Walz earmarks $40M for emergency staffing with thousands of hospital workers out sick
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is earmarking $40 million in federal COVID-19 relief to bring in hundreds of emergency hospital workers as the omicron variant causes a surge in infections across the state.
Minneapolis Public Schools switch to e-learning Monday due to weather, COVID
Minneapolis Public Schools says students will be switching to e-learning for Monday, January 10, due to cold weather forecast and rising COVID-19 cases among bus transportation staff.
Can we trust rapid COVID-19 tests? Mayo doctor weighs in
Can we trust rapid COVID-19 tests? Should I swab my throat for my at-home antigen test? Dr. Matthew Binnicker, Director of Clinical Virology at Mayo Clinic, answers those questions and more.
Boosters available for ages 12-15 as COVID continues to impact schools
Families have a new tool in their fight against COVID-19 as cases of the omicron variant continue to spike. On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed a plan to give Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to kids from ages 12 to 15.
What type of face mask is best amid the recent omicron surge
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says to pick masks with two or more layers and a nose wire to prevent air from leaking out the top.
MDH planning more COVID-19 testing options as demand surges
On Monday, the Minnesota Department of Health said the agency is seeing "unprecedented" demand for COVID-19 testing and now assessing their testing network while making plans to expand testing to Minnesotans.
Minneapolis teachers call for new plan to deal with COVID-19 cases
On Tuesday, the union representing teachers and staff in Minneapolis Public Schools will call for better plans to deal with the rising surge of COVID-19 cases that has left kids at home and teachers stretched thin.
Minnesota native quarantining in Togo after positive COVID-19 diagnosis
Casey McCoy and his girlfriend thought they were jetting off on the trip of a lifetime to the African country of Togo to be a part of his best friend's wedding in mid-December.
Minnesotans line up in frigid cold for COVID-19 test in Brooklyn Park
On Sunday, some people getting a COVID-19 test at the free, state-run site in Brooklyn Park said it took more than an hour to get through the line.
First Avenue, Armory cancel New Year's Eve shows due to omicron
Shows set to ring in the New Year at several Minneapolis music venues have been cancelled as the spike in omicron cases bring renewed COVID-19 concerns.
Omicron keeps some Minnesota worshippers at home on Christmas
The omicron COVID-19 variant put a damper on the Christmas spirit this weekend, with smaller mass sizes at some churches. Home to one of the largest Catholic congregations in Minnesota, the Basilica of St. Mary spread its worshippers out across eight services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
South Africa to stop most contact tracing as 80% of population gain some immunity
COVID-19 safety measures like contact tracing and quarantining are, for the most part, coming to an end in South Africa.
Delta, United cancel dozens of Christmas Eve flights amid omicron surge
Delta, United and Lufthansa have reported canceling dozens of flights over Christmas amid staff shortages tied to omicron.
Impact of omicron variant spread in Minnesota
The omicron variant prompts event cancellations and trips to testing sites, especially before the holidays.
MDH: Omicron now believed to be dominant COVID strain in Minnesota
The omicron variant is now estimated to be the dominant COVID-19 strain in Minnesota, state health officials said Wednesday.
MDH uses variant surveillance program to monitor how COVID mutates in population
Through the variant surveillance program, the Minnesota Department of Health was able to identify one of the first cases of omicron in the United States. The program is an extension of what they were already doing to monitor the flu but on a much bigger scale.
COVID-19 surge: Here’s what’s canceled or closing across the US
As the omicron variant continues to spread across the country, many events are getting canceled and businesses are closing.
Minnesota nurses on pandemic: 'We’re losing the war'
Last year, Mary Turner, the president of the Minnesota Nurses Association, likened the fight against COVID-19 as a war and nurses as the soldiers going to battle. Nearly 20 months into the pandemic, her assessment remains grim.
7 omicron cases in Minnesota, community spread suspected
Health officials in Minnesota confirmed they have detected 7 cases of the Omicron variant to date, with evidence that community spread is occurring in the state.
Doctor who caught omicron at super spreader event says pandemic isn't just due to the unvaccinated
Debra says the blame for the ongoing pandemic should be placed on more than the unvaccinated, saying masks and other precautions need to continue to be used.