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Minnesota Department of Health

Oct. 27, 2022

Minnesota News and Outreach

COVID-19 Testing Recommendations

Refer to COVID-19 Testing and the information below for key recommendations on when to get tested.

Symptoms of COVID-19

• Get tested right away, even if you have been vaccinated and/or had a prior COVID-19 infection.

Close contact or exposure

• Get tested five full days (on day six) after you were around someone with COVID-19.

Attend indoor event or gathering

• Test on the day of an indoor gathering or event, as close to the time of the event as possible, especially if you will be around people who are immunocompromised, at risk of severe disease, or older adults.
• Do not attend a gathering if you have symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of the test result.
• Following any event, test immediately if you develop symptoms. If you had close contact with someone with COVID-19, test five full days after the event (test on day six).

Travel

• Whether you are traveling internationally or domestically, consider testing as close to departure and return flights as possible but no more than 3 days before travel.
• Get tested 3-5 days after international travel.
• Get tested after domestic travel if you were in situations with greater risk of
  exposure to COVID-19 (for example, being in crowded places while not
  wearing a high-quality, well-fitting mask).

Around high risk or immunocompromised person

• Consider getting tested before you spend time with them and consider wearing a mask when around them.

If you are immunocompromised, you may not respond as well to COVID-19 vaccines. Talk to your health care provider for testing recommendations.

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.

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

At-Home COVID-19 Tests

Order Free Tests
Minnesotans can order free COVID-19 rapid at-home tests through the state’s online ordering program. Every home in Minnesota is eligible to order up to 12 tests for free, while supplies last. 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.

Through Insurance
Did you know you can still get free COVID-19 self-tests with your health insurance? Each person on your plan can get eight tests per month at no cost to you. Check with your health insurance provider to see if there are certain stores or pharmacies where you can get tests for free, or if you should save receipts to get reimbursed.

Learn more at CMS: How to get your At-Home Over-The-Counter COVID-19 Test for Free.

Have Medicare? Find out how your insurance provides these no-cost tests to you: Medicare & Coronavirus: COVID-19 Over-the-Counter (OTC) tests.

Protect Your Child from COVID-19 Video

Just like adults, children and teens of all ages can get very sick from COVID-19, have both short- and long-term health problems, and spread COVID-19 to others. That’s why vaccination is so important. CDC recommends vaccination of all children 6 months old and older. COVID-19 vaccine is safe, free, and effective for children. COVID-19 vaccine helps protect families and communities from COVID-19. 

Visit Videos for COVID-19 Response: COVID-19 Vaccine to watch the updated video in English, ASL, Hmong, Somali, and Spanish as well as view transcripts in other languages.

Updated Guidance and Resources

• COVID-19 Testing
• COVID-19 Testing Recommendations (PDF)
• About COVID-19 Vaccine
• Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccination
• Preparing to Vaccinate Young Children: COVID-19
• Interim COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Guide (PDF)
• Videos for COVID-19 Response: COVID-19 Vaccine

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.

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

Minnesota Department of Health  |  health.mn.gov

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