COVID-19 Response

• COVID-19 is an infectious disease.
• COVID-19 is a respiratory illness. It is caused by a coronavirus not found in people before.
• Getting vaccinated is one of the best things you can do to prevent getting or spreading COVID-19. For more information, visit COVID-19 Vaccine.

More information and updates can be found on the Minnesota Department of Health's website.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, fatigue, congestion or runny nose, or loss of taste or smell. Other less common symptoms include gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after you are exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.
• Not everyone with COVID-19 has all of these symptoms, and some people may not have any symptoms.
• Even after recovering from COVID-19, some people may have lingering symptoms such as fatigue, cough, or joint pain. The long-term health effects are still unknown but there may be permanent damage to the heart, lungs, or other organs. This is more likely in those who had more severe illness but may also be possible even in those who had mild illness.
• Get tested if you have symptoms. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions or concerns about symptoms.
• For more information, visit CDC: Symptoms of COVID-19.

Learn more on the Minnesota Department of Health's website.

How vaccination helps

• Vaccination reduces spread of the virus, which makes it harder for it to change and create variants.
• With the Delta variant, fully vaccinated people may be able to pass the disease to others.
• However, 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. That's why it's so important for all who are eligible to get vaccinated.

Other steps you can take

• Wash your hands often and stay home if you feel sick.
• If you are not fully vaccinated, wear a mask, stay 6 feet from others, and avoid gatherings.
• Vaccinated or not vaccinated, MDH strongly recommends that you wear a mask in specific settings or situations found at Recommendations for Wearing Masks.
• Variants developing around the world can spread to new places when people travel. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated. Visit CDC: International Travel During COVID-19.
• Because variants can spread more easily, it is important to get tested when recommended. Visit COVID-19 Testing.

Learn more:
Minnesota Department of Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Minnesota Department of Health has prepared a decision tree for people in schools, youth, and child care programs.  Click the link below to view the decision tree and follow the appropriate path if a child, student, or staff person is experiencing the following symptoms consistent with COVID-19:

More common:

• fever greater than or equal to 100.4
• new cough or a cough that gets worse
• difficulty/hard time breathing
• new loss of taste or smell

Less common:

• sore throat
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• chills
• muscle pain
• excessive fatigue/feeling very tired
• new severe/very bad headache
• new nasal congestion/stuffy or runny nose

MDH COVID-19 Decision Tree 

Each situation will vary. The Minnesota Department of Health will work with the school district to determine whether any students were in close contact* with the teacher or staff member who tested positive. If so, families would be informed by MDH that their students should quarantine for 14 days. 

The Minnesota Department of Health's website states that people who have symptoms of COVID-19 should be tested. Families may get recommendations from MDH for testing if their student was in close contact with someone who tested positive and their student is now showing symptoms, but testing has not been mandated to this point.  Any costs for the testing of students will be incurred by families.

At this time, testing would not take place at schools for a variety of reasons (testing fidelity, supplies, staffing); however, MDH does maintain a live link to locations of test sites. 

HIPAA guidelines prohibit school districts from identifying who the student/staff member is who has tested positive. If there is a case of COVID-19 identified, MDH will work with the school district to be as clear as possible about the risk level of those who have come into contact with the person who tested positive and what is recommended for next steps. 

One area that face coverings continue to be required is on public transportation. Until January 1, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration is requiring face coverings across all transportation networks throughout the country, including airports and onboard commercial aircraft, railways and buses. This includes school buses. Every student and adult who rides on the bus will need to wear a face covering.