MDH announces COVID-19 community testing events for Oct. 13-15
[KSTP-TV]
Thursday, the Minnesota Department of Health announced its next round of community testing.
The department has been working with local communities to provide free, on-site COVID-19 testing in areas with outbreaks, increasing cases or other barriers to access existing test sites.
"As we continue to see spikes in the number of new cases and increased community spread, we urge people to seek out testing," MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm said in a statement. "While large events get a lot of attention, we know that smaller, everyday gatherings are a significant source of transmission in our state. It only takes one contagious person to lead to an outbreak. Giving people a chance to get tested lets them know if they’re positive and need to isolate and notify their close contacts to quarantine – it’s a key strategy we have to fight the spread of this virus."
This round of testing will take place the week of Oct. 11 in Aitkin, Alexandria, Anoka, Faribault, Luverne and St. Cloud.
The tests will be conducted via nasal swab and will be processed either by Mayo Clinic Laboratories or the University of Minnesota.
Anyone who wants to be tested is encouraged to schedule an appointment, even if they don’t have COVID-19 symptoms. Those who make an appointment do not need insurance or identification. To avoid long lines, people are asked to pre-register for a time slot, via the links for each testing site below. Those who are unable to sign up online or need interpretation can call 1-855-612-0677 for help.
Here is a list of those testing events:
Aitkin
When: Oct. 13-15; 12 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, 12 to 3 p.m. on Thursday
Where: The Journey North Community Church, located at 810 NW Second Street
Alexandria
When: Oct. 13-15; 12 to 6 p.m. each of those days
Where: Former Kmart building, located at 2310 Highway 29 S.
Anoka
When: Oct. 13-15; 12 to 7 p.m. each of those days
Where: Anoka Armory, located at 408 E. Main Street
Faribault
When: Oct. 13-15; 12 to 6 p.m. each of those days
Where: Faribault Armory, located at 3000 W. Airport Road
Luverne
When: Oct. 13-15; 12 to 6 p.m. each of those days
Where: Grand Prairie Events, located at 105 S. Estey Street
St. Cloud
When: Oct. 13-15; 12 to 6 p.m. each of those days
Where: St. Cloud Rivers Edge Convention Center, located at 10 Fourth Avenue S.
Find more information about community testing here.