Health

Health
Wildfire smoke: How to inhale less of it
An air quality alert remains in effect until Tuesday for most of Minnesota as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to make its way through the state and the surrounding region this week. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with an allergist at Midwest Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists about what people can do to minimize inhaling harmful particles. 
COVID-19 in MN: CDC recommends indoor masking for many Minnesota counties
With the rise of the delta variant, the CDC recommends even vaccinated people wear a mask indoors in areas where community transmission is substantial or high. In Minnesota that includes more than 30 counties — including nearly all of the Twin Cities metro area.
The CDC says the delta variant has changed the war against COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention information dated Thursday gives new details on this variant of the coronavirus and says the agency should "acknowledge that the war has changed." It was first reported by The Washington Post.
Schools struggle to meet demand for summer programs
After more than a year of pandemic learning, Minnesota schools are using summer sessions to give students the chance to do the sort of in-person learning some have missed since March 2020. But even with expanded offerings, many summer sessions haven't been able to meet a rise in demand from students and families. 
The federal government is making HIV prevention treatment free — but there's a catch
The brand-name version of the once-daily pill that is 99 percent effective at preventing HIV used to cost upwards of $1,800 a month. Federal guidance now makes getting the drug with insurance cheaper.
FDA extends expiration date on Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine to 6 months
The change gives health workers more time to use millions of doses, rather than discarding them. Expiration dates are based on data from drugmakers on how long the shots stay at the right strength.