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.

Girl Scout camps in Minnesota canceled for the summer
“Making the decision to cancel camp was honestly one of the hardest things I’ve done in the 26 years I’ve worked at Girl Scouts, because girls in the out-of-doors is core to what we believe in,” said Leigh Ann Davis, CEO for the Lakes and Pines council.
Minnesota House defeats attempt to allow in-person graduation ceremonies
The proposal to grant clearance to Minnesota schools to hold in-person graduation ceremonies was a response to state guidelines that discouraged those ceremonies during the coronavirus pandemic.
Bike sales gear up as the homebound try socially distant exercise
Retailers and manufacturers are talking about a "mini bike boom." People stuck at home are trying out bikes for exercise and recreation, a bike industry coalition group representative says.
'We're like a lifeline': Postal workers fight fear to work during pandemic
Mail carriers Craig Boddie and Evette Jourdain say there’s a lot of fear while working amid the pandemic. But they take the responsibility of delivering essentials to residents seriously. “We're like a lifeline," Boddie said. "Getting these people their medicines, their supplies.”
Home but not safe, some LGBTQ young people face rejection from families in lockdown
"A lot of young people when they make it to college are able, for the first time, really, to live their truth," says psychologist Megan Mooney. Now, many young people must stay in a home setting that forces them to hide their identity again.
Yellowstone National Park set to reopen — but with caveats
There is growing economic pressure to reopen national parks and ease travel restrictions even as many states are still seeing a rise in coronavirus cases.
DIY during quarantine. What could possibly go wrong? Plenty
Stay-at-home orders have inspired many people to take on do-it-yourself projects and tackle their own home repairs. But sometimes a toolbox and YouTube videos aren't enough to prevent disasters.
May 17 update on COVID-19 in MN: Confirmed cases climb past 15,000
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Minnesota climbed past 15,000 on Sunday, with 22 more deaths reported in the state. The number of completed tests was down from the previous day, but still well above the 5,000-test goal set by state officials.
More Minnesota restaurants announce permanent closures
While restaurants across Minnesota await the chance to resume some dine-in operations, a growing list of restaurants in the state say they won't reopen, even after COVID-19 business restrictions are lifted.
'A lot to be hopeful for': Crisis seen as historic, not another Great Depression
The speed and scale of the economic crash have drawn comparisons to the Great Depression. But this downturn should be shorter, former Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and other economic historians say.