Drive-up Exams

Rapid Covid-19 testing

Receive results within 20 minutes-1 hour via text or email

Test at your closest Pharmacy!

https://cvshealth.com/covid-19/testing-information

https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/testing

In-Person Saliva Testing

Free saliva testing is now available at a couple of locations that may be convenient for Ward 11 residents:

• The Minneapolis Convention Center (1301 2nd Ave S; enter on the west side of the building off 1st Avenue). Testing is available daily, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Walk-ins are welcome but folks are encouraged to make an appointment to prevent crowding and long lines. Free parking is available and marked in nearby surface lots and parking ramps.

• Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, Terminal 1 (4300 Glumack Dr; signs will guide you from the inbound roadway to the clinic location itself, located in the lobby area on Level 2 of the Blue Ramp). Testing is available daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome but folks are encouraged to make an appointment to prevent crowding and long lines. Parking validation is available. Learn more about saliva testing at the airport here.

No ID or insurance is required. Test results should be available within a day or two of your test.

At-Home Saliva Testing /Free testing kit

The state is offering free at-home COVID-19 saliva tests. You do not need to have symptoms in order to request a test, which must be taken during a video chat with a supervisor who makes sure the test is done properly. You then send the test to a lab which will test your saliva and email your results one to two days after they receive the sample. The saliva test is just as accurate as the nasal swab test and is available at no cost for every Minnesotan, and insurance is not required. Request your at-home COVID-19 test here. Results should be available within a day or two after the lab processes your test.

TRACK COVID-19 ON CELL

Download COVID-19 Contact Tracing App

Our community is still seeing alarming spread of COVID-19, and it continues to be important that we all do whatever we can to limit that. You can now download COVIDaware MN – the state’s free COVID-19 notification app with secure, anonymous technology – to get an alert when another app user you’ve been exposed to tests positive for the virus. The more people that download and use the app, the better it works.

Bluetooth technology exchanges privacy-protected “keys” when two phones using the app are within six feet from each other for 15 minutes in a 24-hour period. If one of the app users tests positive, they can enter a randomly generated code into the app to anonymously notify people exposed to them – even folks they don’t know. The app is available in English, Spanish, Somali, and Hmong. Get more information and see how to download COVIDaware MN here.

Not everyone who gets COVID-19 experiences symptoms, yet they can still spread the virus to others. This app is yet another tool to help protect yourself, your loved ones, and our community along with staying home, wearing masks when you go out, keeping at least six feet from others, and washing your hands. You can find additional information about COVID-19 testing and resources for households during the pandemic

Track COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts in Minnesota

The state debuted a public COVID-19 vaccine data dashboard to share progress on vaccinations in Minnesota. You can now see the number of doses promised by the federal government, the doses actually shipped to Minnesota providers, and the doses administered to Minnesotans. The dashboard is updated daily. So far, more than 140,000 Minnesotans have received at least their first dose of the vaccine, with 7,000 receiving both doses. For the vaccine to be effective, folks need to get two doses three or four weeks apart, depending on which vaccine is used. Find more details on the state's vaccination efforts here.

In Minneapolis, first responders including folks from the Minneapolis Fire Department, Police Department and Metro Transit have begun getting vaccinated. Vaccines will be available to other high-risk groups, such as essential workers and older adults, and the general public in phases over the next few months. More information about vaccinations in Minneapolis is available here. This webpage will be updated as more information becomes available.

Information on free COVID-19 testing and other resources is included in this newsletter.

COVID-19 Resources

As COVID-19 puts additional strain on families and individuals, there are resources available to help. I will continue to share the following resources in each of my newsletters, and I encourage you to pass this information along to any family, friends, or neighbors who may can benefit from these programs.

Community Resources:

https://www.hired.org/community-resources?gclid=Cj0KCQiAnaeNBhCUARIsABEee8Xs58zob4wCkwLiklTf81OzX0l7bp6YOlZs-SqgeflFMGqd2PhVTk0aAp--EALw_wcB

Foreclosure Prevention Resources

The COVID-19 crisis continues to pose significant challenges for many in our community. If you or someone you know is struggling to meet your mortgage obligations, free assistance is available through the Minnesota Homeownership Center. A network of advisors can help you understand how to prevent foreclosure and connect you with resources to help during this challenging time. Learn more and find an advisor here.

Utility Bill Payment Options During COVID-19

Too many of our neighbors have to choose between paying their energy bills and paying for other necessities. The state's Energy Assistance Program offers eligible residents help covering energy expenses so they don't have to choose. Through this program, renters and homeowners can access benefits ranging from $200 to $1,400, based on heating costs, household size, and household income. This assistance can be used to cover energy bills, or to repair or replace old or malfunctioning furnaces. Get more information and apply here.

In addition, both of our local utility providers -- Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy -- have suspended shutoffs for non-payment until further notice. In addition, both companies are working with customers to provide help where possible. Arrange a payment plan by contacting Xcel Energy at 800-895-4999 and/or CenterPoint Energy at 800-245-2377.

Food Distribution and Meal Boxes

There are many places to get local, affordable, or free emergency food in Minneapolis this winter. Find information on food shelves and food distribution pop-ups here.

In addition, free meal boxes are available to all Minneapolis families with children ages 18 and younger. Similar to the free food box program Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) operated in the spring and summer, all families are welcome to participate at no cost – children do not need to be enrolled at an MPS school. Families can pick up one box per child per week. Each box contains five breakfasts and five lunches with fresh produce and whole grains. Milk is available upon request. Meal boxes are available for pickup Monday through Friday at 29 school sites across Minneapolis. Find the full list of pickup sites and hours here. Call 612-668-2820 or email info.cws@mpls.k12.mn.us with questions.

Help for Older Adults

The Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging put together a list of community-based services and resources for older adults and their caregivers to support daily living needs and safety at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find more information here, or if you need additional assistance, you can call the Senior LinkAge Line – a free statewide help line for seniors and caregivers – at 1-800-333-2433.

COVID-19 Hotline for the Black Community

A fully staffed hotline to support Minnesota’s Black community through the pandemic is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Callers can get important information about virus testing sites, food security, physical and mental health, employment, housing, childcare, legal rights and other pandemic-related challenges. The hotline will also help callers looking for information and resources such as reusable cloth masks, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies. Call the hotline at 612-254-1145 with questions about COVID-19.

Spanish/English COVID-19 Hotline

Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment through Research (HACER) is partnering with the Minnesota Department of Health to launch a COVID-19 hotline in Spanish and English. This statewide service provides accurate and culturally relevant information regarding COVID-19 to Latinx communities. Call 651-304-6145 for assistance in Spanish with questions or concerns about where to get tested, what to do while you wait for results, and how to manage if you're test is positive. Program coordinators and hotline specialists are trained to best understand the needs of the Latinx community around the state as they relate to COVID-19 and will offer resources provided by the Minnesota Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local organizations.