COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus that has not been found in people before. This is an infectious disease. Because this is a new virus, there are still things we don't know, but every day, we learn more about COVID-19. 

The Minnesota public health community is working hard to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our state, and we need everyone's help. Avoid assumptions about who you think may have this disease. Viruses do not discriminate.

The virus that causes COVID-19 probably emerged from an animal source, but is now spreading from person to person. 

COVID-19 is spread in three main ways: 

• Breathing in air when close to an infected person who is exhaling small droplets and fine particles that contain the virus. 
• Having these small droplets and particles that contain virus land on the eyes, nose, or mouth, especially through splashes and sprays like a cough or sneeze. 
• Touching eyes, nose, or mouth with hands that have the virus on them. It is important to wash your hands before you touch your mouth, nose, face, or eyes. 

People can spread the COVID-19 disease to each other. Infected people may be able to spread the disease before they have symptoms or feel sick. A person can also spread the disease if they have no symptoms. Research has shown that around 40-50% of people infected do not develop symptoms. 

Learn what is known about the spread of newly emerged coronaviruses at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html

Variants are common with a virus like COVID-19. Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time. 

Multiple COVID-19 variants are circulating globally, and in the United States. Several of these variants have been identified and are spreading in Minnesota. 

These variants are concerning because they are more contagious. For example, early data shows that some variants spread more easily and can be as much as 50% more contagious than the original virus. Currently, the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant is the most common in Minnesota. 

New data suggest the Delta variant is different than past versions of the virus and spreads about twice as easily from one person to another. 

The Omicron variant likely will spread more easily than the original virus. CDC expects that anyone with Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms.

Vaccination reduces overall spread of the virus, which makes it harder for it to change (mutate) and create variants. Vaccination also helps protect against the variants, especially severe disease. That's why it's so important for all who are eligible to get vaccinated.

Testing for variants 

COVID-19 tests do not tell you which variant you have but testing plays a key role in our efforts to contain and mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic by identifying infected individuals to help prevent further person-to-person transmission of COVID-19.

Through a process called sequencing, scientists can determine which variant causes the infection and monitor how the virus is changing. 

A percentage of people's tests — not all tests — are sent to the state's public health lab. Testing for variants takes a long time and a lot of work. It takes the lab about 42 hours to run 100 tests. We send enough tests to give us a good idea of what variants are spreading. 

We are not able to release the results of these variant tests to doctors or patients. No matter which variant you have, you'll take the same steps, like staying away from others, getting vaccinated, and wearing a mask when recommended. 

There is still to little information about the Omicron variant. The CDC will provide updates.

There are now 3 vaccines to prevent COVID-19: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson. The best thing you can do to prevent contracting COVID-19 is to access a free vaccine and continue to avoid exposure to this virus. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following preventive actions that should be practiced daily:

Mask Mandate Update

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommend that people, both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated, continue to wear a well-fitted mask in some settings or situations. Other federal, state, or local laws may require masks, and businesses may set their own requirements. 

It is important to wear a mask in some settings to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Viruses constantly change and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time. New data suggests that an emerging variant, the Delta variant, is different than past versions of the virus and spreads about twice as easily from one person to another. With the Delta variant, fully vaccinated people may be able to pass the disease to others. However, the vaccines still work. Fully vaccinated people are less likely to get infected, and if a vaccinated person gets infected, the illness will likely be mild. The vaccine also greatly reduces the chance of hospitalization and death. 

Because the Delta and Omicron variant is shown to spread more easily, MDH recommends everyone, both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated, wear a mask in the following situations: 

• Indoor businesses and public settings and crowded outdoor settings in areas with substantial or high transmission. Refer to the map on CDC COVID Data Tracker: COVID-19 Integrated County View to find community transmission levels in your county. 

• If you are immunocompromised or at an increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19, consider wearing a mask regardless of the level of transmission in your area. People who are at increased risk for severe disease include older adults and those who have certain medical conditions such as diabetes, overweight or obesity, and heart conditions. Immunocompromised people, even if fully vaccinated, should talk to their health care providers for other specific recommendations. 
• If you live or frequently interact with someone who is immunocompromised, not fully vaccinated, or at an increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19, consider wearing a mask in indoor public or crowded outdoor settings regardless of the level of transmission in your area. 

• Where you are in settings that pose a high risk of COVID-19 spread or complications from COVID-19 infection, such as schools, health care settings, homeless shelters, and correctional facilities. 

More Information

Considerations for Wearing Masks
How to Wear Your Mask
How to Wash Your Mask
How to Make Your Own Mask 
ASL Video Series: Easy DIY Mask

Limiting close face-to-face contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

What is social distancing?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages everyone to stay home and avoid non-essential travel. If you must go in public for essentials, practice social distancing — that is, maintaining physical space around you — by:

• Keeping at least 6 feet away from others.
• Avoiding gathering in groups, including at a friend’s house, parks, restaurants, shops or any other place. If you do gather in a group, make sure to maintain social distancing and wear masks. If you have been vaccinated, please see more about separate guidelines that apply. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html  
• Staying out of crowded places.

You can still stay connected while staying away. Tips include:

• Following the directions of local authorities.
• Using delivery services for prescriptions and groceries when possible. If you must go out, use a cloth face cover and stay 6 feet away from others.
• Connecting virtually with loved ones through phone and video calls, texts or social media.

For more information visit the CDC's page about Social Distancing.

The new coronavirus (COVID-19) can infect people of all ages, but older people and those with some diseases (such as lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, or disease that weakens the immune system) are more likely to become seriously ill when they get the infection.

If you are living with a chronic condition, take the following steps to prevent infection:

• Have enough food and necessary medications with you.
• Avoid being in public or groups.
• Avoid unnecessary travel.
• If the virus reaches your community, stay home and do not go out.

People of all ages are advised to take steps to protect themselves from the virus, for example, by good hand hygiene at all times.

If you are fully vaccinated:

• You are allowed to resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel. 
• You can refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States. 

During Travel you should: 

•  Still wear a mask over your nose and mouth. Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. 
• Avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet/2 meters (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who is not traveling with you. 
• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol). 

After Travel: 

• Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms. 
• Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements. 
• You do NOT need to get tested or self-quarantine if you are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months. You should still follow all other travel recommendations. 

Visit the CDC page for updated travel guidance: https://bit.ly/3eEQPkN  

If you are unvaccinated:

Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

You can get COVID-19 during your travels. You may feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can still spread COVID-19 to others. You and your travel companions (including children) may spread COVID-19 to other people including your family, friends, and community for 14 days after you were exposed to the virus.

Don’t travel if you are sick or if you have been around someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. Don’t travel with someone who is sick.

Before You Travel

Before you travel, consider the following:

• Is COVID-19 spreading at your destination?
  The more cases at your destination, the more likely you are to get infected during travel and spread the virus to others when you return.
• Do you live with someone who might be more likely to get very ill from COVID-19?
  If you get infected while traveling, you can spread the virus to loved ones when you return, even if you don’t have symptoms.
• Are you more likely to get very ill from COVID-19?
  Anyone can get very ill from the virus that causes COVID-19, but older adults and people of any age with certain underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
• Does your destination have requirements or restrictions for travelers?
  Some state, local, and territorial governments have requirements, such as requiring people to wear masks and requiring those who recently traveled to stay home for up to 14 days. Check state and local public health websites for information before you travel. If you are traveling internationally, check the country’s Office of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Health or the US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Country Information pageexternal icon for details about entry requirements and restrictions for arriving travelers, such as mandatory testing or quarantine.

If You Travel

During your trip, take steps to protect yourself and others from COVID-19:

• Wear a mask to keep your nose and mouth covered when in public settings.
• Avoid close contact by staying at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from anyone who is not from your household.
• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
• Avoid contact with anyone who is sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Remember, the best way to prevent infection is to take everyday preventive actions, like avoiding close contact with people who are sick, washing your hands often and wearing a mask.

For more information on the vaccines, read our blog post on what you need to know about the vaccines: https://clues.org/what-do-you-need-to-know-about-the-covid-19-vaccine/  

Booster shots 

Medical researchers have been studying how long protection from the COVID-19 vaccines lasts. COVID-19 vaccines continue to work very well at reducing the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death, but there is newer data to suggest that protection against COVID-19 infection decreases over time. A booster shot is given when protection from the original vaccination begins to decrease. This additional dose of vaccine can help get protection back up to a higher level. Certain people are now recommended to get a booster shot of COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more under "who is eligible for a booster shot now." 

More information about booster shots 

• Many routine vaccines require booster shots to maintain protection. For example, people are due to get a tetanus shot every 10 years. That shot is a booster shot. It “boosts” your ability to fight the disease if you are exposed, because we know original protection from the vaccine decreases over time. 
• People who have received their initial vaccine series (two doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine) still have some protection even once protection starts to decrease. The booster shot helps get protection back up to a higher level. 
• There is a recommendation for people with certain immunocompromising conditions to receive an additional dose of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine as part of their initial vaccine series. This is different from a booster dose. People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised should also get a booster dose 6 months after their third dose. Learn more under the "Immunocompromised people" section at the top of this webpage or at CDC: COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People. 

As we learn more about COVID-19, and as we continue to track how the vaccines are working, we will continue to follow the science and update recommendations that will best protect people from the disease. 

Who is eligible for a booster shot now? 

All Minnesotans age 18 and older are recommended to get a booster shot. The timing of your booster shot depends on the vaccine you received for your initial vaccine series. 

• If you got Johnson & Johnson vaccine: All Minnesotans age 18 and older should get a booster shot at least 2 months after their first dose. 
• If you got Pfizer or Moderna vaccine: All Minnesotans age 18 and older should get a booster shot at least 6 months after their primary series of COVID-19 vaccine. 
• For most people, the primary series is two doses of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, but people with certain immunocompromising conditions are recommended to get a third dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as part of their primary series. Learn more under the "Doses of COVID-19 vaccine" section near the top of this webpage. 

Officials also authorized "mixing and matching" COVID-19 vaccine boosters, meaning anybody who is eligible to get a booster shot can get any of the three currently authorized or approved vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson) – regardless of what vaccine they received for their primary series. 

Talk to your health care provider about your risk, the need for a booster dose, and any questions about mixing and matching doses. 

COVID-19 vaccines are effective, especially at preventing serious illness and death. However, evidence is showing that boosters for all adults, given at the appropriate time after your primary vaccination series, can help extend the protection and keep it at a higher level. 

If you are eligible to get a booster shot, check our events in St Paul and Minneapolis.

Every Minnesotan age 5 years and older can get vaccinated.

COVID-19 vaccines help protect your child from COVID-19. They also help keep your child from spreading COVID-19 to others. Help protect your whole family by getting yourself and your children 5 years and older vaccinated against COVID-19.

At this time, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine that has been studied and authorized for use by people ages 5 years and older. Children age 5 to 11 should get the Pfizer vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds as it is a smaller dose of vaccine than the Pfizer vaccine for people age 12 and older. Data from Pfizer vaccine studies show the vaccine is safe and effective for children and teens. Other vaccine manufacturers are also studying their vaccines in younger age groups but have not yet received authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

On Dec. 9, 2021, FDA and CDC authorized emergency use of a single booster shot for people 16 and 17 years of age at least six months after completing their primary series of Pfizer vaccine.

There are several COVID-19 testing options available, including community (rapid and saliva) and at-home testing. Many COVID-19 tests are free, but a health care provider may charge for their time.

UPS

Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here’s what you need to know about your order:

If you feel sick or have any symptoms of COVID-19 

Whether or not you are fully vaccinated: 

• Get tested right away. Visit COVID-19 Testing. 
• Stay home and away from others. Refer to the how long to stay home section below. 
• Wear a mask if you must be around others.  
• Wash your hands often, with soap and water. Wash for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol. 
• Cover Your Cough: cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. Throw used tissues in the trash. Wash your hands. 

If you test positive for COVID-19 

• Stay home and away from others, even if you do not have symptoms.  
• Symptoms may appear up to 14 days after you are close to someone with COVID-19 (exposed). 
• You can spread COVID-19 to others a couple days before you have any symptoms, or even if you never have any symptoms of COVID-19. 
• If you have been fully vaccinated and test positive for COVID-19, you still need to stay home and away from others.  
• If you are older or have certain medical conditions, it is helpful to let your health care provider know you have COVID-19. They may have specific advice for you. 
• Tell your close contacts, including people who are fully vaccinated, that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. 

How long to stay home 

• If you have symptoms of COVID-19, stay home until all three of these things are true: 
  • You feel better. Your cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms are better. 
    and 
  • It has been 10 days since you first felt sick. 
    and 
  • You have had no fever for at least 24 hours, without using medicine that lowers fevers. 
• If you have tested positive for COVID-19 but do not have symptoms, you must still stay home and away from others for 10 days. 
• Talk to your health care provider if you have questions. 
• If a lab test shows you do not have COVID-19 but you have symptoms, stay home until your symptoms are better and you do not have a fever. Symptoms of COVID-19 can be like other illnesses. It is important to follow your health care provider's advice before going back to school, work, or other places. 

Going to the doctor 

• Call ahead before going in to see a health care provider. 
• If you are older or have other medical conditions, it may be helpful to let your health care provider know you are sick. They may have some specific advice for you. 
• Some people with COVID-19 have worse symptoms during the second week of illness. 
  • Seek medical care right away if your illness is getting worse (for example, if you have difficulty breathing). Call ahead and tell them your symptoms. 
• Low oxygen levels can be an early warning sign that people need medical care. For more information, refer to Oxygen Levels, Pulse Oximeters, and COVID-19. 

Click here for a list of frequently asked questions offered by CDC.

SOURCES:
www.health.state.mn.us 
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (PDF)

Resources to Find Low-Cost Health Care or get Health Insurance (PDF)

Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 (PDF)

Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Table Tent (PDF)

Viruses Don't Discriminate and Neither Should We (PDF)

Hand Hygiene Print Materials

When am I fully vaccinated? 

In general, people are considered fully vaccinated: ±2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine 

If you don’t meet these requirements, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated. 

Fully vaccinated people can: 

• Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing 
• Visit with unvaccinated people (including children) from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing 
• Participate in outdoor activities and recreation without a mask, except in certain crowded settings and venues 
• Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel 
• Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States 
• Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings 
• Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic 
• Refrain from routine screening testing if asymptomatic and feasible 

For now, fully vaccinated people should continue to: 

• Take precautions in indoor public settings like wearing a well-fitted mask 
• Wear well-fitted masks when visiting indoors with unvaccinated people who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease or who have an unvaccinated household member who is at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease 
• Wear well-fitted masks when visiting indoors with unvaccinated people from multiple households 
• Avoid indoor large-sized in-person gatherings 
• Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms 
• Follow guidance issued by individual employers 
• Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations 
• For updated guidelines visit https://bit.ly/3sUsZXu