COVID-19 testing volumes drop in Minnesota as state looks for signs of new strain

Dec 29, 20200

Alex Kormann, Star Tribune count

Andrea Orest, the statewide health improvement partnership coordinator, handed Jinsey Smith a free at-home COVID-19 saliva test while he waited in his car in Grand Marais on Dec. 16.

Fewer Minnesotans sought COVID-19 testing as they finished shopping and meal preparations during the week before Christmas.

That's a 28% decrease from the week that preceded Thanksgiving, which was a time when Minnesota was adding new cases at record rates.

"We were super busy before Thanksgiving and then everything just kind of fell off a cliff," said Heather Dawson, vice president of laboratory services at Minneapolis-based Allina Health.

https://www.startribune.com/covid-19-testing-volumes-drop-in-minnesota-as-state-looks-for-signs-of-new-strain/573493262/