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.

CDC posts rationale for shorter isolation, quarantine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday explained the scientific rationale for shortening its COVID-19 isolation and quarantine recommendations, and clarified that the guidance applies to kids as well as adults.
A live comedy show about basketball dreams developed during the pandemic
Minnesota-based comedian Jon Savitt aspired to be a star basketball player when he was a kid, but instead — he ended up writing a comedy show about his story. He joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk about “King of the Court” and what it was like to develop a comedy show during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How staffing shortages grounded thousands of flights over the holidays
Over the holidays, thousands of flights were canceled or delayed at airports across the U.S. due to staffing shortages, as COVID-19 infections race through flight crews. Host Cathy Wurzer took a closer look at the state of the travel industry with Kyle Potter, executive editor of Thrifty Traveler.
How do we cope with a pandemic two years in?
Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic and a new variant — omicron this time — is upending our lives once again. Angela Davis talks with an infectious disease expert, a child psychologist and a psychologist who studies the way uncertainty affects our minds.
Why are so many vaccinated people getting COVID-19 lately?
A couple of factors are at play, starting with the emergence of the highly contagious omicron variant. Omicron is more likely to infect people, even if it doesn’t make them very sick.
Rep. Hagedorn tests positive for COVID-19
First District U.S. Rep Jim Hagedorn said he is vaccinated and is experiencing mild symptoms but is in the care of Mayo Clinic because he has kidney cancer. 
The CDC now recommends Pfizer boosters after 5 months, down from 6
The move to shorten the Pfizer booster interval comes as the U.S. shatters daily case records. The recommended interval for those who received Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines has not changed.
Latest on COVID-19 in MN: New cases spike as omicron surges
Minnesota’s post-holidays COVID-19 surge showed up in a big way in Tuesday’s data. It’s here, it’s real and it’s clubbing the Twin Cities metro area. At least two school districts in the metro area have announced that they’re shifting to distance learning due to the case surge.