Symptoms
My child has a cold, should I just wait until he/she is better?
- Because COVID symptoms can mimic a cold, if your child has symptoms, please contact their physician or have them tested for COVID based on the MDH Decision Tree guidance.
- When notifying the attendance line, please list symptoms separately instead of indicating they are staying home due to a cold.
- Any attendance matters for LS/MS are directed to 763-258-5520 or .
- Any attendance matters for the US are directed to 763-258-5500 or
Where do I find the Screening Tool to check my child’s symptoms before school?
I am not clear on when to keep my child home.
- There are a couple of resources available for clarification. The PA website has a 3 part video series on the new illness guidelines from MDH
- There are also documents from MDH that you may find helpful.
Close Contact
My child has been told they are a close contact to a positive case. They have been tested twice since we were notified and both tests were negative. Can they come back early from their quarantine?
- The incubation period for SARS-CoV-2 is from 2 to 14 days. The Incubation period is the time from when you are exposed to the virus until the time you can develop symptoms. In the weekly meetings with MDH, they stress that there is no testing out of quarantine. They have identified positive cases developing on day 13 and 14.
Testing
My college student is home. They are being tested due to symptoms. Do my PA students need to stay home?
- Yes. When any member of the family is being tested due to symptoms, all family members stay home until the results are received.
- If anyone is being tested who does not have symptoms, other family members are not required to stay home (testing can be required as part of a job, pre-surgery, etc)
Why are some test results coming back so quickly?
- Per the MDH, there are two types of tests available. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a viral test that checks a sample from the inside of the nose or throat to determine if a person currently has an infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Results can take several days.
- Antigen tests are immunoassays that detect the presence of a specific viral antigen, which implies current viral infection. Antigen tests are currently authorized to be performed on a nasal swab specimen and results can be returned in 15 minutes.
Free testing this week per MDH:
Anoka – Tuesday, Oct. 13; Wednesday, Oct. 14; Thursday, Oct. 15 from 12 – 7 pm
Anoka Armory
408 East Main Street
Anoka, MN
Anoka Community COVID-19 Testing: Schedule Appointment