The country is once again in a winter COVID surge. However, unlike past waves, people seem utterly exhausted and less attention is being paid to the issue of keeping ourselves safe as we ride out this wave. Here are some handy tools and resources that can help you stay safe

• Keep an eye on the viral loads on wastewater. It’s the best way we have of tracking transmission at this point and can help you understand how much COVID is being spread in your community. The University of Minnesota has a cool web tool that’s available to the public here.

• Get boosted, especially if you are over 65! The protection offered by COVID-19 vaccines can wane over time, so it’s important to know if you are up to date on your vaccinations. Check out the page on vaccines put together by the Minnesota Department of Health!

• Get your free COVID-19 tests from the state. Testing is a great way to protect the older or more vulnerable folks in our community and prevent yourself from spreading COVID to older relatives or friends.

• Prescription medication is available to help prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Learn more about COVID-19 medication at COVID-19 Treatments. Dozens of Minnesota pharmacies and federally qualified health centers are participating in the federal Test to Treat program. There, you can take a COVID-19 test and, if positive, be assessed by a provider on-site. If you are eligible for treatment, you can receive and fill a prescription for pills at the same time. The federal government has a Test to Treat locator  to help find participating sites. In addition, the State of Minnesota has launched a telehealth test-to-treat app in partnership with Cue Health. For more information on this program visit the state’s Telehealth webpage.