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.

Social distancing can be lonely, but television and movies can help. What are you watching to help get you through the coronavirus crisis?
Senate Democrats block GOP effort to boost small-business aid
Democrats want to funnel the extra funding through community-based financial institutions, which they say help businesses owned by minorities, veterans and rural Americans across the country.
Jobs carnage mounts: 17 million file for unemployment in 3 weeks
The number of people seeking jobless benefits shot up again last week, as 6.6 million more of the unemployed filed first-time claims. Much of the economy has shut down, leaving millions out of work.
HHS: Federal stocks of protective equipment nearly depleted
The Strategic National Stockpile is nearly out of the N95 respirators, surgical masks, face shields, gowns and other medical supplies desperately needed to protect front-line medical workers treating coronavirus patients.
April 9 update on COVID-19 in MN: 50 dead; Walz faces GOP pushback over stay-home order
Gov. Tim Walz urged Minnesotans to stay vigilant to help control the disease’s spread, and he responded to fresh criticism from a key GOP leader that extending the stay-at-home order through May 4 wasn’t warranted.
Minnesota's governor says staying home works and needs to continue
Even as he extended the stay-at-home order, Gov. Walz made some adjustments to the activities that can resume. The revised directive allows craft stores to distribute supplies for homemade face masks. Business owners will have some flexibility to manage inventory. Landscapers can work again.
Congressional scholar Norm Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute speaks about the government and leadership response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economic and mental and physical health crisis it has caused.
How safe is it to eat takeout?
With fear of infection on our minds these days, it's easy to get panicky about everyday choices. Infectious disease and food safety experts weigh in on ordering dinner to go.