Faribault Armory To Host Free COVID-19 Testing This Weekend

According to a press release issued by the Governor's Office today, the Faribault Armory will be one of the 6 sites for free COVID-19 testing. The testing will be for any Minnesotan who needs or wants to be tested for COVID-19. People will be able to access free testing at six National Guard Armory locations across the state this weekend, running through Memorial Day.

Starting Saturday, May 23, through Monday, May 25, the following National Guard facilities will be open to conduct testing through the weekend from 10 A.M. – 5 P.M. daily (or until supplies are exhausted). The Faribault Armory is located at 3000 W Airport Rd, Faribault, MN 55021.

You won't even need an appointment to be tested. Just show up between 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Memorial Day). National Guard members will swab the inside of your nose and ask you to complete paperwork with your name and contact information so you can be contacted with results. Results will be provided by phone and expected with an average of 48 hours.

Minnesota National Guard members will have the capacity to collect roughly 2,000 samples per day across six sites, for a total capacity of roughly 6,000 tests over the three-day weekend. The sites are hosted by the Minnesota National Guard, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the State Emergency Operations Center, which is the central coordinating cell for the majority of COVID-19 operations.

The press release states that “These six testing sites across the state eliminate some of the barriers to testing so that we can focus on what matters most – the health of all Minnesotans. Just as this virus disproportionately impacts Indigenous communities, people of color, immigrants and refugees, people experiencing homelessness, low-income Minnesotans, older adults, and individuals with pre-existing conditions and disabilities, these same communities often face the most barriers to access testing.” state Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan in the release.

The testing teams at each site will be comprised of a coalition of National Guard members and state or local public health employees. Social distancing and the practice of wearing a mask will be enforced at the testing locations. Anyone experiencing symptoms should self-quarantine before and after their test until they receive their results.

The other COVID-19 Armory testing locations are:

East St Paul

1530 Maryland Ave E, St Paul, MN

Minneapolis Armory

1025 Broadway St. NE, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Moorhead Armory

1002 15th Ave N, Moorhead, MN

Duluth Armory

4015 Airpark Blvd, Duluth, MN

St. James Armory

521 Armstrong Blvd N, St James, MN

Future testing events depend on several factors, including demand demonstrated this weekend. Minnesotans can find other testing facilities as well as a symptom screening tool at https://mn.gov/covid19/for-minnesotans/if-sick/