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Stories from April 1, 2020

State housing help likely on the way as part of pandemic response

State housing help likely on the way as part of pandemic response

Many Minnesotans out of work because of COVID-19 are starting to face their first rent and mortgage payments since the state’s stay-at-home order went into effect. Some are finding relief. Many are wondering what help they may get.
by Martin Moylan

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Minnesota Today

Tim Nelson hosts.

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Concerns rise around testing, protective equipment

Supplies for COVID-19 tests in Minnesota are backordered, and Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm says the state’s pleas to federal health officials have gone unanswered. MPR News evening update for April 1, 2020. Hosted by Tim Nelson.

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FDA says Zantac should be pulled from market, citing cancer risk

FDA says Zantac should be pulled from market, citing cancer risk

Major pharmacies had already pulled the popular heartburn drug and its generic equivalents due to a contaminant. Now the Food and Drug Administration says definitively they should not be sold or used.
by Colin Dwyer

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Mayo Clinic expects COVID-19 antibody test to be ready Monday

Mayo Clinic expects COVID-19 antibody test to be ready Monday

The test shows whether someone had and recovered from COVID-19, and can help public health officials understand the scope of the outbreak and identify people who can safely be in public to help with relief efforts.
by Tom Crann and Megan Burks

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Authorities: 2 from Minnesota died in Iowa helicopter crash

The crash was reported Tuesday afternoon in Audubon County, a few miles east of Hamlin. Authorities say the aircraft hit a power line before it went down. The names of those aboard have not been released. Authorities say the two were from Minnesota.
by The Associated Press

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Florida docking plan in the works for ill-fated cruise ships

Florida docking plan in the works for ill-fated cruise ships

Two of the four deaths on board the Zaandam have been blamed on COVID-19 and nine people have tested positive, according to the cruise line Holland America. Passengers are eager to disembark once they reach Florida, but Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state's health care resources are already stretched too thin to take on the ships' coronavirus caseload.
by The Associated Press

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Trump could recommend airlines ground more flights

Trump could recommend airlines ground more flights

President Trump also said he hesitates to apply too much pressure because it would be difficult for airlines to then start operating again as before.
by Barbara Sprunt

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Less taxing: There’s more time to file 2019 returns amid COVID-19

Less taxing: There’s more time to file 2019 returns amid COVID-19

Taxpayers have more time to get their 2019 income taxes in order, but Minnesota officials hope people file as soon as they can to get their refund or prevent a state revenue pinch.
by Brian Bakst

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What to expect when you're expecting during a pandemic

What to expect when you're expecting during a pandemic

Pregnancy in the age of the coronavirus crisis has turned an already-stressful situation into one of unique challenges. Pregnant patients are changing their birth plans, their prenatal care is interrupted, and the number of visitors has been restricted.
by Angela Davis and Karen Zamora

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The science behind a 14-day quarantine after possible COVID-19 exposure

The science behind a 14-day quarantine after possible COVID-19 exposure

What's behind the "14-days of self-quarantine" guidance after exposure to someone with COVID-19 or after travel from a place with high numbers of cases? Think of yourself as a potential incubator.
by Selena Simmons-Duffin and Laurel Wamsley

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UK family's lockdown-themed rendition of 'Les Mis' is a delight

UK family's lockdown-themed rendition of 'Les Mis' is a delight

The family wrote new lyrics based on their own frustrations: friends unseen, soccer games canceled, grandparents who can't figure out Skype. The video has been viewed more than 7 million times.
by Laurel Wamsley

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‘Those expenses don’t go away’: Amid coronavirus crisis, small business owner feels the crunch

Both federal and state leaders have promised relief for small businesses as the coronavirus crisis drags on, but in most cases, that aid has not yet arrived. Among the business owners now wondering how they’ll navigate the coming weeks is Nancy Ford. She owns Repair Lair, a small consignment and repair shop in Minneapolis specializing in outdoor gear and clothing.
by Cathy Wurzer

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How to make ends meet if you lose your job under COVID-19

How to make ends meet if you lose your job under COVID-19

With no end to the outbreak in sight, many Minnesotans are left trying to pay bills and living expenses with less income than usual — or none at all. However, there’s some help available now from the state.
by Cody Nelson

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Minn. ICU nurse on coronavirus: ‘The need for PPE is so paramount’

Minn. ICU nurse on coronavirus: ‘The need for PPE is so paramount’

For a perspective from the front lines, MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with Mary Turner, an ICU nurse at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale and president of the Minnesota Nurses Association.
by Cathy Wurzer

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In Moorhead, city bus drivers pitch in to deliver meals

In Moorhead, city bus drivers pitch in to deliver meals

Thousands of senior citizens across the state depend on daily meal delivery to help them stay in their homes. But many of the people who do that work are retired themselves. Tuesday morning in Moorhead, city bus drivers were helping deliver meals — and volunteers stepped forward to keep the service going.
by Dan Gunderson

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Journalist Ed Yong on pandemic response, future of new coronavirus

Journalist Ed Yong on pandemic response, future of new coronavirus

The new coronavirus continues to spread and challenge hospitals and the global economy. We talk with a journalist about what researchers are predicting for the virus and its far-reaching effects on health care, the economy and our global psyche.
by Kerri Miller, Marcheta Fornoff and Breann Schossow

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Rain, snow, and even ice: A strong storm eyes Minnesota

Rain, snow, and even ice: A strong storm eyes Minnesota

Wednesday remains mostly dry, with only light rain chances. Then a major storm rolls across the state with areas of heavy rain, snow, and ice Thursday and Friday.
by Nicole Mitchell

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'A matter of common decency': What literature can teach us about epidemics

'A matter of common decency': What literature can teach us about epidemics

Authors explore questions of morality, evil, solidarity and survival in Albert Camus' “The Plague,” Geraldine Brooks' “Year of Wonders” and Karen Thompson Walker's “The Dreamers.”
by Melissa Block

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I-94 to close between Highway 280, I-35E in St. Paul this weekend

The closure will allow crews to remove the northbound side of the Dale Street bridge. Another weekend closure is planned for later this year so that crews can remove the other side of the bridge.
by Nancy Yang

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More clouds and light rain chances for Wednesday

A few isolated showers or sprinkles will move across Minnesota during the day, but the weather will remain predominantly dry until light rain becomes more widespread Wednesday evening.
by Nicole Mitchell

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Five sites identified for overflow beds

State officials say they’ve identified five different sites to build out overflow hospital capacity. The goal is to open existing hospital beds for COVID-19 patients. MPR News morning update for April 1, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

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Feds warn merchants to not make coronavirus treatment claims

Feds warn merchants to not make coronavirus treatment claims

The FDA has sent warning letters to seven marketers of products including essential oils, nasal sprays and herbal concoctions. No treatments or vaccines for COVID-19 have been approved.
by Marisa Peñaloza

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April 1 update on COVID-19 in MN: 17 dead, 27 in ICU; concerns rise over lab supplies

April 1 update on COVID-19 in MN: 17 dead, 27 in ICU; concerns rise over lab supplies

Gov. Tim Walz said Wednesday he’s “deeply concerned” about the financial hit businesses and citizens are taking because of COVID-19 restrictions and knows people are stressed as they face April bills. He’ll speak directly to Minnesotans Sunday via YouTube.
by MPR News Staff

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Essay: A father's wait and worry for baby's arrival during pandemic

Essay: A father's wait and worry for baby's arrival during pandemic

MPR News reporter John Enger’s wife was nine months pregnant when Minnesota got its first case of COVID-19. The timing was not ideal. No one could predict the world would slide into a global pandemic that would make a new parent’s worry compound.
by John Enger

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Some snowbirds headed north told to stay in their southern nests

Some snowbirds headed north told to stay in their southern nests

People who migrate south for winter are being told not to return to their year-round homes in the north. Some places that typically welcome their return are asking people to stay away.
by Danielle Kaeding

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Stuck at home? Many deciding it's a good time to spruce it up

Stuck at home? Many deciding it's a good time to spruce it up

As many of us are slowing down under Minnesota’s stay-at-home order, some businesses are speeding up — paint and hardware stores, for example. For some Minnesotans, staying home means a chance to tackle home improvement projects.
by Euan Kerr

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First responders seek workers compensation pledge amid COVID-19 outbreak

First responders seek workers compensation pledge amid COVID-19 outbreak

Minnesota first responders, health care workers and other public employees want a change in state law that would guarantee them the opportunity to claim workers’ compensation if they contract COVID-19. State lawmakers omitted the proposal from the package of coronavirus measures they passed last week.
by Tim Pugmire

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Daily dose of sweetness: Goats take over empty Welsh town (and no, we're not kidding)

Daily dose of sweetness: Goats take over empty Welsh town (and no, we're not kidding)

A small herd of wild Kashmiri goats is taking advantage of the empty streets in Wales due to the coronavirus pandemic. The coastal town of Llandudno has effectively been taken over as people stay in their homes to avoid spreading COVID-19.
by Nancy Yang

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Justice Department looking into senator's stock sell-off

Justice Department looking into senator's stock sell-off

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr sold off a large amount of stocks before the coronavirus market crash. The FBI will assess whether he was motivated by nonpublic information.
by Tim Mak

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Who's sickest from COVID-19? These conditions tied to increased risk

Who's sickest from COVID-19? These conditions tied to increased risk

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report finds 78 percent of COVID-19 patients in the U.S. requiring admission to the intensive care unit had at least one underlying condition.
by Allison Aubrey

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