Minnesota’s 2nd COVID-19 saliva testing site to open Wednesday in Winona

Minnesota’s second COVID-19 saliva testing site will open this week in Winona.

Winona County announced the news Monday, saying the testing site will officially open at Winona Mall on Wednesday.

The first saliva testing site opened in Duluth three weeks ago. The state says more than 7,000 people have been tested there since it opened.

First of its kind saliva testing site in Minnesota to open in Duluth Wednesday

"We can’t let down our guard in our battle against COVID-19," said Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. "One of (the) biggest areas of concern right now is the growing community spread and increase in cases throughout Greater Minnesota. As the weather moves gatherings indoors, the risk of transmission increases. Saliva testing offers Minnesotans another option for seeking out testing when they need it. Increased access to testing and identifying positive cases as early as possible is a critical way to slow the spread of COVID-19, and to keep schools and the economy as open as possible."

The Winona Mall site will be open Wednesday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Testing is free to all Minnesotans who believe they need a COVID-19 test, even those who are asymptomatic.

MDH said as many as eight more saliva testing sites could open in the state in the coming weeks.

You can find more information on saliva testing here.

MDH announces COVID-19 community testing events for Oct. 13-15