COVID-19: Coverage of the pandemic from MPR News

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Minnesota school test scores stabilize but COVID’s effects linger
Minnesota’s K-12 public school math and reading scores remain largely unchanged since the COVID-19-era drop, according to newly released data from the state Education Department. One positive sign: School attendance rates are rising again.
Ask an epidemiologist: Who should get the new COVID vaccine?
For more information, MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with epidemiologist Michael Osterholm from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.
FDA approves updated COVID-19 vaccines, shots should be available in days
The Food and Drug Administration approved new shots from Pfizer and Moderna on Thursday, and the companies are set to begin shipping millions of doses. The shots are cleared for adults and children as young as 6 months, and health authorities hope far more Americans get them this year.
Updated COVID vaccines are coming soon
The Food and Drug Administration is expected to give the green light to new COVID-19 vaccines this week to protect against recent variants of the coronavirus.
COVID-19 cases rise across Indian Country
Despite high vaccination rates early on in the pandemic, tribal communities have fallen behind. Many tribal nations and health care providers have shifted their focus away from COVID-19 to preventative services and treating chronic conditions.
COVID-19 activity continues to increase in Minnesota over last 8 weeks
In the week ending Aug. 3, 218 Minnesotans were admitted to hospitals throughout the state with COVID-19, according to the Minnesota Department of Health’s most recent data. This is the eighth consecutive week of increasing COVID hospitalizations, starting from a low point of 58 admissions in the first week of June.
Minnesota sees increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, experts say they’re not surprised
Minnesota Department of Health experts still don’t have enough data to find a clear pattern or trend for the virus. Senior epidemiologist Keeley Morris said Minnesota does tend to experience a “summer increase” and that it appeared that the number of cases happened earlier this season. 
COVID-19 hospitalizations rise for fifth consecutive week in Minnesota
Over 150 people were admitted to hospitals throughout the state with COVID-19 during the week ending July 6. Preliminary data for the week ending July 13 already shows 155 COVID-19 admissions, which is five consecutive weeks of increases.
COVID-19 trends are up and bird flu continues to increase in Minnesota
About 20 Minnesotans per day are now being admitted to the state’s hospitals with COVID-19 — more than twice the daily average just one month ago — and wastewater measurements show a weekly increase of 46 percent in COVID-19 levels.