Update: Households now eligible for more COVID-19 test kits as numbers rise statewide, vaccine clinics announced for Cook County
Sep 27, 2024 08:45AM ● By Content Editor
Photo: Mika Baumeister on Unsplash.com
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - Updated September 27, 2024, originally posted August 26, 2024
September 27 update: Households are now eligible to request up to four COVID-19 nasal-swab test kits. Last week, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic announced COVID-19 and flu vaccine clinics.
-Original post-
The United States Department of Health & Human Services recently announced that households nationwide can request up to four COVID-19 test kits at the end of September. The nasal-swab-type tests will be able to detect the latest variants of COVID-19. The Dept of Health did not provide a specific date as to when households can begin ordering test kits.
The announcement coincides with an increase in COVID across the country. According to the CDC, the wastewater viral activity level for COVID-19 is currently very high nationally.
Statewide, wastewater testing has shown an increase in COVID-19 levels within the last two weeks. NE Minnesota in particular has seen a shape increase with a +18% average change within the last two weeks and a jump to a +51% average change within the last week.
Additionally, as of Thursday of last week (the latest data released from the Minnesota Department of Health), hospitalization rates for COVID-19 have increased, while hospitalization rates for Influenza and RSV have "remained low and stable". Overall, COVID-19 hospitalization rates for Cook County remain low.
These rising numbers come around the same time as students, school staff, and teachers are heading back to school, and (eventually) cooler, fall temperatures settle in.
For those in Cook County who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms, free testing kits are available in the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic Pharmacy Atrium.
Looking ahead, Liv Thompson, Outreach Coordinator for the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, shared with Boreal Community Media that flu/COVID vaccine clinics will be held this fall. The Clinic is set to receive updated COVID-19 vaccines recently approved by the FDA that cover the new variants.
"The schedule will be released once we have received the vaccines at the clinic and we ask that community members are patient and keep an eye on our website and social media for when/where those events will be held," Thompson added.
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - Updated September 27, 2024, originally posted August 26, 2024
September 27 update: Households are now eligible to request up to four COVID-19 nasal-swab test kits. Last week, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic announced COVID-19 and flu vaccine clinics.
-Original post-
The United States Department of Health & Human Services recently announced that households nationwide can request up to four COVID-19 test kits at the end of September. The nasal-swab-type tests will be able to detect the latest variants of COVID-19. The Dept of Health did not provide a specific date as to when households can begin ordering test kits.
The announcement coincides with an increase in COVID across the country. According to the CDC, the wastewater viral activity level for COVID-19 is currently very high nationally.
Statewide, wastewater testing has shown an increase in COVID-19 levels within the last two weeks. NE Minnesota in particular has seen a shape increase with a +18% average change within the last two weeks and a jump to a +51% average change within the last week.
Additionally, as of Thursday of last week (the latest data released from the Minnesota Department of Health), hospitalization rates for COVID-19 have increased, while hospitalization rates for Influenza and RSV have "remained low and stable". Overall, COVID-19 hospitalization rates for Cook County remain low.
These rising numbers come around the same time as students, school staff, and teachers are heading back to school, and (eventually) cooler, fall temperatures settle in.
For those in Cook County who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms, free testing kits are available in the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic Pharmacy Atrium.
Looking ahead, Liv Thompson, Outreach Coordinator for the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, shared with Boreal Community Media that flu/COVID vaccine clinics will be held this fall. The Clinic is set to receive updated COVID-19 vaccines recently approved by the FDA that cover the new variants.
"The schedule will be released once we have received the vaccines at the clinic and we ask that community members are patient and keep an eye on our website and social media for when/where those events will be held," Thompson added.
