Minnesota COVID-19 testing restricted amid supply shortage

Mar 18, 20200

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune count

A few people were still moving around in downtown Minneapolis along 8th Street at Nicollet Mall on Tuesday, but nothing near the crowd usually there during the weekday lunch hour.

Minnesota's public health lab is restricting criteria for COVID-19 testing following a surge of activity that taxed its supply of kits and chemical reagents needed to confirm the presence of the coronavirus that causes the illness.

Testing by the state's public health lab is now being reserved largely for hospitalized patients, health care workers, and residents of long-term care facilities, the Minnesota Department of Health announced on Tuesday.

http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-s-covid-19-case-count-now-60/568864222/