COVID-19 Response

• COVID-19 is an infectious disease.
• COVID-19 is a respiratory illness. It is caused by a coronavirus not found in people before.
• Getting vaccinated is one of the best things you can do to prevent getting or spreading COVID-19. For more information, visit COVID-19 Vaccine.

More information and updates can be found on the Minnesota Department of Health's website.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, fatigue, congestion or runny nose, or loss of taste or smell. Other less common symptoms include gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after you are exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.
• Not everyone with COVID-19 has all of these symptoms, and some people may not have any symptoms.
• Even after recovering from COVID-19, some people may have lingering symptoms such as fatigue, cough, or joint pain. The long-term health effects are still unknown but there may be permanent damage to the heart, lungs, or other organs. This is more likely in those who had more severe illness but may also be possible even in those who had mild illness.
• Get tested if you have symptoms. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions or concerns about symptoms.
• For more information, visit CDC: Symptoms of COVID-19.

Learn more on the Minnesota Department of Health's website.

How vaccination helps

• Vaccination reduces spread of the virus, which makes it harder for it to change and create variants.
• With the Delta variant, fully vaccinated people may be able to pass the disease to others.
• However, fully vaccinated people are less likely to get infected, and if a vaccinated person gets infected, the illness will likely be mild. The vaccine also greatly reduces the chance of hospitalization and death. That's why it's so important for all who are eligible to get vaccinated.

Other steps you can take

• Wash your hands often and stay home if you feel sick.
• If you are not fully vaccinated, wear a mask, stay 6 feet from others, and avoid gatherings.
• Vaccinated or not vaccinated, MDH strongly recommends that you wear a mask in specific settings or situations found at Recommendations for Wearing Masks.
• Variants developing around the world can spread to new places when people travel. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated. Visit CDC: International Travel During COVID-19.
• Because variants can spread more easily, it is important to get tested when recommended. Visit COVID-19 Testing.

Learn more:
Minnesota Department of Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

It is important to separate yourself from others (isolate) if you feel sick or test positive, so you do not spread the virus to others. You may spread it to others even if you are vaccinated or do not have symptoms. See the Minnesota Department of Health's website for current recommendations about quarantine and isolation, and what to do if you feel sick.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, fatigue, congestion or runny nose, or loss of taste or smell. Other less common symptoms include gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Click here to learn more about symptoms and how COVID spreads. 

The Minnesota Department of Health's website states that people who have symptoms of COVID-19 should be tested. Families may get recommendations from MDH for testing if their student was in close contact with someone who tested positive and their student is now showing symptoms, but testing has not been mandated to this point.  Any costs for the testing of students will be incurred by families.

HIPAA guidelines prohibit school districts from identifying who the student/staff member is who has tested positive. If there is a case of COVID-19 identified, MDH will work with the school district to be as clear as possible about the risk level of those who have come into contact with the person who tested positive and what is recommended for next steps. 

Effective February 25, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is no longer enforcing the requirement that people wear masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems, including early care and education/child care programs.

The CDC is making this change to align with updated guidance that no longer recommends universal indoor mask wearing in K-12 and early education settings in areas with a low or medium COVID-19 Community Level.