Protecting, Maintaining and Improving the Health of All Minnesotans

Due to the high risk of adverse outcomes associated with COVID-19 in congregate living facilities, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is recommending staff and residents of Rakhma Homes be tested if they develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19. This is a recommendation regardless of whether the facility has any confirmed cases of COVID-19.

You can present this letter to your health care provider to help inform testing decisions. Please contact your clinic or provider beforehand and inform them that you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 so they can take the appropriate precautions.

Symptoms that are present in individuals with COVID-19 vary significantly and may include, fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, sore throat, muscle aches, diarrhea, or loss of taste or smell. MDH does not recommend testing for asymptomatic individuals.

MDH is prioritizing COVID-19 testing for:

• Ill individuals (residents or staff) in congregate living settings (long-term care facilities, prisons/jails, homeless shelters, etc.)

• Ill dialysis patients

Positive results from MDH will be communicated immediately to your provider. Results may not be available for up to 3 days. Please contact your provider directly, rather than MDH, for results.

More information is available at the MDH website (www.health.state.mn.us) or by calling MDH at 651-201-5414.

Sincerely,

Brandon Spears, Rakhma Homes Executive Director

Message to your provider:

• MDH is prioritizing testing for ill individuals (residents or staff) in congregate living settings (long-term care facilities, prisons/jails, homeless shelters, etc.) and ill dialysis patients.

• MDH recommends that individuals who receive this letter be tested for COVID-19.

• If you have questions about testing this individual, please call MDH at 1-877-676-5414 before rejecting testing.