The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidance that shortens quarantine in certain situations. CDC: Options to Reduce Quarantine for Contacts of Persons with SARS-CoV-2 Infection Using Symptom Monitoring and Diagnostic Testing
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is reviewing the CDC guidance and will make recommendations over the next few days. We will update all documents to reflect any changes.
For the time being, people should continue to follow the current MDH guidelines, including to stay home (quarantine) for 14 days if exposed to COVID-19. Close Contacts and Tracing
Long-term Care Testing: COVID-19
Testing guidance, recommendations, and resources for long-term care (LTC) facilities.
On this page:
Overview and Guidance
Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) Toolkit
Testing Resources
Antigen Testing
Employee Testing Posters
Overview and Guidance
Testing guidance and resources for long-term care (LTC) facilities.
- COVID-19 Testing Recommendations for Long-term Care Facilities (PDF)
Updated 11/20/20
- Summary document: Overview of COVID-19 Testing Recommendations for Long-term Care Facilities (PDF)
5/7/20
- Summary document: Overview of COVID-19 Testing Recommendations for Long-term Care Facilities (PDF)
- Essential Resources and Forms for COVID-19 Testing and Case Management in Long-term Care Facilities (PDF)
11/2/20
- Long-term Care (LTC) Emergency Preparedness
Tools developed to assist LTC facilities with emergency preparedness planning, including a response plan to support COVID-19 testing template and guidance document.
Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) Toolkit
Toolkit components provide broad recommendations to plan for, conduct, and respond to a point prevalence survey (PPS) in long-term care facilities. A majority of the content is relevant for all facilities, whether conducting testing on their own or with state support. Any facility performing PPS should refer to the resources in the section below.
As of 6/24/20
- Road Map for Conducting a COVID-19 Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) (PDF)
Updated 8/3/20 - Form a Team for Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) (PDF)
- Supply Checklist for Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) (PDF)
- PPE and Hand Hygiene for Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) (PDF)
- COVID-19 Specimen Collection for Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) (PDF)
- Template: Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) Roster (Excel)
Updated 7/6/20 - Template: Printable Test Day Sheet with Symptoms (Word)
Testing Resources
Resources for facilities undergoing resident or staff testing.
- COVID-19 Testing Information for Long-term Care Facilities: Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
Updated 10/22/20 - Serial Testing of Nursing Facility Staff for COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
11/4/20 - Planning and Preparedness Checklist for Testing at Your Facility by a State Mobile Team (PDF)
5/29/20 - Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care: COVID-19 Testing Notice (PDF)
Letter sent May 14, 2020
5/29/20 - 2020-2021 COVID-19 Testing Registration Form (PDF)
Form for all residents and staff who will be tested to complete.
Updated 9/30/20 - COVID-19 Testing: Long-term Care Staff and Resident Consent Form (PDF)
Updated 6/14/20 - What to Do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result (PDF)
Antigen Testing
Considerations for antigen testing in long-term care facilities.
- Using Antigen-based Point-of-Care (POC) Testing for COVID-19 in Long-term Care Facilities (PDF)
Updated 11/20/20 - Reporting Results of COVID-19 Tests Performed Inside Your Long-term Care Facility (PDF)
Updated 11/20/20 - Instructions for Reporting Long-term Care COVID-19 Point-of-Care Antigen Testing Results (PDF)
10/21/20- MDH COVID-19 Lab Results Reporting File Template QSA (Excel)
for Quidel Sofia Antigen testing equipment - MDH COVID-19 Lab Results Reporting File Template BVA (Excel)
for BD Veritor Antigen testing equipment - MDH COVID-19 Lab Results Reporting File Template ABN (Excel)
for Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 Ag Card
- MDH COVID-19 Lab Results Reporting File Template QSA (Excel)
Employee Testing Posters
Posters for long-term care facilities can download and print to promote employee testing.
- Get Tested for COVID-19 (PDF)
- Get Tested for COVID-19 - add facility logo (PDF)
Download and open in Adobe Acrobat to insert your facility's logo.
COVID-19 information in other languages:
- Kab Mob Khaus Las Nas Vais Lav 2019 (COVID-19)
(Hmong) - Cudurka Koronafayras 2019 (COVID-19)
(Somali) - Enfermedad del Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
(Spanish) - American Sign Language (ASL) Videos
Contact us:
If you have questions or comments about this page, use our IDEPC Comment Form or call 651-201-5414 for the MDH Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division.