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.

Trump breaks with Georgia governor on reopening plans
President Trump on Wednesday said he disagreed with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's decision to reopen a number of industries in his state, including hair salons and tattoo parlors, saying that he thought the move was premature in the face of the continuing coronavirus pandemic.
For Minnesota restaurants, it’s about survival now
The owners of a Stillwater eatery describe a stark conundrum: Revenue is way down, but many of their expenses are not.
Do our genes hold the answers to COVID-19’s lethality?  
A geneticist explains how research hopes to uncover why the novel coronavirus is deadly for some, but only mildly irritating to others. Could our unique DNA be the reason?
Tyson Foods idles its largest pork plant after Iowa outbreak
Tyson Foods suspended operations Wednesday at an Iowa plant that is critical to the nation's pork supply but was blamed for fueling a coronavirus outbreak in the community.
Backyard nature: A child's first encounter with a baby bunny
Kristin Schwarze and her daughter Clare have spent most of their time indoors or in their Shoreview yard since the coronavirus pandemic hit Minnesota. But their family isolation was interrupted over the weekend when they found a baby cottontail rabbit.
1st known U.S. COVID-19 death was weeks earlier than previously thought
The first U.S. COVID-19 death took place on Feb. 6, an autopsy shows. The person died at home in Santa Clara County, Calif., at a time when testing in the U.S. was tightly limited.
As people stay home, Earth turns wilder and cleaner
Air pollution is down 30 percent in the northeastern U.S. and 49 percent in Rome. Coyotes, pumas and goats are wandering around cities. Sea turtles are nesting better without human interference. Scientists think of this as a grand but unintended experiment that shows how much of a footprint humanity has on the planet. 
Zencast: Forest bathing and Spring Lake Regional Park
Follow along on a simple guided forest bathing led by certified nature and forest therapy guide Leigha Horton, accompanied by scenes and sounds from Spring Lake Regional Park.
April 22 update on COVID-19 in MN: Deaths jump to 179; Walz unveils major testing push
"The ship is on the launch pad today,” Gov. Tim Walz said of a massive statewide COVID-19 testing plan with Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota. He spoke hours after Minnesota reported its largest single-day jump in COVID-19 deaths.