Health

So-called "trigger laws" in 12 states would automatically enact an abortion ban if Roe v. Wade is overturned. In nine others, bans that were blocked by courts or have long been unenforced could take effect.

Health officials say multiple cases of the omicron coronavirus variant have been detected in New York, including a man who attended an anime convention in Manhattan in late November and tested positive for the variant when he returned home to Minnesota.

Colorado health officials say the case was identified in a resident who tested positive after traveling to southern Africa. Another case of the variant was reported in Minnesota earlier Thursday.

State health officials expected to find the new omicron variant in Minnesota with an ability to detect changes in the coronavirus using gene sequencing. And on Thursday, they publicly confirmed the first case in a Minnesota resident. Here’s what we know — and don’t know — about the new variant and its impact on the state’s COVID-19 response.

A new variant of the COVID-19 virus has emerged: the omicron variant. Guest host Catharine Richert talked with infectious disease specialists about what we know about the variant, what we don’t know and what it means at this stage in the pandemic. 

With World AIDS Day held on Wednesday, Minnesota health officials are highlighting two ongoing HIV outbreaks in the state.

Minnesota has its first reported case of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. Reporter Catherine Richert joined host Cathy Wurzer to share the latest details on the case from the Minnesota Department of Health.

While all eyes are on the new and little-understood omicron variant, the delta form of the coronavirus isn’t finished wreaking havoc in the U.S., sending record numbers of patients to the hospital in some states, especially in the Midwest and New England.

A Hennepin County man who recently attended a massive anime convention in New York City tested positive. “While this is clearly something to take seriously … it is not a reason for panic,” Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said.

Parents of children under 5 have to wait a little bit longer before COVID vaccines are available. In the meantime pediatricians are still working to increase vaccinations in the 5-11 age group.