DULUTH, Minn. – Needle phobia can be very common among many people, but this fear is bringing up concerns as those individuals may choose not to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Health experts say identifying individuals with a fear of needles and finding ways to help them overcome the challenge can help increase the chances of them wanting to get the…
MINNESOTA- The Minnesota Department of Health has launched an online dashboard, to stay up to date on the state’s vaccination rollout. The website shows more than 144,000 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine as of Saturday, and more than 7,000 who already got the second dose. It will be updated daily. “It provides Minnesotans with confidence…
CARLTON COUNTY, Minn. – The COVID-19 vaccine has been going into arms around the Northland for a few weeks now. Over in Carlton County, public health officials are being spread thin while trying to get the vaccines distributed to the priority groups. Vaccine administration continues to be a top priority across the state and in the region, but getting the…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota health officials have confirmed five cases of a more contagious variant of the coronavirus in the Twin Cities area. The variant, which was first detected late last year in the United Kingdom, was identified in specimens from residents in four Minnesota counties. Although officials aren’t surprised by the discovery and don’t believe it will lead to…
DULUTH, Minn. – Patients of St. Luke’s Hospital can now get a rapid COVID-19 antigen test that can return same-day results. The testing is available for patients of the respiratory clinic in Hermantown or those utilizing the drive-thru testing garage located on the 900 block of East First Street. People of all ages can have access to the testing, but…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – The first COVID-19 briefing of 2021 comes with uplifting news from Itasca County. The county’s public health officials are reporting a steady decrease in cases throughout December. Over the past seven days, 53 new cases have been identified in the county. Since the start of the pandemic, a total of 2,751 residents have tested positive, and…
DULUTH, Minn. – While cases of COVID-19 continue to slightly decrease across Minnesota, hospitals in the Northland are still feeling the strain. Dr. Jon Pryor, President of Essentia Health, chatted with FOX 21’s Brett Scott Wednesday morning about vaccine distribution, the current situation inside Northland hospitals, and the outlook for 2021. “I want to thank everyone in the Northland for…
MADISON, Wis.- The Wisconsin Governor and health leaders addressed obstacles and delays in the state’s vaccine distribution Tuesday. So far 85,609 vaccines have been administered and as of Monday 266,675 doses had been shipped to Wisconsin. According to health officials, the demand is going to exceed the supply for a while. Gov. Tony Evers emphasized that focus should not divert…
NORTHLAND – Now that the holidays are over, public health officials in the Northland are bracing for the potential for another spike in COVID-19 cases. The pandemic has already had a deep impact on the Northland. Health experts strongly advised people to avoid holiday gatherings to help keep new COVID-19 case numbers down. “Our numbers have been going in the…
DULUTH, Minn. — COVID-19 saliva tests at the DECC in Duluth will continue through the month of January, but it’s unclear if Minnesota will have enough funding to continue it after that. Testing sites in the state are set up by the Minnesota Department of Health. In the latest economic relief package that was just signed into law, the federal…
SILVER BAY, Minn. – More than 100 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were given out to help protect employees and residents. Dozens of residents and staff at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Silver Bay rolled up their sleeves to be some of the first to receive COVID-19 vaccines. “I am happy I got it,” said Frank Stella, an army veteran…
CARLTON, Minn. – Carlton County’s Public Health and Human Services Division held its first drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination clinic. The county distributed its first shipment of the Moderna vaccine. The clinic was not open to the public. The vaccinations were only for emergency medical services workers and others helping to do community COVID-19 testing. One first responder says getting the vaccine…
WISCONSIN – 632 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were being reported on Saturday by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. There were also four more people who have died from the virus. This brings the state’s total confirmed cases to more than 460,000 and nearly 5,000 deaths. Currently, the state is averaging more than 1,800 new confirmed cases and 41 deaths…
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn. – Three more people in St. Louis County have now died from COVID-19. On Saturday, 98 new cases have also been reported in the county, creating a total of more than twelve thousand for the northland. Total deaths are now up to 189. The Minnesota Department of Health is also reporting there are 2,170 new cases…
(AP) – A new virus strain in Great Britain creates new restrictions for passengers headed to the U.S. Anyone flying to the U.S. from the United Kingdom must test negative for the Coronavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the new order late Thursday in response to a new strain of the virus in the UK, one with…
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The pandemic is preventing many people from spending time with their loved ones during the holidays. Mental health experts are now concerned this holiday season may be rough for some people. A national survey found that out of the 20,000 people surveyed, more than half reported they sometimes or always feel alone. Adding the impacts of the…
DULUTH, Minn. – About 2,500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have already been given to frontline workers at Essentia Health. So far, only two employees had allergic reactions to the vaccine. Essentia Health officials say the reactions weren’t severe, but out of caution each worker was treated and evaluated. It is believed the reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine may be…
WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. is adding a second COVID-19 vaccine to its arsenal. The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use Friday of the vaccine developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health. The decision comes days after health workers and nursing home residents began getting a similar coronavirus shot from Pfizer and BioNTech. Extra doses from a…
DULUTH, Minn. — A Duluth man known in his neighborhood for his bright Christmas lights and decorations is bringing back the tradition again after stopping for a few years, while also searching for a living kidney donor. Pat Stojevich has more than 20,000 Christmas lights strung around his property and counting. “I figure by the time we’re done we’ll be…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Police Department has received some major funding to help fight opioid addictions and start the recovery process for some people in the Northland. The department received a grant for almost $900,000. which will fund the Lake Superior Diversion and Substance Abuse Response team over the next three years. The funding will be used to expand…
MADISON, Wis.- Wisconsin received 10,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine Monday, with about 35,000 more doses expected by the end of the week. The first rounds are going to frontline healthcare workers and to nursing home residents in a couple weeks. The general public will not have access to the vaccine for months as the state deploys this historic rollout…
DULUTH, Minn. – Demand for healthcare workers is becoming critical in the Northland. Essentia Health is now hiring, hoping to find skilled healthcare employees to fill the gaps brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. A shortage of frontline workers such as nurses is already creating a strain for hospitals in the region. Many hospital officials are getting concerned for the…
WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. has given the final go-ahead to the nation’s first COVID-19 vaccine, launching emergency vaccinations in a bid to end the pandemic. Shots will begin in a few days after Friday’s decision by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA called the vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech safe and strongly protective. But initial…
DULUTH, Minn. – At Essentia Health in Duluth, capacity is stretched thin with both COVID patients and the normal patient population. Dr. Melissa Simonson, section chair of hospitalist services at Essentia Health, says over the last two weeks they have seen a slight improvement in the number of COVID patients. Right now, 20-25 percent of regular medical patients are COVID…
WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. government advisory panel endorsed widespread use of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine Thursday, putting the country just one step away from launching an epic vaccination campaign against the outbreak that has killed close to 300,000 Americans. Shots could begin within days, depending on how quickly the Food and Drug Administration signs off, as expected, on the expert…
NORTHLAND, Minn. – First responders have been strained by this pandemic, especially ambulance crews that may respond to someone having symptoms. Communities rely on first responders when emergencies happen, but as coronavirus case numbers surge in the region, the job is becoming more challenging. “We need some help in being able to respond to the emergencies,” said Virginia Mayor Larry…
MADISON, Wis.– As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in the country and in Wisconsin, cases of the flu have been another story. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is rolling out a new campaign to help encourage all Wisconsinites to get the flu vaccine. With the COVID-19 vaccinations now starting around the world and on the way here soon…
ST. PAUL, Minn.- Minnesota Governor Tim Walz unveiled the state’s plan for getting Minnesotans vaccinated against coronavirus, some as soon as the coming weeks. “This day is real, it’s happening, it is really here. In Minnesota, we’re prepared for it,” said the Governor in a press conference Tuesday. “We are on the doorstep of starting this.” According to the Minnesota…
MADISON, Wis.- In Wisconsin Monday, health experts held a news conference answering COVID-19 vaccine questions. They say of the two vaccines awaiting FDA approval, Pfizer’s would require cold storage at -70°C±10°C for up to 10 days unopened in the state’s Healthcare Emergency Response Coalition (HERC) regions before going to clinics. Moderna’s, which does not require cold storage, would go directly to…
DULUTH, Minn. – The pandemic is creating a strong need for more healthcare workers. Northland colleges and universities are keeping the pipeline going to help address the urgency to fill open healthcare jobs. Both Lake Superior College and the College of St. Scholastica have students ready to graduate this month. This may be perfect timing as many healthcare settings in…
ST. PAUL, Minn.- Governor Tim Walz and State Health leaders spoke out in a COVID-19 briefing Monday after a Thanksgiving weekend like no other. They stressed continued mitigation efforts by Minnesotans, with the horizon of a vaccine in the distance — in 2021. “Minnesotans did a pretty good job staying home, but there’s some data on movement especially the airport…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Police and Fire Departments are sharing their appreciation for the other emergency teams that sometimes are not recognized nearly enough for their efforts. A fleet of emergency vehicles from both departments flooded the streets outside St. Luke’s Hospital to help show appreciation for other frontline workers. “It’s a beautiful thing to see the frontline heroes…
DULUTH, Minn. – Frontline workers from St. Luke’s and Essentia Health are speaking out, sharing what they experience during a routine shift amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. Critical care doctors and ICU nurses want residents to know the surge is here, and it’s going to take all of us working together to help limit the spread, and save our most…
DULUTH, Minn. — The Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge Northland Center in Duluth is currently experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak among staff and residents. Right now, 19 staff members and nine residents have tested positive for the virus. Two of the staff members had to be hospitalized, and one of them is still in the hospital. The residents and staff affected…
WISCONSIN.- Deaths from the coronavirus in Wisconsin have hit a new daily high. The state reported 92 deaths Tuesday with 7,090 new cases. This comes as Governor Tony Evers released a proposal to tackle the pandemic. It includes proposals that would prohibit evictions and foreclosures through 2021 and continue the suspension of a one-week waiting period before people can collect…
ST. PAUL, Minn.- Governor Tim Walz is preparing to announce sweeping new COVID-19 restrictions during a statewide televised speech Wednesday night –as the amount of Minnesotans defying the rules he said, is hampering the state’s fight against the virus and pushing hospitals to the brink. According to a spokesperson with the Governor Tuesday, those new limits will involve bars, restaurants,…
ST. PAUL, Minn.- A frustrated Minnesota Governor Tim Walz looked to nurses and doctors from around the state to illustrate how the COVID-19 surge is pushing them to their limits — in an effort to appeal to those who may not be following prevention guidelines. “What I recognize right now is that we’re in a place in this country where…
DULUTH, Minn. — Two college students in Duluth helped raise $2,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association through the local restaurant they work at, motivated by their personal connections to the disease that currently has no cure. Adam Streiff and Johanna Unden work at the restaurant Tavern On The Hill in Duluth, while also studying for their college classes and caring…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – State Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says he has tested positive for the coronavirus. The East Gull Lake lawmaker said in a statement released Sunday that he has been in quarantine since experiencing symptoms on Monday and is following the advice of his doctor. He says he is not experiencing any major issues or…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – It took Wisconsin seven months to log 100,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and it took only 36 more days to double that number. On Friday – a mere 18 days later – the state blew past 300,000 cases, breaking a record daily high set just a day earlier. There were 7,777 new cases reported by the…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota health officials have reported 35 new deaths and a record 8,703 new coronavirus cases. The Star Tribune reports the state’s one-day case count came on a record volume of about 52,311 newly completed tests. Since the pandemic arrived in Minnesota in March, the state’s pandemic tallies include 216,028 positive cases, 12,915 hospitalizations and 2,874 deaths. Residents…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Health officials in Itasca County are pleading with residents to do their part to help limit the spread of COVID-19. This plea comes as 241 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in the county within the past seven days. “Unfortunately, we know that not everyone is helping us minimize the spread, and keeping out healthcare resources…
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The Superior Police Department is also dealing with COVID-19 exposures within its department of 65 officers and staff. To date, six officers have tested positive since March and only one officer is in quarantine awaiting test results. Assistant Chief John Kiel told FOX 21 most officers have a take-home vehicle and are encouraged to spend as little time…
DULUTH, Minn. – A flu shot could potentially serve a stronger purpose this year other than just shielding you from the influenza virus. Researchers are now looking into the possibility of the flu shot also helping protect some people from catching severe cases of COVID-19. The likelihood of the Influenza vaccination providing protection against COVID-19 shows promise, but knowing for…
DULUTH, Minn. – The coronavirus is making headlines daily, however, as COVID fatigue begins to set in, Dr. Jon Pryor, President of Essentia Health, is urging Northland residents to remain vigilant, and exercise extreme caution as the virus begins to take a toll on local hospitals. “Things are going okay, but things are tight. Our resources are being challenged, and…
DULUTH, Minn.– St. Louis County has set a new daily record with 167 new cases on Wednesday. This is following a startling upward trend that health experts say is coming from community transmission throughout the county. There’s a growing worry among county health experts that the virus could spread to places with vulnerable groups like care facilities. “Now we’re seeing…
DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is requesting help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He wants FEMA to support the needs of long-term care and similar facilities in the state suffering from staffing shortages. There are hundreds of long term care facilities right here in the Northland. As COVID-19 lingers, one of their biggest challenges is having enough…
DULUTH, Minn.- As the state of Minnesota reported their highest daily COVID-19 case amount since the pandemic began City of Duluth officials, St. Louis County Public Health, School leaders and top doctors from St. Luke’s and Essentia say that upward trend is visible in the Twin Ports as well. Since Wednesday, St. Louis County is reporting a record jump of…
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – As of Thursday, Oct. 29, 86 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in Itasca County in the past seven days, bringing the county total to 794. Currently, nine Itasca County residents are hospitalized from the disease, with two in the ICU. There has been a total of 17 deaths in the county since the beginning of…
DULUTH, Minn. – Hearing you’ve been diagnosed with cancer is never fun, at any age. For 35-year-old Duluthian Nicole Elysian, Halloween of 2019 is a day she will never forget. After experiencing abnormalities on her breast, she made the decision to set up an appointment with medical professionals at Essentia Health. She was 34-years-old at the time of her diagnosis….
