Rapid COVID testing sites are busy this week with people making sure they don't carry the virus into their holiday gatherings.
This as the Minnesota Health Department says the Omicron variant is now the dominant strain of COVID in Minnesota.
University of Minnesota Infectious Disease Researcher Director Dr. Michael Osterholm says that's all well and good, but doesn't really mean much if you test too early. He says a PCR test takes about a day to get a result, and any rapid test needs to be taken within about an hour before gathering with others.
“If you're really counting on that test to give you an indication, am I a risk to grandpa and grandma, or to mom and dad who may have underlying health conditions if I go home, getting a test negative on Tuesday and then going home on Friday doesn't give you really any meaningful information,” Osterholm explains.
Osterholm, speaking with WCCO's Chad Hartman today, also warns of a "viral blizzard" in January, when he says he's expecting a big jump in positive cases.
“The thing that we're all concerned about is that yes, this is going to be a less severe disease for many people,” Osterholm told Hartman. “But if you then look at the number of increased number of people infected, including all the vaccine breakthroughs that are occurring now, with those two doses, you could actually offset the reduction in severity and in the end have the same number as we see with Delta in terms of severe cases or even higher.”
As for the holiday weekend, Minnesota Department of Health officials are continuing to stress getting vaccinated, boosted, and tested before your gathering, along with wearing a mask in indoor public spaces.
