COVID-19: Coverage of the pandemic from MPR News

The latest news, resources, guides and tips to help you stay up to date on the coronavirus pandemic.

July 25, 2023 1:17 PM

Republicans' excess death rate spiked after COVID-19 vaccines arrived, a study says

After vaccines became widely available in 2021, "the excess death rate among Republican voters was 43 percent higher than the excess death rate among Democratic voters," Yale researchers say.

by Bill Chappell

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July 21, 2023 2:15 PM

Health data roundup: COVID-19 in deer, cannabis-related emergency visits for kids

We’ve got mainly good news on COVID-19 in humans, but bad for deer. Also: cannabis storage safety and a recent downward trend in marijuana use among Minnesota teens.

by Alyson Clary and Craig Helmstetter

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July 12, 2023 3:21 PM

Future of Us: Forced to downsize their funerals, Hmong families returned to their roots

COVID-19 hit Hmong Minnesotans especially hard. Of COVID-related deaths among Asian Minnesotans in 2020, nearly half were Hmong. The loss came in the midst of pandemic restrictions that forced many families to downsize their normally large and lavish funerals. As they did so, Hmong healer Xifu Yaj Ceeb Vaj says some found an opportunity to reground themselves in their culture's spiritual traditions.

by Tom Crann and Ngoc Bui

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July 11, 2023 5:42 AM

Appeals court says Minnesota governor had authority to impose mask mandate

The Minnesota Court of Appeals says Gov. Tim Walz had the legal authority to mandate face masks when he declared a public health emergency in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

by The Associated Press

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June 23, 2023 3:45 PM

Minnesota health data roundup: The latest on COVID, abortion and air quality

COVID-19, abortion and air quality continue to make news in Minnesota. Here’s a breakdown on the latest of what we’re tracking and what we know.

by Alyson Clary and Craig Helmstetter

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June 12, 2023 12:46 PM

The Great Grift: How billions in COVID-19 relief aid was stolen or wasted

Fraudsters potentially stole more than $280 billion in COVID-19 relief funding; another $123 billion was wasted or misspent.

by The Associated Press

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June 9, 2023 4:11 PM

Minnesota shifts COVID tracking focus to severe cases

The Minnesota Department of Health has changed its approach to reporting COVID-19 cases, prioritizing severe disease and mortality data over case counts. COVID hospitalizations in Minnesota have been steadily decreasing, with no spring rebound this year, potentially relieving pressure on the health care system.

by Alyson Clary and Elisabeth Gawthrop

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June 8, 2023 5:30 PM

New study from UMN researchers says an existing drug is a promising treatment for long COVID

Metformin, a medication typically used as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes, has shown promise as an effective treatment for long COVID, according to a study by University of Minnesota researchers published Thursday in The Lancet.

by Michelle Wiley

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May 26, 2023 2:52 PM

'COVID emergency' over but concerns rise over loss of health insurance, mental health among younger Minnesotans

The officially declared national public health emergency related to COVID-19 has now been over for two weeks. Here in Minnesota, we are still receiving relatively timely hospitalization and wastewater data. This week we also look at the alarmingly high rates of depression and anxiety among younger Minnesotans as well as those identifying as transgender.

by Craig Helmstetter and Elisabeth Gawthrop