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.

Judge puts Wisconsin capacity limit order back into effect
A Wisconsin judge has reimposed an order from Gov. Tony Evers’ administration limiting the number of people who can gather in bars, restaurants and other indoor places to 25 percent of capacity. 
Coronavirus cases rise to highest level since late July
Raging outbreaks in the Midwest and Great Plains are driving the numbers but every region of the country is showing growth in new infections.
Oct. 19 update on COVID-19 in MN: Big holiday gatherings too risky?
As Minnesota’s COVID-19 numbers continue to go the wrong way, the state’s health commissioner on Monday urged Minnesotans to rethink their plans for traditional year-end holiday celebrations.
COVID test results get faster, but still too slow to help slow disease spread
The average wait time for results of a coronavirus test has dropped to about three days, but that is still too slow to keep infected people from unknowingly spreading the virus, researchers report.
Anoka’s huge Halloween festival returns to its roots amid pandemic
This year marks a century of Halloween celebrations for the Twin Cities suburb. While COVID-19 is forcing Anoka to rein in many of its traditions, the 2020 festival has not been canceled. Here’s what the “Halloween Capital of the World” has planned.
Twitter blocks tweet from Trump adviser downplaying masks
Twitter blocked a post Sunday from an adviser to President Donald Trump who suggested that masks do not work to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Oct. 18 update on COVID-19 in MN: 11th straight day with 1,000+ cases
Minnesota reported 1,732 more confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday — the 11th consecutive day that the state has seen new case counts of more than 1,000. Officials also reported 17 more COVID-19 deaths, the fourth time in five days that the daily toll has been in the double digits.
Coronavirus FAQs: Open windows in winter, holding your breath, masks sprayed with oil?
This week our readers have questions about whether opening windows during winter will make indoor gatherings safer, trying not to breathe during a brief encounter with an unmasked person, and spraying a mask with... oil?
Rural Midwest hospitals struggling to handle virus surge
“One or two people with infections can really cause a large impact when you have one grocery store or gas station,” one health official said as the brunt of the coronavirus has blown into the Upper Midwest and northern Plains. “There is such a ripple effect.”