Health

Health
1 in 5 nursing homes short on PPE and staff in virus rebound
One in 5 nursing homes in the country faced severe shortages of protective gear like N95 masks this summer, according to a new study that found facilities also struggled with a lack of staff as COVID-19 cases rebounded.
How the pandemic has upended high school sports
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted high school sports across the country. In Minnesota, seasons are either starting later, ending shorter, or a combination of the two. Three high school coaches joined the program to talk about how they're dealing with these changes and how this could impact their students’ future.
As we return to work and school during the pandemic, can the air inside be kept safe?
Changes to ventilation — everything from opening windows to making pricey upgrades to HVAC systems — can help reduce the risk of the coronavirus being spread inside a building.
Minnesota unemployment rate falls to 7.7 percent
In June, the state’s unemployment rate was 8.6 percent. Though Minnesota's jobless rate has been falling since hitting a record high in May, it remains more than double what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic began. 
U.S. jobless claims jump back above 1 million in face of virus
The number of laid-off workers seeking U.S. unemployment benefits rose to 1.1 million last week after two weeks of declines, evidence that employers are still cutting large numbers of jobs as the coronavirus bedevils the U.S. economy.
Source: Michigan reaches $600M deal in Flint water crisis
The state of Michigan has agreed to pay $600 million to compensate Flint residents whose health was damaged by lead-tainted drinking water. That's according to an attorney involved in settlement negotiations.
Aug. 20 update on COVID-19 in MN: School guidance map shifts again
In the latest batch of calculations released Thursday, 11 counties saw their recommendations change for the worse if school started today, away from in-person learning for all students, while six counties saw improvements. Here’s the latest map.
Georgia teachers' back-to-school rap about virtual learning goes viral
Callie Evans and Audri Williams rap about online learning and the COVID-19 pandemic from the empty halls of Monroe Comprehensive High School, backed up by mask-wearing, move-busting cheerleaders.
Macalester president on reopening the campus: 'We’re going to follow the science'
Students will begin arriving at Macalester College in St. Paul next week. Ahead of the reopening, MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with the college’s president, Suzanne Rivera, about navigating the pandemic.