Now that students are returning to school, we encourage every family to get tested for COVID-19. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends that children and teens who spend time near people outside their immediate household get tested every two weeks through the end of the school year. For kids involved in any extracurricular activities or sports, MDH recommends getting tested every week. This will help limit the spread so we can keep our schools and sports open!
Variants of COVID-19, like B.1.1.7, are a new version of the virus and often more contagious. There is also concern that the B.1.1.7 variant may make people sicker than usual. The B.1.1.7 variant has spread to more than a dozen counties across the state. Many of the cases are among people who attend school and participate in youth sports. Cases have also occurred in child care centers, gyms and fitness centers, and other social settings.
There are many options to get tested and each option is available to you at no cost. You can even schedule appointments for the whole family at the same time.
You can visit a community testing site, order an at-home test, or get tested through your regular health care provider. If someone in your family prefers to speak in another language besides English, in-person or language line assistance is available. Test sites are doing everything they can to make sure sites are safe and comfortable for everyone.
Teachers, school staff, and coaches are already getting tested regularly. We owe it to them to do the same. By wearing a mask and getting tested regularly, we can help limit the spread of COVID-19.
