COVID-19 Testing Recommendation After Provincetown, MA Travel 

*Information Adapted From Minnesota Department of Health Newsletter Alert

OUTBREAK IN MA

A large outbreak of COVID-19 has been detected in people who have visited Provincetown, MA since July 3. It is not yet known whether this outbreak is due to a particular variant. Cases associated with this outbreak have been seen in other cities, like New York City, Washington D.C., and several cases have been detected in Minnesota. None of the Minnesota cases have been hospitalized.

POSITIVE CASES REPORTED IN VACCINATED PEOPLE

Since Provincetown is a popular travel destination, and has hosted a variety of popular events and festivals in recent weeks (e.g., Independence Week, Bear Week), we are asking for help to encourage anyone who has recently traveled there to get tested for COVID-19. Unfortunately, many of the cases in this particular outbreak had been vaccinated. So, in this instance, the Minnesota Department of Health is recommending that everyone who has recently traveled to Provincetown get tested, even if you are fully vaccinated and don’t have symptoms. Testing is important for helping to stop the spread of COVID-19 since someone could be infected and not have symptoms. 

In general, as we are seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases, so it is a good time to remind communities of the importance of getting tested, staying home if sick, and getting vaccinated against COVID-19. The vaccines do protect against COVID-19 disease, including the variants. The vaccines are especially good at protecting against severe disease from COVID-19.

VALLEY MEDICAL LABORATORY TESTING AND VACCINATION

Valley Medical Laboratory offers same-day or next-day Covid-19 testing with results before midnight the day of the test. Schedule your Covid-19 test HERE

Schedule your same-day vaccination appointment HERE.

Author

Kate Cummings Kate graduated from Winona State University in 2016 with a BS in Cell & Molecular Biology. She has been with Valley Medical and Wellness (VMW) since 2017. She began her tenure with VMW as a Medical Assistant working with physicians and participating in procedures and intake of chronic pain and addiction patients. She was able to transfer her talents to clinic administration in her role as a Patient Care Coordinator in 2019 and then in 2020 as the Patient Scheduler Supervisor where she works closely with clinical operations, management and support, as well as assisting in the operation of our Covid-19 testing sites and various clinical project management duties and business growth initiatives. In her free time, Kate enjoys camping, hiking, gardening, reading, traveling, and spending time with friends, family, and her fiancé, Garret, and Australian Sheppard, Luna.