MDH limits COVID-19 testing: What this means for you | Northfield Hospital & Clinics

Jump to Main Content

Home

  • Patient Login
    • Login or Create Account to MyHealth Info
    • Historical Portal (records before June 28, 2022)
    • Pay My Bill
    • Learn more about MyHealth Info
  • Find Location
  • Find a Doctor
  • Contact us
  • MyHealth Info
  • Donate Now

Search form

Get Care Today
  • Locations
    • Immediate Care
      • Urgent Care Lakeville
      • Urgent Care Northfield
      • Northfield Hospital
      • eCare
    • Primary Care Clinics
      • Faribault Clinic
      • Farmington Clinic
      • Kenyon Clinic
      • Lakeville Clinic
      • Lonsdale Clinic
      • Northfield Clinic
    • Specialty Care
      • Birth Center
      • Breast Care Center
      • Cancer Care & Infusion Center
      • Eye Physicians & Surgeons
      • Home Care
      • Hospice Care
      • Long Term Care Center
      • Rehabilitation Services – Lakeville
      • Rehabilitation Services – Northfield
      • Orthopedic Clinic
      • Sleep Center
      • Surgery Center
      • Women’s Health Center
      • Wound Healing Center
    Map & Directions
  • Providers
  • Services

    View All Services

    • Highlighted Services
      • Birth Center
      • Cancer Care
      • Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
      • Family Medicine
      • Orthopedics/Sports Medicine
      • Pediatrics
      • Pregnancy Care/Obstetrics
      • Surgery
      • Urgent Care
      • Women's Health - OB/GYN
      • Wound Healing
      • Classes + Events
    New Birth Center!
  • About
    • Careers
      • Careers
      • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Job Shadow/Clinical Rotation/Internship
      • Credentialing
    • About Us
      • News
      • History
      • Administrators
      • Board of Directors
      • Mission Vision Values
      • Annual Report
      • Quality Measures
      • NH+C Magazine
      • Donations to Non-Profits
      • Patient Stories
      • Hospital Auxiliary
    NH+C Overview
  • I want to ..
    • Find a Doctor or Provider
    • My Health Info Login
    • Get Directions
    • Pay my bill
  • Get Care Today

NH+C has COVID-19 vaccine for everyone age 5 and older. Call to schedule: 507-646-8019.  COVID-19 Vaccine Information 


Get the latest COVID Information including VISITOR RESTRICTIONS.

MDH limits COVID-19 testing: What this means for you

Tags
Clinics Community

MDH limits COVID-19 testing: What this means for you

Minnesotans who are not severely ill should stay home while they recover

Minnesotans who are not severely ill should stay home while they recover

MARCH 17, 2020 – Due to concerns about availability of COVID-19 test kits and capacity in Minnesota, hospitals and health systems including NH+C are taking action to conserve testing resources to those in need. This conforms with Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) new guidelines released today to focus on testing for the highest-priority individuals:

  • hospitalized patients needing acute care
  • health care workers
  • people who live in congregate settings such as long-term care

    If symptoms are mild and can be managed at home, in many cases no testing will take place. 

    • The best thing you can do to protect you and your family from COVID-19 at this time is to stay home. 
    • Do not seek COVID-19 testing at this time if you have mild symptoms.
    • You should only seek medical attention if you have severe symptoms like difficulty breathing. If this occurs, call your health care provider (or if it’s a life-threatening emergency call 911).
    • If you have any questions about whether or not you should be seen, always call your health care provider first. 

    Source: Hennepin Health

Based on MDH’s new guidance on March 17, NH+C advises:

  • Patients with undiagnosed fever cough, shortness of breath should ALL self-quarantine for 7 days after they first become ill – or for 72 hours after symptoms improve and they are fever-free without medications – whichever is longer
  • Seek care if symptoms become severe. CALL ahead to your healthcare provider or Emergency Department. (Northfield Hospital Emergency Department: 507-646-1100)
  • Anyone with symptoms should isolate themselves from household members and intimate contacts
  • Household members and intimate contacts should limit their own activities in public for 14 days, and monitor for symptoms

“If you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, assume you are positive and stay home, and call your clinic,” said Dr. Rahul Koranne, president and CEO of the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA). “We all have a critical role to flatten the curve of the virus and to conserve hospital and health care system capacity for the acutely ill.”

If you are concerned about your symptoms, call your provider. You may be asked to isolate at home and monitor your symptoms. Older adults and those with severe underlying health conditions should call their provider for any additional recommendations.

Based on your symptoms, you may not need to come to a hospital or clinic. Hospital care needs to be preserved for those who are acutely ill. Patients should not visit the hospital Emergency Department unless they are experiencing an emergency situation. Your provider can help you determine if you should come in.

If you develop severe symptoms, CALL your provider or Emergency Department to discuss your condition and determine the best location and action to care for you.

If you think you may have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, stay home for 14 days and monitor for symptoms: fever over 100.4, cough, labored breathing.

MDH contacts individuals who may have been in contact with a confirmed case. If there is a case detected within your circle of friends, family, acquaintances, MDH will contact you.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is spread primarily by respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza spreads. It can also spread when people touch contaminated surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.

More information: MDH Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) website

MDH’s COVID-19 public hotline (7 am - 7 pm): 651-201-3920

Contact Northfield Hospital + Clinics

General: 507-646-1000
Patient Billing: 507-646-1399
Contact Us
Email Sign up

Patient Advocate

To provide feedback or share a concern, email us, call 507-646-1509 or complete a Grievance Form.

Get Involved

Volunteer or apply to join the Patient and Family Advisory Council.

Find

  • Doctors & Providers
  • Emergency Department
  • Urgent Care

Connect With Us

FacebookInstagram

Resources

  • Pay My Bill
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Request Medical Records
© 2022 Northfield Hospital & Clinics. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Notice of Privacy Practices | Website Privacy Policy | NHC Login
Non-Discrimination Statement | Accessibility Statement | Download Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • Main menu
    • Locations
      • Immediate Care
        • Urgent Care Lakeville
        • Urgent Care Northfield
        • Northfield Hospital
        • eCare
      • Primary Care Clinics
        • Faribault Clinic
        • Farmington Clinic
        • Kenyon Clinic
        • Lakeville Clinic
        • Lonsdale Clinic
        • Northfield Clinic
      • Specialty Care
        • Birth Center
        • Breast Care Center
        • Cancer Care & Infusion Center
        • Eye Physicians & Surgeons
        • Home Care
        • Hospice Care
        • Long Term Care Center
        • Rehabilitation Services – Lakeville
        • Rehabilitation Services – Northfield
        • Orthopedic Clinic
        • Sleep Center
        • Surgery Center
        • Women’s Health Center
        • Wound Healing Center
    • Providers
      • Patient Information
        • Request Medical Records
        • Patient Forms
        • Advance Care Planning
        • When You Have Concerns
        • Patients' Bill of Rights
        • Non-Discrimination Statement
      • Billing & Insurance
        • Price Estimate / Price Transparency
        • Accepted Insurance Plans
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • I don't have insurance
        • Understanding Insurance
        • Financial Assistance/Charity Care
        • Patient Financial Services
      • Support Resources
        • Support Groups
        • Hospice Care
        • Patient Advocate
        • Patient and Family Advisory Council
        • Interpreters/Language Assistance
        • Social Work Services
        • Medication Disposal
        • Ethics Committee
        • Aging and Disability Resources
      • Northfield Hospital
        • Preparing for Your Stay
        • Tobacco-Free Campus
        • Northern Lights Cafe
        • Gift Shop
        • Visitors
        • Assistance at Home
        • Map of Hospital Campus
    • Services
      • Highlighted Services
        • Birth Center
        • Cancer Care
        • Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
        • Family Medicine
        • Orthopedics/Sports Medicine
        • Pediatrics
        • Pregnancy Care/Obstetrics
        • Surgery
        • Urgent Care
        • Women's Health - OB/GYN
        • Wound Healing
        • Classes + Events
    • About
      • Careers
        • Careers
        • Volunteer Opportunities
        • Job Shadow/Clinical Rotation/Internship
        • Credentialing
      • Classes + Events
        • EMR/EMT/CPR Courses
        • Learn CPR
      • Hospital Auxiliary
      • About Us
        • News
        • History
        • Administrators
        • Board of Directors
        • Mission Vision Values
        • Annual Report
        • Quality Measures
        • NH+C Magazine
        • Donations to Non-Profits
        • Patient Stories
        • Hospital Auxiliary
      • Health Resources
        • Chemical Health Resources
        • Fall Prevention
        • Medication Tracker
        • Mental Health Resources
        • Protect From Infection
        • Aging and Disability Resources
      • HealthFinders
      • Meals-On-Wheels
      • Northfield Healthy Community Initiative
      • Be Prepared
    • I want to ..
      • Find a Doctor or Provider
      • My Health Info Login
      • Get Directions
      • Pay my bill
    • Get Care Today