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With fall and respiratory disease season upon us, we want to remind homeless service providers that MDH still has resources available to support COVID-19 response in your facilities!
Eligible agencies/facilities include community-based facilities that offer shelter or programming to people experiencing homelessness or people with temporary or transitional housing needs. Examples include emergency shelters, domestic violence shelters, youth shelters, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, unlicensed sober homes, halfway houses, board and lodges, and agencies offering outreach or other services to encampments.
MDH resources available at no cost to homeless service sites
COVID-19 rapid antigen tests. Homeless service sites can order rapid antigen tests from MDH to test staff and clients for COVID-19. Order tests here: https://redcap.health.state.mn.us/redcap/surveys/?s=WL9N3NLT4L
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). MDH has masks, gloves, face shields, and gowns available to homeless service sites. If interested in these items, email Health.R-congregate@state.mn.us with the amount and size (for gloves) of each item you are requesting.
COVID-19 vaccine clinics. MDH offers clinics through our contracted vaccine partners for staff and clients at homeless service sites. To request a vaccine clinic, complete the COVID-19 Vaccination Event Request Form for Congregate Settings (https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/e576ad6ce41340089044c854a5934bf1)
- Organizations can request a one-time or ongoing clinics for COVID-19 and flu vaccine. Organizations can also request harm reduction services such as overdose prevention and response training, distribution of opioid overdose reversal kits (i.e., naloxone), distribution of safer use supplies including syringe exchange (distribution of sterile syringes, collection of used syringes), and infectious disease testing and linkage to care.
COVID-19 medications. Staff and clients with symptoms of COVID-19 who have tested positive or been diagnosed by a provider as having COVID-19 are eligible to receive treatment at no-cost. Patients can access treatment using the web, Cue Health App, or by telephone at https://care.cuehealth.com/mn.
Technical assistance. If you would like additional support managing an outbreak or want to consult with MDH about a specific COVID-19 response challenge in your facility, please reach out to the COVID-19 Highly Impacted Settings Team at Health.R-congregate@state.mn.us. We are here to help!
COVID-19 reporting reminders
Facilities must report positive, facility-administered tests to MDH within one working day through SimpleReport (https://www.simplereport.gov/).
Report any outbreak or unusual cluster of COVID-19 cases through REDCap, COVID-19 Outbreak and Death Reporting Form for Shelters and Correctional Facilities (https://redcap.health.state.mn.us/redcap/surveys/?s=WDCFYJD3YD34X83J)
Report any death in a staff person or client suspected to have died due to COVID-19 through REDCap, COVID-19 Outbreak and Death Reporting Form for Shelters and Correctional Facilities (https://redcap.health.state.mn.us/redcap/surveys/?s=WDCFYJD3YD34X83J)
Additional information and guidance
MDH website, Congregate Settings and Care Facilities: COVID-19
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/communities.html
CDC Guidance on Management of COVID-19 in Homeless Service Sites and in Correctional and Detention Facilities
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/homeless-correctional-settings.html
CDC Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html
CDC Protect yourself from COVID-19, Flu, and RSV https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/index.html
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