COVID-19

Walz to end Minnesota’s mask mandate following CDC announcement

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KVRR) – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will sign an order Friday morning ending the state’s mask mandate to follow Centers For Disease Control and Prevention guidance on face coverings. Minnesotans who aren’t fully vaccinated are strongly recommended to wear face coverings indoors. Businesses and cities can still make their own mask mandates. However, masks are still required…

ND Dept. of Health shares difficulties ahead in vaccinating adolescents

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) – The North Dakota Department of Health shares why it’s so important to get 12 to 15 year olds vaccinated for Covid-19 now that the Pfizer vaccine is available to them. Health experts say children often show no symptoms or mild symptoms. They can also get multi system inflammatory syndrome which can lead to neurological disorders. North…

CDC says vaccinated people can largely ditch masks indoors

WASHINGTON – In a move to send the country back toward pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday eased indoor mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to safely stop wearing masks inside in most places. The new guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless…

President Biden Praises Gov. Walz Over COVID-19 Vaccine Numbers

THE WHITE HOUSE: — President Joe Biden praising Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for the state’s success in getting COVID-19 vaccines into arms. During a virtual roundtable on vaccines, President Biden told Walz, “I think you’re responsible, I know you are, for saving thousands of lives.” More than 60% of Minnesotans 16 and older have the vaccine, one of the highest…

Sanford Health could give Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to 12 to 15-year-olds if CDC OKs it

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – Sanford Health could offer the Pfizer vaccine to 12 to 15-year-olds as early as Thursday if a Centers For Disease Control and Prevention committee gives it emergency use authorization on Wednesday. The Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine for adolescents on Monday. Sanford is having conversations with schools and other groups for vaccine clinics for…

Pandemic-related unemployment assistance to end in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Doug Burgum says North Dakota will end its participation in the federal government’s pandemic-related unemployment assistance programs, effective June 19. Burgum says that ending the $300 weekly federal supplemental benefit that is on top of state benefits is being done “to help address the ongoing workforce shortage across the state.” North Dakota had 16,396 online job…

Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine approved for children ages 12 to 15

UNITED STATES (KVRR) – The Food and Drug Administration expands use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children 12 to 15 years old. Last month Pfizer said phase three clinical trials found its vaccine was safe and one hundred percent effective in the age group. Preliminary data shows there were no cases among fully vaccinated adolescents compared to 18 given placebos….

Governor Tim Walz announces plan to end MN COVID-19 restrictions

"We're going to have a summer where just the simple things will be back again."

MINNESOTA (KVRR) — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announces his plan to end statewide COVID-19 restrictions. “We’re going to have a summer where just the simple things will be back again,” Walz said. Walz’s new plan to reduce COVID-19 restrictions could put an end to some requirements May 28 if the state reaches a 70 percent vaccination rate. This Friday some…