COVID antiviral drug more available, test-to-treat sites open in Minnesota next week

The White House on Thursday announced more steps to make the antiviral treatment Paxlovid more accessible across the U.S. as it projects COVID-19 infections will continue to spread over the summer travel season.

COVID treatment will soon cost you

At the start of the pandemic, policymakers enacted changes to increase access to COVID treatments and help health care systems better deal with the crisis. But as the virus moves out of the pandemic phase, those programs are being eliminated.

New COVID-19 community testing site announced, two will close

Two metro area COVID-19 testing sites will consolidate into one new location as the demand for testing continues to decrease more than two years into the start of the pandemic.

University of Minnesota drops mask mandate

The University of Minnesota announced that masks will no longer be required in classrooms beginning Thursday, a day after spring semester ends.

Nearly 15M deaths associated with COVID-19, World Health Organization says

Scientists estimate there were between 13.3 million and 16.6 million deaths that were either caused directly by the coronavirus or were somehow attributed to the pandemic’s impact on health systems.

Plans this summer? Tourism expected to rebound throughout Minnesota
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After two down years due to travel restrictions and COVID-19 infections, tourism in Minnesota is expected to rebound this summer ? good news for restaurant and resort owners.

North Minneapolis park set to undergo $21 million dollar redevelopment
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A north Minneapolis park is set to undergo a $21 million dollar redevelopment, but at least one resident of the community surrounding it thinks the money could be better spent on business development.

Clock running out on Minnesota lawmakers ahead of business tax increase

A Saturday deadline looms at the Minnesota Legislature as both parties try to come to an agreement that avert a tax hike on businesses.

Dr. Fauci says the ‘US is out of the pandemic phase’

Dr. Anthony Fauci said COVID-19 infections and deaths are at a lower level in the U.S., but people should still get 'intermittently' vaccinated.

Beijing enforces lockdowns, expands COVID-19 mass testing amid outbreak

Residents lined up for throat swabs across Beijing as mass testing was expanded to 11 city districts. Beijing has a total of 92 virus cases since an outbreak was discovered five days ago.

Minnesota businesses wait to pay tax hike as deadline looms
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Most Minnesota business owners are waiting until the last possible minute to pay a large payroll tax increase triggered when state lawmakers could not agree to a fix.

Airlines to allow passengers banned over masks back on planes

Now that most airlines have made masks optional in the U.S., here's where the four largest stand on bringing back passengers who refused to wear them when they were required.

Target keeping hybrid work approach at Minneapolis headquarters
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Two years since the pandemic abruptly emptied out downtown Minneapolis offices, workers are still slowly coming back.? But it?s become clear they won?t all be returning, at least certainly not every day.

New mask policy comes one day late for family of two-year-old kicked off plane

The lifting of mask mandates on US airlines came a day late for a Minneapolis family, who was kicked off a United Airlines flight Sunday because their two-year-old wouldn't keep her mask on.

MSP Airport lifts mask mandate after court ruling causes confusion

After a confusing day for some flyers, that started with a federal judge striking down the CDC's mask mandate for public transportation, a spokesperson for the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport says the airport is lifting its mandate.

Philadelphia mask mandate: City begins reinforcing indoor mask mandate Monday

Philadelphia's reinstatement of the mask mandate will begin Monday, one week after it was announced the requirement would return due to a rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

Minneapolis Public Schools lifting its mask mandate

Minneapolis Public Schools says it will lift its mask mandate starting Monday, April 18, as the district revises its COVID-19 rules amid changes to CDC guidance and low cases.

COVID-19 booster: Pfizer to seek extra shot for healthy kids 5 to 11

Pfizer said new data shows its kid-sized COVID-19 booster could help healthy elementary-aged children rev up virus-fighting antibodies and plans to seek authorization soon.

St. Paul schools drop mask mandate starting Monday while cases remain low

The St. Paul Board of Education voted on Tuesday to change its mask policy to end mask requirements for students and staff while cases remain low.