Mayo Clinic Health System responds to COVID-19

Published 7:01 am Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Mayo Clinic has released a game plan for people to follow in the event they come down with COVID-19.

The United States is the latest country to deal with the coronavirus and now Minnesota is seeing a rise in numbers, reaching 54 cases Monday, a jump from 35 just the day before.

COVID-19 is a newly identified respiratory virus that can spread easily. It shares several symptoms with influenza, but it’s treated differently. COVID-19 infection may appear two to 14 days after exposure and can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

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Mayo has developed a diagnostic test for determining if patients have the virus.

What To Do

If you are showing any sign of possible COVID-19 symptoms, please contact your local health care provider. Your provider or a nurse will direct you to our dedicated COVID-19 Nurse Line. If you meet testing criteria, you will be directed to one of our local testing sites.

What NOT To Do

Those who believe they may have the virus can help minimize potential exposure to other patients by not coming into a clinic or hospital to be tested. Call your local provider first to find out how to be evaluated.

The Express Care, Urgent Care and Same Day Clinics are open by appointment only.

What about your other health care needs? If you’re scheduled for an appointment, hospital procedure, or surgery, be assured our facilities are safe. We will notify you should anything change.

Mayo Clinic Express Care locations and Same Day Clinics are available, but by appointment only.

There are also other options for care that don’t require a visit to the clinic:

• Message your care team through your Patient Online Services account

• Express Care Online offers virtual care for 20 conditions. Log in to your Patient Online Services account through the Mayo Clinic Health System website or the Mayo Clinic App. Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., although you can access Express Care Online 24/7 year-round. If you submit your questionnaire during regular business hours, you’ll receive an answer within one hour. If it’s after hours, you’ll be contacted by 9 a.m. the next day.

Mayo urges people to keep themselves healthy by washing their hands, avoid touching your face, distance yourself from others, and practice appropriate self-care, including staying home when you are sick. It’s also recommended you have a personal care plan in place in the event you or a family member is directly impacted by the virus.

Classes, events held on Mayo Clinic Health System campuses are postponed

On March 10, Mayo Clinic issued new travel and meeting guidelines for all staff. As a result, Mayo Clinic is recommending that staff not participate in external large meetings or events on behalf of the organization through April 30, 2020.

In addition, it postponed events that Mayo Clinic Health System is hosting.  Please check the classes and events page of our website, mayoclinichealthsystem.org. for a full list of events by location.

The postponement of programs includes:

• Students coming on campus for career days and credited programs

• Staff presenting at or attending community events

• Support groups (facilitated by Mayo Clinic/Mayo Clinic Health System)

• Classes (birthing education, for example)

• Service clubs/community meetings

• Symposiums

• Wellness events

Patient Resources

Visit Mayo Clinic Health System COVID-19 online resource site for contact information and the most up-to-the-minute information about COVID-19 and what to do if you have symptoms. You can also view updates via Mayo Clinic Health System’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels.