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.

'Pooled testing' for COVID-19 holds promise, pitfalls
Pooled testing involves combining patient samples in batches instead of running them individually. The potential benefits include stretching laboratory supplies, reducing costs and expanding testing to millions more Americans. The potential downsides include lower accuracy and longer waits to deliver results to some people.
Map: Where are face masks required in Minnesota?
Gov. Tim Walz has issued a statewide mandate requiring all people to wear masks while in indoor public spaces. A number of cities and institutions had already adopted face mask requirements in Minnesota to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.
'Going to be very disturbing': Fauci warns coronavirus cases could reach 100K a day
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious disease expert, told members of Congress on Tuesday that although he can't predict the ultimate number of infections and deaths related to the coronavirus, "it's going to be very disturbing."
Essential worker shoulders $1,840 debt for trying to get tested for COVID-19
Carmen Quintero couldn't get tested for COVID-19, but ended up with a huge bill for trying to. She also was told to self-isolate and had no choice but to use vacation time to stay home from work.
June 30 update on COVID-19 in MN: 444 new cases, mask mandate 'on the table'
Gov. Tim Walz this week said a statewide mandate requiring all people to wear masks while in public is “on the table.” He said such a move would offer public health benefits while helping businesses that’re struggling to enforce their own mask rules.
2020 Aspen Ideas Festival: Dr. Anthony Fauci, David Byrne, Stacey Abrams
From the 2020 Aspen Ideas Festival: Dr. Anthony Fauci on the COVID-19 pandemic, musician David Byrne on why art matters, and Stacey Abrams on the importance of voting and participating in the census.
Remdesivir priced at more than $3,100 for a course of treatment
An experimental COVID-19 medicine that has been shown to shorten the time people with severe illness have to stay in the hospital finally has a price tag that's lower than some analysts expected.