Minnesota reports no new COVID-19 deaths for first time in nearly a year

The Minnesota Department of Health reported 1,152 new COVID-19 cases and no more deaths Monday. The state has now seen 506,376 COVID-19 cases and 6,782 deaths since the pandemic began. 

Stimulus checks: IRS says next batch of payments will be disbursed in coming days

Officials from the IRS and U.S. Treasury said Monday the next batch of COVID-19 stimulus payments will start hitting bank accounts later this week. Mailed checks will start going out as well.

Growing evidence links COVID-19, hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo, researchers say

Researchers say there is mounting evidence suggesting that hearing loss and other auditory issues are strongly associated with COVID-19 infection, according to a systematic review.

Miami Beach: Over 1,000 arrested, emergency curfew extended amid unruly spring break crowds

Miami Beach officials stressed this isn’t the typical spring break crowd. They said it’s not college students, but adults looking to let loose in one of the few states fully open during the pandemic.

Married 66 years, Florida husband and wife die minutes apart from COVID-19

Bill and Esther Ilnisky spent nearly seven decades together, traveling the world as Christian ministers and missionaries before settling down in Florida to preach. After both were hospitalized with COVID-19, they were put in the same hospice room, where they died just minutes apart from each other.

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is safe, 79% effective in late-stage US study, company says

AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine provided strong protection against disease and complete protection against hospitalization and death across all age groups in a late-stage U.S. study.

Business owner offers self-defense tools for Asian women in the Twin Cities
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Turquoya Williams, the owner of Soul Sistas is on a mission to make people feel safe. She sells safety items such as mace and alarms inside Mall of America after her own close encounter.

Minnesota reports 956 new COVID-19 cases, 5 more deaths Sunday

The Minnesota Department of Health reported 956 new COVID-19 cases and five more deaths Sunday. The state has now seen 505,224 COVID-19 cases and 6,782 deaths since the pandemic began. 

COVID-19 variant driving Minnesota's case growth, health officials warn

A more transmissible COVID-19 variant is driving Minnesota's recent case growth, state health officials said Friday, the first time they have linked the two.

Minneapolis VA offering COVID-19 vaccines to all enrolled veterans

The Minneapolis VA Health Care System announced Friday it is opening COVID-19 vaccinations to all enrolled veterans, regardless of age. 

People remain resilient despite COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 World Happiness report says

An annual report on happiness around the world suggests the coronavirus pandemic has not crushed people’s optimism about the future after a year of loneliness, anxiety, lockdowns, illness and death.

CDC changes school guidance, allowing students to sit 3 feet apart

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxed its social distancing guidelines for schools Friday, saying students can now sit 3 feet apart in classrooms.

How to tell the different between spring allergies & COVID-19 symptoms
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With Spring's arrival also comes an onset of sniffling, dripping and coughing for many allergy sufferers. The tricky part is those allergy symptoms may mimic those of the coronavirus. Dr. Jill Foster from the U of M Medical School joined the Buzz to chat about how to tell the two apart.

5th Minnesota school staff member dies of COVID-19

A fifth Minnesota school staff member has died from COVID-19 amid the pandemic, according to a weekly report released Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Minnesota reaches 2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered

The state of Minnesota announced it has administered more than 2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses on the same day the health department is expected to report the 500,000th confirmed COVID-19 case, the Governor’s office announced Thursday.

Walz quarantines after staffer tests positive for COVID-19

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is quarantining after a member of his staff tested positive for COVID-19, a scenario made possible because Walz has not been vaccinated.