North Shore Health to offer COVID-19 testing for travel purposes
Jul 29, 2021 10:16AM ● By EditorFrom North Shore Health - July 29, 2021
North Shore Health (NSH) announced that beginning July 29, 2021 they will begin to offering molecular COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic people who are traveling to Canada and other Countries who require testing prior to entry.
Testing will be offered on a very limited basis at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, through the existing drive up testing process. Testing will be offered on a first come first serve basis, no appointments will be taken. Registration will be held from 8:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. for the 9:00 a.m. testing. Registration will be held again at 1:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. for the 2:00 p.m. testing. The registration will occur in the lobby of North Shore Health, the entrance facing 5thstreet/County Road 7. Approximately 5 people per testing times will be accepted and registration will close once the maximum number is met.
After being registered, the individual will wait in the parking lot until they are called and will then drive through the emergency entrance. A map will be provided after registration.
The results of the testing will typically be available within 3 to 4 hours after the specimen has been collected. Results will be available for pick-up at the North Shore Health Registration Desk. A picture ID will be required when picking up the results. The results will also be available on the NSH patient portal.
NSH is able to bill health insurance for United States citizens or permanent residents. Those without health insurance will discuss options during registration. Non-United States Citizens will be required to prepay $250 before testing and NSH will not bill out of country or travel insurance plans.
This testing will only be for travel purposes. Testing for individuals with symptoms will continue with the current process. Those individuals with symptoms should call Sawtooth Mountain Clinic at 218-387-2330 to be scheduled for testing as appropriate. Jennifer Backstrom, Administrative Laboratory Director stated “NSH will NOT contact the individual or their physician in the event of a positive result. It is the individual’s responsibility to arrange follow up with a medical provider with a positive test result.” Backstrom continued, “All positive tests are required to be reported to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) so it is possible the individual will be contacted by MDH or Cook County Public Health.”