COVID

Punk Chef Pizza + Bar Abruptly Closes in Moorhead

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) — A pizza restaurant and bar that opened in its new location in Moorhead last summer is now closed for good. In a social media post, the operators of Punk Chef Pizza + Bar announced that Saturday night, January 28, they were officially closing their doors. They say after having to close during COVID as Usher’s and…

Vitalant Testing Blood Donations for COVID-19 Antibodies

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – Blood donors looking to see if they have necessary antibodies to fight off a new COVID-19 variant for immunocompromised patients are turning to Vitalant. The antibodies in convalescent plasma can give COVID-19 patients with weakened immune systems an extra boost to help fight the disease. It’s used to help patients in a critical state of need…

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…

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…

White House plans to vaccinate 5 to 11-year-olds, pending FDA approval for Pfizer

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — The White House has unveiled its plan to vaccinate millions of kids ages 5 to 11 against the coronavirus. It’ll be put in motion as soon as the FDA approves Pfizer’s vaccine for that age group, which may happen as soon as the first week of November. Advisers to the FDA are scheduled to meet next…

Health officials urge flu shots as need to reduce hospitalizations continues

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — This flu season is expected to be worse than the unusually mild one we experienced last winter. Fewer people got the flu last winter because of COVID-19 prevention measures like wearing masks, social distancing, and traveling less. With many people back at work and school, this year will likely be different. “Get the COVID vaccine, get…

North Dakota Guard Members Get New Pandemic Orders

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Dozens of North Dakota National Guard members are resuming support for the state’s coronavirus pandemic response. The Guard announced Friday that about 50 of its members are assisting the state Health Department with contact tracing and about 15 others are helping at the state laboratory in Bismarck. The group is expected to remain on active duty…

Rally Against Face Masks in Classrooms at NDSU

Some students at NDSU are saying no to COVID-19 overreach.

FARGO, ND (KVRR) — The students that were protesting said that they are not anti mask or anti vaccines but they are anti mask mandates on NDSU campus. “Being anti mask mandate means you are giving the people the right to choose what they want to do. we just wanted to be able to choose what we do with our…

Concerned about staff shortages, area hospitals brace for COVID-19 surge

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – Area hospitals are bracing for a COVID-19 surge that will likely strain their resources. This comes at the heels of more patients than usual being seen for medical conditions not related to the coronavirus. “We’ve been very busy the last two to three months with non-COVID cases, and so the rise in COVID cases is just…

Essentia Health seeing unseasonably high cases of RSV in children

A local pediatrician says she's seeing more children getting admitted to the hospital for a respiratory-related illness

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Children across the metro are getting infected with Respiratory Syncytial Virus, commonly known as RSV, earlier in the year than usual. “I’m definitely admitting children every single day with RSV and classically in years past, we would be admitting these kids in November and December and we’re seeing several a day that are getting admitted with…