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.

‘All hands on deck’: Hospitals report hundreds of staff out with COVID
During the first week of the new year, hundreds of hospital workers around the state called in sick with COVID-19. The waterfall of absences is causing problems for hospital systems that are already stretched too thin.
CDC is criticized for failing to communicate, promises to do better
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held only two telebriefings in 2021. That lack of transparency has prompted criticism — and a pledge from director Dr. Rochelle Walensky to be more open.
Olmsted County isolates homeless residents with COVID-19
Rochester’s homeless are now facing below zero temperatures and vulnerability to omicron as it surges. Olmsted County and the Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota have implemented plans to isolate those who test positive.
Explainer: Where are the COVID-19 tests that Biden promised?
President Biden announced last month that the federal government will buy half a billion COVID-19 rapid test kits and distribute them free to people to use at home. But despite the high public demand for tests, officials say it will still be several more weeks before these kits are available to be shipped. 
Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Active cases leap; hospitals 'literally full'
As the surge continues to whack Minnesota, state hospital leaders Friday begged people not to come to emergency rooms seeking COVID tests or other nonemergency care.