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.

Canada approves Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for kids
Health Canada authorized the shots for children ages 5 to 11 on Friday. And as in the U.S., the doses will be a third of the amount given to teens and adults.
'Black Panther' helps children become vaccine heroes at Mpls. school
A north Minneapolis school decided to take a superhero approach to vaccinating children against COVID-19. Volunteers wore costumes from the “Black Panther” Marvel movie and, in at least some cases, distracted the 5- to 11-year-olds.
Doctor speaks up about the plight of health care workers as COVID cases surge
Minnesota has one of the highest rates of COVID-19 infections in the country, and hospitals are overwhelmed. Last Friday, a Minnesota pulmonologist, Dr. Brian Hartz, took to Facebook to make an impassioned plea on behalf of struggling health care workers.
Latest on COVID in MN: As Thanksgiving nears, pandemic digs in
Key COVID-19 numbers are hitting new highs for the year just days before a Thanksgiving holiday that will bring many together indoors for celebrations, the kind of conditions that lead to more viral spread. On Friday, state officials greenlighted COVID-19 booster shots for all fully vaccinated Minnesotans.
U.S. opens COVID boosters to all adults, urges them for 50+
The decision Friday seeks to simplify what has been a confusing list of who's eligible. Now for anyone 18 or older, the only requirement is to be at least six months past their last dose of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two months past the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Minnesota COVID surge creates dangerous ER bottlenecks
Hospital beds around Minnesota are at capacity due to an onslaught of COVID-19 patients, and the trend is creating an unprecedented crunch in emergency rooms. Doctors say patients are waiting dangerously long times for beds and higher levels of care.
Navigating social anxiety during the pandemic holidays
As if the holidays aren’t stressful enough, many of us are still dealing with the mental health effects of the protracted pandemic. Host Angela Davis talks about navigating holiday stress during a pandemic and how to manage social anxiety when gathering in groups once again. 
What life is like when your kids have COVID-19
Brendan and Jocelyn Kennealy in Richfield have been taking care of their two young daughters, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week. We take you inside their home with this audio diary from the Kennealys.