COVID-19 Testing

On this page:
Testing options
Who should get tested during Dial Back, Minnesota
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 during Dial Back, Minnesota

1. Anyone with symptoms should seek out testing immediately.
   • Stay home when you are sick, whether you seek out testing or not. If you leave your home to get a test, wear a mask and stay 6 feet away from other people. The COVID-19 Test at Home program may be your best option for getting tested in the comfort of your own home.
   • Community testing sites are best for people with mild symptoms. If you have moderate to severe symptoms call your doctor or health care provider or go to the hospital.
2. Anyone who was close to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 should get tested.
   • It's best to get tested at least 5 days after the last time you were close to the person with COVID-19. If you get tested too soon, the test may not be able to detect the virus. 
   • You will need to stay home for 14 days after your last contact with the person who has COVID-19, whether you have symptoms or not. Even with a negative result AND no symptoms, you must still quarantine for 14 days.
   • The COVID-19 Test at Home program may be your best option for getting tested, particularly if you learn about exposure early in the 14-day window. 
   • If you would prefer to visit a Community Testing Site, make an appointment. If the site nearest you has no available appointments on the day you're looking to get tested, either look at a later date or try finding a testing location a little farther away. 
3. Anyone who is still working at places that remain open during Dial Back, Minnesota, as part of a screening testing strategy. This includes critical infrastructure, first responders, health care, retail, schools, child care, etc.
   • If you do not have symptoms and you have not been notified of exposure, you are still at risk given how quickly the virus is spreading. 
   • Make a plan to get tested at least once before Dec.18, 2020. If possible, get tested once near the beginning of the four-week period and once again near the end of the four-week period. 
   • We urge you to make an appointment at a Community Testing Site. Plan ahead to find an available appointment, even if that includes looking at a testing location a little farther away. 
   • The COVID-19 Test at Home program may also be a good option for those getting tested as part of a screening strategy.

See Minnesota's Stay Safe Plan for information on Dial Back, MN, a four-week pause of most social activities, in-person dining, sports, and more.

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 in your home as 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.
  • Wear a mask and stay 6 feet away from people who don't live with you.
  • If you start to feel any symptoms, stay home and away from others.
• 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.
  
  
• COVID-19 Community Testing Data
  Reports from some of the community testing events.