The Minnesota Department of Health announced a pilot of the COVID-19 Test at Home saliva program.
As of Thursday, Oct. 22, Minnesotans in two dozen counties – including Becker and Otter Tail – or tribal nations will be able to order a saliva test online, to perform in the comfort of their own home.
These tests are available in select service areas free of charge to any Minnesotan who believes they need to be tested. It will soon be available to all Minnesotans.
“Minnesota’s testing strategy includes having multiple options for people seeking out testing,” said Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. “Having more options helps to remove barriers, ensuring all Minnesotans have access to quick and reliable testing. The continued increase in COVID-19 cases across Greater Minnesota, tied to small, everyday gatherings, is very concerning. Testing is one way we slow the spread of COVID-19, and the mail order program provides yet another method for Minnesotans to access testing.”
The pilot Test at Home program is available to residents of:
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Rock County
Kittson County
Le Sueur County
Beltrami County
Red Lake Nation
Wilkin County
Carver County
Nobles County
Wright County
Dakota County
Mower County
Becker County
Kandiyohi County
Crow Wing County
Cook County
Aitkin County
Steele County
Itasca County
Douglas County
Lyon County
Pine County
Otter Tail County
Swift County
Pennington County
These places selected for the initial pilot represent geographically diverse areas of the state, prioritizing locations that do not currently have a saliva testing location or where community testing events have been limited. Minnesota currently has four saliva testing sites open, in Duluth, Winona, Moorhead, and Brooklyn Park, with Mankato scheduled to open Friday, Oct. 23, and up to five more to follow in coming weeks.
Through the mail order program, Minnesotans can order a saliva test online to be shipped to their home. They then perform the test by spitting into a small tube, under the supervision of a health care professional through a video telehealth visit. Once completed, the test is shipped to the state’s new saliva lab in Oakdale, Minnesota, where results are then emailed to the person in 24-48 hours.
“The saliva testing program has made our testing strategy more resilient by offering a convenient method that further reduces the risk of exposure to COVID-19,” said Dan Huff, MDH assistant commissioner for health protection. “We’re eager to make the Test at Home program available - the pilot will provide important information for how the program will work not just in our more populated areas, but more remote locations as well. We’ll use that information to make necessary adjustments before making the program available to all Minnesotans statewide, as soon as possible.”
Testing is free to all Minnesotans who believe they need a COVID-19 test, including those who are asymptomatic. Participants will be asked for their health insurance information so the state can bill their insurance company on their behalf. If a person is uninsured or for any reason insurance does not cover some or all of the cost, the state will cover the difference so testing remains free to everyone.
For more information on the COVID-19 Test at Home program, and to order a test, visit COVID-19 Test at Home .
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