MINNESOTA, USA — Editor's note: The above video originally aired on KARE 11 on Sept. 13, 2021.
To meet increased demand for COVID tests due to holiday travel and gatherings, and the growing presence of the omicron virus, hours are being expanded at several community COVID-19 testing sites across Minnesota.
As part of the most recent surge, hospital officials are urging the public to seek testing outside of emergency departments to ease the pressure on an already strained system, saying hospitals are "literally full."
Below is an updated list of where you can find community COVID-19 testing sites across Minnesota. You can also order a test through the state's at-home COVID testing program.
Albert Lea
- Former ShopKo at Northbridge Mall
- 2610 Bridge Ave., Albert Lea
- Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Saturday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Anoka - Testing starts Friday, Jan. 7*
- Anoka Armory
- 408 East Main Street, Anoka, MN 55303
- Friday, Jan. 7: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 8: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Starting Jan. 13, Thursday through Monday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Bemidji
- Bemidji Armory
- 1430 23rd St NW, Bemidji
- Monday – Friday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Bloomington
- Former DMV, 9930 Logan Avenue South
- Saliva tests
- Monday - Friday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Brooklyn Park
- Starlite Center, 8085 Brooklyn Blvd
- Saliva and rapid tests (Rapid testing begins Friday, October 22)
- 7 days a week
- Weekdays: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Weekends: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Cottage Grove - Testing starts Thursday, January 13*
- 8180 Belden Blvd., Cottage Grove, MN 55016
- Saliva
- Thursday - Monday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Crookston National Guard Armory
- Crookston Armory, 1801 University Avenue, Crookston, MN 56716
- Rapid test
- Opens on Oct. 21, Thursday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Duluth
- Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), 350 Harbor Drive, Paulucci Hall
- Saliva and rapid tests (Rapid testing begins Friday, October 22)
- Tuesday - Friday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Hibbing
- Hibbing Armory, 2310 Brooklyn Drive, Hibbing
- Rapid tests
- Monday - Tuesday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Hutchinson
- Hutchinson Armory, 1200 Adams Street SE, Hutchinson, MN 55350
- Rapid tests
- Opens Oct. 21, Thursday - Friday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Inver Grove Heights
- Inver Grove Heights Armory, 8076 Babcock Trail, Inver Grove Heights
- Rapid tests Monday - Thursday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Mankato
- Mankato Armory, 100 Martin Luther King Drive, Mankato
- Saliva tests
- Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Monday - Friday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Marshall - Red Baron Arena and Expo
- 1651 Victory Drive, Marshall
- Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Minneapolis - African Immigrants Community Services
- African Immigrants Community Services (AICS), 1433 East Franklin Avenue, Unit 13B
- Saliva tests
- Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Minneapolis - Phyllis Wheatley Community Center
- Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, 1301 North 10th Avenue
- Saliva tests
- Fridays: 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Minneapolis Convention Center
- Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 Second Avenue South
- Saliva and rapid testing
- Expanded holiday hours Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- January 4-7: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
MSP Airport - Appointments only thru Jan. 9, 2022
- Terminal 1, 4300 Glumack Dr. (follow signs to the testing site on Level 2 of the Blue Ramp), Saint Paul
- Saliva tests
- 7 days a week, 7 am - 7 pm every day
Moorhead
- Former Thomas Edison Elementary School, 1110 S 14th Street
- Saliva and rapid tests
- Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Morris
- Morris Armory, 722 Iowa Ave, Morris
- Saliva tests
- Monday - Friday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
North Branch - Starts Monday, Jan. 10*
- North Branch, 38500 Tanger Drive North Branch, MN 55056
- Saliva and Rapid
- Monday - Friday: 11am - 6 p.m.
St. Cloud Armory*
- St. Cloud Armory, 1710 Veterans Drive, St. Cloud, MN 56303
- Saliva tests
- Monday - Friday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Stillwater (Closed on Jan. 8. This site will be open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 17.)
- Stillwater Armory, 350 Maryknoll Drive North, Stillwater, MN 55082
- Rapid
- Wednesday - Friday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
St. Paul - Roy Wilkins Auditorium
- 175 West Kellogg Fourth Ave South
- Saliva and rapid tests
- Expanded holiday hours Monday - Thursday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
St. Paul - WellShare Community Health Works
- 690 Livingston Avenue, St. Paul
- Saliva testing
- Monday: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wadena
- Winona Mall, 1213 Gilmore Ave, Winona
- Saliva
- Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Winona
- Winona Mall, 1213 Gilmore Ave
- Saliva test
- Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Some of these locations might require appointments. You can find a full list and more details from the Minnesota Department of Health here. Minnesotans can get COVID tests at these locations with or without insurance, for free.
COVID-19 tests are also available at various clinics and pharmacies across the state.
On Friday, Jan. 7, the Minnesota Hospitals Association announced a public service announcement, pleading with people not to seek COVID-19 tests in emergency rooms.
It cited the limited staffing and strapped resources inundating the healthcare system, and say patients seeking COVID testing at emergency rooms are making wait times longer.
"We have run out of words to describe what we are undergoing - a crisis does not even come close; hospitals are literally full. We urgently need the public’s help to keep our emergency departments available for medical emergencies," the statement read, in part.
It recommended seeking testing through the options above or purchasing an at-home testing kit.
Those looking for free immunizations can locate a provider using the state's Vaccine Locator map, or by calling 1-833-431-2053.