COVID-19 Testing

On this page:
Testing options
Who should get tested
Waiting for your test results
Test types and data

Testing options

• COVID-19 Test at Home
  No-cost at-home COVID-19 saliva testing for all Minnesotans.
  
  
• Community Testing
  What to expect at the community testing sites.

Who should get tested

1. Anyone who has any symptoms, even if:
   • You have had COVID-19 before.
   • You are fully vaccinated (you received one dose in a one-dose series or two doses in a two-dose series more than two weeks ago).

   If you leave your home to get a test, wear a mask and stay 6 feet away from other people.

2. Anyone not fully vaccinated who has been close to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
   • It's best to get tested at least five days after the last time you were close to the person with COVID-19 (exposed).
   • If you get tested too soon, the test may not be able to detect the virus.

   Visit Close Contacts and Tracing for more information about what to do if you have had close contact with someone with COVID-19.

3. Anyone who is not fully vaccinated and has attended a high-risk activity, like a large indoor gathering or an outdoor event where people are not masked or you are not able to stay 6 feet apart.
   • If you are not fully vaccinated, it is important to get tested at least five days after the event, especially if you may have come in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
   • If you are fully vaccinated and you were in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, look for symptoms for 14 days after the high-risk activity and stay home if you feel sick.
     
     
4. Anyone who works in close contact with a lot of people, including first responders, health care workers, child care providers, teachers and coaches, and retail staff.
   • If you do not have symptoms and you have not confirmed close contact to someone with COVID-19, it is still important to get tested regularly. People without symptoms can still spread COVID-19 to others.
   • All K12 school educators and school staff whose schools have returned to an in-person or hybrid learning model are eligible to participate in testing during their school's testing program.
   • Child care workers whose programs are participating in on-site testing through the state are also eligible to get tested through the state program.
   • If ongoing heath screening is a part of your job, ask your employer about how often you need to be tested for COVID-19.
     
     
5. Anyone participating in in-person learning, extracurricular activities, or sporting activities.
   • Children participating in in-person learning, and their families, should get tested every two weeks through the end of the school year. Refer to the Minnesota Department of Health Questions and Answers: COVID-19 Testing for Middle and High School Students (PDF) for more information.
   • Kids involved in any extracurricular activities or sports should get tested every week.
   • College and trade-school students should get tested if they return to classes or campus.

   Visit COVID-19 Testing for Kids and Families for more information for parents, families, and schools or other organizations that serve youth.

Waiting for your test results

• It can take several days for test results to come back.
• The place that did your testing will get the results to you.
• Stay home and away from others if:
  • You have any symptoms.
  • Someone who you live with has COVID-19.
  • You've been close to someone with COVID-19.
• If you don't have symptoms and have not been close to someone with COVID-19, you don't need to stay home while you wait for your test results.
• What to Do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result

Test types and data

• Types of COVID-19 Tests
  More in-depth look at viral tests, sometimes called diagnostic tests, and antibody tests, also called serology tests.
  
  
• About COVID-19 Home Tests
  What to know about tests that give results at home.
  
  
• COVID-19 Community Testing Data
  Reports from some of the community testing events.