COVID-19 News and Information

Check the Minnesota Department of Health website for additional COVID-19 updates. Information also available in Hmong, Somali, Spanish.

Novavax
Monkeypox
Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
COVID-19 Booster Shots
COVID-19 Treatments
Lowering Your Risk of COVID-19
Free Community Testing Locations in MN
Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
COVID-19 Symptoms
Exposure to COVID-19
Contact Tracing
Monoclonal Antibody COVID-19 Treatment
Download the Docket app
Face Covering Requirements & Recommendations
Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline
City of St. Paul Community Resource Line
Hennepin County Resource Hub
Ramsey County COVID-19 Dashboard
Scams and Price Gouging
Travel and Transportation
Recommendations for Hmong Funerals

Novavax

A new COVID-19 vaccine called Novavax has been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have provided recommendations for who can receive this vaccine.

Novavax can be given to people who are age 18 years and older and have not received other COVID-19 vaccines.
People should get two doses of the vaccine given 3-8 weeks apart.
People who get the Novavax vaccine for their primary vaccine series are currently not recommended to get a booster shot, but one may be recommended in the future.
At this time, Novavax cannot be used as a booster shot for people who received other COVID-19 vaccines.
The federal government has ordered over 3 million doses of the Novavax vaccine. It will be shipped to states in the coming days/weeks, so it may take a little time before it’s available at a vaccine location near you.
If you are interested in getting the Novavax vaccine, contact your local health care provider or pharmacy in the coming weeks to see if they have it available. Vaccine providers listed on the Find My Vaccine Map (https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/find-vaccine/locations/index.jsp) will be able to update their information as to which vaccines they have available, so you will also be able to search for locations there soon.
Novavax is a protein vaccine – this is different from how the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are made. This vaccine uses copies of the spike protein from the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19) to teach your immune system how to recognize the virus and prepare to fight it. The vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.
- Protein vaccines have been used for more than 30 years in the United States, beginning with the first licensed hepatitis B vaccine. Other protein subunit vaccines used in the United States today include those to protect against influenza and whooping cough (pertussis).
Available COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be safe and help provide protection against COVID-19, especially severe disease.
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine available to you and staying up to date on all recommended doses is the best thing you can do. If you have been waiting to get vaccinated, this is a good time to talk to your health care provider or find a vaccine location near you.

Monkeypox

https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/monkeypox/basics.html#prevent

Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests

The White House is providing 4 free at-home COVID-19 testing kits for every home in the U.S. Order here.
Vault Medical Services is offering at-home saliva testing for Minnesotans at no cost. Learn more here.

COVID-19 Booster Shots

Boosters for kids

Children ages 5-11 are now recommended to get a booster shot! The booster should be given 5 months after their second dose. The only booster currently available for children is the Pfizer vaccine. Find vaccine locations here.

Everyone 12 and older should get a booster when they are due:

Minnesotans 12 and older who got the Pfizer vaccine should get a booster shot 5 months after their second dose.
Minnesotans 18 and older who got the Moderna vaccine should get a booster shot 5 months after their second dose.
Minnesotans 18 and older who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get a booster shot 2 months after their single dose.

Kids 6 months to 4 years can get vaccinated.

Pfizer: 3 doses, 3 – 8 weeks apart

Moderna: 2 doses, 4 – 8 weeks apart

Visit mn.gov/vaccine to find a provider near you.

COVID-19 Treatments

Learn about available medical options for COVID-19 and how to get treatment here.

Lowering Your Risk for COVID-19

There are certain ways you can reduce your risk of getting COVID-19 during social situations, both inside and outside. See this infographic for how to safely gather and reduce your risk of infection.

Free Community Testing Locations in MN

COVID-19 testing is an important strategy to slow the spread of the virus. Minnesota is offering low-barrier, no-cost COVID-19 rapid and saliva testing in many communities across the state. Learn more and find a free community testing location here.

Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

Follow these guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Learn about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on your farm – English Video, Hmong Video, Spanish Video

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COVID-19 Symptoms

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. Common symptoms include: Fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. People experiencing any of these symptoms should get tested immediately. Learn more here or watch this video.

Exposure to COVID-19

Closure contact (exposure) means being less than 6 feet from someone for 15 minutes or more throughout a 24-hour period. However, even shorter periods of time or longer distances can result in the spread of the virus. Review the guidance here and here for recommended quarantine and isolation procedures.

Contact Tracing

Contact tracing is key to slowing the spread of COVID-19 and helps protect you, your family, and your community. Learn more here and here.

Monoclonal Antibody COVID-19 Treatment

COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment can help qualifying patients get better faster. It is a treatment for patients with mild to moderate symptoms that started within the past 10 days, and who are at high risk of their illness leading to hospitalization or death. Learn more: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/meds.html

Minnesota Department of Health opened a new clinic in St. Paul to expand access to monoclonal antibody COVID-19 treatment in the Twin Cities Metro area. To receive this treatment, people who have tested positive for COVID-19 should contact their health provider or request an appointment through the Minnesota Resource Allocation Platform (MNRAP)

Download the Docket app

This app helps people retrieve and view their immunization records. People who have lost their vaccine card can use this app to retrieve their record. Download app here.

Face Covering Requirements & Recommendations

As of February 24, 2022, Saint Paul and Minneapolis have ended their mask mandate for public areas. However, it is still recommended that people, both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated, continue to wear a mask in some situations to limit the spread of COVID-19. Please note that face masks are still required in city-run buildings and in all HAP buildings.

Masking Requirements for Child Care – click here

How to Select, Wear, Clean and Store Your Mask – click here

How to Safely Wear Your Mask – English | Hmong | Karen

Masks Do’s and Don’ts video – click here

Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline

For questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic: Call 833-431-2053
Monday through Friday: 9am to 7pm; Saturday: 10am to 6pm

To reach the Mental Health Crisis Line: Call **CRISIS (**274747)

City of St. Paul Community Resource Line

The City of Saint Paul has a phone line and email address to answer questions about the response to the COVID-19 coronavirus. Interpreters are available to answer questions in Hmong, Karen, Oromo, Somali, and Spanish. Learn more at stpaul.gov/coronavirus.
Phone Number: 651-266-6000
Email: LanguageResources@ci.stpaul.mn.us

Hennepin County Resource Hub

TakeCareHennepin.org is a centralized webpage with information about COVID-19 in Hennepin County. Visit this webpage for resources linking to COVID-19 data in our communities, testing sites and county service changes

Ramsey County COVID-19 Dashboard

Latest Ramsey County data about COVID-19 – click here

Scams and Price Gouging

The Minnesota Department of Commerce and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) are warning Minnesotans to be on alert for text scams related to contact tracing of COVID-19. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), scammers are sending texts that tell the recipient that someone with whom they had contact has tested positive, and to click a link for more information. Depending on the specific attack, by clicking on the link, the victim could be prompted to download unwanted software that can access data on their phone, or they may be directed to a site that tries to trick them into revealing sensitive information like their Social Security number, bank information, passwords or medical information.
Remember official public health workers conducting contact tracing initially will reach out to people by phone, NOT text. Learn more here.
Beware of companies selling at-home COVID-19 tests. They’re often expensive and most aren’t FDA-approved. There are many testing sites across Minnesota. While testing is free, there could be costs for the office visit. Call ahead to make an appointment and ask about cost.
More information on avoiding scams & misinformation during COVID-19 from the CDC – click here

If you believe you have been the victim of a COVID-19 scam, please contact (651) 296-3353 (Metro) or (800) 657-3787 (Greater Minnesota) or use this link to File a Complaint: click here

Travel and Transportation

Consider the advice from the Minnesota Department of Health on how to stay safe while traveling domestically and internationally – click here

Information regarding Travel Insurance coverage during COVID-19 – click here

Unemployment insurance is now accepted as certification by MetroTransit’s Transit Assistance Program (TAP). The Transit Assistance Program (TAP) provides a reduced fare pass on a Go-To Card for low-income residents. It allows customers to use a bus or train for just $1 per ride – even during rush hour – with a 2½ hour transfer. To learn more – click here

Recommendations for Hmong Funerals

The Minnesota Department of Health prepared recommendations with Hmong Community Leaders and Cultural and Spiritual Leaders. The guidance is both for business owners of funeral homes and for the Hmong community about how to carry out funerals during the COVID-19 pandemic. See recommendations here.