The Minnesota Division of Well being (MDH) has contracted with 48 group companions to assist these most impacted by COVID-19 get vaccinated, enhance well being and get better from the results of the illness.
The contracts prolong MDH’s present pandemic work with COVID-19 Neighborhood Coordinators. The group coordinators serve communities hit hardest by COVID-19, together with communities of coloration, American Indian communities, LGBTQ communities and Minnesotans with disabilities. This spherical contains the biggest variety of group coordinators for the reason that mission began in October 2020.
To proceed to serve every of those communities in ways in which meet various group wants, MDH has contracted with the group teams by June 2024. The COVID-19 Neighborhood Coordinators will work on testing entry and rising vaccination charges whereas additionally addressing different well being wants of group members.
In the course of the choice course of, MDH acquired greater than 100 functions. Candidates might apply for a narrower cost of specializing in vaccines and testing or take a broader method to assist their communities get better from a few of the hurt finished by COVID-19. In the long run, 85 p.c of the 48 chosen contractors opted for the method of aiding with COVID-19 restoration. As well as, most of those are additionally doing vaccine and testing work.
“To get better from the COVID-19 pandemic, Minnesotans are having to handle worsened bodily well being resulting from lengthy COVID and continual ailments and the impacts of the pandemic on training, monetary stability and psychological well being,” mentioned Minnesota Commissioner of Well being Dr. Brooke Cunningham. “These group companions can be working to strengthen their communities and join folks to assets whereas additionally addressing the instant impacts of COVID-19.”
COVID-19 group coordinators can reply questions on matters corresponding to COVID-19 testing and vaccination, meals help, well being care and psychological well being assets, housing and rental help, and employment assets. COVID-19 group coordinators draw on group strengths and trusted group networks to help Minnesotans who want COVID-19 data particular to their communities, together with of their native languages.
These affected by COVID-19 on the lookout for help or assets can join with a group companion utilizing the net software to seek for outreach teams by cultural group, language, county and extra. The web search software will be discovered at COVID-19 Neighborhood Coordinator Search (https:// covidcommunitycoordinators.net. well being.state.mn.us/).
Communities had been concerned with the choice course of that included greater than 50 reviewers, together with group leaders, representatives from native governments and state employees. MDH made remaining funding selections based mostly upon these group suggestions and all candidates had been notified of their standing.
To be taught extra and discover a group companion, go to COVID-19 Neighborhood Coordinators.
TESTING SITES CLOSING
State-run COVID-19 testing websites in 4 areas across the state will shut this week, marking the tip of their almost three-year run serving Minnesotans. The St. Paul Halfway web site will shut on Friday, Jan. 27, the Duluth web site will shut on Jan. 28 and the websites in Brooklyn Park and on the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport will shut on Jan. 29.
COVID-19 testing will proceed to be accessible by a variety of sources. The state’s at-home take a look at ordering program continues to take its final spherical of orders, and Minnesotans can order these checks at Order your free at-home speedy checks. Minnesotans must also verify with their insurance coverage corporations about their eligibility at no cost at-home checks at native pharmacies. For added testing choices by clinics and pharmacies, Minnesotans can use the state’s Discover Testing Areas software.
As well as, the State of Minnesota continues to function a telehealth test-to-treat program accessible to all Minnesotans by way of Cue Well being. After testing optimistic with any at-home or lab PCR or antigen COVID-19 take a look at, folks can use a web site, cell app or telephone name to get began and be related to a digital session with a licensed clinician who will consider them to find out if remedy is an effective possibility. If they’re a superb candidate for COVID-19 medicines, the clinician can subject that prescription to the affected person’s native pharmacy.
