COVID-19 Health Updates:
Updated 5/18/2021 at 11:22am
5/18/2021
Masks Required:
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced May 13 that people fully vaccinated for COVID-19 may go maskless in most places and Gov. Tim Walz lifted Minnesota’s mask mandate on May 14, Minnesotans should follow CDC guidance and wear masks in health care settings, whether or not they are fully vaccinated.
Minnesota is making progress in vaccination, but the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has indicated we still have work to do to keep COVID-19 suppressed.
- Everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated can help do their part by scheduling a vaccination.
- Contact your health care provider to schedule a vaccination appointment or visit the state’s vaccination website at gov/vaccine.
- Minnesota is still seeing significant community transmission of COVID-19 and variant strains. Vaccination is the best mitigation strategy.
As Minnesotans adapt to this updated guidance eliminating the mask mandate, we ask our public for their continued partnership and patience.
- Hospitals and health systems care for some of our state’s most critically ill patients including patients who have weak immune systems, elderly and other patients who are at high risk for COVID-19 complications and deaths. Wearing a mask regardless of your vaccination status when you are in a health care setting helps protect these vulnerable populations.
- Hospitals and health systems continue to care for very ill patients with COVID-19 and hospitalized patients who are younger than those hospitalized earlier in the pandemic.
- We thank the public for their help in protecting our patients, staff and visitors.
Source: Minnesota Hospital Association
11/18/2020
Minnesota Department of Health
COVID-19 Test At Home
Minnesota and Vault Medical Services have teamed up to offer at-home COVID-19 saliva testing for everyone, with or without symptoms, at no cost.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE.
6/17/2020
World Health Organization
How to Wear a Fabric Mask Safely
5/7/2020
Sanford Health and Windom Area Health
COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall
4/20/2020
Minnesota Department of Health
Information and Advice for COVID-19
4/20/2020
Minnesota Department of Health
Information and Advice for COVID-19
4/8/2020
Emmi Solutions powered by UpToDate
Understanding COVID-19 and How to Stay Safe
3/19/2020
Minnesota Department of Health
New Testing Guidelines
There is a national shortage of test reagents and supplies. MDH has a very limited supply of testing materials. Four major commercial laboratories offering testing may also be out of reagents.
Current guidance for testing:
- Assess whether your clinic or system can send specimens to a commercial reference laboratory; determine priorities for testing and assess whether these labs have restrictions (at present we are aware that all four laboratories have also run out of reagents and may not be able to accept specimens).
- Limit sending specimens to MDH to those from hospitalized COVID-19 patients. At this time, we can also test ill health care workers and ill persons living in congregate settings.
- Inform all patients who present with undiagnosed fever and/or acute respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath), even those not able to be tested, that they should self-quarantine for 7 days after illness onset, or 72 hours after resolution of fever (without taking fever-reducing medications), whichever is longer, and improvement of respiratory symptoms. Inform patients to call ahead.
- Patients who are not able to be tested should isolate themselves from household and intimate contacts as much as possible. Household and intimate contacts of these individuals should limit their activities in public for 14 days after incorporating precautions in the home, and monitor for symptoms.
3/13/2020
World Health Organization
What to do if you think you're sick with COVID-19 or suspect you've been infected.
Stay at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms, such as headache and slight runny nose, until you recover.
Why? Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help protect you and others from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.
If you develop fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, call and seek medical advice promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition.
Why? Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also help to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.
Keep up to date with all accurate prevention techniques and health information by following CDC and World Health Organization guidelines. Their sites are linked below.
Center for Disease Control WebsiteÂ
World Health Organization Website
Click the image below to view Windom Area Health's Operation Updates in response to COVID-19.
