COVID-19
COVID-19 is not going away. Like other respiratory illnesses, it is important to take steps to prevent getting sick, stay away from others when you have symptoms and keep up to date with vaccines.
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Practice healthy habits
Contagious illnesses like seasonal flu, norovirus, pertussis (whooping cough), COVID-19 and RSV can spread quickly as people spend time together. Protect yourself and your community from contagious illnesses:
- Stay up to date with vaccines.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Get tested if you feel sick.
- Wear a mask if you are sick and around others.
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your arms or tissue.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces.
Get vaccinated
Everyone 6 months and older is eligible for the vaccine.
This includes people who have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine before and people who have had COVID-19 in the past.
- The vaccine helps protect you from severe disease, hospitalization and death.
- Vaccine protection decreases over time, so it is important to stay up to date.
- Getting the vaccine is important if you are high-risk.
- Vaccine safety and effectiveness.
Where to get your vaccine
- Contact your primary health care provider.
- Contact your local pharmacy.
Watch for symptoms
If you have a fever, cough, or other symptoms, you might have COVID-19. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Many people have mild illness and can recover at home in isolation.
What to do when you are sick or test positive
- Stay home and away from others.
- Wear a mask if around others.
- Go back to normal activities after your symptoms improve and 24 hours have passed without a fever or use of medication to reduce fever.
Long COVID
While most people with COVID-19 will recover after a few weeks, others may have long-term symptoms or complications.
Get tested
Testing is an important way to prevent getting others sick. Get tested if you have symptoms or been exposed to someone who is sick.
Learn more about COVID-19 testing:
Where to get tested
- Take a self-testing kit at home.
- Visit a clinic, hospital or pharmacy.
Self-testing kit expiration dates
Find treatment
People with underlying health conditions, weakened immune system or over the age of 50 may benefit from COVID-19 medications. Treatment needs to start as early as possible, so talk to a health care provider right away if you test positive. A health care provider will help determine which medication is best for you.
Test to Treat
Test to Treat is a nationwide program where you can take a COVID-19 test and, if positive, be assessed by a provider on-site. If you are eligible for treatment, you can fill a prescription at the same time. Please bring a current list of medications and plan to spend one hour at the site. Some of these sites require appointments.
Find a provider using the Test to Treat locator.
View local data
Research COVID-19 data trends in Ramsey County and Minnesota: