ELY- Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital is no longer offering routine COVID-19 testing, including testing for possible exposure or travel.
The new policy went into effect on Wednesday, Jan. 5 as healthcare systems statewide continue to suffer through Delta and Omicron case surges and staffing shortages that began last fall.
“The number of people seeking testing at this time has put a tremendous amount of strain on our team and taken away from the important work they do caring for our patients,” said EBCH CEO Patti Banks. “Patient care must be our priority. If you are asymptomatic or are experiencing mild symptoms and need to get tested, please consider going to a community testing site, primary care clinic, or using an at-home test kit. We encourage patients to utilize the emergency room if they have severe symptoms, like difficulty breathing or chest pain.”
Cook Hospital in Cook also does not provide general COVID testing for the public.
EBCH officials also encouraged the public to get vaccinated, wear masks, and practice social distancing and good hand hygiene to help protect themselves and slow the spread of COVID-19.
Testing alternatives
Essentia Health – Ely Clinic and the Scenic Rivers Health Services clinics in Tower and Cook provide COVID testing, ccording to the Minnesota Department of Health testing webpage.
State-operated community testing sites are available in Hibbing and Duluth. St. Louis County also has limited once-weekly testing opportunities in Eveleth and Virginia.
Free at-home test kits are also available through MDH.
● St. Louis County community testing site information is available online at https://www.stlouiscountymn.gov/departments-a-z/public-health-human-services/public-health/covid-19/learn-more-about-covid-19
● The MDH online testing site locator is available at https://mn.gov/covid19/get-tested/testing-locations/index.jsp