Allina's WestHealth ER, urgent care in Plymouth to close during nurses strike

The urgent care and emergency department at Allina Health's WestHealth campus in Plymouth, Minnesota will be closed starting 5 a.m. Sunday until 7 a.m. Wednesday as union nurses go on a three-day strike for fair pay and benefits.

Closing the COVID-19 gap: Efforts continue to vaccinate more in Minneapolis Somali community

A clinic inside the Brian Coyle Center in Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood is taking another step towards closing a COVID-19 gap in a continuing effort to get the Somali community, which numbers about 52,000 people, vaccinated.

Walz puts National Guard on alert, expands rapid testing options as Minnesota's COVID cases rise

Gov. Tim Walz laid out a new COVID-19 action plan Friday putting the Minnesota National Guard on alert and increasing rapid testing opportunities as the state’s surge in infections continues to strain health care resources.

US to lift travel restrictions for vaccinated foreign nationals on Nov. 8

The White House is expected to announce fully vaccinated international travelers who are foreign nationals will be allowed into the united states starting Nov. 8.

Minnesota bucks national COVID-19 decline, Walz plans testing expansion

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says he will announce an expansion of COVID-19 testing on Friday as Minnesota's infection rate goes in the opposite direction as the U.S. as a whole.

US unemployment claims fall to lowest level of COVID-19 pandemic

U.S. unemployment claims dropped 36,000 to 293,000 last week, the lowest level since the start of the pandemic, the Labor Department said.

US to reopen land borders with Canada, Mexico for fully vaccinated in November

The Biden administration says the United States will reopen its land borders to nonessential travel next month, ending a 19-month freeze due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

DOD: 65% of all US military members fully vaccinated for COVID-19

As deadlines for U.S. military members inch closer, only 65% of all service members — including the National Guard — have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the Pentagon confirmed.

Minnesota COVID-19 hospitalizations highest since December

The Minnesota Department of Health reports the state's COVID-19 test positivity rate has soared to 8.3%, the highest since the vaccines first rolled out late last year. 

Americans quit jobs at highest rate on record in August, Labor Department says

One reason America’s employers are having trouble filling jobs was starkly illustrated in a report Tuesday: Americans are quitting in droves.

Merck's COVID-19 pill: Will it be a gamechanger for the coronavirus pandemic?

Drugmaker Merck has officially asked the FDA to authorize its pill for COVID-19, saying it can reduce the risk of hospitalization. But, just how much of a gamechanger could it really be?

Health officials recommend precautions when trick-or-treating

Nearly a year after the CDC told parents and kids to skip trick-or-treating for Halloween, the annual tradition is coming back the end of the month. But, health experts say parents and children should still take precautions.

September jobs report: US adds weak 194K jobs as delta maintains hold

U.S. employers added just 194,000 jobs in September, a second straight tepid gain and evidence that the pandemic still has a grip on the economy.

Study: COVID-19 pandemic led to lower immunization rates among children

A new study led by the Health Partners Institute found the COVID-19 pandemic led to a decline in childhood immunization rates nationwide.