DULUTH, Minn. – Essentia Health announced Monday a plan to reduce non-medical staffing levels by 500 employees next week as the company prepares for a surge of COVID-19 patients in the communities it serves. The employees affected are not involved in direct patient care, according to hospital officials. “These plans include redeploying our workforce to best position Essentia Health to…
DULUTH, Minn. – As social distancing continues to be needed to prevent the spreading of the coronavirus, a local print shop has come up with an idea to help get the point across. ShelDon Printing and Design in Duluth is now selling signs and floor decals promoting the trend. The products are intended to be used in essential businesses such…
ITASCA COUNTY, Minn.- The first case of Coronavirus has been confirmed by Minnesota health authorities in Itasca County. The person, who tested positive for the coronavirus, is a man in his sixties. The individual was hospitalized at the Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital in Grand Rapids. The patient was tested upon admission to the hospital and later confirmed positive. At…
DULUTH, Minn. – Many ministries have been looking for ways to spread their messages outside of normal church services. As the coronavirus continues to impact millions globally churches are shifting to virtual worship. The First United Methodist Church also known as The Coppertop in Duluth is one of many churches making the transition. Every Sunday parishioners can tune in to…
DULUTH, Minn. – It’s about maintaining a healthy routine and schedule during this time when normal routines are not always possible to help regulate weight and nutrition. Experts say getting too comfortable at home and not being able to go outside may result in inactivity. “When you are kind of trapped in your home or you’re not able to go…
DULUTH, Minn. – The DTA is taking precautions and is adjusting its protocols accordingly during the coronavirus. Ridership is down by almost 50 percent on fixed routes, which are all free. The fronts of the buses are also taped off and are used only for those with mobility impairments. Most customers are only allowed to get off and on the…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Despite most businesses shutting down, hardware stores, like Campbell Lumber in Superior, are still up and running as they are considered essential businesses. The president of the store tells us they are supplying construction crews for building projects around the community while other customers are coming in for home projects, like kitchen cabinetry, along with windows and…
ASHLAND COUNTY, Wis. – Ashland County Public Health announced Monday that there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Ashland County. It is believed the individual contracted the virus due to domestic travel to an area with known community transmission. The individual self-quarantined as requested and has since been cleared of COVID-19 infection and is recovering at home. “We are…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Corrections has confirmed that an inmate at the Moose Lake Correctional Facility has tested positive for COVID-19. The facility says the individual is experiencing mild symptoms and does not require hospitalization at this time. “We have been working directly with epidemiology staff from the Department of Health for several weeks to plan…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Health confirmed 576 positive cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota and 10 deaths as of Monday morning. St. Lous County is now reporting 12 confirmed cases, up from 10 on Sunday. According to health officials, 260 patients no longer require isolation in the state and 56 patients remain in the hospital. Twenty-four of those…
ITASCA COUNTY, Minn. – Minnesota health officials confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Itasca County on Sunday. According to the Itasca County Health and Human Services, the individual is in their 60’s. “At this point, there has been no request for the County to provide any essential services to this person. The Minnesota Department of Health will conduct contact…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota reported four new deaths from COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the state’s death toll from the new coronavirus to nine. State Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said three of the new deaths were among people who lived in long-term care facilities in Hennepin County. The fourth death was in Martin County, in southern Minnesota, but was…
To add your cancellation to this list, email news@fox21online.com. *UPDATE – March 17: Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has ordered a statewide ban on all gatherings of more than 10 people as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 and closed all bars and restaurants, except for delivery and pickup orders. He announced the new limits in an attempt to limit the…
NEW YORK (AP) – Country singer Joe Diffie, who had a string of hits in the 1990s with chart-topping, rock-tinged singles such as “Home” and “Pickup Man” has died after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 61. A spokesman for Diffie on Friday announced he had contracted the coronavirus, becoming the first country star to go public with such a…
DULUTH, Minn.- St. Louis County saw a jump in COVID-19 cases over the weekend. Five new presumptive cases were confirmed, doubling the total number of cases to 10 in the county, in just one day. The newest cases include a woman in her early 60s who is being hospitalized for treatment–the first case severe enough to require hospitalization in the…
EVELETH, Minn. – The coronavirus and its far-reaching effects are hitting Iron Range businesses. Streets in Eveleth were mostly empty Sunday as people were heeding the government’s warnings and staying home and businesses there are doing their best to keep their bearings. “If somebody would have told me two weeks ago that this was going to happen I never would…
DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Louis County Recorder’s Office in Duluth will begin offering drive-up service on Monday, March 30. The service is available by appointment between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Officials say the service is for people with an immediate need for a vital record, including marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, and real estate…
BRULE, Wis.- Since solitary outdoor activities in state parks are considered essential in Governor Tony Evers’s Safer-at-Home order, some anglers took advantage of that, casting their rods on the Brule River. The babbling brooks feeding into the rushing river are the only sounds that greet you out along the Brule. “This is about as isolated as we can get,” Eric…
DULUTH, Minn. – The annual Nearly Naked Ruck March was postponed this year, but ruckers still got a chance to hike with each other virtually and support veterans. Hundreds of ruckers across the country put on their packs and hiked the ten miles, but due to COVID-19, they did it on a video chatting software while on their separate hikes….
DULUTH, Minn.– Wussow’s Concert Cafe in West Duluth had to lay off all of their employees due to the state’s Coronavirus regulations. So owner Jason Wussow and his wife Tina got creative to keep their business open. The coffee shop added curbside pick-up. They also moved part of their kitchen to make room for a temporary drive-thru window. Wussow says…
DULUTH, Minn.– Ruby’s Pantry has been helping people in the Northland get affordable groceries. Today they were lending a hand at mission creek church in Fond du Lac. Ruby’s hosted a pop-up pantry there. For $20 each, people could purchase bundles of food. Bundles were picked up curbside this year to socially distance. Mission creek gave out 237 out of…
(Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP) ST. PAUL, Minn. – Governor Walz signed a COVID-19 aid package totaling $330 million for Minnesota’s response to the virus. The legislature passed the bill with broad bipartisan support on March 26. A press release from Governor Walz’s office states the law will help ensure Minnesota has the right supports in place to prepare for…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Department of Health on Saturday confirmed the state’s fifth death from the coronavirus. The recent health department report shows that COVID-19 cases have increased to 441, up 43 from Friday, with 30 patients hospitalized. The state has conducted 16,129 tests. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who is under a 14-day quarantine and is working from the…
DULUTH, Minn. – With more snow in the forecast for the Northland, city officials tell us plow drivers are at full capacity and are prepared to hit the roads. Crews are continuing to pay attention to the forecast to map out the best plan of action for the storm as it could have the potential for downed power lines and…
DULUTH, Minn. – A few local businesses in Duluth are working together to give back during this global pandemic. The owner of the Rambler and Mid Coast Catering has teamed up with the owner of Yellow Bike Coffee in Duluth to form the group called “Lookout for the Helpers”. Their mission is to remember those serving on the front lines…
DULUTH, Minn. – While many local restaurants have found ways to make their foods available for delivery and curbside service, some local breweries will now deliver beer right to your door. Starting Friday, Canal Park Brewing has started a free delivery on their beer growlers and crowlers. People can call in their order between noon to 3:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday and…
DULUTH, Minn. – The 2020 Duluth Dylan Festival is the latest event to be canceled because of the Coronavirus. This year’s festival was supposed to run May 16-24, which would have been Bob Dylan’s 79th birthday. This would have been the 10th year of the festival that celebrates Duluth native Bob Dylan. With many other local and national events no…
DULUTH, Minn. – Blue Heron Trading Company in Duluth is also helping to give back to the community for its 35th anniversary. Every year the houseware store hosts an annual food drive at its location in the DeWitt-Seitz building, but the pandemic has caused the store to shut down. Instead, staff picked up food donations from community members and delivered…
DULUTH, Minn – Appliance stores are getting a little more business these days. Freezer sales are skyrocketing as the coronavirus pandemic continues around the world. As people are spending more time indoors, they are purchasing more food that would require the use of a freezer. Johnson Mertz in Duluth has been selling out of their stock of the appliance since…
DULUTH, Minn. – As everyone is being told to keep their distance from others, Duluth city leaders want to make that easier even while people are outside. The city is hoping to route people to three additional trails. The goal is to help cut down on unsafe crowding that has been happening on local trails. One option includes Seven…
DULUTH, Minn. – The shipping industry is yet another sector that is being impacted by the coronavirus. The Duluth Seaway Port Authority tells us that several precautions are being taken in the midst of the crisis. Approval to board the ships could be limited while all crew would be checked for symptoms of the virus. Ships coming to Lake Superior…
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Wis. – Douglas County Public Health says there are now five individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the county. Additionally, the public health department says three other family members are symptomatic but have not been tested as they are presumed to have the virus. All eight individuals are isolated at home and doing well. According to…
(FOX 9) – Two more people have died from the coronavirus in Minnesota, bringing the total number of deaths in the state to four since the outbreak began. As of Friday, there are now 398 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota, although state health officials say that number is still an undercount due to a lack of testing. Approximately 14,003 people have been tested for…
GOGEBIC COUNTY, Mich. – The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department received notice on Thursday of the area’s first COVID-19 related death. WUPHD says the elderly male was a resident of Gogebic County and did have underlying health issues. He was also the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the county. “Our heartfelt sympathies and prayers go out to the family who…
DULUTH, Minn. – Distance learning. It’s a platform rarely practiced by teachers, staff, and students in the Northland. But it’s now becoming ‘The New Normal,” at least until Monday, May 4 in Minnesota. It’s throwing teachers, students, and parents for a loop over the last few whirlwind weeks. Kevin Wu is the COO of OneClass. OneClass is a platform to…
DULUTH, Minn. – COVID-19 is keeping students, staff, and teachers separated for the next few weeks. But that’s not stopping students Kyler and Keegan from showing up to Lakewood Elementary School in Duluth to help lift the spirits of those they miss. The boys’ mother, Cassondra, sent in the pictures to FOX 21’s Brett Scott. The boys are holding signs…
DULUTH, Minn. – Lake Superior College is one of 37 colleges and universities in the Minnesota State system resuming some classes this Monday on campus. While the vast majority of classes will be online, some of the students coming back will be back for classes that are more hands on learning including welding and medical lab technician, or MLT. LSC…
MINONG, Wis. – Small-town grocery stores are getting slammed with unusual demand amid the coronavirus outbreak. And for one grocery owner in Minong, there’s a fear there won’t be enough inventory out there to be stocked up for summer tourism season — a time that carries many small businesses through the slow winter months. “I don’t think anybody is prepared…
DULUTH, Minn. – Local healthcare systems are preparing for a surge in coronavirus cases in the Northland. Healthcare officials warn that more than two million Minnesotans could get COVID-19 before the end of the pandemic, so enough hospital beds and equipment have to be ready to take in a surge of patients. Both Essentia Health and St. Luke’s are offering…
DULUTH, Minn.-St. Luke’s has confirmed that one of their employees has tested positive for coronavirus. A spokesperson for the hospital said the infection was not a result of their work at St. Luke’s, but it was travel related. St. Luke’s leadership would not say where the employee traveled from, or if they had contact with any patients. “Contact tracing has…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s Ordean Foundation is helping combat the impact of COVID-19 to vulnerable populations. The organization is providing emergency grants this week to groups like CHUM, Life House and Safe Haven. Life House in Duluth provides meals each day and also gives out hygiene products, deodorant and shampoo, to those who need them. It’s not easy maintaining precautions…
DULUTH, Minn. – One organization is still paying it forward to senior citizens in need of meals. Even though the organization has lost some volunteers and dining sites are closed, Meals on Wheels is still operating. The group still drops off food to senior citizens in need of a hot meal, every day. “I love this program,” said Jacqueline Wacker,…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Dewitt-Seitz building in Canal Park is known to be the home for a variety of businesses like gift shops and restaurants. On a typical day, it’s flooded with locals and tourists but as the pandemic continues, the once lively building is now like a ghost town. Many non-essential businesses in Dewitt-Seitz have already stopped operating as…
BAYFIELD CO., Wis. – On Thursday the Bayfield County Health Department confirmed a second case of COVID-19 in Bayfield County. This case is also considered the first known case related to community spread in the county. The lab-confirmed positive case received on March 26 did not have a history of travel or contact with a known positive case of COVID-19….
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed a second death due to COVID-19 as the number of people hospitalized in the state continues to rise. As of Thursday morning, the MDH reported 41 hospitalizations up from 26 the day before. At this time 31 people remain hospitalized. There are 36 counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases in…
MILWAUKEE (AP) – The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner says another person has died of coronavirus complications. That brings the number of COVID-19-related deaths in Wisconsin to eight. The latest victim is a 57-year-old woman from West Allis who died shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday at Froedtert Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office. She had been hospitalized since March 19….
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken has temporarily amended the department’s grooming policy to not allow facial hair so officers can safely wear N95 masks if needed during the coronavirus outbreak. Tusken says having a smooth skin helps properly seal the mask to the face and keep the virus’ particles from getting past the seal and into…
DULUTH, Minn.- With discussions around the country about a potential vaccine or drug being developed to treat COVID-19, local experts are speaking out about the reality of treating the virus so soon. While President Trump has touched on different drugs that scientists have said might be helpful in fighting Coronavirus, UMD Applied Human Sciences Professor Jessica Hanson said testing them…
DULUTH, Minn.- Governor Tim Walz’s stay-at-home order came at the heels of St. Louis County announcing the discovery of its third case of Coronavirus on Wednesday. The woman is in her late 30s, and like the other cases, contracted the virus through domestic travel. Now county leaders are taking a stronger stance on limiting people coming and out of the…
DULUTH, Minn. – There’s now a designated drop-off site for the community to donate medical supplies to Essentia Health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Donors can drive up to a loading dock around the back of the Miller Hill Mall. They’re asked to stay in their cars, call one of the phone numbers on the nearby poster, and wait for Essentia…
