COVID-19: Coverage of the pandemic from MPR News

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COVID in slow decline across most of the state, but some 9 Minnesota counties still rated high-risk by CDC
 COVID-19 metrics across the board — wastewater data, cases, hospitalizations and deaths — are stable or slightly declining. But that doesn’t mean it’s declining everywhere. Nine counties, including St. Louis and Olmsted, are rated as high-risk by the CDC, meaning that masking indoors is recommended.
Omicron poses about half the risk of long COVID as delta, new research finds
Some scientists estimate that cases of long COVID from omicron will still rise, however, because of high transmissibility and the misconception that people don't have to worry about catching it.
U.S. lifts COVID-19 test requirement for international travel
The Biden administration is lifting its requirement that international air travelers to the U.S. take a COVID-19 test within a day before boarding their flights, easing one of the last remaining government mandates meant to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
What to know about applying for Minnesota’s front-line worker bonus
Qualified essential workers can now apply to receive checks of up to $1,500 meant to support those who worked in especially high-risk environments during the pandemic. The state predicts up to 700,000 Minnesotans could be eligible for the hero pay.
Minnesota among first states to get federally backed COVID 'test-to-treat' sites
Within the next week, testing sites in Brooklyn Park, Duluth and Moorhead will offer people who test positive for COVID-19 a prescription for Paxlovid, an antiviral medication that subdues the worst of the infection.