Indigenous communities see rise in COVID-19 cases
By Dan Kraker/MPR News When vaccines for COVID-19 first became available early this year, Minnesota’s tribal communities were quick to make them available to their members. One of the first to get vaccinated was White Earth chair Michael Fairbanks. He’s 58 and in pretty good health, so he was surprised in October when he tested […]
Covid-19: The push is on to vaccinate our way to “herd immunity”
By Lee Egerstrom Minnesota came roaring back to normalcy for the Memorial Day weekend and start of summer but the coronavirus threat lingers on with health officials continuing to stress the importance of getting COVID-19 vaccine protection. At the same time that Gov. Tim Walz and federal officials were lifting restraints on businesses and gatherings […]
Vaccinations start as COVID-19 deaths and infections hit milestones before the holidays
By Lee Egerstrom Vaccines for preventing the COVID-19 virus began arriving in Minnesota a week before the Christmas holidays even as the state was reaching new milestones for infections, hospitalizations and deaths. More than 3,000 frontline healthcare workers were among the first to be inoculated after initial shipments of the Pfizer vaccine reached Minnesota destinations […]
COVID-19 is all around us; travel is still a risk
By Lee Egerstrom Health officials are worried that the COVID-19 pandemic is picking up speed as the fall season arrives with 28 states now reporting increased cases of infections. Minnesota is surrounded by “hot” states where cases are on the rise. Just as spring brought the risk of summer travels spreading the virus, fall can […]
Often overlooked impacts of COVID-19: mental health stress, anxiety and fear
By Lee Egerstrom Minnesota health officials, the Mayo Clinic, and experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are voicing concern about how the novel coronavirus pandemic may be playing with your mind. Staff at the Mayor Clinic in Rochester put it this way: “The COVID-19 pandemic has likely brought many changes to […]
Native schools in Minneapolis prepare to open during pandemic, bemoan online learning hassle
By Eddie Chuculate Although American Indian schools in Minneapolis are awaiting a state mandate on reopening this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic, a consensus is that distance learning will continue in some form – at least initially. Minn. Gov. Tim Walz is expected to announce measures in late July that will have schools either reopening […]
Tribes and nearby communities take huge hits from COVID-19 casino shutdowns
By Lee Egerstrom A pair of new economic studies show tribes in Minnesota and throughout the country are facing billions of dollars in lost revenues needed for the health and welfare of their tribal citizens. And for nearby communities as well. All tribal gaming and hospitality industry facilities were closed in late March and early […]