With the end of May in sight, over 2.5 million Minnesotans are fully vaccinated from COVID-19. It’s one of many positive signs being observed at this stage in the pandemic, but there’s still work to do. 

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz marked the milestone recently, saying he is deeply grateful for those 2.5 million Minneostans who completed their vaccine series.  It means over 53% of the state’s eligible population, including 12 to 15 year olds, have completed their vaccine series. 

Along with the announcement, the governor also touted a New York Times analysis that found new cases of the virus in Minnesota have dropped nearly 50% from May 10 through May 24, which is faster than all but six other states in that timeframe. 

The state’s positivity rate and hospitalizations also continue to steadily decline. 

While there’s been strong progress, Gov. Walz and health experts say more people need to be vaccinated. So, the state is making it easier and easier, with more vaccines being provided before sports events, and there are six retrofitted mobile vaccination buses bringing doses directly to communities. Plus, all the state’s community vaccination sites are offering walk-in appointments. 

Those who want to search by vaccine type can go to Vaccines.gov. 

I’m Cole Premo. Quickly before I go, this is the last scheduled COVID-19 daily update for now and I just wanted to say it’s been a pleasure and privilege providing information to you, and Minnesota’s communities. 

Make sure to check out more of my content, and the work of many other talented people, at Minnesota Native News at MNnativenews.org. 

Stay safe and be well! 

But the COVID-19 virus is still thriving and spreading. That’s why health officials say it’s so vital for non-vaccinated adults to get vaccinated. And for parents to get their eligible children vaccinated.

Why? Because the virus always seeks out those who are most vulnerable to infection in any space. That’s how it moves person to person and survives. 

The Pfizer COVID vaccine has been approved for children ages 12 to 15. Already more than 7 million people under 17 have been vaccinated in the United States.

Vaccinating kids is important for getting them back to school safely. Most children who get infected with COVID develop no symptoms or only mild symptoms. But they also run a potential risk of becoming seriously ill.

With more and more adults getting vaccinated, health experts worry that children might soon become the main group for the virus infection and transmission.

Minnesota health providers are currently vaccinating 12 – to 15-year olds. It’s recommended you call ahead to make sure the Pfizer vaccine is available.

MDH says the COVID-19 virus is still circulating in the United States and across the world, so there are still many things that need to be considered before traveling. 

According to MDH, fully vaccinated people, if they travel in the United States, do not need to get tested before and after travel, nor do they need to self-quarantine. You are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after the final dose of the vaccine. 

Those who are not vaccinated and travel out of state, they are advised to get tested three to five days after traveling and to stay home and quarantine for a full seven days after travel.

MDH is encouraging potential travelers to think of ways to do small getaways locally. 

Those who want to get away on a summer road trip are advised to make sure everyone who can be fully vaccinated is before taking off. 

Another reminder is to be up to date on other routine vaccinations, like measles, since other diseases are still around. 

For international travel, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends delaying this type of travel unless you are fully vaccinated. The CDC says travel of this kind can introduce variants to the state that can then spread in its communities. 

Those who travel internationally and are fully vaccinated are still recommended to test three to five days after travel. Those who are not fully vaccinated are advised to get tested one to three days before the trip, and understand all airline and destination requirements which may differ from United States’ requirements. 

For more information on that, and other travel recommendations, check the CDC’s website. 

According to state officials, the departments of health and human services are working with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners, Hennepin Health, Itasca Medical Care, Medica, PreferredOne, PrimeWest Health, South Country Health Alliance, and UCare.

The health plans will be working with the state to contact members and provide them with information on vaccination and help in scheduling appointments for vaccination. There will also be help with transportation and other services. 

The partnership is being called an effort to address equity in vaccinations, as communities of color are believed to be hardest hit by the virus, but have less access to the vaccine. 

Those who are enrolled in Minnesota health care programs, like Medical Assistance and Minnesota Care, should expect to have someone reach out to them. The effort will also focus on those who live in the most socially-vulnerable ZIP codes. 

Meanwhile, the state’s latest positivity and hospitalization rate have been decreasing, but community spread remains a concern. 

Nearly 5 million vaccine doses have been administered in the state. Nearly 90 percent of those ages 65 and up have received at least one vaccine dose; 62% of those 16 and up have also received at least one dose. 

The state is still strongly encouraging those who haven’t been vaccinated, and are eligible, to get a vaccine to not only protect themselves, but their community. 

Minnesota ranks in the top ten by state for percentage of COVID vaccines administered.

Governor Tim Walz has credited Tribal communities within Minnesota for setting the pace and for showing how to get vaccines to those who need them most.

These sovereign nations have been so effective because they focused vaccination efforts on elders and multi-generational households for native and non-native residents within their lands. Tribal leaders also made getting shots easier, bringing the vaccine to those who might have barriers to accessing it.

President Joe Biden too wants to make vaccinations more convenient. 

One way is through the government website VACCINES dot GOV. There you can input your zip code to find vaccines near you. You can designate how far you’re willing to travel, one to 25 miles. And you can limit results by selecting a preferred vaccine: Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.

The search results offer a list of available providers by distance and whether vaccines are in or out of stock. By clicking the provider, you can check availability and make an appointment.

A map, directions, phone number and link to the provider’s website are also given. 

Beginning May 24, Uber and Lyft will be offering free round-trip rides to vaccination clinics. This is part of a federal effort to get at least one dose into at least 70 percent of Americans by July 4.

Minnesota has also lifted its mask mandate, but has left it up to cities and businesses to make their own determination.

What prompted the sudden turnaround?

Two things. First, fully-vaccinated people rarely become infected and, even less likely, rarely transmit the virus. Second, currently available vaccines appear to be effective against variants.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are 94 percent effective in preventing COVID-related illness, hospitalization or death. Even those who’ve only gotten their first shot gain a huge benefit, with an 82-percent effectiveness against variants.

Because the Johnson & Johnson vaccine became available later, there are fewer studies available. Health experts are still gathering data on how well it prevents infection and transmission.

Some retailers are already revising COVID safety guidelines. Walmart, Costco and Starbucks have announced mask-free shopping for fully-vaccinated customers, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial regulations.

Yet the CDC’s relaxed guidelines do not extend to all spaces. Mask wearing and social distancing are recommended in healthcare settings and on public transportation.

WALZ:”It’s a good day, it’s one more sign of a back to normalcy.”

Gov. Tim Walz recently signed the executive order ending the mandate following updated CDC guidance, which said fully vaccinated people can forgo masks in most indoor and outdoor settings.

However, masks will still be a very common sight in many businesses and cities. 

WALZ: “There will be decisions that can be made by local businesses and jurisdictions, especially health care settings, people will continue to mask in some of those settings.”

The move comes as vaccinations for those 65 years of age and older is nearing 90%. And over 61% of those 16 years of age and up have received at least one vaccine dose. Health officials would like to see that increase to 70% by the end of June. 

WALZ: Those of you who are not vaccinated, Now is the perfect time to get vaccinated. You can go without a mask. 

Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said she had mixed feelings about the end of the mask mandate, with equity gaps for those who have been vaccinated and the fact that there are still people at risk. 

More on that and attempts to address the equity gaps in a future update. 

Now, almost half a year into the vaccination rollout, health experts are questioning whether the United States can actually reach herd immunity.

Herd immunity is the idea that if you get enough people vaccinated, the virus will have nowhere to go. When you reduce the number of potential hosts, the virus has a harder time jumping person to person. And eventually, the virus dies out or becomes isolated and easily containable.

So why do experts now think herd immunity is unlikely? Because of rapidly evolving COVID variants and vaccine hesitancy.

The vaccination campaign is a race against the COVID variants. You want to get as many people vaccinated before the virus evolves to a point where the vaccinations lose their effectiveness.

Even though half of Americans have received at least one dose, demand for vaccines has dropped recently. Most of those eager to get vaccinated have already done so. That leaves people who are hesitant to get the vaccine and those who are harder to reach through traditional vaccine outlets.

This may lead some to think: Why bother getting vaccinated at all?

Because vaccinations are crucial to limiting the spread of COVID. With enough vaccinations, the pandemic could transform into a manageable threat. COVID would continue to circulate but with far fewer hospitalizations and deaths.

These scores take in variables like poverty and access to transportation to determine what challenges an area might face in the event of a disaster like a pandemic.

Since COVID arrived in Minnesota, this 31 percent has experience 42 percent of all COVID hospitalizations and 42 percent of all COVID deaths in the state.

Communities of color have been among the hardest hit. Vaccine coverage still lags among Black, Hispanic and multiracial communities. 

Among Minnesota’s American Indian population, close to 40 percent have received at least one vaccine dose. And among the Asian/Pacific Islander population, over 45 percent have.

This is compared to the over 50 percent of white Minnesotans.

Minnesota wants to close the vaccine gap. So for the next weeks, state health officials will be working with community partners to bring vaccine doses directly to these hard-hit zip codes.

They’ll also be targeting poorer and more isolated communities, including homeless encampments, agricultural workplaces and housing sites with limited transportation access through pop-up and mobile vaccination clinics.

Walk-ins for those 16 years of age and older are now accepted at community vaccination sites in Bloomington at the Mall of America, St. Paul at Roy Wilkins Auditorium, Lino Lakes and Oakdale. Walk-ins for those 18 and over are being accepted in Mankato, Duluth, Rochester and St. Cloud.

Walz says, since Minnesotans under 18 need to receive consent from a parent or guardian, the state is encouraging parents, guardians and families to walk in and get vaccinated together.

The federally-supported State Fairgrounds is not currently accepting walk-in appointments.

The increased availability of vaccine appointments comes as the state prepares to end capacity restrictions later this month, and double down on the vaccine push. Here’s Walz in a recent press conference. 

2:07 WALZ: Back in March and April of last year, I said our only vaccine was social distancing and mitigation. That’s no longer true. We rank near the top for testing, fewest in cases and fewest in deaths.

So, again: Walk-ins for those 16 years of age and older are now accepted at community vaccination sites in Bloomington at the Mall of America, St. Paul at Roy Wilkins Auditorium, Lino Lakes and Oakdale. Walk-ins for those 18 and over are being accepted in Mankato, Duluth, Rochester and St. Cloud.

Minnesotans can continue to make Community Vaccination Program appointments ahead of time by visiting vaccineconnector.mn.gov.

I’m Cole Premo.

Fifty-year-olds can get in. Thirty-five-year-olds. Sixteen-year-olds.

But when you show up at your appointment, you might be surprised. Where is everyone? Where are the lines?

Vaccine hesitancy has set in. Or, you could say, the vaccine supply is catching up to the group of people who are unsure about or don’t want to get a COVID vaccine for various reasons.

Two and half millions Minnesotans have already had at least one shot. This adds up to over half of everyone sixteen and older. And a whopping eighty-five percent of seniors sixty-five and older.

Demand for vaccinations has gone down. Now health experts are focusing on hard to reach populations, who might have logistical challenges to getting a vaccine, and those with vaccine hesitancy.

One way of doing this is through mobile vaccine units, which are visiting areas with lower vaccine coverage. Public health organizations are also disseminating information about the general safety and benefits of vaccination.

The great hope is that Minnesota will reach that magic number of 80 percent vaccinated so that herd immunity will kick in and restrictions can be lifted.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

OUTRO/FUNDER: (pre-recorded)

Marie: This MN Native News COVID-19 Daily Update is supported by the MN Dept. of Health.

MinnesotaGov. Tim Walz has unveiled a three-step timeline to end all COVID-19 restrictions
in the state, including the mask mandate.

Accordingto Walz, the first step, which was implemented at noon on May 7, will be the
further loosening of restrictions to places primarily in outdoor settings. This
includes removing capacity limits for outdoor dining, events, and other
get-togethers. The mask requirement will also end for outdoors except for large
venues with over 500 people.

Themandatory closing time of 11 p.m. will also end for bars and restaurants. 

Thesecond phase of the plan is ending capacity and social distancing limits on May
28. These include ending the requirement for face coverings indoors and for
outdoor events that exceed 500 people.

Thethird phase, ending the mask mandate, will happen when 70% of the state’s
eligible population has received at least one dose of the vaccine. That’s
expected by the end of June, so the mandate will end by no later than July 1. 

Localgovernments will still be able to set their own mask policies and other
requirements beyond July 1. Walz says the timeline of ending restrictions comes as the most at-risk Minnesotans
— seniors, educators and front-line workers — have received their vaccination. 

Walz says additional protections will remain in place, including an eviction
moratorium and a ban on price gouging.

As for schools, since those under 16 years old have yet to become eligible for
vaccination, the Safe Learning Plan will continue until the end of the school
year.

Now, the statewide “Roll Up Your Sleeves, Minnesota” vaccine campaign has turned its focus on critical frontline workforce sectors in manufacturing.

That initiative kicked off in mid-April with food service workers. Industry leaders and notables, like celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern , have teamed with the state to urge workers to sign up for the state’s Vaccine Connector, which alerts you when vaccine appointments are available near you.

A big goal of this push is to overcome vaccine hesitancy. One recent study found that as many as 23 percent of Americans are reluctant to get the vaccine. But to reach herd immunity, health officials hope to vaccinate at least 80 percent of the state’s population.

By chipping away at vaccine hesitancy, Minnesota gets closer to herd immunity. And with more food service workers vaccinated, that could speed up the opening of restaurants and bars to full capacity.

Leveraging about $375 million in federal assistance, a partnership of several counties and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul will be dispersing the money to renters. This is for those who need help paying rent and utilities to avoid eviction. 

Assistance can cover up to 15 months of past rent or utilities beginning March 2020, and three months’ worth of future rent. 

Here’s Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan:

6:11 FLANAGAN:”I’m a renter and every month I make my rent payment. And it’s the single, biggest payment I make. If you’ve not been able to keep up with rent and utilities, we have help and we have hope.” 

In order to qualify, Minnesota residents must rent and have past due bills, qualify for unemployment or were “negatively impacted” by COVID-19. For more on qualification and how to apply, go to RentHelpMN.org. That’s Rent Help MN. o-r-g

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Commissioner Jennifer Ho says the program is brand new, so it may take a bit for payments to make it to individuals. Aq 

These mass vaccination sites are part of Minnesota’s COVID-19 Community Vaccination Program. The goal of this program is to make it easier for Minnesotans to get vaccinated, wherever they are.

Other permanent vaccination sites are located in St. Cloud, Minneapolis, Duluth, Rochester, Bloomington, Saint Paul, Mankato and Oakdale—with the potential for more to come.

These sites do not accept walk-ins. To get an appointment, sign up for the state’s Vaccine Connector at M-N dot GOV backslash VACCINE CONNECTOR. This will notify you when vaccine opportunities open near you.

Once you get your Community Vaccination Program Appointment, try to arrive 15 minutes early. Appointments are staggered to help with social distancing.

Vaccine shots are provided at no cost. But if you have an insurance card, bring it along. The state will use the information to bill the insurance company on your behalf. If you are uninsured or for some reason your insurance company does not cover all the cost, the state will cover the difference.

Insurance is not required. The COVID vaccine is free to everyone.

Expect to sit for at least 15 minutes after you receive the vaccine. If you have allergies, you’ll be asked to wait 30 minutes. This is to ensure there are no reactions to the vaccine.

Efficacy refers to how well a vaccine works in a controlled setting, as in a clinical trial. Effectiveness, on the other hand, refers to how well it works in a real-world setting.

The Pfizer vaccine had a 95 percent efficacy in clinical trials. A U.S. study showed that the Moderna vaccine had a 90 percent efficacy in a recent clinical trial.

But how does that translate to the real world? How well will they work for you?

Americans have been getting shots in arms since December. The CDC followed 4,000 individuals who’d received shots over a period of months. It found both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to be 90 percent effective at preventing infection.

These are both two-dose vaccines. But even after the first dose, the vaccines proved 80 percent effective at preventing infection.

So which vaccine should you get? Health experts say there is no “best” vaccine. Take whichever one is available to you. Because it’s more important to get protected from the coronavirus than to shop around for a preferred vaccine. 

You can expect to gain maximum protection 14 to 28 days after both shots. Even with the current variants, the vaccines prevent 90 percent of infections. They also keep you from becoming seriously ill, if you get infected.

State officials recently announced the new rental assistance program, RentHelpMN, and it is open for applications. It’s targeted at low to moderate income renters who have gotten caught up in overdue rent and utilities dating back to March 13 of 2020.

Due to federal funding through the stimulus bill passed late last year, the state of Minnesota received about $375 million dollars for emergency rental assistance, $289 million of it going to the state and $85 million to localities in the Twin Cities’ metro area.

There will be one statewide portal for rental assistance. The state, working with participating local governments, will distribute the funds. There’ll also be community organization partners that can help renters navigate the application process, or point them to other resources.

Landlords are being encouraged to inform their tenants about RentHelpMN.

For more information and to apply, renters can visit renthelpmn.org. That’s RentHelpMN.o-r-g. There’s also the Greater Twin Cities United Way’s 211 Resource Helpline, which will have multilingual staff available to help answer questions about the rental assistance. That’s available Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, the state has launched a mobile vaccination unit to increase equitable access for the COVID-19 vaccine. More on that in the next update.

The card is filled out for you at your appointment. The healthcare worker records your name, date of birth, the date of each dose and the type of vaccine you’re getting: Pfizer Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.

For two-dose vaccines, you need to bring the card to your second appointment. Some people take photos of their cards, in case they get lost.

These Vaccine Passports are your proof of vaccination. But these little slips of paper have also stirred up controversy.

Florida’s governor has banned the use of them. There’s a feeling that requiring proof of vaccination is an invasion of privacy. Not everyone wants to get vaccinated. And no business should require proof of vaccination for service.

Hawaii, which is heavily reliant on tourism dollars, hopes to encourage travel with a vaccine passport program. Airlines, cruise lines and concert venues have established vaccine verification systems. A vaccine passport program can speed up the process. And they can allow for larger crowd sizes, a great help to industries struggling to reopen during a pandemic.

Minnesota’s governor Tim Walz says the state has no plans for a vaccine passport program.

This came after six women developed a rare blood clot disorder two weeks after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. One woman died. Another was hospitalized. The women were between the ages of 18 and 48.

What kind of impact will this have on Minnesota?

It will certainly slow down the rollout of COVID vaccines. With one of the vaccines removed, there will be fewer doses available, resulting in fewer vaccination appointments.

The one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine was popular with people who wanted to get fully protected faster: Two weeks versus the four weeks it takes for the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

It was also popular with vaccination sites because it is easier to ship and doesn’t need to be stored at very low temperatures.

Over 2 million Minnesotans have received at least one vaccine dose. That adds up to 46 percent of residents 16 and older. Eight-four percent of Minnesotans 65 and older are included in that number. 

To reach herd immunity, health officials are aiming to vaccinate 80 percent of the state’s total population.

Marie: From Minnesota Native News… this is a COVID-19 Daily Update.

MARIE:  I’m Marie Rock. 

MARIE: 

COVID is the ultimate puzzle. Some people never experience symptoms and have no clue they’ve been infected. Others get sick and never seem to get back to their healthy normal.

People in that second category are long haulers. They experience what’s called “long COVID.” This is when they recover from the initial infection but then suffer through months of chronic post-COVID symptoms. Horrible fatigue. Brain fog. Shortness of breath. Chest pain. Gastrointestinal problems.

Health experts predict 10 to 30 percent of cases will transition into long COVID.

Because the disease hasn’t even been with us two years yet, the health community can’t say for certain—yet—how long… “long COVID” might last. 

Recently, a new twist has been added to the mystery of long COVID. Some long haulers are reporting feeling better after getting the vaccine.

Is this wishful thinking?

Health experts point out that some COVID effects—like damage to the heart—cannot be reversed by a vaccine. Yet, if long haulers are experiencing a lessening of symptoms after their shot—this could indicate that with some patients the virus never left them. It was circulating in their systems—until the vaccine cleared it out.

As with much to do with this virus, the impact of the vaccine on long COVID will remain a mystery until more study can be devoted to it.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

This MN Native News COVID-19 Daily Update is supported by the MN Dept. of Health.

In an effort to answer some questions answered for its community on vaccines and rising variant cases, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa posted a video to Facebook featuring the band’s medical director Dr. Charity Reynolds.

Dr. Reynolds began by discussing the COVID-19 variants. 

REYNOLDS: Variants are the No. 1 strain of the COVID-19 virus at this time. We know the UK virus is the no. 1 virus in this region and in this area. We need to continue to be careful. Scientists are working to produce a booster for the vaccine so we can be protected against this virus, but in the meantime we need to be careful. 

Dr. Reynolds also discusses future vaccination for children. 

REYNOLDS: Likely end of year of early 2022, that’s likely to be available for the general population. 

Meanwhile, COVID-19 community coordinators, working with the state’s health department, continue efforts to get vaccine information and other resources to the state’s diverse communities, including help with transportation, housing and language barriers during the pandemic. 

Currently, the three vaccines available in Minnesota are authorized for teens and adults. The Moderna and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines are approved for age groups eighteen and up. Only the Pfizer vaccine is approved for age sixteen on up.

But are they safe and effective for adolescents, children and infants?

Clinical studies on children have lagged behind because, with the urgency of the pandemic, pharmaceutical companies had to put their focus on the population hardest hit by COVID—adults and those with underlying health conditions.

But clinical trials are already underway for the younger members of your family.

Pfizer has reported that its vaccine is 100 percent effective in kids age 12 to 15. The vaccine was well-tolerated and symptoms, when they existed, were consistent with those experienced by adults.

Kids, in general, are at low risk for complications from COVID. Yet, nationally, more than 13,500 kids have been hospitalized with the disease.

Health experts say it’s necessary to determine the safety of the vaccines for kids…  because we won’t be able to contain the spread of COVID until children are vaccinated. Also, a COVID vaccination may become a requirement for school attendance. This is a decision that will be made by each state.

Manufacturers hope to have vaccines ready for children before the start of next school year.

You’ve got full protection against the virus now--and your friends (who haven’t gotten the shot yet) are feeling “vaccine envy.”

That’s how it supposed to work, in an ideal world. But by the end of March, Minnesota had already documented around 90 cases of breakthrough COVID in people who were fully vaccinated.

That’s what you and your non-vaccinated friend have in common. You can both still become infected with the COVID virus. 

But the differences are more significant. Though fully-vaccinated and non-vaccinated people can contract COVID, the fully-vaccinated person is less likely to experience severe symptoms. Of the nearly 90 cases of breakthrough COVID, not one has died.

Another difference: fully-vaccinated individuals are far, far less likely to contract COVID. That shows the vaccine is doing its job. Health experts estimate that less than a tenth of one percent of fully-vaccinated Minnesotans will become infected.

Breakthrough COVID is not a surprise. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were about ninety-five percent effective in clinical tests. The other five percent of the time, the virus was able to slip past the vaccine’s defenses.

Yet even with that five percent, the vaccine is still the best bet for staying out of the hospital and staying healthy.

Minnesota is one of the states that has recently reported an increase in hospitalizations. That’s a worrying trend.

What’s behind this trend? Public health officials point to the warming weather, which for winter-weary Minnesotans means getting out of the house more and traveling. But since late January, the state has also been battling the more contagious and perhaps more deadly strain of COVID—the B-one-one-seven variant.

Yet Minnesota has two points in its favor. The state has opened vaccine eligibility to all residents sixteen and older. With more Minnesotans vaccinated, the virus has fewer opportunities to spread.

And Minnesota is one of the states that still requires the wearing of masks. As annoying as wearing a mask can be, it’s one of the best tools we have to keep ourselves and those around us safe.

With the vaccine rollout, it’s easy to forget that people are still getting sick and dying from COVID. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And health experts say we’ll get there with vaccinations and the simple rules we’ve been following all along: mask wearing, social distancing and hand washing.

Viruses change all the time. The coronavirus is no different. And since last year, health experts have been tracking new COVID strains as they appear in the United States.

The United Kingdom strain, called the B-one-one-seven variant, was first spotted in Minnesota in early January. This variant is more contagious than the original COVID strain. And it also appears to be more deadly.

The B-one-one-seven variant is behind an outbreak in Carver County. Public health officials have linked 140 cases to the variant, which seems to have spread mostly through youth sports.

Variant outbreaks have turned up in three other Minnesota counties: Blue Earth, Scott and St. Louis.

The good news is that, so far, the vaccine does seem to work against the variant. This holds true for the one-shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine as well as the two-shot Pfizer and Modern vaccines. 

This is why health experts say it’s more important than ever to get a vaccine shot. Minnesota is in a race to get vaccinations out ahead of the variant spread.

Over 1.4 million Minnesotans have already received at least one vaccine dose. That includes the 17.7 percent of Minnesota’s American Indian population who have received at least one shot.

State health officials say if you get sick with COVID-19, there is medication that can help your body fight the virus, but it’s important to act quickly. 

The Minnesota health department recently released a video of information on one of these treatments, monoclonal antibodies. Here’s audio from part of that video. 

VIDEO: “The medications, which include monoclonal antibody treatment, are for people who test positive and have mild to moderate symptoms. It’s important to act quickly because it can only be used in the first 10 days...”

Anyone who feels they may fit the criteria can visit health.mn.gov/covidmeds or should speak with their health care provider to see about eligibility and finding a nearby clinic. There’s also a Minnesota Helpline at 1-800-657-3504.. The hours are Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Again, the MN Helpline number is 1-800-657-3504. 

Meanwhile, vaccine eligibility has expanded in Minnesota to those 16 years of age and older, but priority is still given to older Minnesotans, those with underlying health conditions and essential workers. 

Gov. Tim Walz and former Gov. Tim Pawlenty received their first vaccine doses on the first day of expanded eligibility. 

Over 1.6 million people in the state have received at least one vaccine dose, along with over 80% of those 65 years of age and older. 

The options are expanding all the time. Health providers—like Allina, HealthPartners/Park Nicollet and Fairview—are contacting patients when they become eligible to sign them up for appointments at one of their clinics. 

Vaccines are finding their way to more and more pharmacy chains. Walgreens, Walmart, Sam’s Club and CVS are among those scheduling appointments. Check your pharmacy’s website to get on the wait list.

Tribal nations are holding ongoing vaccine clinics. Websites provide dates for clinics and eligibility requirements.

The state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Connector is open to everyone. Once you fill out the short online form, you’ll be alerted by email or phone when it’s your turn.

But if you want to see a list of all locations offering COVID vaccines near you, the state’s M-N dot GOV website provides an online search tool. The easiest way to find this page is to do an Internet search on “Minnesota Find Vaccine Locations.”

The tool allows you to search by city or zip code.

This new guidance paves the way for in-person visits. Facilities are now allowed to permit indoor visitation at all times and for all residents. Even if the visitor or the resident is unvaccinated, visits are permitted.

Health experts recommend that you continue to social distance, wear masks and sanitize hands. But you can hug. 

To be even safer, they suggest meeting outdoors, though that might not be possible, depending on the weather or the resident’s health.

Still, there are a handful cases when visitation would be restricted. They are:

If the resident is unvaccinated and they live in a county that has a COVID positivity rate greater than 10 percent and fewer than 70 percent of the residents in their facility are still unvaccinated.

Or…  If the resident has a confirmed case of COVID-19. This Restriction would remain in place until the resident is no longer infectious. 

And… finally… If the resident is in quarantine. In that case… restrictions would remain in place until that person is released from quarantine.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

The medication in question is called metformin. And the multi-site clinical trial is seeking volunteers for the outpatient study. It will also be the first randomized clinical trial for COVID-19 in the world to include pregnant women.

The reason the trial is starting is because researchers at the U of M medical school noticed, via computer modeling and observational studies, that outpatient metformin use may decrease dying from or being hospitalized for COVID-19.

While the medicine still needs to be fully researched to prove its effectiveness against COVID-19, researchers are excited about the study and say it could possibly be a safe and low-cost medication that could treat COVID worldwide -- and help countries with low healthcare resources.

The medical school says the study is simple. Volunteers will be enrolled through six institutions in the United States, including locations in Minneapolis. To qualify for the study, volunteers must enroll within three days of receiving a positive COVID-19 test.

Then, the patients will receive 14 days’ worth of immediate release metformin or a placebo to take twice a day and track symptoms. After the 14 days, volunteers will complete a survey.

Volunteers must also be between 30 years old and 85 years old. There are other qualifications, so visit COVIDOUT.com for more. That’s COVIDout.com.

Participating clinical trial sites in Minneapolis include M Health Fairview and Hennepin Healthcare.

The state is receiving $7.5 billion for vaccines. This is to ensure that everyone who wants a vaccine can get one, even if they don’t have insurance.

Federal funds will also help with distribution of vaccinations. Minnesota can use the money to open more state vaccination sites and get the vaccine out to pharmacies. This will make it easier for many to get access to a vaccine, without driving distances or ending up on long wait lists.

As of mid-March, nearly a quarter of Minnesotans had received at least one dose.

Governor Tim Walz has already expanded eligibility for COVID vaccinations. He says all adults will be eligible by May 1st.

Though eligible, you may still have to wait to get access to the vaccine. It all depends on how much vaccine the federal government is able to allocate to Minnesota over the coming weeks and months.

Minnesota is nearing its goal of vaccinating 70 percent of the senior population. Because of this, it can expand eligibility.

Some of the groups who now have access to COVID shots are:

- People with underlying health conditions, such as Sickle cell disease or Down syndrome, or who have immunocompromised systems because of cancer treatment or organ transplant.

- People who are oxygen-dependent because of lung or heart conditions.

- Those 50 and older living in multi-generational housing.

- Essential frontline workers: agricultural, airport staff, child care workers not previously eligible, workers in correctional settings, first responders, food production, food retail, food service, public health workers, public transit, the U.S. Postal Service, among others.

To get the full, updated list of vaccine-eligible Minnesotans, go to: M-N dot GOV backslash COVID19 backslash VACCINE, and click on the link “Who’s Getting Vaccinated?”

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

Some good news after more than a year of social distancing and masks: If you’re fully vaccinated, you can safely visit other fully vaccinated individuals indoors and without masks. And, in some circumstances, you can also visit small groups of unvaccinated individuals.

The CDC has released new guidelines to help you figure out when you’re ready and what to consider.

The most important question: How do you know when you’re fully vaccinated? The short answer is two weeks after your last shot. So, two weeks after your single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Or two weeks after the second shot of your two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

The CDC says fully vaccinated people can safely get together without masks or social distancing. This includes getting together with unvaccinated people from a single household. 

But masks and social distancing should still be used when meeting with unvaccinated people who are at risk for severe COVID. And when meeting with unvaccinated people from multiple households.

Even if fully vaccinated, you should continue to wear masks and social distance in public. CDC guidance also suggests avoiding medium- and large-sized in-person gatherings.  

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

OUTRO/FUNDER: (pre-recorded)

Marie: This MN Native News COVID-19 Daily Update is supported by the MN Dept. of Health.

These COVID-19 Community Coordinators—or CCC’s—include the Department of Indian Work - Interfaith Action, the Northwest Indian Community Development Center and the American Indian Community Housing Organization.

CCC’s can answer questions about:

·         Where to get tested for COVID-19

·         Food support

·         Health care and mental health resources

·         Housing and rental assistance

·         COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing

·         Employment resources

In addition to communities of color, dozens of CCC’s serve the LGBTQ-plus, disability, ethnic and immigrant communities. They can help in multiple languages.

To find a CCC, go to: health DOT state DOT m-n DOT u-s BACKSLASH c-c-c. Each organization entry provides the hotline number, contact information and hours of operation.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

OUTRO/FUNDER: (pre-recorded)

Marie: This MN Native News COVID-19 Daily Update is supported by the MN Dept. of Health.

Why is that? 

First of all, health experts say not to call them side effects. They are a RESPONSE to the COVID vaccine. And second, yes, a response is far more likely with the second dose because the first shot did what it was supposed to do.

The first shot primed your immune system to identify the foreign invader and develop a defense against it. So when you get the second, your immune system moves into action.

The most common symptoms people experience with either the first or second dose are: fever, headache and body aches. Fever is your body’s natural response when fighting off infection. 

Data seems to show that people 55 and older experience fewer symptoms. Health experts say this is likely because younger people have more active immune systems. 

Symptoms usually disappear within 24 hours.

The CDC cautions against taking pain relievers BEFORE your COVID vaccine appointment, unless advised to do so by your doctor. There’s a potential they could lessen the effectiveness of the shot. But the CDC says it’s fine to take Tylenol or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as Advil or Motrin, AFTERWARDS to alleviate symptoms of fever, aches and chills.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

The short answer is: Not right away. It takes your body a while to build an immune response after the initial injection.

Currently, the two vaccines available in the United States—Pfizer and Moderna—are two-dose vaccines.

You get some immunity after the first dose. But that immunity doesn’t begin to provide some form of protection until after 12 days.

The real benefit comes after the second shot. It takes two weeks AFTER your second dose to build full protection against the virus.

At that point, you have almost zero chance of developing serious illness if you are exposed to COVID.

Pfizer shots are given 21 days apart. And Moderna shots are given 28 days apart. Vaccination sites should sign you up for the second shot BEFORE you leave the clinic after getting your first. If not, make sure you ask to sign up.

 Minnesota’s vaccine supply has been limited, but there’s a shipment on the way that will help bolster the state’s vaccination effort. 
 
 According to the MN Department of Health, the state will receive just over 45,000 doses of the newly-approved Johnson and Johnson vaccine by the end of the week. 
 
 Gov. Tim Walz says it means that those additional doses will be administered over the weekend and into Monday. Here he is. 
 
 9:46 WALZ: “The vaccine works, it’s one-dose, it’s shelf stable. So the finish line is there, let’s finish this thing.”
 
 While Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine has been found to be 66% effective overall in preventing symptoms of COVID-19, it’s 85% effective in preventing severe cases of COVID-19. 
 
 Furthermore, it was 100% effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths. It’s now one of three vaccines approved in the U.S. 
 
 The news of the vaccine shipment came on the same day that the governor announced the state is fifth in the nation for getting its supply of vaccines out to those who need it, and he says the process is improving quote “all the time”.
 
 More than 900,000 people in Minnesota have received at least one vaccine dose. 
 
 I’m Cole Premo. 

INTRO (pre-recorded)

Marie: From Minnesota Native News… this is a COVID-19 Daily Update. 

MARIE:  I’m Marie Rock. 

MARIE: 

The state’s new tool to help Minnesotans locate and get access to COVID vaccines is up and running. It’s called the Minnesota Vaccine Connector and, once you sign up, it will notify you when it’s your turn for a vaccination and where to go.

It’s also easy to sign up. Go to: MN dot GOV backslash VACCINECONNECTOR. An Internet search on “Minnesota Vaccine Connector” will also take you there. Or call 833-431-2053.

ALL Minnesotans who have NOT YET RECEIVED the COVID vaccine are encouraged to apply. 

Once you hit the “Launch the Vaccine Connector” link, you’ll be guided to a page that asks for general information about your occupation. That’s to determine if you’re in a priority category like healthcare worker or educator. The demographic information is optional.

There are checkbox lists for disabilities and medical conditions. The Minnesota Department of Health is prioritizing vaccine shots for people with certain underlying health conditions.

You’ll also be asked whether you’re able to get to a vaccination site in your community if given short notice. Some people may not have access to a vehicle or may need to make other arrangements.

Once signed up with the Vaccine Connector, you’ll be notified when you’re eligible to receive your shot. You’ll be reached by email, text or phone.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

OUTRO/FUNDER: (pre-recorded)

Marie: This MN Native News COVID-19 Daily Update is supported by the MN Dept. of Health.

 So, as more and more students head back to the classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic, health officials are stressing regular testing. 
 
 The Minnesota Department of Health is asking all young students, and their families, to get tested for COVID-19 every two weeks until the end of the school year. 
 
 Here’s MDH Assistant Commissioner Dan Huff in a recent press conference, who noted progress in getting students safely back to in-person learning. 
 
 HUFF: “To protect this progress, we need to use all the tools at our disposal… we’re asking families to get tested…resources will be sent out to schools...”
 
 Testing every two weeks isn’t required, but health officials say it’s a recommendation for any student who returns to in-person learning, youth sports or any other extra curricular activities. 
 
 Meanwhile, Walz has vowed to get educators at least one vaccine dose by March 8. 

MARIE:  I’m Marie Rock. 

MARIE: 

Can a vaccinated person still get infected with COVID? That’s a question more and more Americans are asking as they get their COVID vaccine and wonder if the shots are really that effective.

There are a few key things to know about the COVID-19 vaccines. They are designed to keep you from getting sick with COVID. Even if you are vaccinated, you could still become exposed to the virus. After the exposure, you might be infected or carry the virus, but you probably won’t feel sick or have symptoms.

This is called asymptomatic infection.

Some may potentially feel a little ill but the vaccine will prevent serious illness or death.

Of course the NEW strains of COVID are a concern too. 

Will your vaccine shot work with them? Again, as it stands now, the current vaccines appear to be effective in preventing serious illness with these new strains.

Still, the vaccine manufacturers are racing to update their shots so they can better protect against the new strains.

One more question: Can a vaccinated person transmit the virus? 

Yes, it IS possible. Because a vaccinated person can still become infected, though feel no symptoms, they can also unknowingly pass on that infection to someone who hasn’t been vaccinated and is at risk for serious illness.

That’s why the CDC recommends that you continue to wear masks and maintain social distancing to help everyone stay healthy.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

OUTRO/FUNDER: (pre-recorded)

Side effects?

The idea of side effects can be worrying. Because if you look at the list, they sound an awful lot like COVID. Fever. Chills. Tiredness. Headache.

But health experts say: no need to worry. These symptoms are signs that the vaccine is working. That means your body’s immune system is learning how to build protection against a real COVID infection.

The most common side effect is pain or discomfort at the site of the shot. For this: the CDC recommends apply a cool wet cloth. You can also gently exercise your arm to relieve discomfort.

Another potential side effect is: A low fever. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and dress comfortably. Some people have reported body aches and headache.

But over fifty percent of those who’ve been given the Pfizer or Moderna shots have experienced NO side effects. So you don’t need side effects to know the vaccine is working.

Three criteria were used to select locations. They represent geographically diverse areas of the state. They do not currently have a saliva testing location. Or they have limited community testing events.

If you live in one of those locations, you can now go online to order a kit. It will be shipped to your home. To perform the test, you spit in a tube while supervised by a health care professional via a telehealth video session. So you’ll need access to the internet while you’re doing this.

After, you mail the kit in the prepaid package to the Minnesota test lab. You’ll receive results in one to two days.

Testing is free to all Minnesotans.

To get more information about the “test at home saliva program” visit HEALTH DOT M-N DOT GOV and click on “news releases”.

Because the vaccine’s been fast-tracked, is there a possibility it could be harmful? Who gets the vaccine first? How can the state make sure underserved populations are not overlooked? How much will it cost?

At an October health briefing, Kris Ehresmann [AIRS-min], Infectious Disease Director at the Minnesota Department of Health, said that safety will be of primary concern.

Kris Ehresmann: We will move forward with a vaccine only when the evidence shows it is safe and effective.

Because initial supplies will be limited, the elderly and those with underlying conditions, as well as healthcare and other essential workers will be given priority. 

The vaccine will be rolled out in phases. Some Minnesotans may still find their access to vaccine limited because of mobility, transportation or other issues. Officials are making plans to reach them through programs like drive-through and local community vaccinations. Director Ehresmann also looked at what Minnesotans will be expected to pay for a vaccine.

Ehresmann: The expectation is that vaccine will be provided to Minnesotans at no charge to them.

For months now, public health officials have been repeating the same messages: wear masks, socially distance, sanitize hands and surfaces. But at an October 21st health briefing, Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm looked back to the Greatest Generation, which united to overcome economic depression and world war, to talk about a mindset to help us during COVID.

Jan Malcolm: We’re at a time again when there’s a need for all of us to work together toward a common goal. A time to really think about the value of tolerating some personal inconveniences and desires to address a major threat to our entire state and, indeed, our entire country.

Her words took on greater urgency as both North Dakota and Wisconsin scramble to deal with out-of-control COVID spread. Minnesota hasn’t reach that point—yet. Which is why the commissioner stressed the opportunity, provided by the challenge of COVID, for Minnesotans to do their part.

Jan Malcolm: The decision to not stay home when you’re ill, to not get tested, or to go to a gathering, to not wear a mask, isn’t just about you. It’s about all of us. It’s about the entire state and what kind of next few months we’re going to have. Now more than ever we need literally all of us to be part of making these personal, individual efforts to keep every other Minnesotan safe.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

OUTRO/FUNDER: (pre-recorded)

Marie: This MN Native News COVID-19 Daily Update is supported by the MN Dept. of Health.

Minnesota health commissioner Jan Malcolm described what this upward trend could mean for the state.

Jan Malcolm: We do need to understand that more cases are going to lead to more people with serious disease (potentially, with long-term complications we are only beginning to understand), more people in the hospital and more deaths. We need to brace ourselves for that.

Marie:

If cases continue to rise, Minnesota could experience what’s been happening elsewhere with hospitals running out of beds and out of staff to tend to COVID patients—on top of heart attack, cancer and accident patients. Schools might have to shift to virtual classrooms. And businesses, faced with sick employees, might have to close.

Yet, Commissioner Malcolm also pointed out that we have it in our power to reverse the trend.

Malcolm: If we all do the things that we know matter and help to prevent and limit the transmission of the disease, we will have a far different and far better next few months until we get to that time when safe and effective vaccines are widely available.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

We already know that being inside can increase the possibility of coronavirus transmission because of the virus’s ability to linger—and concentrate—in the air, especially in spaces that are not well-ventilated.

The CDC had said that for individuals to get infected they need to be in contact for, on average, 15 minutes within six feet of someone who is positive for COVID. That’s because experts believe that people need to be exposed to a certain level of virus—a so-called “infectious dose” of virus—before they’re infected.

The CDC is now saying that they’ve documented a case in which infection occurred without 15 minutes of straight contact. In this case, transmission occurred over multiple brief encounters. The person who got infected was wearing a mask but was around a mixed group, with some wearing masks and others not.

Transmission indoors can be influenced by a number of factors: how good the ventilation is, how infectious the person is, how easily the virus moves through a particular space and whether or not masks are being worn.

Daily Update Script For Day October Xrd:

(Music 5-8 seconds)

INTRO (pre-recorded)

Marie: From Minnesota Native News… this is a COVID-19 Daily Update. 

MARIE:  I’m Marie Rock. 

Minnesota Health Officials Hope Mail-In Saliva Tests Help Reach Areas Without Testing Site Access

MARIE: 

Minnesota’s strategy for curbing and, hopefully, heading off runaway COVID community spread is to provide access for Minnesotans who need testing. Dan Huff, the Department of Health’s Assistant Commissioner, said, since early September, testing statewide has increased 65 percent. 

Huff: Adding testing capacity allows us to test more of our priority populations. And that includes people who have had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID, doing more community testing in underserved populations, responding to outbreaks, and preventing growth in cases through this more targeted testing.

Marie:

However, this comes as case numbers are on an upswing. So in late September, the state began opening saliva test clinics in Greater Minnesota and the metro. More clinics are being added over the next weeks.

Still, some Minnesotans do not have access to a testing site. A new initiative, available in November, will try to fill the gap with mail-in test kits. Here’s Assistant Commissioner Huff:

Huff: The COVID-19 Testing at Home Program will allow Minnesotans to register online and to receive their at-home testing kit via UPS.

Insurance will cover the cost. Underinsured Minnesotans or those without insurance can receive their test at no cost.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

OUTRO/FUNDER: (pre-recorded)

Marie: This MN Native News COVID-19 Daily Update is supported by the MN Dept. of Health.

Those areas of Greater Minnesota, mostly rural areas, have been behind much of the recent increase in new cases. Jan Malcolm, Minnesota Health Commissioner, says this uptick should alert Minnesotans to a couple things.

Jan: The speed with which cases can move through rural communities and the fact that, whereas early in the pandemic it might’ve seemed like this was a large urban phenomenon, that around the country we’ve seen some of the fastest growing case rates being, in fact, in rural areas. So that’s something we’ve been stressing. That this is truly a statewide issue. That there is no part of Minnesota that is untouched by this.

Health officials in Greater Minnesota have linked these surges to ordinary everyday events like getting together at a restaurant as well as to larger gatherings like weddings. From there, the virus travels home to other family, neighbors and friends and then into schools and long-term care facilities.

Kris Ehresmann [AIRS-min], director of the infectious disease department with the Minnesota Department of Health, said this increase in rural cases has nothing to do with location and everything with behavior.

Kris: We’ve talked about the consistent things we’ve seen that are associated with transmission and that is: crowding, lacking of social distancing, lack of wearing masks. And so any environment where that is happening, whether it’s in the metro area or greater Minnesota—that’s where we’re going to see cases.

Daily Update Script For Day October Xrd:

(Music 5-8 seconds)

INTRO (pre-recorded)

Yes, You Can Get COVID19 Through Airborne Transmission Says CDC

Marie: From Minnesota Native News… this is a COVID-19 Daily Update. 

MARIE:  I’m Marie Rock. 

MARIE: 

October 5th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its webpage to acknowledge that, yes, people can become infected with COVID through airborne transmission, particularly in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.

Wait. Isn’t this what we’ve been hearing for months? Yes. But this website update is the CDC’s official acknowledgement, based on current findings, that people can become infected through tiny airborne particles that can linger in the air for minutes or hours. And that this can happen even when people are more than six feet apart.

Kris Ehresmann [AIRS-min], director of the infectious disease department with the Minnesota Department of Health, said airborne transmission has been an essential part of their messaging.

Kris: We’ve been aware that this is the potential. And we’ve been looking at situations in light of the potential for airborne transmission. It’s good to have this on the CDC website and it reinforces some of the messages that we’ve been giving. The one thing that I will mention is that the circumstances in which they really saw this type of transmission being more of an issue were in close spaces with inadequate ventilation, with crowding. That type of thing. 

So how can we protect ourselves when meeting with people beyond our close circle of daily contacts? Because ventilation is important, it’s been suggested to open doors and windows when inside or, if possible, move the gathering outdoors. Portable air filter units can also be used inside.

The CDC continues to recommend that people remain at least six feet apart and, if possible, avoid crowded indoor spaces.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

OUTRO/FUNDER: (pre-recorded)

Marie: This MN Native News COVID-19 Daily Update is supported by the MN Dept. of Health.

 Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz convened the fifth special session of the year where he extended the state’s COVID-19 peacetime emergency. 
 
 According to Walz, the 30-day extension into November is needed to ensure the state can continue to react quickly and effectively to the pandemic.
 
 Walz says the COVID-19 virus is unpredictable and continues to devastate Minnesota’s communities, as well as the nation’s. He said quote “This emergency is not over.” unquote
 
 Senate Republicans have opposed Walz’s emergency powers, and have called for an end to the state of emergency. But the DFL-controlled House continues to uphold the emergency. 
 
 It’s the seventh extension of the order since March. 
 
 ----
 
 In other news, a new survey of Minnesota teachers finds that nearly 30% of educators are thinking about quitting or retiring due to the stress, workload and risks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
 The survey was conducted by teachers’ union Education Minnesota. Nearly 10,000 teachers and administrators responded. 
 
 According to the union, a majority of educators reported being stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated and worried about their mental health. 
 
 Additionally, the Teachers Retirement Association of Minnesota says applications for retirement benefits increased by 35% in August and September 2020, compared to the same time last year. 
 
 The teachers union is calling for districts to adapt and adjust in light of these responses, including removing unnecessary tasks from educators’ plates and abandoning plans that ask for a single teacher to manage half a class online and half of an in-person class at the same time. 
 
 I’m Cole Premo. 

Dr. Greg Poland: This virus thrives in cold weather where the humidity is down and where people are crowded together.

Marie:

This probably won’t surprise anyone who’s ever had a cold or flu in winter. Winter just seems to be the season for viruses, like COVID, to spread. As Dr. Poland stated, that’s because a.) people tend to crowd indoors, where transmission is easier and b.) virus particles tend to linger longer in dry winter air. That also increases the likelihood of transmission.

We’re heading into the dry, cold season as we’re seeing major surges of COVID around the U.S. and in Minnesota. Dr. Poland hopes people do their part with masking and social distancing.

Dr. Poland: My heart is heavy with trying to get across just how bad a sign this is. And we’re going to have to do everything we can to convince people this is serious business that has to be attended to properly or people will get hurt.

 The Minnesota Department of Health is responding after President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and others tested positive for COVID-19 following a recent visit to Minnesota. 
 
 Minnesota health director Kris Ehresmann addressed the news in a recent daily COVID-19 briefing.
 
 EHRESMANN:  “Our thoughts are with President Trump, Melania Trump and others as they deal with covid-19 infections. We wish them a full and speedy recovery.”
 
 Now, Minnesota health officials say there is a potential risk that transmission occurred at the Duluth Trump rally in late September and other events associated with Trump’s visit. 
 
 According to recent data, community transmission was high in St. Louis County prior to the Duluth rally on Sept. 30.  That means people attending the rally may have been infectious without realizing it. 
 
 Ehresmann offered some guidance to those who attended Trump events.
 
 EHRESMANN: “Anyone who attended events associated with the President’s visit and who now has symptoms should get tested right away. People should consider getting tested even if they do not have symptoms because some people may not develop or recognize symptoms and people can spread the virus even without displaying symptoms. People should get tested five to seven days after the event. If they test negative, they should get tested again around 12 days after the event. People should get tested in their home communities and seek testing from their health care provider when possible.”
 
 Furthermore, anyone who had direct contact with President Trump or any known COVID-19 cases needs to quarantine for 14 days and should get tested.
 
 Minnesotans in the Duluth area can get a test at a testing site set up at the Duluth Entertainment Convention CEnter. 

Marie: From Minnesota Native News… this is a COVID-19 Daily Update. 

MARIE:  I’m Marie Rock. 

MARIE: 

During the COVID-19 crisis, cancer diagnoses of six of the most common types of cancer have decreased 46 percent. Those are breast, colo-rectal, lung, pancreatic, gastric and esophageal cancers.

Why have the number of diagnoses gone down? Dr. Nabil Wasif [pronounced nah-BEEL WAH-sif], chair of Surgical Oncology with the Mayo Clinic, speculates it has something to do with people putting off routine screenings because of the pandemic.

Dr. Wasif: And patients who are having mild symptoms may not be seeking medical attention. Whereas under normal circumstances, they may have gone to see their doctor right away and have uncovered a problem early.

MARIE:

People without any symptoms at all are also delaying their annual or routine screenings. 

Routine screenings are recommended for breast, cervical and colon cancers—and for smokers, CT scans for lung cancer.

Though people are avoiding clinics out of concern for COVID, Dr. Wasif [WAH-sif] says safety measures practiced by the clinic and patients, such as masking up, disinfecting and social distancing, have reduced the potential for infection.

Dr. Waif: So the main risk is that instead of a cancer being picked up early on a screening test, before the patient’s having any symptoms, it gets diagnosed at a much more advanced stage. We know that for most cancers, your best chance for cure is when we pick it up early.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

OUTRO/FUNDER: (pre-recorded)

Marie: This MN Native News COVID-19 Daily Update is supported by the MN Dept. of Health.

But those very same, very familiar symptoms are likely to give you pause this season now that COVID-19 is a possibility. How can you tell the difference?

The most common symptoms of colds are sneezing, aches and pains, a runny nose and sore throat. This is sometimes accompanied by a mild cough, fatigue, and—rarely—fever or headaches.

COVID and flu, both respiratory illnesses, can look even more alike. So the Centers for Disease Control has posted information on their similarities online.

Flu and COVID can share these symptoms: fever, chills, cough, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, fatigue, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle pain or body aches and headache. Both flu and COVID viruses can cause mild to severe illness.

Because the two are so similar, testing may be needed to confirm a diagnosis.

In either case, be alert to warning signs, such as trouble breathing, chest pressure, confusion, bluish lips or face or inability to stay awake or wake up, and call 9-1-1 or call ahead to your local emergency facility.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd, and already the government and polling places are gearing up for the new normal of COVID-era voting.

Because in-person voting draws in large crowds with the potential for long lines, the Centers for Disease Control has outlined COVID safety procedures. The CDC advises polling places to make a plan for managing lines and avoiding bottlenecks while maintaining social distance. Hand sanitizer should be provided at every stage of the voting process—from sign in to casting the ballot to the distribution of “I Voted” stickers. And frequently handled objects—door handles and pens—should be regularly sanitized.

To vote from your car, you can request “curbside voting” when you arrive at the polling place or call your local election office ahead of time.

Still, many voters will be mailing in ballots this year to minimize the risk of COVID transmission. Any registered Minnesota voter can request an absentee ballot at the Secretary of State’s website: mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us [say “m n votes DOT s o s DOT state DOT m n DOT u s.”] 

To complete the simple form, you’ll need a valid email address and at least one form of identification: Minnesota driver’s license, Minnesota ID card or the last four digits of your Social Security card.

Absentee ballots began mailing out September 18th for the November General Election. It’s suggested you mail your completed ballot at least seven days before Election Day. But your vote will be tallied as long as your ballot is postmarked on or before Election Day.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

OUTRO/FUNDER: (pre-recorded)

Marie: This MN Native News COVID-19 Daily Update is supported by the MN Dept. of Health.

Daily Update Script For Day August Xrd:

(Music 5-8 seconds)

INTRO (pre-recorded)

Marie: From Minnesota Native News… this is a COVID-19 Daily Update. 

MARIE:  I’m Marie Rock. 

MARIE: 

In Minnesota, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a daily fact of life for six months. But the nature of epidemic continues to evolve.

Jan Malcolm, state health commissioner, says the Minnesota Department of Health is seeing an uptick in the number of Minnesotans getting COVID from community transmission of unknown origin.

Jan Malcolm: Meaning that people are out in the community, they’re doing multiple things, they don’t have a clear idea that they got it from any one given person. 

Marie:

Back on July 1st, the percent of cases coming from community spread was 27.8. Now it’s 33.5 percent. 

Jan Malcolm: A lot of these cases are coming from just a variety of social gatherings: informal gatherings as well as public gatherings. There does seem to be a lot of private social activity that is fueling our numbers here. [jan gather]

Marie:

Outbreaks have been traced to weddings, parties and funerals. Commissioner Malcolm says that it’s events like these that are fueling a good deal of recent community spread.

Jan Malcolm: These kinds of gatherings are proving to be as much or actually more of a challenge than some of the gatherings we do in more public spaces. The spaces we most commonly frequent—the grocery store, retail establishments, gas stations—those are not the places. In those settings people are pretty compliant with mask wearing and social distancing. But somehow in the more private gatherings, we seem to—many of us, too many of us—be of the mind that “Well, if it’s just our family we’re gathering with or just our friends, there’s somehow less risk in that in that situation.” And we just need Minnesotans to know that’s just not the case.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

OUTRO/FUNDER: (pre-recorded)

Marie: This MN Native News COVID-19 Daily Update is supported by the MN Dept. of Health.

That’s a lot of tests. And Minnesota’s not done yet, said Governor Tim Walz in a September briefing.

Governor Walz: But let’s just be very clear. Testing is the key to getting out of this. Testing and the robust testing capacity is one of the keys. Minnesota is not turning our backs on that. In fact, we’re increasing our capacity to be able to do that.

Testing is key to tracking the pandemic.

So on September 17th, Minnesota health officials announced free “no barrier” coronavirus testing. Beginning the week of September 21st, health officials will hold three to six community testing events each week for a total of four weeks.

The events will be spread across the state. The free tests are available to anyone who feels a need to be tested. It’s called “no barrier” testing because it provides COVID tests to those who otherwise might not get them, owing to lack of insurance or not showing symptoms.

Minnesota is ramping up testing as the state is experiencing a surge in community spread. Health officials are hoping to get ahead of the spike so it doesn’t rage out of control.

The Minnesota Department of Health will announce locations as it determines where testing is most needed.

Individuals wishing to be tested just need to provide a name and a way to contact them when results come in.

(Music 5-8 seconds)

INTRO (pre-recorded)

Marie: From Minnesota Native News… this is a COVID-19 Daily Update. 

MARIE:  I’m Marie Rock. 

MARIE: 

For Minnesotans, September signals the end of summer, when days get colder and shorter and jackets get pulled out of the closet. It’s also a time to enjoy the increasingly rare warm and sunny day outdoors.

And since outdoors is safer than indoors when it comes to COVID, it’s okay to drop the masks and invite the gang over, right?

Kris Ehresman [pronounced AIRS-min], director of infectious disease at the Minnesota Department of Health, says, yes, there is an outdoor advantage—up to a point.

Kris Ehresman: And we’ve tried to reinforce that, while all things being equal, being outdoors is better than being indoors. Because you have better airflow. You have more space to distance. And oftentimes you’ll have sunlight, which is positive. So I think some people have gotten the mistaken notion that being outside eliminates risk. It reduces risk as compared to being indoors. But it does not eliminate risk.

Marie:

Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm says the Minnesota Department of Health has verified cases of outdoor transmission.

Jan Malcolm: Even if we’re outdoors, if we’re close together for long periods of time without masking, we see transmission happening.

Marie:

The trick to reducing transmission is the same for indoors and outdoors. Here’s Commissioner Malcolm:

Jan Malcolm: So it’s so key to maintain those three pillars. Important to avoid large, close crowds. Important to maintain social distancing. And important to wear a mask. And we need all three of those things to happen. They’re like layers of protection. It’s not one alone that’s the magic protection. It’s the layering of those things.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

OUTRO/FUNDER: (pre-recorded)

Marie: This MN Native News COVID-19 Daily Update is supported by the MN Dept. of Health.

Today on your Covid 19 daily update we have a story from Hope Flanagan, from the Dream of Wild Health Native owned and operated agency.

In the wintertime Hope is a storyteller. She was given stories by Anishinaabe elder Ona Kingbird from Ponemah, Minnesota. 

She’s not able to tell the whole story because it’s not winter and we need to honor those spirits. 

FLANAGAN: One of the stories I’m required to tell is about how we're like the two little twin babies and they're in the cradleboard and the animals and the plants have been so generous to us that they all lined up light up saying oh these poor young ones that don't know much. They don't know how to take care of themselves. 

And so like, every plant came and gave its specific gift and every animal came, every insects came, every living being came and gave their specific gifts. And the babies were still not happy. They still wanted more. They didn’t even want to come out of their cradleboard.  

And I see as a possibility with what's happening right now. If we stay in our cradleboards, we’re not going to move, we’re not going to walk, we’re not going to stay vital. We're not going to learn from those plants and animals. What we were told is, those are our elders, They were here before us, they know how to live on this earth. And our job is to pay attention to them and find out how are we supposed to live in harmony with this earth? Because we're the newcomers who are endangering ourselves. 

That was Hope Flanagan, story teller from the Dream of Wild Health farm in Hugo, Minnesota. 

I'm Cole Premo. Script: Boozhoo, I’m Cole Premo. Here's your daily update. 
 
 Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has again extended his emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
 On Friday, Sept. 11, during a Special Session, Walz’s peacetime emergency was extended through Oct. 12. House Democrats upheld the extension despite Senate Republicans voting to block it. 
 
 The peacetime emergency gives the governor power to issue executive orders and regulate businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, without legislative approval. Walz says it gives him the ability to respond quickly to the rapidly changing COVID-19 pandemic, which is still very much a threat.
 
 Walz first declared a peacetime state of emergency in March. Here he is in a recent press conference. 
 
 WALZ 2:45: “I said back in March, when we had an unusual state-of-the-state address, that this it’ll be a long winter… we’ve made progress, but we’re not out of the woods.”
 
 Meanwhile, health experts are concerned that colder temperatures could lead to a spike in cases this fall and winter, with more people hosting indoor gatherings.  
 
 Gov. Walz says Minnesotans should remain vigilant and continue to social distance, wash hands often and wear face masks in indoor public areas and businesses. 
 
 More than 84,000 COVID-19 cases and 1,900 deaths have been confirmed so far in Minnesota. 

I'm Cole Premo. 

Daily Update Script For Day September Xrd:

(Music 5-8 seconds)

INTRO (pre-recorded)

Marie: From Minnesota Native News… this is a COVID-19 Daily Update. 

MARIE:  I’m Marie Rock. 

MARIE: 

At his September 3rd briefing update, Governor Tim Walz warned Minnesotans that we may be at a COVID-19 tipping point.

Governor Walz: We have stayed at a relatively manageable—approximately 5.3, 5.4 percent positivity rate. That number was under five until the last several weeks. It has been creeping up in the recent weeks. What we know is that once you get above that number and community spread starts to go, there is a very fine line of a tipping point.

Marie:

When Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House’s coronavirus task force coordinator, visited our state at the end of August, she noted that what she’s seeing here is similar to what she saw in Arizona at the end of July. 

That’s when cases in the southwestern state began to surge and hospitals and morgues quickly reached capacity.

What did Dr. Birx think was fueling Minnesota’s recent rise? 

In many cases, just those small gatherings that make summer so enjoyable. Backyard barbecues. Evenings gathered around the fire pit with neighbors and friends.

Here’s Governor Walz:

Gov. Walz: We’re at a tipping point, a potential tipping point, but we still possess the capacity to push back in the right direction. But again it’s not going to be any mandate. It’s not going to be anything we necessarily say. It’s going to be behavior changes by Minnesotans that get a grip on this.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

OUTRO/FUNDER: (pre-recorded)

Marie: This MN Native News COVID-19 Daily Update is supported by the MN Dept. of Health.

The money comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and its Indian Community Development Block Grant – specifically its Imminent Threat Funding program. 

The first round of grant recipients of this fund was announced in early July. 

The Red Lake grant comes as part of the fifth round. 

In total there’s 100 million dollars available in this fund… known as the ICDBG-CARE [Say “cares”] grant… and it will be dispersed to applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Depending on how the pandemic unfolds, the last $20 million in grants may instead be dispersed to those whose need is most critical.

The fund aims to help Indian Country with prevention and response to COVID-19.

Applicants can use the money to build transitional quarantine housing for those infected with coronavirus or to establish an emergency operational center, among other uses.

Red Lake Comprehensive Health, the health provider for the Red Lake Nation, says it plans to use Its ICDBG-CARE [say “cares”] grant money to purchase three modular homes for medical staff and two ambulances. 

The remainder of the money will be used for testing and diagnostic equipment, personal protective equipment and two-way radios.

As of September 2nd, the Red Lake Emergency Response Team has confirmed 51 total COVID-19 cases. All have recovered.

Though no vaccine has yet been approved, five candidates have reached phase three of clinical trials. That’s the last stage of research, when the Food and Drug Administration must decide if a vaccine does what it promises to do and if it’s safe for most people to take.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is already figuring out how that vaccine will be distributed once it’s available. Minnesota is one of four states selected by the CDC to participate in the planning. In our state, the Minnesota Department of Health, public health officials and tribal health officials are among those providing input to the CDC.

Kris Ehresmann [pronounce AIRS-min], state infectious disease specialist, said one of the key questions they’re going to have to answer is who gets the vaccine first.

Kris Ehresmann: [18:14] We talked about the need of providing the vaccine to critical personnel as well as vulnerable populations. How would that be done? The practical side of literally identifying people who fall into certain categories.

MARIE: Critical personnel include health care workers. The elderly and those with underlying health conditions will be a priority, because of their vulnerability to the virus. But planners will also have to consider young adults, who are the most likely to spread the disease.

Eventually, it’s expected a number of vaccines, each working on COVID-19 in a slightly different way, will gain FDA approval. Which vaccine works best for you might depend on demographic or health factors. But they’ll be administered in a similar fashion. Here’s Kris Ehresmann [AIRS-min]: 

Ehresmann: [18:42] The expectation is that this will be a two-dose vaccine. There likely will be several different formulations. So it will be important to track that a person gets the same vaccine for their first and second doses.

Dr. Poland, infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic, says it’s even more important to get your flu shot during this pandemic.

Dr. Poland: What’s very likely to happen this year is we’re going to have seasonal coronaviruses causing illness, pandemic coronavirus causing illness, influenza causing illness. Here’s the problem. The symptoms all look like COVID-19. That is a demand on the medical system that we can’t meet nationally. So for your health, the health of your family, your community, please get a flu vaccine this year.

At the end of August, the Minnesota Department of Health reported over 300 COVID-19 cases hospitalized with 134 of those in intensive care. A surge in influenza on top of COVID-19 would tax medical staff and ICU capacity. By cutting down on flu cases, Minnesotans will conserve precious health care resources so they’ll be available for any who need them.

People trying to reduce exposure to COVID-19 may not feel comfortable going to a clinic for a flu shot. So many clinics will be offering drive-thru flu vaccination sites. They’ll be in operation by late September.

Last year, 53 percent of Minnesotans were vaccinated for the flu. The Centers for Disease Control would like to see 65 percent of all Americans get vaccinated this year.

So when should you get your flu vaccine? Here’s Dr. Poland.

Dr. Poland: We’re suggesting to people they may want to get their vaccine a little earlier than what they might be used to. In that September timeframe. Don’t wait till November or December. 

Each school districts’s leaders are making their own plans about having classes in person, online from home or a hybrid combination of the two. 

Schools are basing their decisions primarily on the number of positive Covid cases in their region.  

A significant outbreak of positive Covid cases means kids stay home and take classes online. 

Distance learning helps keep families safe from Covid, but it obviously creates a lot of challenges. 

There’s managing the computer and internet access and navigating the classroom software the school is using.  

And for parents who work outside the home, they need to find ways to support their children who will be doing their lessons home alone. 

Ryan Dixon, Oglala Sioux, lives in the Lower Sioux Indian Community and teaches Dakota language in three different schools.  He will be teaching in person, but one of this high school aged children will be home alone distance learning.

DIXON: just make sure they’re keeping on top  of things because … you have to keep at work or it's just going to pile up. And then you're going to get to the point where it's just too much to possibly do. And you've got yourself in a mess. (:13)

There are some parents who are choosing to go a different route.  

Susan Beaulieu is a citizen of the Red Lake Nation and lies in Brainard with her husband and 4 kids.  She says this year, she is doing something called “unschooling”

BEAULIEU: where it's more driven by the kids is interest - building math, science, reading, writing, all art, all of that around subjects and content that they're interested in. 

Beaulieu says she is finding resources to make sure her children’s minds keep active.

As August drew to a close, the White House’s coronavirus task force coordinator, Dr. Deborah Birx, visited Minnesota and met with both state and tribal officials.

At a news conference in St. Paul, Dr. Birx said she’s impressed with how Minnesota has responded to the pandemic using a data-driven approach, including the state’s comprehensive testing that has been implemented in long-term care facilities.

However, Birx says she’s concerned with the rate of positive cases the state is seeing in the Twin Cities and surrounding counties.

BIRX: “This state has gone from two, to five, to now nine counties over 10 percent. That trend is worrisome this late into this summer.”

To combat rising cases, Birx is urging Minnesotans to continue wearing masks and socially distance during the pandemic, even if many may be feeling “fatigue” to all the guidelines.  

In her visit to Minnesota, Birx also stopped in Duluth and met with tribal officials of the Fond du Lac of Lake Superior Chippewa.

BIRX: “They were really terrific… I was impressed by their ability to support institutions for isolation within their community, really ensuring they have the resources to prevent outbreaks.”

Dr. Birx said Fond du Lac’s efforts -- and the efforts of tribes across the nation -- is a good thing to see, given that Native Americans are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 in the country. By percentage, native people suffer more deaths from the disease than all other minority g roups.

BIRX: “We know… across the country still, the No. 1 group that has the most fatalities are our native americans, so we need to focus resources to fit their needs,” Birx said.

According to recent state health data, the COVID-19 death rate among the indigenous in Minnesota is 151 deaths per 100,000 people. That’s compared to the rate of 23 deaths per 100,000 people among non-hispanic white people.

I’m Cole Premo.

But as with all things COVID, reality is more complicated.

There’s a class of COVID patients cropping up more and more as the pandemic lingers. They’re called long-haulers.

Who are long-haulers? People who develop long-term and ongoing complications after recovering from the initial COVID infection.

Here’s Greg Poland [pronounced like the country], virologist and infectious disease specialist at Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Poland: Now we’ve seen this with other viral infections but not to this extent. I mean we’re really seeing a number of reports of people who report long-term fatigue, headaches, vertigo (interestingly enough), difficulties with cognition, with cardio-respiratory fitness.

Marie: These long-haul symptoms can last weeks or months. Some patients have yet to walk across a room without getting winded. Other side effects range from hair loss, night sweats and blurry vision to blood clots and brain fog.

Which patients will end up long-haulers is still unknown. But people with severe and mild cases of COVID have reported lasting effects.

Here’s Dr. Poland says that because the disease is so new and most of the focus is still on COVID infections, doctors are just beginning to turn their attention to long-haulers. 

Dr. Poland: What will that treatment look like? I think it really is dependent on what kinds of pre-existing medical problems somebody has and what kinds of symptoms and signs they’re demonstrating now.

This has some wondering if this is proof that the mask mandate is working—a question fielded by Minnesota commissioner of health Jan Malcolm at her weekly press briefing August 19.

Malcolm: 09:34—It’s always difficult to attribute specific causality to different interventions in terms of what percent of impact might one or the other have had. But we’ve certainly seen what we would kind of describe as stabilization in our case levels albeit at a higher level than what we wish we were seeing.

So that we think because rates have stabilized and trended down a little bit, in terms of new case growth, our rate of growth in cases is slower than it has been in the last few weeks and certainly that’s coincidental in time with the mask mandate. And based on other published literature, other studies, we do believe that has certainly been a helpful component in what we’re seeing.

Marie: Governor Tim Walz issued the executive order mandating the wearing of face coverings in indoor spaces on July 25th.

Still, this news of a possible leveling off of cases comes as Minnesotans grapple with “caution fatigue,” … which, as the pandemic wears on, can leave some less vigilant when it comes to maintaining social distance, hand washing and mask wearing.

Mayo Clinic infectious disease specialist Dr. Greg Poland [pronounced like the country Poland] says these preventative measures will pay off in the long run.

Poland: Those are together simple measures that together have been terribly effective. Strict adherence to those things in toto—doing all of them together—is a very powerful antidote to this virus… We’ll be better off if we just cooperate together.

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

The W-H-O says “young people” are the main drivers for how the coronavirus is spreading. 

This is worrisome as many colleges and schools begin to re-open.

World-wide…. More than half of the recent infections in the last few weeks, have been seen among people in their 20s, 30’s and 40s.

And health officials say that’s a big difference from how the virus was spreading in the initial months of the pandemic. 

Because symptoms are often milder among people in these age groups… many are unaware that they are spreading the disease. 

But this spread can be catastrophic…. When young people unknowingly spread the virus to older people and those with underlying health issues. 

For this reason, the global health organization is pleading with young people NOT to indulge in risky behaviors – like attending crowded parties – as the pandemic keeps going. 

Many colleges and universities have put elaborate plans in place, to prevent COVID from spreading among student populations. 

And some colleges are asking students to sign an honor pledge, promising to wear a mask and social distance. 

We will see how well these efforts work as college students here in the U.S…. begin moving into dorms and classrooms over the next few weeks. 

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more stories and information from Minnesota Native News go online to M-N Native news DOT ORG

On a recent episode of COVID-19 Community Conversations, Host Leah Lemm spoke with Shashana Craft, the founder of the Minneapolis Indigenous Breastfeeding Support Circle.  

“We meet twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month and we encourage families to come on and talk about what’s going on we have and we have a check-in. We do virtual smudge, we smudge in our places.” Craft said.

Shashona says finding good support is critical during pregnancy and for post-partum moms. 

“I work with my family's from the get-go creating goals for yourself and finding a support system whether its auntie, your mom or friend, a mentor. Whoever it is to support you and learning about yourself and helping to raise your newborn. It's so important so that you dont become overwhelmed and anxious and sad. It's important to have that support systems in place before baby gets here.” said Craft.

For more resources and information look for the Minneapolis Indigenous Breastfeeding Support Circle… on Facebook

There will be no high school football or volleyball seasons in Minnesota this fall.

Board members of the Minnesota Sports High School League recently voted to move the football and volleyball seasons to 2021.

That being said... the board approved a motion to allow volleyball and football practices this fall. It’s not yet clear when those practices could start.

The board also voted to add a “fourth season” in 2021.

Football and volleyball will be played during a spring season, between mid-March and mid-May. Meanwhile, traditional spring sports will be pushed to a summer season, spanning from May to early July. Winter sports will go on as scheduled.

Many fall sports -- including boys' and girls' soccer, cross-country, tennis and swimming -- are still on for fall, with shortened calendars and fewer games/competitions. Practices are set to start on Aug. 17.

These decisions come as Minnesota schools prepare to start the academic year with the COVID-19 virus still spreading through communities.

Per the governor’s decision last month, districts are being allowed to decide what works best for them this fall: distance learning, in-person leaning or a hybrid combination of the two.

Minneapolis Public Schools and St. Paul Public Schools have already said they are going to start the year with distance learning. Some of the other larger districts in the state have yet to announce their plans.

Miigwech, bizindaweyeg. Thank you for listening. I’m Cole Premo.

Daily Update Script For Tuesday August 4th:

(Music 5-8 seconds)

INTRO (pre-recorded)

Marie: From Minnesota Native News… this is a COVID-19 Daily Update. 

MARIE:  I’m Marie Rock. 

MARIE: 

The “safe learning plan” announced by Governor Walz is all about providing informed flexibility…. to school leaders, parents and teachers. 

As we get closer to back-to-school time, school districts around the state are announcing their plans for how they will begin the next school year. 

Whether students will be back in the classroom…. Or staying at home and distance learning… or some combination of the two scenarios… will be up to local school officials to decide… with guidance from health officials, based on the number of COVID-19 cases in a particular county. 

On a recent statewide program hosted by Northern Community Radio… Minnesota Governor Tim Walz acknowledged that doing what it takes to contend with the virus… is not without a cost.

MARIE: 

((Governor Walz TC: 14:00 - As we are learning more about COVID, where it spreads and how it spreads, we can adjust the decisions that we are making. TC: 14”06))  RUNS:06

MARIE: 

Still… Governor Walz hopes the state’s “localized, data-driven approach” will give school leaders the tools they need to make the best decisions for their local community.

(cut this if needed) Again, here’s Governor Tim Walz. 

((Governor Walz: TC: 15:30 Local schools know what their schools look like. They know the space they have, they know what their filtration system looks like.  They know what's happening in their community.  And I think that coupled together all of that data and all of that local knowledge and the support that the state is going to give in testing in PPE and masks, all of those things gives us a fighting chance here.  And I tell you this as a twenty-year teacher and the parent of a 13 yo, our kids need to be in the classroom.  And so when people say gov 100 percent on board with you but there’s an addendum, get kids back to school safely and that’s what I think this plan does.  TC: 16:13))  RUNs= 43

You can read the state’s 21-page “safe learning plan” for yourself.  It’s posted on the Minnesota Department of Education website. 

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

OUTRO/FUNDER: (pre-recorded)

Marie: This MN Native News COVID-19 Daily Update is supported by the MN Dept. of Health.

On Thursday, Walz said school districts and charter schools will begin with one of three models, in-person, distance-learning or a hybrid model.

The specific model that an individual school district will use will be determined with guidance from experts from the Minnesota departments of health and education.

That partnership will make recommendations for learning model decisions based on the level of COVID-19 activity in the surrounding county… among other factors, including a particular district’s ability to meet mitigation requirements. Here’s Governor Walz.

WALZ: 9:10 “This is a localized, data driven approach. Where if it’s physically possible for teachers to teach our students, we will do that.”

Notably, the governor is requiring schools to give families the option to choose distance learning
for their student -- no matter what learning model the school district is using.

WALZ: 11:15 “They will be provided a learning opportunity to do distance learning, that is absolutely critical that parents will have that opportunity.

Teachers and school employees will also be allowed to work remotely to the extent possible.

This is a fluid approach, with state education and health experts working with local schools throughout the year to help districts decide if they need to move between learning models.

There’s a lot to sift through, so expect more on this in future daily updates. More information can be found on Minnesota Department of Education’s website.

(Music 5-8 seconds)

INTRO (pre-recorded)

Marie: From Minnesota Native News… this is a COVID-19 Daily Update. 

MARIE:  I’m Marie Rock. 

MARIE: 

As many families face economic challenges brought about by the pandemic… health officials want to remind parents of students who received free and reduced lunch… that additional help is available. 

The Pandemic EBT also known as the P- EBT program provides up to 4-hundred and 25 dollars per child for groceries. 

There is no need to qualify for SNAP as long as a child was on free or reduced lunch program while attending school this past year. 

But, the deadline to register is quickly approaching.  

Applications must be completed by Friday, July 31st. 

Officials say that many parents who qualify for these funds have NOT applied. 

So they are urging people to do so… soon!

To apply…. Go online to MN dot P dash ebt DOT org.  That’s MN dot P dash ebt DOT org.  

Or you can search Minnesota Pandemic EBT in any search engine… to find the right page on the Minnesota department of human services website. 

If approved, families will receive a Minnesota P-EBT card in the mail within 10 business days, along with instructions on how to activate the card. 

All eligible families will receive P-EBT benefits as long as they apply by July 31.

Many Minnesota families are facing difficult times and finding it hard to pay bills and access healthy foods. 

Help is available through public programs like the P-EBT.

So check it out!

For MN Native News…. I’m Marie Rock. 

For more information go online to M-N Native news DOT O-R-G

OUTRO/FUNDER: (pre-recorded)

Marie: This MN Native News COVID-19 Daily Update is supported by the MN Dept. of Health.

First up, Minnesota Democrat and U.S. Sen. Tina Smith has sent a letter to federal education and health officials.. demanding accessible, comprehensive and culturally competent mental health care for Indigenous youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In the letter, Smith and many other senate colleagues said that native American and Alaska native youth already faced mental and behavioral health challenges before the pandemic… and may have an especially hard time finding care right now, during the pandemic. 

Smith says that, due to so many seeking care at school, the federal administration needs to work to find solutions to reach these students while schools are closed. 

Smith says Congress and federal agencies must act quickly to ensure native communities and schools serving Native students have the resources they need to address health challenges facing Native youth. 

Eight senators total, including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, signed the letter. 

[music]

Next up, a new shelter for native people experiencing homelessness is set to open before the end of the year in Minneapolis. 

It’s one of three new shelters that have been funded through a partnership between the city, county and state. 

City officials say the culturally-specialized shelter for Native Americans -- proposed by the American Indian Community Development Center -- will be located at the intersection of Cedar and Franklin. 

A second shelter near downtown Minneapolis will provide “Deeply affordable housing” for those experiencing homelessness, including the medically vulnerable and veterans. 

The third shelter, located in north Minneapolis, will be geared toward women experiencing homelessness. 

In total, there’ll be 167 units for housing and a minimum of 110 shelter beds. 

I’m Cole Premo. 

He said health experts have learned face masks that fully cover the nose and mouth are effective in limiting the spread of Covid-19 when you can’t socially distance from others.

WALZ: I believe if we could get 95% compliance on masks, and the science supports us and elsewhere, I think most of the activities we like to do we can do again except probably large crowds at bars, with people not wearing masks next to each other. (:14)

Walz noted President Donald Trump recently changed his stance and has  expressed support for masks as a way to try and halt the expected coming wave of Covid-19 cases. 

WALZ: The President himself said it’s patriotic to wear a mask and he himself wore one. (:04) 

The State Department of Health website has the details of the Executive Order.

People are required to wear a mask in all public indoor spaces and businesses unless they are alone.  

Workers must wear a face covering even when working outside if it’s a situation where they can’t socially distance from others. 

Some people are exempt - individuals with health conditions or developmental needs that make it difficult to keep a mask on - are not required to wear one - and children under the age of 5.

Although Luetenant Peggy Flanagan suggested parents get their children used to wearing masks because it will be a requirement if we are to have children in classrooms again. 

FLANAGAN: Now is the time to help them learn that behavior - that’s just what we do and t normalize it. 

Tribes, as sovereign nations, are making their own decisions about requiring face covering for people on tribal lands. 

But Jackie Dionne says the number of Natives with Covid is probably more than that.

DIONNE: This is not just true with American Indians, this is true with other populations of color - Hmung,  African American - if I’m feeling sick and my symptoms aren’t so bad - I’m going to just try and weather it out at home.  And then you get really sick. (:15)

Dionne, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, is Director of American Indian Health at the Minnesota Department of Health and public health liaison for tribes and urban Indian communities.

She says a lot of people are not getting tested.

DIONNE: You’re not wanting to go get tested because it’s one of those things that if I don’t know, then it must not be true.  (:05)

But what happens is that folks who are sick but not getting tested are speeding the virus to others in their communities.  

DIONNE: By not getting tested, then you don’t know you’re spreading it. (:03)

Free testing for Covid-19 is available across the state including on reservations and in Native communities. 

Testing is recommended if you know you’ve come into contact with someone with Covid-19 or if you have symptoms.

As a reminder - according to the State Department of Health - Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, fatigue, congestion, or loss of taste or smell. Other less common symptoms include gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, diarrhea or vomiting.

It comes after an update on how the virus could potentially affect those who are pregnant.

Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that pregnant women might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant people.

According to the CDC, there might be an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, like preterm birth, of those who are pregnant and have COVID-19.

Due to those increased risks, it’s recommended that pregnant women do not skip prenatal care appointments, they should limit interactions with other people as much as possible and take precautions if it’s unavoidable.

Also, the CDC says that those who are pregnant should make sure to have at least a 30-day supply of medicine, to talk with a healthcare provider about staying healthy, and seek care immediately if they feel sick or have a medical emergency.

Additionally, health experts recognize that the pandemic can cause increased stress, leading to strong emotions that can be overwhelming. So, it’s important to maintain emotional health, and seek knowledge on coping with stress and anxiety.

Resources for that, and more tips for those who are pregnant, can be found on the CDC’s website at CDC.gov/coronavirus. That’s CDC.g-o-v/coronavirus. I’m Cole Premo. 

Or  you don’t want to offend your friends by asking them to sit 6 feet away when you social distance.

Some are calling this quarantine fatigue or caution fatigue.  

Many people are tired of the precautions we need to take to avoid Covid-19.

A recent article in Fast Company magazine says - a sense of helplessness, an ongoing dread, a desire to simply give up—is not uncommon.”

But cases of Covid-19 are on the rise and so are deaths from the virus. 

So if you want to stay healthy - being cautious is still required.

Ojibwe artist and elder Robert Desjarlait has survived a heart attack and two bouts with cancer. Chemo made him sick, cold, bald and tired.  But he says, it was worth it. 

DESJARLAIT: I felt I was being given a second change at life you know. The chemo was part of the price I had to pay for it.  To me it has been worth it because it brought me back to my art. (:15)

He’s currently preparing an art show at AICHO gallery in Duluth featuring 29 of his paintings.

When Ojibwe elder Sharon Day decided to finally - really - quit smoking, she says she had to find a good reason.

DAY: In 2000 the health department gave me a grant to work with youth to do smoking prevention so the day I signed the contract was the day I quit smoking because how could I work with kids ands tell them not to smoke if I was still smoking.  [laughter]

So now  as caution fatigue sets in - it might be the time to ask - What’s your reason to stay healthy?