COVID-19 Updates: May 20, 2022

View this as a webpage Minnesota Department of Health May 20, 2022 Minnesota News and Outreach Children Ages 5 to 11 Now Recommended to Get Booster Minnesotans 5-11 years old are now recommended to get a booster of the Pfizer vaccine at least five months after finishing their primary series. Pfizer remains the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized for this age group. Expanded booster eligibility means more Minnesotans will be able to maximize their protection against COVID-19. All Minnesotans 5 years of age and older should get their booster dose as soon as they are due. Protection from your initial vaccines can decrease over time and a booster shot helps get protection back up to a higher level. Staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines is important for your health and protecting others around you, especially from serious disease, hospitalization, and death. Learn more: About COVID-19 Vaccine CDC: Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines CDC Strengthens Recommendations and Expands Eligibility for COVID-19 Booster Shots Community Testing Updates The state's two new community testing sites in St. Cloud and St. Paul's Midway neighborhood opened on Monday, May 16. St. Cloud - St. Cloud State Sherburne Hall 525 1st Avenue South St. Cloud, MN 56301 Monday - Friday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. The St. Cloud State testing site offers saliva testing.  St. Paul - Midway Former Herberger's 1400 University Avenue West St. Paul, MN 55104 Monday - Friday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.  The Midway testing site offers rapid antigen testing.  Testing sites at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul and Stillwater Armory are now closed. The Midway testing site will bring even greater consistency to Minnesotans who want to access testing as it will not be subject to the occasional closures that took place to accommodate events at the auditorium and armory. Visit COVID-19 Community Testing Sites for a list of hours and addresses for all state community testing sites and to make an appointment. Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Materials We are adding new videos, print materials, and translated documents often. Check out the pages below to view, download, or print these resources. Materials and Resources for COVID-19 Response Videos for COVID-19 Response Visit Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for up-to-date information and follow MDH on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. What's New Antiviral Therapy Resources for Providers Antiviral Therapy Resources for Providers is designed for health care providers, facilities, and systems as a compilation of resources for determining eligibility and prescribing outpatient treatment for acute COVID-19. Providers should visit this page to find: Clinical considerations for determining eligibility and choosing a treatment. Prescribing tools and important considerations when prescribing treatment. Where to access and prescribe antiviral treatment. General resources including FDA fact sheets and NIH treatment guidelines. Masks According to the CDC, factors a person should consider in deciding when to mask include the CDC: COVID-19 Community Level in their area, whether they are at high risk of severe illness, the risks of people around them, and personal preference and comfort level. The updated masking recommendations on Masks: COVID-19 include these CDC considerations and additional MDH considerations for people who are immunocompromised or at higher risk of severe disease. Always follow public health recommendations for when to wear a mask if: You have symptoms or a positive test. For more information on how long to wear a mask and stay home (isolation), refer to If You Are Sick or Test Positive: COVID-19. You were exposed to someone with COVID-19. For more information on how long to wear a mask and stay home (quarantine), refer to Close Contacts and Quarantine. While MDH encourages all Minnesotans to follow these minimum precautions, it is important to know that you may always choose to wear a mask if it makes you feel safer, regardless of current risk factors or the CDC COVID-19 community level. COVID-19 Stories of Community Outreach and Partnership COVID-19 Stories of Community Outreach and Partnership highlight the efforts of our staff in collaboration with community partners during the COVID-19 response. Some stories provide insight into how this work is done, others discuss what challenges our teams face, but all of them recognize how COVID-19 has pushed MDH to try new strategies so we can fulfill our mission of protecting, maintaining, and improving the health of all Minnesotans. The Road to Equity: Advocating for and supporting Minnesota's disability community through COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in major disruptions and challenges to the lives of people with disabilities. At the beginning of the pandemic, limited staff time prevented deeper engagement initially; however, with advocacy from the community and the agency's prioritization of health equity, MDH was able to form a small team to address the needs and concerns of people with disabilities in Minnesota through community partnership.  One partnership that MDH developed was with Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL). MCIL is a non-profit organization that works with the disability community in the Twin Cities and several counties in Greater Minnesota to help people overcome barriers to accessing health resources. In partnership with MDH, local public health departments, and other community partners, MCIL has provided in-home testing, vaccination services, personal protective equipment, and high-quality masks to persons with disabilities facing major challenges in accessing essential COVID -19 resources. Read more: The Road to Equity: Advocating for and supporting Minnesota's disability community through COVID-19 Guidance and Resources NEW: Antiviral Therapy Resources for Providers The Road to Equity: Advocating for and supporting Minnesota's disability community through COVID-19 UPDATED: Masks: COVID-19 About COVID-19 Vaccine COVID-19 Vaccine Providers COVID-19 Primary Series and Booster Vaccination Guidance Therapeutic Options for COVID-19 Patients Suggested Criteria for the Use of Outpatient Antiviral Therapy for COVID-19 in Children (PDF) Operational Guidance for Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab (PDF) Long-term Care: COVID-19 Long-term Care Testing: COVID-19 COVID-19 Community Engagement Webinars NOTE: Look for an "Updated" date below guidance links on our website to know when the resource was last revised. MDH COVID-19 Public Hotline For questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, call: 1-833-431-2053 Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Minnesota Department of Health  |  health.mn.gov Manage Preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Help

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