Vaccine is available to everyone age 6 months and older. Make an appointment: 507-646-8019

We will schedule your first and second doses (3 or 4 weeks apart) when you call.

Booster shots are recommended to keep your immunity up to date. Learn more COVID-19 Vaccine. To schedule appointments, call 507-646-8019. We encourage you to seek other options for vaccination, too. The state’s Vaccine Connector(link is external) is searchable by location. // Local options include pharmacies, Rice County Public Health(link is external), and Dakota County Public Health(link is external).

NH+C’s goal is to ensure people in our community are vaccinated as broadly as possible. We are committed to serving all members of our community.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Who, when, how to seek antiviral treatment for COVID

Antiviral medicine like Paxlovid can help prevent severe illness and hospitalization from COVID.

Not everyone needs it. Those who do should act quickly, even if they don’t feel very sick at first: Treatment must be started within the first five days of symptoms to be effective.

People over 65 and those with certain risk factors should seek antiviral treatment as soon as they know they have COVID.

Read full details on our News page.

What are the visitor restrictions?

Visitor restrictions were updated on March 20, 2023. 

No visitors under age 12 are allowed in the hospital, Birth Center, and Long Term Care Center during the current RSV outbreak.

Two siblings are permitted in the Birth Center at this time.

In all departments:

• Visitors with any COVID-19 symptom are not allowed.
• All visitors will self-screen to rule out signs or symptoms of COVID-19. If potential visitor shows signs and or symptoms, they will not be allowed to visit.
• All visitors must wear a medical mask at all times. If visitors do not have a medical mask, one will be provided. Any visitor who will not or cannot wear a medical mask will not be allowed into the facility.
• Visitors must limit their movement in the facility, and are not permitted in lounge areas. Visitors are permitted in the cafeteria to get a meal, but should not gather in the cafeteria.

In the hospital:  

• All hospital patients may have two visitors age 12 or older at a time. It does not have to be the same two visitors for the whole hospital stay. Visitors under age 12 are not allowed at this time.  
• Children in the hospital may have one parent/guardian who may stay overnight. 
• Hospital patients with disability or dementia may have one designated support person who may stay overnight. It must be the same visitor for the length of hospital stay, if possible.
• Birth Center patients may have two visitors age 12 and older at a time. It does not have to be the same two visitors for the whole hospital stay. Two siblings are allowed at this time. Visitors may leave and return. One adult visitor may stay overnight in the patient room. All visitors must stay masked. Any visitor who cannot or will not wear a mask will not be allowed into the facility. Visitors must stay in the patient room (not in hallways). Birth Center patients may have a doula in the labor room as one additional visitor during labor and birth, and 2 hours post-partum. Vaccination is strongly encouraged. COVID testing is encouraged before entering the Birth Center. Birth Center staff will ask a doula to leave if there are any symptoms of COVID, influenza or other contagious illness.
• Outpatient surgery and endoscopy patients may have one visitor. Children having outpatient surgery may have two parents/guardians during their stay.
• Emergency Department patients may have one visitor age 12 or older. Children may have two parents/guardians. Visitors must stay in the patient room, and are only allowed to reenter the Emergency Department one time after leaving.
• Outpatients in hospital departments may have one visitor during appointments. This includes the Cancer Care & Infusion Center, Imaging, Same Day Surgery, Wound Healing Center, Breast Care Center, Lactation, and Lab. Children may have two parents/guardians during their appointment.

In clinics:

• Adult clinic patients may have one visitor
• Pediatric patients may have two parents/guardians (no siblings)

In the Long Term Care Center:

• Visitors age 12 and older are allowed. (Federal rules govern long term care centers differently than hospitals.) COVID precautions are in place for all visitors. Visitors with COVID symptoms or a positive COVID test should not enter. 

Visitor restrictions may be adjusted if there’s a change in cases of COVID, RSV, or other highly contagious viruses in the community. Visitor policies are based on best practices, the COVID positivity rate in Dakota and Rice counties, and the level of contagious illness in the community.

Visitor precautions are designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 to patients and staff, and to maintain a healing environment.

Other restrictions: 

• Students - Job shadowing and clinical rotations are available. Students must complete this application.
• Volunteers - Limited volunteer opportunities are available. Contact Anne Schumann at schumannan@northfieldhospital.org.
• Delivery restriction - We are allowing limited deliveries of items for patients at Northfield Hospital. Some items may be delivered for Long Term Care Center residents. Please contact the Long Term Care Center to make arrangements.

When and where should I get tested for COVID-19?

Testing is an important tool to prevent the spread of COVID. 

NH+C clinics are seeing high demand for COVID-19 testing. We have limited capacity for this, and must prioritize testing for patients who have COVID symptoms or need a test before surgery or a medical procedure.

If you need a COVID test for travel or back-to-work or school, the state has many community testing sites. They're fast, easy, and free. Find the site most convenient for you at the state of Minnesota database of testing locations.  

Current guidance as of September 30, 2022:

When to test: The two most important times to test are after you may have been exposed to the virus, or before you spend time with medically vulnerable people (like grandparents).

Some COVID-19 symptoms can seem like a cold, flu or even allergies. Don’t dismiss them. Anyone experiencing any COVID symptom, whether vaccinated or not, should get tested.

No symptoms? Get tested when you:

• Plan to spend time with people outside your household
• Are traveling (coming + going)
• Attended a high-risk event (sporting event, concert, large indoor gathering)
• Have close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19
• Aren’t fully vaccinated and work in close contact with a lot of people
• Aren’t fully vaccinated and go to childcare, school, sports or extracurricular activities
• Have an immunocompromising condition (even if fully vaccinated)
• Were asked to, by a health care provider or health department
• Think or worry that you might have COVID-19

You don’t need to get tested if you tested positive for COVID-19 within the last three months and don’t have symptoms now – even if you’ve been in close contact with an infected person. If you develop any symptoms, get tested.

DON’T go to the Emergency Department for a COVID test unless you have severe symptoms.

How to test: Testing in a clinic, pharmacy or community center usually uses a PCR test, the most accurate method to detect any amount of COVID virus. A nasal swab, throat swab or saliva sample are processed in a lab. Results are back in about 72 hours, depending on how busy the lab is. Employers or schools may require a negative PCR test before you can return.

Rapid testing and at-home kits use antigen tests to tell if you’re infectious and prevent you from unknowingly spreading virus to others. Antigen tests are less accurate than PCR tests – yet accurate enough to show if you’re infectious, so you can take precautions right away. Believe a positive test, but be wary of a negative test being false. If it’s positive, quarantine – and confirm with a PCR test or second rapid test from a different brand. If it’s negative but you have symptoms, been in a high-risk situation or had a known exposure, follow up with a PCR test. Rapid tests at community sites have results in about 1-3 hours. At-home kits give results in 15 minutes.

• Clinic: Schedule an appointment. Ask if PCR or rapid test is available, if you have a preference. No cost. (Fees are covered by insurance or government funding.)
• Pharmacy: Schedule an appointment. Some will test via drive-through. Free.
• Community site: Search Minnesota’s database of testing sites for rapid and PCR options. Free.
• At home: Buy a test kit online or at a pharmacy. Follow test kit instructions exactly. Cost is $14-$24 for two tests.

While waiting for results:

• Stay away from others if you have any symptoms, even if you’re vaccinated. (If no symptoms and vaccinated, and you haven’t been exposed to someone with COVID, it’s OK to be with others.)
• Wear a mask indoors when not at home.
• Make a plan in case you test positive. You’ll have to isolate for at least 10 days, even if you don’t feel sick.
• Tell people you’ve been near that you may have COVID-19. If they’re not fully vaccinated, they should stay away from others until they hear from you.

At NH+C, COVID testing is done by appointment; please call your clinic to schedule. On weekends, call Urgent Care between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. In Lakeville: 952-469-0500. In Northfield: 507-646-6700. People with no symptoms can schedule a test-only appointment. You can also see a provider if you choose; please indicate this when making your appointment. Patients who choose to test-only and then later develop symptoms can make a follow-up appointment with a provider. 

The amount of time it takes to get results varies, based on lab capacity. Testing availability may change based on supplies and clinic capacity.

If your test is positive, you should quarantine for at least 5 days and monitor for symptoms. Infection could develop at any time during the quarantine period. If you develop symptoms, isolate yourself until your symptoms are better – at least 5 days from when your symptoms began – and you are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine. See Minnesota Department of Health’s website for the most recent recommendations.

If your test is positive, we will not retest you for 90 days, whether you develop symptoms or not.

What to do if you think you have COVID-19

1. Clinics - CALL FIRST. Please call your clinic and we will discuss your symptoms with you and direct you where to go if you need to be seen. After hours or weekends, call your clinic and talk with the after-hours nurse. If an emergency, go to the Emergency Department.