Covid testing moving indoors

Covid-19 testing in Olmsted County will be done indoors starting this Sunday.

For Olmsted Medical Center patients, that will mean visiting its FastCare North location, 102 Elton Hills Drive NW. Mayo Clinic patients will be directed to the 41st Street Testing Center, 3033 41st Street NW.

Both providers have been using an outdoor site at Graham Park in Rochester in collaboration with Olmsted County Public Health. The decision to switch to two indoor sites, officials said, was made to “provide staff and patients a warmer, safer place to be tested during winter.”

To meet the current demand for testing, both Mayo and OMC plan to start off with extended hours (Mayo 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and OMC 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.). The region is currently experiencing record highs in new cases — with Olmsted County reporting at least 534 confirmed cases last week.

Mayo Clinic

Patients should call their primary care provider or the Mayo Clinic COVID-19 Nurse Line at (507) 293-9525 to determine if they need to be tested. Once patients arrive at the test site, they will remain in their vehicle and check in for their appointment by phone. When they can be seen, patients will receive a text message or phone call, and proceed into the building to their room. This is where swabbing will take place.

Olmsted Medical center

Patients should continue to call the COVID triage line at (507) 292-7266 if they are experiencing symptoms. Once patients arrive at the FastCare North testing location, they should remain in their vehicle and check in for their appointment by phone. The phone number will be displayed on a banner across the windows of the building. When it is time to be seen, patients will receive a text message or phone call, and be asked to proceed into the building where the swabbing will take place.

Cover photo courtesy Mayo Clinic