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.

Think of your COVID-19 vaccine like a very good raincoat, says Dr. Leana Wen
It protects from drizzles and thunderstorms but not a hurricane. In other words, if you are exposed again and again to infected people, there's some risk you could get sick.
CDC changes course on indoor masks in some parts of the U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is changing course on some masking guidelines. The agency announced new recommendations Tuesday that even vaccinated people should return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging.
VA requires COVID-19 vaccination for health care workers
The Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday became the first major federal agency to require health care workers to get COVID-19 vaccines, as the aggressive delta variant spreads and some communities report troubling increases in hospitalizations among unvaccinated people.
COVID-19 in MN: Unvaccinated 'extremely vulnerable' to delta strain
The delta variant “means trouble for people who never got vaccinated,” Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm told reporters. "The problem here is very much a problem of unvaccinated people getting exposed to an extremely contagious and dangerous virus."
Are vaccine mandates on the horizon?
With COVID-19 cases on the rise in almost every state, some workplaces and universities are starting to require the vaccine for returning employees and students. Is that the right step?
Sparked by pandemic fallout, homeschooling surges across U.S.
Some U.S. parents say they're planning to continue to homeschool their children, even as schools resume in-person classes. The U.S. Census Bureau says the rate of households homeschooling their children rose to 11 percent by September 2020, doubling from 5.4 percent six months earlier.
How a U.S. Olympic pair keeps going after one tests positive for the coronavirus in Tokyo
When a U.S. beach volleyball player tested positive for the coronavirus, his teammate needed to find another partner before their first Olympic match. It was devastating but they're continuing to fight.
Fauci says U.S. headed in 'wrong direction' on coronavirus
The United States is in an "unnecessary predicament" of soaring COVID-19 cases fueled by unvaccinated Americans and the virulent delta variant, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert said Sunday.