ST. PAUL, Minn. (KVRR) – The head of the Minnesota Nurses Association is ripping new CDC guidelines that shorten the recommended COVID-19 quarantine periods. Under the new recommendations, vaccinated health care workers who are exposed no longer must isolate. M-N-A president Mary Turner called the new policy a “disaster.” Turner said,” It may be good for businesses’ bottom lines to…
DULUTH, Minn. — Thousands of people who have had covid in the Twin Ports, have also received what are called Monoclonal Antibody Treatments from Essentia and St. Luke’s. The antibody treatments have been around for over a year now, and are given through an IV infusion. St. Luke’s has been giving this to around 30 covid patients weekly, but now…
DULUTH, Minn. – On Tuesday, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar hosted a panel of six guests to discuss the topic of Alzheimer’s in America. Among the individual topics discussed included education of the debilitating disease, long-term insurance, support for caregivers, funding to pay living wages for healthcare workers, and reducing the stigma surrounding the disease. Many of the panelists that brought…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota has topped a million cases of the coronavirus since the pandemic began in March of 2020. The state Department of Health confirmed 4,155 new cases, lifting the total number of infections to 1,000,361. The figures released Monday do not include cases from the holiday weekend, which are expected to be updated Tuesday. Minnesota’s case count includes…
NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. health officials are cutting isolation restrictions for Americans who test positive for the coronavirus and shortening the time that close contacts have to quarantine. People with the virus can leave isolation after five days, down from 10 days. People exposed to the virus can also leave quarantine after five days. The Centers for Disease Control…
HERMANTOWN, Minn.- In this week’s Active Adventures, FOX 21’s Ken Slama tours the YMCA at the Essentia Wellness Center in Hermantown and learns about the programs they offer in the upcoming year. Categories: Active Adventures, Community, Health, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News Tags: Duluth Area Family YMCA, YMCA
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A judge has temporarily halted a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for St. Paul city employees. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that Ramsey County District Judge Robert Awsumb issued a temporary restraining order blocking the mandate on Thursday. The mandate was supposed to go into effect at the end of December. The order comes after St….
(Merck & Co. via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. regulators have authorized a second pill against COVID-19, an antiviral drug from Merck that may help blunt the wave of infections driven by the omicron variant. The Food and Drug Administration granted the drug emergency use Thursday for adults with early COVID-19 who face the highest risks of hospitalization. It comes…
DULUTH, Minn. – The American Red Cross blood supply is at historically low levels and it continues to decline. Officials with the American Red Cross say if more donors don’t come out to give, hospitals may be forced to delay care to patients relying on blood transfusion. The Red Cross is announcing all who come to give through Jan. 2…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Interest in new COVID-19 vaccinations is slowing in Itasca County. Leaders with Itasca County Public Health say roughly 60 percent of eligible residents in the county are vaccinated, a number that hasn’t grown as of late. Four percent of vaccinated residents in the county have still tested positive for COVID-19. The Public Health Dept. is reporting…
WISCONSIN – State health officials in Wisconsin echo the desperate pleas of those regionally and across the country, declaring a public health advisory as they anticipate a surge in disease activity due to the Omicron variant. There were more than 13 hundred new COVID cases reported in the state yesterday, with 19 Omicron cases detected so far. Experts expect that…
UNDATED (AP)- The Occupational Health and Safety Administration says it will not issue citations tied to its coronavirus vaccination mandate before Jan. 10. This will give companies time to adjust to and implement the requirements. The federal agency separately says there will be no citations of companies regarding its testing requirements before Feb. 9. Saturday’s announcement came after the U.S….
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The president of Planned Parenthood’s affiliate in the upper Midwest says she is stepping down from her position next year. Sarah Stoesz oversaw the organization for nearly 20 years and grew it into one of the largest Planned Parenthood affiliates in the country as it expanded from Minnesota and South Dakota to incorporate North Dakota, Iowa, and…
DULUTH, Minn. — As the Omicron variant and others continue to threaten the US including the Northland, people are starting to wonder if mask mandates will make a return. Multiple states have already re-instated their indoor mask mandates like California and New York, but with cases rising, and Minnesota seeing a larger surge of the virus, the question lingers of…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Police Department held a procession for fallen New York Mills, Minnesota police officer Ron Smith as his body made a final trip back home. Smith, 58, died Dec. 15 after a weeks-long battle with COVID-19. Smith was admitted to Lakewood Health System in Staples on Nov. 26 and was put on a ventilator to help…
DULUTH, Minn. – One of the many effects the pandemic has created is that fewer people have gone in for cancer screenings. Medical providers say that trend is starting to reverse, but they are advocating that more people return to these preventative measures for their overall health. “We had a lot of patients coming in, especially spring and summer of this…
DULUTH, Minn. — So far in 2021, 30 people have died from overdoses in Duluth but according to the police department, 2 of those deaths are overdoses from counterfeit Percocet 30’s. These counterfeit pills contain fentanyl, which is more powerful than actual Percocet pills. Officials say it is a deadly drug and hard to tell apart from real pills, but…
SUPERIOR, Wisc. — Some people who got the covid shots earlier this year are now choosing to go in for booster shots. One vaccine clinic in Superior is seeing more foot traffic come through right now because of it. The AMI vaccination program has been set up at UWS since April, and has moved around with the demand of new…
DULUTH, Minn. — Total overdoses are 7 times higher than they were in 2013 in Duluth from opioids, this epidemic continues to cause problems in Duluth, we took a look at the current numbers that might be surprising to some. In 20-13, there were 42 total overdoses in one year in Duluth. This year, which isn’t even over yet, has…
DULUTH, Minn.- Even though winter has chilled the great outdoors out, Northland runners sure have not, mostly unfazed by the change in temps. “Once you start running outside you realize that it’s something that you can do once you have the right equipment,” said Clint Agar, Manager at the Duluth Running Company. According to Agar, it all comes from staying…
MADISON, Wis.- The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has detected the state’s first case of the Omicron variant, in a resident with recent travel history to South Africa. According to the DHS, the person with the Omicron variant is an adult male and is a Milwaukee County resident who recently returned from a trip to South Africa. The person…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Omicron variant was discovered in Minnesota Thursday, contracted by a man who attended an anime convention in New York City last month — casting a shadow of concern over the already overwhelmed healthcare systems everywhere, including the Twin Ports. “This will never end until we get 100%– until we get virtually everyone vaccinated,” said Dr. Jon Pryor,…
PROCTOR, Minn. — Proctor public schools is partnering with St. Luke’s to offer additional opportunities for kids in the 5 to 11 age group to get vaccinated. There will be three separate clinics open to anyone wanting to receive a vaccine at the St. Luke’s event center in Proctor to accommodate those receiving the first and second shot. The staff of…
TORONTO (AP) – Canada says it’s banning the entry of foreign nationals who have traveled through southern Africa in the last 14 days. That’s due to discovery of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus that has stoked worldwide fears. Government ministers also said Friday that all Canadians who have travelled to southern Africa in the last 14 days will…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Union Gospel Mission in downtown Duluth, which is about to celebrate 100 years of providing food, shelter and hope, put smiles on many people’s faces Thursday by handing out free Thanksgiving meals. “On a holiday, the people who are isolated and feel alone feel so much more alone on a holiday, so it’s so vital that…
DULUTH, Minn. – The holiday season is a time of joy and happiness for many people, but for others who may be grieving the loss of a loved one it can be a time of emotions, sadness, and seclusion. Essentia Health offers a variety of grief support services for those dealing with a recent of past loss, especially during the…
DULUTH, Minn. – It was a special Thanksgiving food distribution day at the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) in Duluth. Every two weeks on a Wednesday, AICHO gives out 200 bags of food to whoever needs it in the community. They moved this week’s distribution ahead a day to help with Thanksgiving preps for families. “It is certainly important…
Categories: Coffee Conversation, Community, Health Tags: christmas, community, Holiday Season, Local News, Mary Cherne, St. Luke’s, Thanksgiving
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The number of Minnesota patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has surpassed 1,400 for the first time since last December, before vaccines became available. According to state health department statistics released Friday, Minnesota hospitals were caring for 1,414 patients with complications of the coronavirus, including 340 patients in intensive care. Only 2% of adult intensive care unit…
DULUTH, Minn.- The second week of St. Louis County’s vaccine clinic at the First United Methodist or Coppertop Church saw a boost in adults getting boosters after eligibility was expanded nationwide Friday. Initially, the clinic was started to provide 5 to 11-year-olds their COVID shot and adults their first and second. But officials say after the FDA and CDC both…
DULUTH/HERMANTOWN, Minn. — With Minnesota making recent headlines for being one of the states with the most new covid cases nationwide, local school districts are having to step back, making sure they are still doing what they can to keep everyone safe. Cases continue to rise in Minnesota, and as healthcare workers are tirelessly trying to slow the spread, so…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Cases of COVID-19 have shut down a theatre production in Superior after just one live performance and weeks of rehearsals. In a story on FOX 21 last week, the cast and crew were excited about the all-alumni production of “The Octette Bridge Club” at UW-Superior Theatre. They got to perform opening night Friday, Nov. 19, but one…
WISCONSIN — On Wednesday, Wisconsin leaders had a virtual meeting to talk about how COVID is spreading in the state, which is seeing almost 3,000 new cases per day. You can see the daily new case total at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website. Even with all the residents who chose to get the shots in the arm, cases…
DULUTH, Minn. — Wednesday morning drew in some alarming news to Essentia hospitals across the Midwest. Even though Michigan is the leading state in new covid cases, Minnesota is right behind after holding the number one spot last week. This means added pressure on hospital systems like Essentia Health which saw 129 new positive covid cases on Wednesday morning across…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Gov. Tim Walz says the Department of Defense will send medical teams to two major Minnesota hospitals to relieve doctors and nurses who are swamped by a growing wave of COVID-19 patients. The teams, each comprising 22 people, will arrive at Hennepin County Medical Center and St. Cloud Hospital next week and begin treating patients immediately. Walz…
TWO HARBORS/ CLOQUET, Minn.- Hospitals in small rural towns are echoing more intensely the issues overwhelming larger city facilities — more COVID patients filling beds, and fatigue at battling a pandemic for close to 20 months — causing them to transfer patients far away when they pride themselves at providing local care. “The emotional strain that it puts on a…
DULUTH, Minn.- Local fundraising for Alzheimer’s treatment and research has reached nearly 170 thousand dollars just two months after several hundred people walked the Lakewalk in Duluth in support. This past September’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s has already raised $169,000 — $2,000 more than this year’s goal. Organizers say it warms their hearts to see more money being donated to…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota hospitals are scrambling to make room for patients as patients needing medical care for COVID-19 have hit a high for the year. Hospitals have delayed non-essential procedures, diverted less serious cases to outpatient clinics, and treated emergency room patients in hallways and ambulance bays that have been converted to urgent care centers, the St. Paul Pioneer…
SPOONER, Wis.- The Spooner Area School District announced Friday that in-person instruction will not resume at Spooner Middle School until they complete an investigation into an illness-causing odor which sent students and staff home Wednesday. Since the evacuation didn’t allow students to gather computers, materials, or other devices before leaving the building, families will be able to pick up materials…
DULUTH, Minn. — A special Veterans Day blood drive was held at Amsoil Arena, drawing in a lot of people who are looking to give back on such an important day. In a normal year, The Red Cross tends to see a spike in blood donations during the fall, this year they haven’t, especially since the pandemic. But a blood…
DULUTH, Minn.- Essentia Health, city and state officials celebrated a big milestone in the multimillion-dollar Vision Northland project — the end of structural construction. The “topping out” ceremony was held Tuesday. For the construction tradition, the beam is adorned with an American flag and a small tree.“They all symbolize positive things,” said Jeff Dzurik, Executive Vice President of McGough Construction….
DULUTH, Minn. – If you’re concerned about the risk of skin cancer, a free event on Thursday, Nov. 11 might help put your mind at ease. Essentia Health is hosting the event. Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, with one in five Americans developing it by age 70. Health officials say the elderly…
DULUTH, Minn.- Today marks CHUM’S third week of Fresh Fridays, and so far, it has been a success for the Duluth food bank. “Fresh Fridays” is the food bank’s new program, where they give out fresh food items like produce, milk, and more. Every Monday and Wednesday, CHUM gives out non-perishable food boxes, and on Tuesdays, they deliver food boxes…
DULUTH, Minn.- Registration is open for vaccine appointments for 5 to 11-year-olds through St. Louis County Public Health. Starting next Saturday, November 13th, the county will offer Pfizer vaccines to kids at the First United Methodist Church in Duluth from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and the Eveleth Auditorium on the Range from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Parents are…
DULUTH, Minn. – The city of Duluth will soon be requiring its employees to get vaccinated or get weekly COVID tests. A city spokesperson said the new requirement will start in December. This comes after President Joe Biden made an executive order in September telling employers with 100 or more people to require workers to get vaccinated or get weekly…
DULUTH, Minn. — The shortage for blood continues nationwide, and UMD did its part Thursday in holding a drive, and trying to help a local provider. The Memorial Blood Centers in Duluth is also experiencing this shortage, but were able to stop by and set up a pop-up blood donation spot at the Kirby Student Center at UMD. They had…
DULUTH, Minn. — While the FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11 less than a week ago, they were waiting for the CDC to as well before giving healthcare facilities the green light. That happened today, and it’s big news for parents and children today as this age group can now be vaccinated against the coronavirus….
DULUTH, Minn.- Experts say mental health issues in kids and teens are rising, so one organization and brewery are teaming up to promote a new beer that raises money for mental health resources. Bell Bank’s Pay-It-Forward Launch Party at Bent Paddle Brewing this Thursday is raising funds for Amberwing, a Duluth-based center for youth and family wellbeing. In a survey…
(AP) — U.S. health officials on Tuesday gave the final signoff to Pfizer’s kid-size COVID-19 shot, a major expansion of the nation’s vaccination campaign. The Food and Drug Administration already authorized the shots for children ages 5 to 11 — doses just a third of the amount given to teens and adults. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…
ST. PAUL, Minn.— Nov. 1 marks the beginning of MNsure’s open enrollment period. Open enrollment refers to the once-a-year opportunity when all Minnesotans can enroll in affordable, comprehensive health and dental coverage through MNsure, Minnesota’s health insurance marketplace. This year, Minnesota’s open enrollment will run from Nov. 1 until Jan. 15, 2022, with two important deadlines: Minnesotans must enroll by…
