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.

Ruled out: Australia deports Djokovic for being unvaccinated
Tennis star Novak Djokovic was deported from Australia on Sunday after losing a bid to stay in the country to defend his Australian Open title despite not being vaccinated against COVID-19.
Essential workers face a tough choice: Find a test or miss work
Facing lost wages if they can't work, essential workers struggle to get timely COVID tests amid a nationwide testing crunch. Community clinics are struggling to meet the need.
Want to get omicron and just get it over with? Here's why that's a bad idea
While omicron seems to provoke milder illness for many people, "the truth is that it's probably somewhere in between what you think of as a common cold or flu and the COVID that we had before," says Dr. Emily Landon at UChicago Medicine. "And there are still a lot of risks of getting COVID."
Enough of COVID and school closures? Take to the outdoors
It’s a double whammy weekend. Snow is back and record illness from the omicron variant of COVID-19 has shut down many schools the next few days to few weeks. What better time to pack up the little ones and head outside. This round-up of outside fun is easily adaptable for anyone.
Ready for an N95 mask? Here's how to find a high-quality one that fits you well
The CDC says high-filtration masks like N95s provide the best protection against COVID-19. Here's how to find a good one — and avoid the fakes. Plus tips on how to fit them and how long to wear them.
Costs for COVID-19 hospitalization are changing. Here's why
With vaccines proven to keep people out of the hospital, more and more insurance companies are requiring enrollees to share the cost of COVID-19 treatments. Vaccines and tests remain free, though.
Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Bad numbers accelerate as pandemic digs in
Minnesota continues to struggle with a massive COVID-19 surge that began in the Twin Cities metro area but is swamping much of the state now. The newest data shows more than 67,000 known, active cases, the highest point in the entire pandemic.