New COVID-19 testing site to open in St. Paul
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Jan. 22—A new COVID-19 testing site in St. Paul will provide up to 1,000 tests per day beginning next Tuesday, according to Gov. Tim Walz.
The new federally operated site was secured because of the COVID-19 case surge brought on by the omicron variant and will be located at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Building on the state Capitol Mall.
The free testing site will not collect insurance information and will provide nasal-swab PCR testing for all ages daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Feb. 14.
However, on the first day of operation, Jan. 25, the testing will begin at 10 a.m. Appointments are recommended but a few walk-in appointments will be taken each day.
Register directly with the testing provider at doineedacovid19test.com or visit the state's COVID-19 community testing sites page.
"Testing is one of our key tools against the highly contagious omicron variant," Walz said in a Friday statement. "All Minnesotans deserve access to free, easy, and convenient testing to ensure our communities stay safe, our children can stay in school or child care, and our essential workers can continue to provide critical services. This new site will make more tests available as we confront the current surge in cases."
To get tested, Minnesotans must fill out a preregistration form and create an account with the testing provider. Test results are expected within 48 to 72 hours. People will get an email from an address ending "@ineedacovid19test.com" when their test result is ready, and will log into their account to access them. Those without email access can call 1‐800‐635‐8611 to get their result.
The federal community testing site will be located in the MnDOT Building at 395 John Ireland Blvd. with free parking available in the MnDOT Building Parking Ramp F, main level, 424 Rice St. The building is wheelchair accessible.
