COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus that has not been found in people before. 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. The virus is thought to spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It also may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. 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

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 CDC announced Thursday that masks are no longer required for fully-vaccinated individuals, either indoors or outside. Minnesotans should follow CDC guidance and wear masks in medical settings and on public transportation, whether or not they are fully vaccinated.

In Minnesota as of May 14th, 2021, Governor Tim Walz announced the end of Minnesota’s statewide mask requirement, aligning Minnesota with new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on face coverings. Minnesotans who are not fully vaccinated are strongly recommended to wear face coverings indoors.

Private businesses and local municipalities may still put in place face covering requirements. And Minnesota’s Safe Learning Plan, along with the existing face covering guidance for schools and child care settings, remain in effect.

REMEMBER: COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice (e.g., while shouting, chanting, or singing). These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Recent studies show that a significant portion of individuals with COVID-19 lack symptoms (are “asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (are “pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms.

Why it is still important to wear a mask

Masks may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others. Wearing a mask will help protect people around you, including those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and workers who frequently come into close contact with other people (e.g., in stores and restaurants). Masks are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are widely used by people in public settings. The spread of COVID-19 can be reduced when masks are used along with other preventive measures, including social distancing, frequent handwashing, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

The masks recommended here are either surgical paper masks or double layered cloth or antibacterial masks. Masks are not personal protective equipment (PPE). They are not appropriate substitutes for PPE such as respirators (like N95 respirators) or medical facemasks (like surgical masks) in workplaces where respirators or facemasks are recommended or required to protect the wearer.

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/  

If you think you have symptoms of COVID-19, such as a high fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, you should call your doctor and maybe get tested. Keep in mind that it can take two to fourteen days for COVID-19 symptoms to appear after you are infected. 

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