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.

Congress returns with virus aid, federal funding unresolved
COVID-19 relief, a $1.4 trillion catchall spending package, and defense policy — and a final burst of judicial nominees — dominate a truncated two- or three-week session occurring as the coronavirus pandemic rockets out of control in President Donald Trump's final weeks in office.
IRS says its own error sent $1,200 stimulus checks to non-Americans overseas
The IRS now says its own error caused thousands of non-Americans living overseas to mistakenly receive $1,200 stimulus checks — and the mistake could happen again if more stimulus money goes out.
Nov. 30 update on COVID-19 in MN: Walz expects no-gather guidance for Christmas
Gov. Tim Walz said Monday he’ll likely call on Minnesotans not to travel or gather for Christmas, as he did for Thanksgiving. Authorities are bracing for a jump in cases, hospitalizations and deaths in coming weeks originating from Thanksgiving celebrations.
As hospitals fill with COVID-19 patients, medical reinforcements are hard to find
Last spring, nurses and doctors traveled to New York and other COVID-19 hot spots to help overwhelmed hospitals. But with the virus spreading everywhere, hospitals now have nowhere to turn for help.
Fauci warns of 'surge upon surge' as COVID-19 hospitalizations hit yet another high
More than 91,000 people nationwide were hospitalized with the virus on Saturday — 6,000 of those on ventilators. Health workers are now bracing for what they fear will be a new wave of infections after millions of Americans traveled for Thanksgiving.
Nov. 29 update on COVID-19 in MN: 57 more deaths; test positivity rate trending downward
Minnesota health officials on Sunday reported 57 more COVID-19 deaths in the state. That's along with nearly 9,000 more cases, from a single-day record number of test results.
With no action in Washington, states race to offer pandemic relief
Faulting inaction in Washington, governors and state lawmakers are racing to get pandemic relief to small-business owners, the unemployed, renters and others whose livelihoods have been upended by the widening coronavirus outbreak.
Experts: Virus numbers could be erratic after Thanksgiving
The coronavirus testing numbers that have guided much of the nation's response to the pandemic are likely to be erratic over the next week or so, experts said Friday, as fewer people get tested during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and testing sites observe shorter hours.