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.

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Aug. 14 update on COVID-19 in MN: Keep it off campus; mind your sanitizer
The state’s infectious disease director is urging college students to “lay low” before returning to their schools and warning against attending big parties, road trips and other gatherings that could ultimately bring the disease to campus.
Poll: Biden expands lead, a third of country says it won't get vaccinated
The Democratic nominee for president now leads President Trump by 11 points. And more people are worried about the coronavirus, but 35 percent still say they won't get vaccinated when one's available.
Photos: Fans fill Target Field with their likenesses — and a little levity — during pandemic
Twins staff are installing fan-submitted cutouts to help this pandemic baseball season feel a little less lonely, if not a bit more bizarre.
U.S. jobless claims fall below 1 million but remain high
The Labor Department said that applications fell to 963,000, the second straight drop, from 1.2 million the previous week. The decline suggests that layoffs are slowing, though last week's figure is still above the pre-pandemic record of just under 700,000. 
Art Hounds celebrates new work by artists of all ages
Theater and visual works focus on the pandemic, artists of color and Black Lives Matter, from a stream by the Illusion Theater to a St. Paul artist’s portfolio available on Facebook. And the student-led StoryArk Festival takes place Sunday.
Aug. 13 update on COVID-19: 697 new cases; school guidance map shifts
The newest counts come as COVID-19 watchers try to figure out the disease’s current course in Minnesota. Officials also posted fresh data with updated recommendations on school reopenings.
COVID-19 and college: Professors say they worry about students and their families
Universities and colleges have different plans for returning to teaching this fall, and there are specific needs for many classroom settings. As faculty and instructors prepare to teach, they worry about their students and their families.
Behind the numbers: What does a COVID-19 ‘positivity rate’ really mean?
One of the most important metrics for tracking the spread of COVID-19 in Minnesota is the “positivity rate” — or how prevalent positive cases of the disease are, when compared to the number of tests being done. Our data reporter takes a deep dive in explaining what’s behind the number.