were close to the person with COVID-19. If you are considering a shortened quarantine period of seven days, your second test must be a PCR test that occurs at least five full days after your last exposure. You should also follow Under certain conditions and a negative COVID-19 PCR test: 7-day quarantine.
  • Watch for symptoms for 14 days. If you start to have any symptoms, get tested again right away.
  • If you test positive or start to have symptoms, follow the recommendations on If You Are Sick or Test Positive.

If you are fully vaccinated

  • Get tested three to five days after exposure.
  • Wear a mask in public, indoor settings for 14 days following exposure or until you receive a negative test result.
  • Consider wearing a mask at home for 14 days or until you receive a negative test result if you live with someone who is immunocompromised, at increased risk of severe disease, or unvaccinated (including children under the age of 12).
  • You do not need to quarantine if you do not have any symptoms of COVID-19. You should watch for symptoms for 14 days.
  • If you start to have any symptoms, stay home and away from others immediately (isolate), get tested again, and follow other recommendations on If You Are Sick or Test Positive.

If you had COVID-19 in the past three months

If you have recovered from COVID-19 in the past three months and are exposed again:

  • You do not need to get tested unless you develop symptoms.
  • You do not need to quarantine if ALL of the following are true:
    • Your illness was laboratory confirmed in the past three months.
    • You have fully recovered.
    • You do not currently have any symptoms of COVID-19.

If you are a K-12 student

  • If you are a student in an indoor K-12 classroom setting and were within 3-6 feet of another student with COVID-19, you do not need to quarantine if both the infected student and the exposed student(s) correctly and consistently wore well-fitting masks the entire time. This exception does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in the indoor classroom setting. For more information about close contacts in schools, refer to Schools and Child Care COVID-19: Best Practice Recommendations.

If you live or work in a health care facility


Guidance and Resources

NEW:

UPDATED:

NOTE: Look for an "Updated" date below guidance links on our website 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.