Coronavirus

Moorhead City Council votes down mask requirement

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) – Moorhead city leaders reject a mask requirement for indoor public places similar to one in Rochester by a vote of three to five. Councilmember Shelly Dahlquist made the motion after the council passed a resolution urging people to work together to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Mayor Shelly Carlson said she was against a mask mandate…

Essentia Health is part of nationwide study evaluating medication for Covid treatment

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – Essentia Health joins a nationwide study to evaluate medications to find effective, safe treatments for COVID-19. The meds in the study are already approved by the FDA for other health issues. Fluticasone is prescribed for asthma and COPD. Fluvoxamine is given to people dealing with depression and ivermectin is used to treat parasitic infections. The Activ-6…

North Dakota Coronavirus Update

Omicron cases continue to grow across North Dakota

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — “It was just a really disheartening experience I think for all of us at public health. We rely heavily on vaccines and historically always have and for people to question that science it was really hard,” says Demi Fleming, Director of Public Health at Fargo Cass Public Health. The omicron variant continues to surge throughout North…

Twin Cities restore mask mandate

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said the requirement would take effect in both cities at 5 p.m. Thursday.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota’s two largest cities moved Wednesday to reimpose mask requirements in businesses and public places as the omicron variant of coronavirus spreads rapidly. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said the requirement would take effect in both cities at 5 p.m. Thursday. Frey said it’s essential to keep the city healthy and moving,…

Colts place Carson Wentz on COVID-19 list

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz throws during practice at the NFL team’s football training camp in Westfield, Ind., Thursday, July 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS (FOX 59) – The Indianapolis Colts have placed quarterback Carson Wentz on the COVID-19 list. He’s the 15th player to be placed on the virus list, but clearly the most significant. Under current COVID-19 protocols, a…

MN & ND among least safest states during pandemic

UNITED STATES (KVRR) – States in our region are among the most dangerous to live in during the Covid-19 pandemic according to WalletHub. North Dakota comes in 44th and Minnesota is 40th. The website compared all states and the District of Columbia for rates of transmission, positive testing, hospitalizations and deaths and the amount of eligible people getting vaccinated. WalletHub…

Moorhead School Board changes quarantine & masking rules

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) – The Moorhead School Board votes to replace in-school close contact quarantine for students with testing and make masking inside buildings optional. The quarantine changes begins January 3 for the high school, career academy and preschools, Jan. 17 for middle schools and Jan. 31 for elementary schools. Masks become optional for preschools on Jan. 3, the high…

“It’s not surprising that it showed up” Walz speaks on Omicron variant

Well first and foremost it's not surprising that it showed up.

DILWORTH, Minn. (KVRR) — The omicron variant of COVID-19 has been discovered in at least five states, the second being Minnesota. It shows yet again how mutations of the virus can circumnavigate the globe with speed. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz gives an update on the first confirmed Omicron variant case in the state. “Well first and foremost it’s not surprising…

ND Dept. of Health officials say it’s too soon to sound alarm on Omicron

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) – The North Dakota Department of Health says it has not issued a state of emergency for the Omicron Covid-19 variant now that it has been detected in California. They traveled to South Africa on November 22nd and tested positive for the coronavirus on Monday. “It’s too soon to know exactly how this is going to behave,…

First US case of COVID-19 omicron variant identified

Omicron variant (World Health Org.)WASHINGTON (AP) – A person in California has become the first  in the U.S. to have an identified case of the omicron variant of COVID-19. Dr. Anthony Fauci said the person was a traveler who returned from South Africa on Nov. 22 and tested positive on Nov. 29. The person was vaccinated but had not received…