Minnesota surpasses 1 million confirmed COVID-19 infections

Minnesota has now surpassed one million confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, the latest data from the state health department shows. 

Minnesota records its 1,000,000th confirmed COVID-19 case
video

Minnesota has surpassed one million cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, the latest data from the state health department shows.

CDC shortens COVID-19 quarantine recommendation to 5 days

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials said the guidance is in keeping with growing evidence that people with the coronavirus are most infectious in the two days before and three days after symptoms develop.

Omicron keeps some Minnesota worshippers at home on Christmas

The omicron COVID-19 variant put a damper on the Christmas spirit this weekend, with smaller mass sizes at some churches. Home to one of the largest Catholic congregations in Minnesota, the Basilica of St. Mary spread its worshippers out across eight services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Merck COVID-19 pill: FDA approves 2nd at-home treatment

Merck’s COVID-19 pill has been authorized by the FDA, providing another easy-to-use medication to fight the rapidly-spreading omicron variant.

Minnesota Untold: After the Plague

At Minneapolis’ Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery, the oldest in the city, about two dozen graves mark a dark chapter in Minnesota history, the Spanish Flu of 1918.

Tracking the spread of omicron COVID-19 variant in Twin Cities sewage

Minnesota research scientists say they are seeing increased levels of the omicron variant in wastewater samples from the Twin Cities metro area.

MDH: Omicron now believed to be dominant COVID strain in Minnesota

The omicron variant is now estimated to be the dominant COVID-19 strain in Minnesota, state health officials said Wednesday. 

Student loan payment pause extended through May 1

President Joe Biden said financial recovery from the pandemic will take longer than job recovery, especially for those with student loans.

Pfizer COVID-19 pill approved in US as 1st home treatment

Pfizer’s pill, called Paxlovid, is the first COVID-19 treatment that Americans can pick up at a pharmacy and take at home.

Nearly $100B in COVID-19 relief funds stolen, Secret Service says

Most of that figure comes from unemployment fraud. The Labor Department reported about $87 billion in unemployment benefits could have been paid improperly, with a significant portion attributable to fraud.

At-home COVID tests are hard to come by

The Walgreens pharmacy was sold out of at-home COVID tests. The shelves were empty and a sign at the pharmacy window said they were out of stock. Shoppers faced the same shortage at the CVS pharmacy nearby where the shelf was bare.

South Africa's COVID-19 case drop may show its omicron peak has passed

South Africa's noticeable drop in new COVID-19 cases may signal that the country's omicron-driven surge has passed its peak, medical experts say.

MDH uses variant surveillance program to monitor how COVID mutates in population

Through the variant surveillance program, the Minnesota Department of Health was able to identify one of the first cases of omicron in the United States. The program is an extension of what they were already doing to monitor the flu but on a much bigger scale.

San Jose mayor pushes for mandatory booster; could be 1st in California

In what could be an unprecedented move in California, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said he wants to make all city employees and visitors who enter city-owned facilities, to have a booster shot or third round of vaccinations. There will surely be pushback to the plan.