‘There’s no no-risk way’: Medical expert highlights options as families yearn to be together for holidays during pandemic

Karley Grandell has gone through a COVID-19 testing site located in Ham Lake a few times already. She’s getting a rapid COVID-19 test at a drive-through testing center. The test consists of a shallow nasal swab and takes just seconds.

"It’s five seconds on each side and then you sit and wait for your results, they come out really fast, it’s efficient," Grandell shares.

Typical results take just 15 to 30 minutes.

Grandell is testing because she wants to see her grandparents.

"They want to see me regardless, but for my sanity I feel like I have to [get tested] to be around them, to keep them safe," she said.

GatherWell was established this summer as family contemplated how to get together safely for a family wedding.

"This was created out of a personal need, my cousin was getting married this summer and there were all these differing opinions about COVID-19," said owner and registered nurse Sarah Brown.

There are three metro locations, with the Bloomington location opening Monday. GatherWell gives antigen tests that cost $110, and you sign up for an appointment.

Brown says insurance will cover the cost of testing if it’s medically necessary, and may reimburse if you inquire with your carrier. GatherWell does PCR and antibody testing as well, with quick turnaround times.

"The accuracy ranges from 97% to greater than 99% for your results," Brown stated.

She says people are now testing to get some reassurance before gathering for the holidays.

KSTP’s holiday guide

"Over Thanksgiving we were really busy, the month of November we actually saw over 10,000 people," Brown said.

Brown says the results are good for the moment you take the test and says up to date information during this pandemic is key to help manage and monitor your lifestyle.

"We really see GatherWell as being not someone who is taking a stance on what COVID is, we know it’s a real virus, but taking a stance to say here’s information so you can make personal choices, we really feel that people need information to make choices," Brown said.

KSTP medical expert Dr. Archelle Georgiou says she gets asked multiple times a day how people can stay safe and still see family.

"One thing to remember, there’s no no-risk way to getting together with family; you can lower your risk but there’s never no risk," she said.

While not recommending it, Georgiou says one way to lower the risk is through quarantining.

"If you really want to get together with family one of the ways that you can more safely do that is by truly quarantining for 14 days prior to seeing them," she said. "I have heard families say I’m going to quarantine for 12 days or 10 days, will that be effective? Every extra day that you quarantine further decreases the risk that you’re going to get infected yourself, and then expose others," she added.

Her advice is to follow the orders established by Gov. Tim Walz, to socialize with just your household for now.

"I am fully expecting that we will continue to see cases and hospitalizations and deaths continue to increase through the middle of January because we’re just layering more and more socialization on top of this huge surge that we have already, and it’s just going to get worse," Georgiou said.