Masks & COVID-19 Health Resources
Masks
Wearing a well-fitted mask along with vaccination, testing and physical distancing, helps protect you and others by reducing the chance of spreading COVID-19.
COVID-19 information
Symptoms and treatment
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms.
When to seek medical help
Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care or call 911 immediately:
- Trouble breathing.
- Ongoing pain or pressure in the chest.
- New confusion or not being able to wake up.
- Bluish lips or face.
*This list is not all-inclusive. Call your medical care provider before going in. Tell them about your symptoms and they will give you instructions to help protect you and other patients.
Immigrant and refugee communities
Anyone who is sick should seek medical care without fear, regardless of immigration status or ability to pay for health services.
Treatment
People who test positive for COVID-19 and are at higher risk of becoming very sick may benefit from COVID-19 medications. These treatments can help prevent getting very sick, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Talk to your health care provider right away if you test positive as treatments need to be started early to work best. Your health care provider will help determine which COVID-19 medication option is best for you. Learn more
Test to Treat
Test to Treat is a nationwide Test program where you can take a COVID-19 test and, if positive, be assessed by a provider on-site. If you are eligible for treatment, you can receive and fill a prescription for pills at the same time. Use the Test to Treat locator to help find participating sites. Some of these sites require appointments. Learn more
Long COVID
Post-COVID conditions are health problems that people experience four or more weeks after being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Post-COVID conditions are also called long-haul COVID, chronic COVID or post-acute COVID. Learn more
Testing and quarantine guidance
Testing
Testing for COVID-19 is recommended based on exposure, symptoms, travel and high-risk events.
Isolation and quarantine
Information on what to do if you have been around someone with COVID-19 and need to stay home and away from others (quarantine) or if you are sick and test positive (isolation). Learn more about the steps you should take after an exposure and how long to quarantine or isolate.
- Close contacts or exposure to COVID-19 - MDH
- If you are sick or test positive for COVID-19 - MDH
- Isolation and precautions for people with COVID-19 - CDC
Isolation and quarantine guidelines (PDF)
- Isolation and quarantine guidelines
- Pautas de aislamiento y cuarentena
- Cov lus qhia txog qhov cais tawm mus nyob ib leeg (isolation) thiab kev ceev cia (quarantine)
- Karantiilka iyo Tilmaamaha Go’doominta
- Adda of baasuu fi seerota bakka adda of baasuu
- Isolation and quarantine guidelines (Karen)
Isolation and quarantine calculator
A tool to help you determine if you need to isolate or take other steps to prevent spreading COVID-19.
Guidance for school, travel and holidays
Guidance to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Guidance for schools
- COVID-19 testing in K-12 schools and childcare programs - MDH
- Schools and Child Care: COVID-19 - MDH
- Best Practice Recommendations and Case Reporting - Minnesota Department of Health
- School Year Health Recommendations for Schools - Minnesota Department of Education
- Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- COVID-19 Data Tracker – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
What to do if you are have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19
What to do if you had close contact with a person with COVID-19
Guidance for travel
- Mask requirements - CDC
- Travel guidance - MDH
Guidance for holidays
Community conversations and findings
COVID-19 vaccine community conversations report
Ramsey County continues to address health disparities caused by the traumatic effects of racism, an important public health issue. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these longstanding health inequities. In April 2021, eight community partners hosted 19 community conversations to gather information about myths, fears and hesitancies related to the COVID-19 vaccine that are specific to cultural and ethnic minority groups. The information was organized in a report that will help Ramsey County better address these issues when engaging communities about the vaccine.
- View the report (PDF)
Previous COVID-19 vaccine community conversations
Below is a sample of community engagement activities carried out by Ramsey County in an effort to hear from residents, answer questions and communicate important information about the COVID-19 vaccine.
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Community conversation with Dr. Lynne Ogawa (Oct. 12, 2022) - Learn about updated COVID-19 booster and flu season.
Video (Passcode: F7ik?4lx)
Presentation Slides (PDF) -
Community conversation with Dr. Lynne Ogawa (Aug. 10, 2022) - Learn about COVID-19 and kids.
-
Community conversation with Dr. Lynne Ogawa (Jan. 19, 2022) - Learn about COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant people, testing and Omicron.
Video (Passcode: [email protected])
Presentation Slides (PDF) -
Community conversation with Dr. Lynne Ogawa (Sept. 22, 2021) - Learn about COVID-19 vaccines and testing during this stage of the pandemic.
Video - WCCO News Talk 830 interview (September 14, 2021) - Dr. Lynne Ogawa joins Sheletta Brundidge with her take on the spread of misinformation surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine.
Listen (10 minutes)
- Community conversation with Dr. Lynne Ogawa (April 28, 2021) - Learn about vaccine distribution, the science behind the vaccines, their safety and effectiveness, and protection against COVID-19 variants.
Video
- Cities Speak podcast with Dr. Lynne Ogawa (March 30, 2021) - Ramsey County's Dr. Lynne Ogawa joined NineNorth’s Cities Speak podcast to discuss the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine, clarify the process of vaccine rollout, and share notable positive experiences in helping distribute vaccine.
Video
- LGBTQ+ community panel: vaccination (February 24, 2021) - Ramsey County's Dr. Lynne Ogawa participated in a community conversation hosted by Minnesota Department of Health, JustUs Health and Family Tree Clinic to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine as it impacts LGBTQ+ folks.
Video
- Vaccines (February 4, 2021) - This community conversation focused on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution phases, the science behind the vaccine, and its safety and effectiveness. It was followed by open discussion and questions.
Video
Presentation slides (PDF)
- Dr. Lynne Ogawa: vaccinations (November 18, 2020)
Video
Help paying for COVID-19 funerals
If you are covering the cost of COVID-19 funeral expenses, FEMA may be able to help. You may qualify for up to $9,000 per funeral.
- Learn more about who is eligible, what is covered and how it works
- Funeral Assistance FAQ
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Funeral Assistance (PDF)
- Asistencia para gastos fúnebres por COVID-19 (PDF)
To apply
Call FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline at 1-844-684-6333 (TTY: 800-462-7585).
- Available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Language services are available.
Reporting COVID-19 infections: Employers
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is requiring all mandated reporters to report any cases of COVID-19 within one working day.
Who is required to report COVID-19 infections:
- Health care practitioners (health care facilities, medical laboratories, and in certain circumstances veterinarians and veterinary medical laboratories) are required to report disease to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) under Minnesota state law.
- Unless previously reported, every licensed health care provider who provides care to any patient who has, is suspected of having, or has died from a reportable disease is required to report.
- Any person in charge of any institution, school, child care facility, or camp is also required to report disease to MDH.
Cases can be reported by fax or phone: