• COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus that has not been found in people before

Symptoms of COVID-19

• Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell
• These symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure

Severity

• Many cases have mild or moderate illness and do not require a clinic visit and most do not require hospitalization.
• Those at highest risk for severe illness include older people or those that have certain underlying health conditions. These include high-risk conditions like:
  • A blood disorder
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Chronic liver disease
  • Compromised immune system
  • Late term or recent pregnancy
  • Endocrine disorders
  • Metabolic disorders
  • Heart disease
  • Lung disease
  • Neurological conditions

Check with your health care provider to see if you are considered high risk.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

• It spreads between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
• It is also possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly their eyes. Washing your hands and cleaning frequently touched surfaces often is a good way to prevent you from getting COVID-19 from touching surfaces.
• Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms.

The Minnesota Department of Health has an interactive screening tool to help you:

• Decide if you need a test
• Find your closest testing site

Visit the Minnesota Department of Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued updated isolation and quarantine guidance for the public. 

• COVID-19 Isolation and quarantine guidelines

Stopping this pandemic is going to take all of us working together.

• Get vaccinated. It is the best way to protect against COVID-19. Vaccination will slow the spread of variants and decrease the chances that new, even more dangerous variants emerge.
• Wear a mask that fits and filters well. For more information,  visit the City's mask guidance page
• Improve air flow. Open windows and doors and avoid indoor spaces with poor air flow
• Choose outdoor spaces for social and fitness activities
• Wash your hands and/or use hand sanitizer often especially after being in public spaces where surfaces are touched by many people
• Stay home when you are sick

Mask guidance

Visit the City's Mask guidance page for information about when, how and why to wear a mask. 

We do not replace vaccination record cards.

People who receive a COVID vaccination in Minnesota can request a copy of their immunization records from the Minnesota Department of Health. Either fill out the immunization record request form or call the record request line at 651-201-3980.