COVID-19: Coverage of the pandemic from MPR News

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A person holds a Covid-19 test kit

Metrics show encouraging declines, while older adults continue to be at risk

March 10, 2023 4:11 PM

By Elisabeth Gawthrop and Benjamin Clary

While most COVID metrics this week show encouraging declines, wastewater data remains elevated and suggests COVID is still circulating. Health department data shows that older adults continue to be the most at risk.

A man crosses an empty highway road on February 3, 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei province, China.

A bill to declassify COVID-19's origins clears the House and heads to Biden

March 10, 2023 1:22 PM

By Washington Desk

The House has unanimously voted to require the Director of National Intelligence to declassify information on the origins of COVID-19. It's not clear whether or not President Biden will sign the bill.

A vial of the Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, Bivalent. Though the shots are free to pretty much anyone who wants one in the U.S. as long as federal stockpiles hold out, the next update of the vaccine might be costly for some people who lack health insurance.

Moderna's COVID vaccine gambit: Hike the price, offer free doses for uninsured

March 8, 2023 4:01 AM

By Sydney Lupkin

Once U.S. stockpiles of COVID-19 vaccine run out, Moderna says it might charge as much as $130 per dose, but give people who lack health insurance a break. Critics say that's not enough help.

Packed grocery bags sit on a table.

'I'm really worried about it': As federal emergency food help ends, Minnesotans voice concerns

March 2, 2023 4:00 AM

By Dana Ferguson

Emergency federal benefits that help Minnesotans pay for food are set to run out this month. And even with some state funding set to boost food shelves, people who need help and nutrition groups say more needs to be done.

Security guards stand in front of the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China, on Jan. 11, 2020, after the market had been closed following an outbreak of COVID-19 there. Two studies document samples of SARS-CoV-2 from stalls where live animals were sold.

What does the science say about the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic?

February 28, 2023 9:19 PM

By Michaeleen Doucleff

Two U.S. intelligence agencies reportedly support the lab leak theory — with low-to-moderate confidence. No evidence has been shared. Scientists have strong evidence of animal spillover at a market..

Lucira Health, which developed the dual-purposed diagnostic test, said it can provide a positive result as fast as 11 minutes and a negative result in about 30 minutes.

FDA authorizes the first at-home test for COVID-19 and the flu

February 25, 2023 8:09 PM

The at-home nasal swab kit simultaneously tests for COVID-19 and two strains of the flu.

A woman in a purple mask pulls up her sleeve to show a bandage.

National survey, some statewide metrics show Minnesotans seeing less COVID

February 24, 2023 3:58 PM

By Elisabeth Gawthrop and Benjamin Clary

Last week we presented the results of our reader survey, which indicated that many of you thought COVID-19 was circulating in your communities more in recent weeks than it had been at any other point in the past year. This week, we have the latest results of a more scientific poll – the Household Pulse Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau.

AP Poll Health Care

As pandemic rules expire, 100K Minnesotans could lose health coverage

February 23, 2023 5:11 PM

The number of Minnesotans on Medicaid grew by 300,000 people during the pandemic. Now the state has to determine who is still eligible and end coverage for those who aren’t.

nurse gives a Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot

Official case reports suggest low COVID circulation in MN, but some readers report much more

February 17, 2023 4:28 PM

By Elisabeth Gawthrop and Benjamin Clary

Thanks to the 313 of you who participated in our reader survey last week. Seventy-five percent of respondents said they had heard about a lot of COVID going around the past couple of weeks. Official case reports do not show any increase in case rates.

A person holds a Covid-19 test kit

Metrics show less COVID, but we want to hear your experience

February 10, 2023 4:40 PM

By Elisabeth Gawthrop and Benjamin Clary

The metrics this week don’t show much change in COVID activity compared to the last few weeks. Anecdotally, however, the APM Research Lab has been hearing about more cases than any time in the recent past. And, COVID-19 levels in wastewater — a potential early warning tool — are up across much of the state. So, we’re curious, have you been hearing about more COVID cases in your network of late?