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Minnesota Department of Health

June 8, 2022

Minnesota News and Outreach

Minnesota Frontline Worker Pay

Gov. Walz signed a bill passed by the Minnesota Legislature providing bonus pay for eligible COVID-19 frontline workers. 

The application process is now open! Eligible workers will have from June 8 to July 22, 2022 (45 days) to apply for Frontline Worker Pay. Visit Minnesota Frontline Worker Pay to apply.

• Eligibility is based on both work requirements and job sector. Visit DLI: Frontline Worker Pay Outreach Toolkit for an explanation of the requirements, the most up-to-date information, and helpful resources available in multiple languages. Also, sign up to receive alerts about Frontline Worker Pay via email.
• After all the applications have been received and the appeals period has ended, money dedicated to Frontline Worker Pay will be evenly divided among all eligible frontline workers whose application was approved. The payments cannot exceed $1,500. Payments are expected in early fall depending on the time necessary for processing applications, appeals, and payments.

For help completing the application, contact mnfrontlinepay@submittable.com or 866- 333-7633. 

Order Free At-Home Rapid Tests

Every home in Minnesota is now eligible to order another round of rapid at-home COVID-19 test kits for free, while supplies last. Each test kit contains two tests. The limit of test kits recently increased from two to four per Minnesota home address (eight tests total). Order Your Free At-Home Rapid Tests!

The at-home rapid tests available for order:

• Are rapid antigen at-home tests, not PCR
• Can be taken anywhere
• Give results within 15 minutes (no lab drop-off required)
• Work whether or not you have COVID-⁠19 symptoms
• Work whether or not you are up to date on your COVID-⁠19 vaccines
• Are also referred to as self-tests or over-the-counter (OTC) tests

People using the test kits should follow testing instructions from the manufacturer.

NOTE: FDA recently granted a three-month shelf-life extension for the iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test. This extended the shelf-life of all iHealth tests with expiration dates on or before 2022-09-29 (YYYY-MM-DD) from 6 months to 9 months. For more information or to look up the new expiration date by lot number, visit iHealth Labs Inc: Latest News - Expiration Data Extension.

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.

Kab Mob Khaus Las Nas Vais Lav 2019 (COVID-19) (Hmong) Cudurka Koronafayras 2019 (COVID-19) (Somali) Enfermedad del Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) (Spanish) Materials and Resources for COVID-19 Response Videos for COVID-19 Response

Visit Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for up-to-date information and follow MDH on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

What's New

COVID-19 Testing Locations Become Test-to-Treat Sites

Governor Walz announced that three state-run community COVID-19 testing sites will become test-to-treat locations in the next week. The three community test-to-treat sites will continue to test all Minnesotans at no cost. Minnesotans who test positive for COVID-19 via a rapid antigen test will be able to choose to be evaluated on site by a clinician and given a prescription for the antiviral medication Paxlovid if it is deemed appropriate. 

• Brooklyn Park - Starlite Center will become a test-to-treat location on June 10.
• Moorhead - Former Thomas Edison Elementary School will become a test-to-treat location on June 13.
• Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC) will become a test-to-treat location on June 14.
• Additional sites will offer test-to-treat in the weeks ahead.

Minnesotans seeking medication at community test-to-treat sites should be prepared to provide details of their medical history, particularly their current medications, to the on-site clinician. Only patients deemed high risk by the clinician will receive a prescription for Paxlvoid. The medication will also come at no cost to Minnesotans. Walk-ins are accepted but appointments are recommended: COVID-19 Community Testing Sites.

MDH is working with the Board of Pharmacy to allow the dispensing of the medication at each community test-to-treat site. Until that is authorized, prescriptions to either a pharmacy of their choosing or a nearby pharmacy to have their prescriptions filled.

Learn more:

• Governor Walz Announces Three Minnesota COVID-19 Testing Locations to Become Test-to-Treat Sites
• Minnesota COVID-19 Response: Treatments

Protect Yourself & Others

It is up to all of us to protect ourselves and others by following recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. No single action on its own can completely prevent you from getting sick from COVID-19, so it is best to do multiple things to protect yourself when and where you can. In addition to the recommendations to follow at all COVID-19 community levels on Protect Yourself and Others:

• Check the CDC: COVID-19 Community Levels tool to see what is happening with COVID-19 in your area, and to determine what prevention measures are recommended for you.
• Follow recommendations for safer celebrations and gatherings.
• CDC and MDH recommend additional steps to protect people at increased risk of severe disease and those around them.
• Visit CDC: Travel for recommendations and requirements before, during, and after travel (e.g., testing, delaying travel if you have symptoms or were exposed to someone with COVID-19, etc.).

Masks

Wearing a mask is still recommended or required in certain situations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You can also choose to wear a mask at any time based on your health status or personal preference.

Some people may choose to wear a mask even when the COVID-19 community level is low or medium because they are at higher risk, live with someone who is high risk, or just feel more comfortable wearing a mask. That is OK! Learn more at Masks: COVID-19.

COVID-19 Stories of Community Outreach and Partnership

COVID-19 Stories of Community Outreach and Partnership highlight the efforts of our staff in collaboration with community partners during the COVID-19 response. Some stories provide insight into how this work is done, others discuss what challenges our teams face, but all of them recognize how COVID-19 has pushed MDH to try new strategies so we can fulfill our mission of protecting, maintaining, and improving the health of all Minnesotans.

Partnering with the LGBTQ+ Community: Celebrating Pride during COVID-19

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community have had long-standing health inequities made worse by the pandemic and is one of the focus communities in the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) equity work. In the spring of 2021, MDH, in partnership with existing networks, joined the LGBTQ+ community to bring COVID-19 testing and vaccination to Pride festivals held in the Twin Cities and East Central Minnesota. Pride events are organized by the community to celebrate the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of LGBTQ+ people.

The events attracted more than 150,000 people, including youth and residents from urban and Greater Minnesota. In total, several testing and vaccination sites were organized at the events with thousands of people who came to be tested, vaccinated, or receive COVID-19 related information to make informed decisions. Read more: Partnering with the LGBTQ+ Community: Celebrating Pride during COVID-19

Guidance and Resources

NEW:

• Partnering with the LGBTQ+ Community: Celebrating Pride during COVID-19

UPDATED:

• Protect Yourself & Others: COVID-19

• Masks: COVID-19
• COVID-19 Medications
• Therapeutic Options for COVID-19 Patients
• Antiviral Therapy Resources for Providers
• Where to Access Oral Antiviral Therapy in Minnesota
• About COVID-19 Vaccine
• Host a Community COVID-19 Vaccination Event
• COVID-19 Vaccine Providers: Forms and templates
• Interim COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Guide (PDF)
• COVID-19 Primary Series and Booster Vaccination Guidance
• Schools and Child Care COVID-19 Best Practice Recommendations
• Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools for the 2021-22 School Year (PDF)
• Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Youth Programs, Day and Overnight Camps (PDF)

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.

Minnesota Department of Health  |  health.mn.gov

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