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.

'There’s this pent-up demand': Minnesota restaurants welcome the return of diners
Restaurant owners say Minnesotans are taking advantage of the return to in-person dining. The state's hospitality businesses got the go-ahead to reopen to limited indoor drinking and dining earlier this month. Though they might prefer opening at full capacity, they’re focused on avoiding a return to harsher restrictions.
Why scientists are very worried about the variant from Brazil
They don't yet understand why the coronavirus variant called P.1 has spread so explosively there. Its set of mutations seem especially dangerous. And this week P.1 was confirmed in the U.S.
Throughout the pandemic, MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer has been talking with health care workers whose day-to-day lives have been turned upside down. This week, she spoke with Eric Swanlund, president of the Minnesota Association of Nurse Anesthetists and a CRNA at the Minneapolis VA.
Minnesota starts drawing names in COVID vaccine lottery for 65 and older
More than 226,000 people signed up online and by phone; about 8,000 doses are available. People 65 and older whose names are drawn will be able to make an appointment for their first dose of the two-dose COVID-19 vaccine at one of nine vaccination sites across the state.
Biden to reopen 'Obamacare' markets for COVID-19 relief
Fulfilling a campaign promise, President Joe Biden plans to reopen the HealthCare.gov insurance markets for a special sign-up opportunity geared to people needing coverage in the coronavirus pandemic.
Jan. 27 update on COVID-19 in MN: Trends stay positive; vaccination pace quickens
The newest numbers continue to show the state’s COVID-19 picture brightening as the state approaches February. Minnesota’s also seeing its first sustained and significant rise in the pace of vaccinations.
Why N95 masks are still in short supply in the U.S.
Early in the pandemic, shortages of N95 respirators and other medical gear prompted panic across the world. A year later, the masks still aren't widely available to U.S. consumers.