MDH announces changes to 3 community testing sites

Monday, the Minnesota Department of Health announced changes to a few COVID-19 community testing sites.

The federal testing site at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) building ended Monday. However, that federal testing team will stay and operate the Anoka Armory testing site starting Wednesday through March 8.

MDH says, as of Wednesday, the Anoka site will offer nasal PCR testing instead of saliva PCR testing. Some rapid tests will also be available.

Additionally, the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport testing site is accepting walk-ins again, although appointments are still recommended.

The changes come amid a decrease in testing demand and a recession in the omicron wave, MDH noted.

“Testing continues to be an important tool for Minnesotans even as our case growth slows following the Omicron wave,” MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm said in a statement. “Our community testing network will continue to provide free testing to Minnesotans across the state to help them stay safe and prevent transmission. I’m grateful to our many partners, including the Minnesota National Guard, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, MnDOT, the federal government, and others for hosting and operating testing sites and making it easier for Minnesotans to access this important resource.”

Find other COVID-19 testing sites here.