As a growing number of youth return to school and extracurricular activities in person, the Minnesota Department of Health is encouraging families to get tested for COVID-19 every two weeks from now until the end of the school year to prevent outbreaks of the virus.

“Testing can help identify a single case early and prevent it from becoming many cases,” Dan Huff, Department of Health Assistant Commissioner said.

The Department of Health introduced the new Youth Testing Campaign Wednesday, during one of their media briefings. While it is not a requirement of families, health officials said testing every two weeks is highly recommended—adding that there are a number of ways families can get tested.

“There is no other state that has made COVID testing so accessible. We now have 20 sites across the state, which is in addition to our test at home program making testing available to anyone and of course our robust network of clinics and hospitals across the state doing testing,” Huff said.

In St. Louis County, Amy Westbrook, Public Health Division Director said there has been a decrease in testing over the last few weeks, but she hopes this new campaign will change that.

"This is another way to identify or try to identify cases early on. So, it’s more surveillance testing than really anything else. It’s trying to find individuals that may be asymptomatic, but spreading or early on in their illness, where we can keep them at home from school," Westbrook said.

In the Northland, there are a variety of places to get tested.

At the DECC, anyone is eligible to get tested by making an appointment or walking in.

Additionally, people can get tested at the Univeristy of Wisconsin Superior by making an appointment.

Essentia Health and St. Luke’s also offer testing for those who make an appointment.

People can also choose to be tested from the comfort of their home by signing up for the test at home program.

Most COVID-19 testing is covered through insurance.

To see the original report and see related stories, follow this link to the WDIO-TV News website.  https://www.wdio.com/news/minnesota-department-of-health-introduces-new-youth-testing-campaign/60226...