October 11, 2021: Demand for rapid at-home COVID tests has been high, and shoppers find either empty shelves in drugstores or get “out of stock” messages online as companies rushing to meet demand (WHYY / NPR)
October 7, 2021: Starting Oct. 30, the Canadian government will require all air travelers and passengers on interprovincial trains to be vaccinated against COVID-19. (USA Today)
October 7, 2021: Pfizer asked the U.S. government Thursday to allow use of its COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11, formally filing its application with the FDA. If regulators agree, shots could begin within a matter of weeks. (AP)
October 6, 2021: The Biden administration on Wednesday announced a new $1 billion investment in home coronavirus tests that will quadruple the nation's supply of these rapid tests by early December, officials said. (USA Today)
October 1, 2021: About a third of parents say they want to vaccinate their 5-to-11-year-old children “right away” once a coronavirus vaccine is available for that age group, according to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Washington Post)
September 28, 2021: Pfizer submits data to FDA, seeking emergency use authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 These younger kids could be vaccinated by Halloween, Pfizer CEO says. (NBC News)
September 27, 2021: The COVID pandemic has become the deadliest outbreak in American history. According to data from Johns Hopkins University 681,253 individuals in the U.S. have died from COVID-19, with an estimated 675,000 people during the 1918 flu pandemic. (Smithsonian)
September 24, 2021: The CDC has announced recommendations for booster shots and who should receive them: (1) People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,(2) People aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,(3) People aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks, and(4) People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
September 23, 2021: The FDA has granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for a booster dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine in people 65 and older, people at high risk of severe disease, and people whose jobs put them at risk of infection. (CNN)
September 20, 2021: Pfizer reports a low dose of their COVID vaccine is safe and effective in children ages 5 to 11 and are seeking emergency use authorization as they continue to accumulate data to support an application for full approval in children. (Washington Post)
September 14, 2021: Top U.S. health officials believe that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine could be authorized for children aged 5-11 years old by the end of October (Reuters)
September 9, 2021: President Biden and the U.S. Department of Labor will issue a rule requiring businesses with more than 100 employees to have their workers vaccinated or tested weekly, officials said on Thursday.
September 9, 2021: Authorities are expecting an active flu season this year, threatening hospitals already struggling to keep up with COVID-19 strains. There is hope that COVID and flu vaccines will keep case counts low this winter. (Wall Street Journal)
September 8, 2021: COVID-19 testing infrastructure nationally struggles to keep up with Delta variant demand. President Biden will address the situation laying out the next phase of the federal pandemic response.
September 7, 2021: World Health Organization (WHO): COVID-19 is likely “here to stay” as the virus continues to mutate similarly to the influenza (flu) pandemic viruses. (CNBC)
August 23, 2021: U.S. FDA has officially granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
August 19, 2021: As the Delta variant spreads through the US, demand for COVID testing has risen to levels previously seen in November of 2020. Urgent care centers are again on the front lines of care and experiencing record high patient volumes.
August 17, 2021: The flu vaccine may lower the risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Researchers studied nearly 75,000 COVID-19 patients, half of whom had received the most recently available flu shot.
August 15, 2021: CDC reports that COVID-19 has caused more pediatric deaths than the flu since the pandemic began.
August 13, 2021: Pediatric hospitals are seeing a spike in RSV cases as COVID-19 Delta variant continues, flu season approaches.
August 4, 2021: The Delta variant now accounts for about 93% of all COVID-19 cases in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
August 3, 2021: The seven-day average of daily COVID cases in the U.S. surpassed the peak seen last summer when the nation didn’t have an authorized vaccine, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said. Friday July 30 saw 72,790 new COVID cases nationwide.
July 9, 2021: Current guidance from the CDC says fully vaccinated people can refrain from routine COVID testing, however, some experts are questioning whether that approach should change given the spread of the new Delta variant.
July 7, 2021: Children have found a manipulative method generate false-positive COVID tests using soft drinks, all in an effort to get out of school.
May 14, 2021: Target, Home Depot, CVS and Harris Teeter are among the chains that will continue to require masks in store, though they are reviewing new CDC guidance and reevaluating store policies.
May 14, 2021: Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, says fully vaccinated employees and customers will not need to wear a mask inside stores beginning on Tuesday, based on the latest guidance from the CDC.Â
May 13, 2021: CDC: If you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, incl. local business and workplace guidance.
April 27, 2021: The CDC on Tuesday eased guidelines on mask-wearing for Americans, noting many outdoor activities are now safe without a mask following significant progress with the COVID-19 vaccine and reductions in new daily cases nationwide.
April 26, 2021: As of Sunday, April 25, Virginia has had 654,210 total cases of COVID-19, including confirmed lab tests and clinical diagnoses, according to the Virginia Department of Health. That total reflects a 884 case increase since Saturday. The Virginia Department of Health reports a 6.1% 7-day positivity rate for total testing encounters, and a 5.5% 7-day positivity rate for PCR tests. 16 additional deaths were reported on Sunday, leaving the death toll at 10,691.
April 22, 2021: More than 86 million U.S. adults are now fully vaccinated with more than 200 million shots administered, but experts fear that enthusiasm for getting the vaccine could be falling and many Americans may be too eager to take off their masks.
April 6, 2021: Epidemiologists and other public health experts are debating whether to use rapid COVID-19 tests as admission tickets to schools, businesses and entertainment and sports venues. Even with the quickening pace of vaccinations, it will be months before all Americans who want COVID-19 vaccines receive them. As a result, testing could become ubiquitous as a requirement for students, office workers, spectators and visitors seeking to gather indoors.
April 1, 2021: FDA approves two new over-the-counter COVID tests: Abbott's BinaxNOW and Quidel Quickvue tests will soon be available at drug stores in two-packs for between $15 and $20.
March 31, 2021: COVID-19 positivity rate increases to 5.2%, an increase from a low of 3.5% on March 3, reflecting a monthlong increase in infections despite the state's vaccination progress.
March 31, 2021: Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC: "Vaccinated people do not carry the virus — they don’t get sick.” Walensky was referring to a new CDC study that suggests those fully inoculated with the vaccines produced by Moderna and Pfizer don’t transmit the virus.
COVID testing can be free in many circumstances. As part of their response to the epidemic, many Minnesota health departments continue to provide free testing to community citizens. In some situations, commercially insured patients, as well as those on Medicare or Medicaid, may be able to get testing for free or for a small office visit fee. COVID tests can cost anything from $50 to $150 each test for cash-paying individuals or those who require speedy answers in under an hour. It's best to call your doctor before getting tested so you can get a better idea of how much the test will cost.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which covers testing for people without health insurance, makes COVID testing free nationwide. Check with your local Minnesota health department for details since they are usually an excellent source of free COVID tests, or can at least lead you in the proper way. You can also ask your health care practitioner for a recommendation for a free COVID test location.
COVID testing is available at many outlets near Minnesota including urgent care centers, retail clinics, primary care offices, health departments, and more. Different venues will have different types of tests available, many at different price points. Some testing sites are allowing walk-in patients, however, many are still requiring some degree of advance booking to control patient volume.
Rapid testing—both PCR (molecular) and antigen tests—is offered through many Minnesota-area urgent care centers and physician offices, usually at an additional cost ranging from $50 up to $150 per test. Usually this will allow you to get results back in under an hour, and require advanced booking through the provider. However, if you can wait 24 hours for your results, many labs are turning around send-out lab tests in that time frame, which could save you some money.
Same-day and next day appointments for COVID testing in Minnesota are bookable directly through Solv. Simply browse the list of healthcare providers conducting COVID tests above, find one with a “Book Online” button, and book a time that aligns with your schedule stating “COVID-19 Test” as your reason for visit.
An antibody test for COVID-19 might inform you if you previously had a coronavirus infection. Because it can take between 1–3 weeks after an infection for your body to develop these antibodies, an antibody test during an active infection would not be successful. To see if you are currently infected, you need a viral test.
Even if you have been fully vaccinated, scientists feel you should be checked if you have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, especially if you are suffering cold or flu symptoms that are usually associated with the coronavirus.
A COVID test is quick. A nasal swab is used for the majority of tests, and it takes less than a minute to swab both nostrils. This means you might be in and out of the testing center in as little as 10-15 minutes, depending on where you obtain your COVID test. Testing sites may be busier than usual during popular seasons, especially around holidays, and wait times may be higher.
Most labs are sending out COVID test results via molecular (PCR) within 24-48 hours of the test. Some sites take longer, so call and ask if the reason for the test is proof for travel. Rapid tests are processed on-site and can provide findings in less than an hour, sometimes as quickly as 15 minutes.
Regular COVID tests can detect the Delta variant, which means they can tell if you have the coronavirus or not. They can't tell which variant is involved, though. This would need genome sequencing, which is a separate technique from standard virus testing that not all labs can perform. Sequencing is a somewhat rare procedure that can cost up to $100 each test. Since the treatment is the same for any variant, it is not clinically useful to an individual patient to know whether the infection was caused by a variant or not.
WATCH NOW: Solv It! Keeping kids healthy in the face of COVID and the Delta variant The beginning of a new school year is always hectic, but right now parents have more than ever to navigate as students prepare to head into their second academic year with the pandemic. While public health officia
WATCH NOW: Solv It! Keeping kids healthy in the face of COVID and the Delta variant UPDATE: As of July 17, 2021, the latest CDC guidance on masking for fully vaccinated individuals is as follows, particularly with the prevalence of the Delta variant: Wear a mask in indoor public spaces if you ar
UPDATE: As of July 17, 2021, the latest CDC guidance on masking for fully vaccinated individuals is as follows, particularly with the prevalence of the Delta variant: Wear a mask in indoor public spaces if you are in an area of potentially higher transmissionWear a mask if you have a weakened immun
This post has been medically reviewed by Rob Rohatsch, MD, Medical Advisor to Solv Health. As COVID cases in the United States have continued to rise through the holiday season, access to reliable, safe testing is more important than ever. Testing sites across the country have been working aggres
There have been many questions surrounding COVID-19 since the beginning of the year. Due to the ever-changing information about the virus, there’s been a lot of speculation and talk. In particular, the terms “immunity,” “herd immunity,” and “antibodies” have been widely discussed. Yet, many people