Minnesota Youth Should Get Tested for COVID-19 Every Two Weeks, MDH Suggests

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(KNSI) – The Minnesota Department of Health is asking families with kids who have returned to in-person learning, sports and other school activities to get tested for COVID-19 every two weeks through the rest of the school year.

MDH Assistant Commissioner Dan Huff says it’s not a requirement, but it is recommended to catch any new cases early.

“Just as our educators and child care providers continue to get tested, we’re asking parents to do the same and make regular testing a priority for their families,” Huff said.

He says the two-week frequency is a balance between testing often and making the routine accessible to families. It also matches COVID-19’s maximum incubation time between infection and symptoms emerging.

This added testing effort is not being facilitated through schools like Minnesota’s opt-in, biweekly testing program for school staff. Rather, MDH is asking parents to use the state’s community testing sites and mail-order saliva test program.

When asked if the state can handle the testing demand that could follow this recommendation, Huff said yes.

“We are ready to handle the demand, whether it be at one of our community testing sites or through the mail-order program,” Huff said. “We have plenty of capacity.”

The guidance comes as MDH sees some uptick in new COVID-19 cases in certain areas despite notable improvement since the state’s case peak in late November.

“Over the past month, northwest Minnesota and south-central Minnesota have begun experiencing an increase in case growth,” Huff said. “West-central is also beginning to trend upward.”

Huff added that even though about 13.8 percent of the state’s population has gotten at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot, that isn’t enough to prevent another wave of new cases — masking and social distancing are still prudent efforts.

“Last week, as he announced the progress we’re making in moving back to in-person learning, Governor [Tim] Walz called upon Minnesotans to buckle down for the next 90 days and focus on our mitigation measures,” Huff said. “Even if you have not bought into these strategies before, we are asking Minnesotans to give them a try.”

Over the past 14 days, cases in Stearns County have remained steady with an average of 17 new cases per day. This week, the community testing site at St. Cloud’s River’s Edge Convention Center is temporarily closed; testing opportunities there resume on March 3rd.