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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Ventilator shortages loom as states ponder rules for rationing
Many states are projected to have excessive demand for ventilator machines in the coming weeks, but no state government has formally asked hospitals to prepare for difficult and complex crisis triage.
U of M designers build prototypes to fill the urgent need for masks, ventilators
Minnesota is expecting a surge of COVID-19 cases in the weeks ahead and hospitals are using this time to prepare. But they’re competing with hospitals all over the world for a limited supply of medical and protective equipment. The University of Minnesota is trying to fill some of the urgent need for masks and ventilators with handmade solutions.
Coronavirus pandemic expected to slow transition to clean energy
The United States is expected to see a decrease in new solar projects for the first time since they’ve been tracked. And what was supposed to be a banner year for wind projects will likely produce more modest growth.
Tech frustrations, inequity and silver linings: Minnesota’s first week of distance learning
Week one of hundreds of thousands of Minnesota students attempting to learn from home was punctuated by widespread technology failures, overwhelmed parents and deepening inequities, as schools learned they likely won’t reopen before the end of the academic year.
Minnesota’s head of employment answers your unemployment questions
With businesses closing because of the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment benefit applications have skyrocketed across the country. DEED Commissioner Steve Grove and two economists joined host Angela Davis to talk about the phenomenon and answer listener questions about their own unemployment situations.
Ad says economic hit is worse than the threat of COVID-19. Is that true?
A newspaper ad reiterates the idea that the economic hit from using social distancing to stop the spread of COVID-19 is worse than letting the virus run its course with less stringent mitigation efforts. But is that true? We talked with the ad’s author, Kevin Roche, and experts about the claim and some of his other statements about the virus.