Minnesota, after two years and 20 million COVID-19 tests, is changing how it uses test results — away from broad surveillance of the pandemic and toward more individual medical decisions.
Positive tests no longer trigger contact tracing investigations to identify people exposed to the virus or to locate the bars and public places at the heart of outbreaks. Daily infection numbers have less importance as well because wastewater data provides a faster picture of viral growth than test results.
Still, public health officials say COVID-19 testing remains vital to Minnesota's public health response, and that people should take advantage of free state testing sites that will remain open through the summer and ahead of any potential uptick in viral spread when people head indoors for the fall and winter.
"Having someone find out that they are positive, whether it's a home test or something they do at a clinic or pharmacy or whatever, is still valuable because then they can change their choices and hopefully not spread the virus further," said Cheryl Petersen-Kroeber, director of emergency preparedness and response for the Minnesota Department of Health.
Individual results also have become more useful because they quickly qualify people under the new federal "test to treat" initiative for antiviral drugs and antibody infusions that can blunt their illnesses.
Drugs such as Paxlovid were rationed earlier in the pandemic, but are widely available if people at elevated risk of severe COVID-19 seek them early in their infections. Minnesota has used 7,000 of nearly 28,000 courses of the antiviral drug.
While some doctors require lab-provided tests, Allina Health's Dr. Frank Rhame said he considers a rapid at-home test result good enough to connect patients with treatments that can reduce the risks of COVID-19 hospitalization by 90%.
"I can't tell you the number of times people are getting a test five days or six days into their illness and it's too late for Paxlovid," Rhame said. "Anyone with respiratory symptoms, or anything that might be COVID, get yourself a test."