With COVID-19 numbers on the rise in Polk County, the Minnesota Department of Health will hold its first mass testing event in Crookston next week. Crookston Emergency Manager Tim Froeber said the city will be working with a number of partners to host the testing event. “Crookston will be the site of a state-sponsored community COVID-19 testing event,” said Froeber. “We’ll be working with the state emergency operations center, Minnesota National Guard, Department of Health, and Polk County Public Health. This testing event will be held indoors at the Crookston Sports Center. It’s not going to be drive-up, it’s an indoor walk-in event.”
Froeber said more information will be coming out later in the week but did know the testing would be held mid-week. “It will be held next week Tuesday-Thursday, October 20-22,” said Froeber. “It’s going to be scheduled from noon to 6 p.m. each one of those days. Sarah Reese (Polk County Public Health Director) will be greatly involved in this, helping with the outreach and getting information to the media. We’ll see a bunch more in the media in the next couple of days.”
Froeber said he isn’t aware yet what tests would be offered or how long results would likely take. “I don’t have that information right now,” said Froeber. “We’re going to be having another meeting Thursday at 11:30 a.m. with all the partners involved. I’m sure that will all be released. The Minnesota Department of Health is going to get some media blitzes out. This is for Polk County and the surrounding counties. They are reaching out quite a ways and hope to get about 600 tests a day.”
