Olmsted County recommends regular testing for COVID-19

OLMSTED COUNTY, Minn. (ABC 6 News) – Olmsted County Public Health Services is recommending regular COVID-19 testing with more daily routines returning to in-person.

With schools starting, fall sports and the recent Labor Day holiday OCPHS said regular testing is another tool to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

“Testing identifies infected persons, both those with and without symptoms, who may be contagious so people can take measures to prevent further exposures and transmission,” OCPHS Director Graham Briggs said.

When to seek testing

Following the testing recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), OCPHS recommends the public seek COVID-19 testing when;

• Experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of vaccination.
• Exposure to someone with COVID-19, regardless of vaccination.
• An individual is not fully vaccinated and participates in in-person school settings, extracurricular or sports activities.
• Attending large gatherings indoors or outdoors with no physical distancing, regardless of vaccination.

If an individual attends a large gathering or has exposure to someone with COVID-19 they should get tested 3-5 days after.

In K-12 schools, testing is critical to the identification and isolation of individuals who test positive for COVID. Testing can help guide when people, who are not fully vaccinated, should quarantine after exposure to COVID-19. This testing is vital in areas experiencing substantial or high community transmission levels.