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*Minnesota Department of Health*

"March 30, 2023"


* COVID-19 protection [ #link_2 ]
* MDH materials [ #link_3 ]
* COVID-19 stories [ #link_5 ]
* Guidance and resources [ #link_6 ]

COVID-19 protection

COVID-19 community levels and when to wear a mask

As COVID-19 continues to spread in our communities, it can be helpful to review COVID-19 prevention recommendations. For additional information, see Protect Yourself and Others [ [link removed] ].

When the CDC: COVID-19 community level [ [link removed] ] is *high*, everyone should wear a mask in indoor public settings.

When the COVID-19 community level?in your county is medium or low, the decision to wear a mask should be based on the following considerations:


* *Personal risk factors and health conditions.* If you are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease from COVID-19, when the CDC community level is medium you should wear a mask indoors in public and may want to consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings. You should also consider wearing a mask even when the community level is low. You may want to ask your health care provider for advice on when to wear a mask and any additional COVID-19 precautions you should take.
* *Risk factors of others around you. *If you live or frequently interact with someone who is immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease from COVID-19, consider wearing a mask around them, regardless of the COVID-19 community level.
* *Settings where people at increased risk gather.* People in settings where those at increased risk of severe illness gather should consider wearing masks, regardless of the CDC COVID-19 community level, especially if the setting is crowded. Even if the level is medium or low, settings that serve people at increased risk may also want to consider masking policies and other available measures to reduce COVID-19 transmission, such as improving ventilation. Learn more about how to improve airflow, ventilation, circulation, and more at Indoor Air Considerations: COVID-19 [ [link removed] ] and CDC: Ventilation in Buildings [ [link removed] ].
* *Outbreaks or clusters.* Public health authorities may recommend that you and others around you wear a mask in settings that have an outbreak or cluster (group) of COVID-19 cases.
* *Vaccination status. *If you are not vaccinated, especially if you do not have a history of prior COVID-19 infection, consider wearing a mask in public indoor settings, regardless of the community level.
* *Personal preference. *You may choose to wear a mask at any time based on your personal preference, even if others around you are not wearing masks or the CDC COVID-19 community level in your area is medium or low.

Regardless of the COVID-19 community level, wear a mask if:


* You have symptoms or a positive test. For more information on how long to wear a mask and stay home (isolation), refer to If You Are Sick or Test Positive: COVID-19 [ [link removed] ].
* You were exposed to someone with COVID-19. For more information on how long to wear a mask and take precautions, refer to Close Contact or Exposure to COVID-19 [ [link removed] ].

Find out more:?Masks: COVID-19 [ [link removed] ]

people at restaurant choose to wear a mask________________________________________________________________________

Updates to booster eligibility for certain children

Everyone age 6 months and older should get an updated (bivalent) booster when they are due!

More children now have the opportunity to receive enhanced protection against serious illness caused by COVID-19. This month the FDA authorized an updated (bivalent) Pfizer booster for children who:


* Are ages 6 months to 4 years, and
* Previously completed a 3-dose original (monovalent) Pfizer primary series, and
* Completed their primary series at least two months ago.

Talk to your or your child?s health care provider about which COVID-19 vaccine doses you need to be up to date and visit About COVID-19 Vaccine [ [link removed] ] for more detailed information on how you can boost your young child?s immunity to COVID-19!

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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 [ [link removed] ]

Materials and Resources for COVID-19 Response [ [link removed] ]

Videos for COVID-19 Response [ [link removed] ]



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


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COVID-19 stories

COVID-19 Stories of Community Outreach and Partnership [ [link removed] ]?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.

Embedding Cultural Communications

Engaging diverse ethnic communities requires recognizing language and culture as powerful tools to address cultural and linguistic gaps. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) worked with partners from diverse communities to develop key health messaging in a variety of languages for different communities in the state. Cultural awareness and sensitivity were central to an effective community-engaged public health communication model.

Cultural communication has become a pivotal practice for MDH to effectively address the cultural and language barriers in accessing COVID-19 information, testing and vaccination services. To produce timely, appropriate, and relevant health messages to meet the emergency needs of the pandemic, MDH committed to building and strengthening a cultural communications infrastructure so that messaging continues to reach the diverse communities of Minnesota even after the pandemic subsides.??

Read more:?Embedding Cultural Communications [ [link removed] ]

3 COVID-19 Community Coordinators attend outdoor public event
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Guidance and resources

*UPDATED:*


* Masks: COVID-19 [ [link removed] ]
* Protect Yourself & Others: COVID-19 [ [link removed] ]
* Why You Should Get an Updated (Bivalent) Vaccine (PDF) [ [link removed] ]
* Protect Your Child From COVID-19 (PDF) [ [link removed] ]
* COVID-19 Vaccine Basics (PDF) [ [link removed] ]
* Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccination [ [link removed] ]
* Available COVID-19 Vaccines and Safety [ [link removed] ]
* COVID-19 Primary Series and Booster Vaccination Guidance [ [link removed] ]

*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, Wednesday, Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Thursday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To connect directly to a representative in American Sign Language, click the "ASL Now" button on Contact Us: COVID-19 Questions [ [link removed] ].




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