The Minnesota Department of Health is partnering with local public health officials to give people a chance to get a COVID-19 test if they would like to get tested.
There will be testing opportunities in communities around Minnesota, including at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet on October 6-8, 2020.
Testing is free and open to all, available to anyone who feels they need to be tested whether they have symptoms or not, and will not require insurance.
Here are the details of the testing in Cloquet:
Tuesday, October 6, Wednesday, October 7, and Thursday, October 8, 2020
12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Gymnasium, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
2101 14th Street
Cloquet, MN 55720
To avoid long lines, community members are encouraged to pre-register for a time slot. Visit https://www.primarybio.com/r/carlton for more information and to sign up for an appointment.
Those who are unable to sign up online or need interpretation can call 1-855-612-0677 for assistance.
“Testing uncovers positive cases earlier,” said Carlton County Public Health Supervisor Joanne Erspamer. “The test results will provide important data about the degree of spread in our area and help to guide efforts to combat COVID-19 and protect those who are most vulnerable to serious complications.”
“Many who contract COVID-19 may experience mild or even no symptoms, but some suffer life-threatening complications,” said Fond du Lac Human Services Public Health Nurse Ashley Anderson. “Everyone who contracts the virus are contagious. Getting tested helps you know if have it so you can be informed and can protect those you are close to who might be most vulnerable to serious complications. This is a proven strategy for fighting spread of a virus like COVID-19.”
Increased access to testing and identifying positive cases as early as possible is a critical way to keep schools and the economy as open as possible. Positive cases staying hidden leads to more spread and more detrimental impact to our schools and economy.
Now that school has opened, broad community level data alone does not directly determine a potential change to the learning model. Instead, cases within the school community and what is happening in the schools themselves are the most important considerations. Any decision to change the model is made by the school district in consultation with a local support team, including local public health, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Department of Education.
Switching from one model to another is a complicated calculation that can be very disruptive and requires significant planning. School districts have to balance the important benefits of in person learning to the mental and emotional health of their students with the very real risk of COVID spread in a school environment.
The type of testing is a nasal swab.  Watch this short video for a demonstration of the test being used and what to expect:

Testimonials

It is awesome here at the FDLTCC Education Program because it is like a family here, if you need help or are struggling with anything, you have quite a few people who will help you out.

I chose FDLTCC because of its size and the curriculum. When I first came here in 2019, I was just looking for what I needed to volunteer, perhaps in a crisis shelter. I met with Don Jarvinen, and the rest is history.

My favorite thing about FDLTCC is the people. I’ve met fantastic students, faculty and staff who go above and beyond what I expected.