May 22, 2020

Gray holiday weekend. Showers and storms start sliding along southern Minnesota Friday night. Then, most of the state could see a few scattered showers or storms Saturday, especially in the afternoon. More widespread showers and thunderstorms are possible on Sunday. Highs in the mid-70s on Saturday and lower 80s on Sunday in the Twin Cities.

COVID-19 in Minnesota today: No State Fair this year; 33 new deaths. Total confirmed cases rose to 19,005; 534 people are currently hospitalized; 233 are in intensive care. State Fair officials announced the 2020 Great Minnesota Get-Together could not go on because of the potential public health risk -- it’s the first cancellation since the polio epidemic in 1946.

In Florida, theme parks got the first green light to reopen. Plans to reopen Legoland and the Universal theme parks are now on the way to the governor’s desk for final approval after local officials OK’d them. Both say employees and guests would undergo temperature checks on arrival and have hand sanitizer dispensers and signs outlining safety requirements at entrances and throughout their parks.

Flags at half-staff in memory of 100,000 lives taken by COVID-19 in U.S. President Trump announced that U.S. government buildings, military posts and embassies will fly the flag at half-staff through Memorial Day weekend, in memory of the nearly 100,000 people who have died of COVID-19. The move comes after Democratic leaders in Congress sent a letter to the president requesting the gesture.

This nurse with one lung had COVID-19, and other nurses saved her. Tanya Adell-O’Neal, who has asthma and one lung, tested positive for the virus in early April, and had since stayed home, until she couldn’t breathe one night. She could barely speak, but said a few words at the hospital she went to: “I’m a nurse myself.” Crystal Holloway, the nurse assigned to Adell-O’Neal, promised her she’d do everything she could to keep her out of the ICU -- and kept her promise. Read their story on ProPublica.

Parting Thoughts: Remembering lives lost to COVID-19. Through conversations with their family members, colleagues and close friends, MPR News is remembering the lives of the people we’ve lost, too soon, to COVID-19. If you'd like to share the story of someone you've lost, please email mmartin@mpr.org.

— Jiwon Choi and Sara Porter, MPR News

'If it's sacrifice to keep people safe, I'm OK': Vendors react to State Fair cancellation

Friday’s announcement that the 2020 Minnesota State Fair was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic was a painful one, bringing a loss of tradition and — for thousands — income. But two of the many fair vendors said it’s the right decision.

Latest on COVID-19 in MN:842 deaths; State Fair canceled

Trump declares churches 'essential,' calls on them to reopen

"These are places that hold our society together," Trump said. "In America, we need more prayer, not less."

Twin Cities archbishop says: Worshippers need to gather in response to virus outbreak
Minnesota's Catholic bishops say: They'll defy Walz's limits on church attendance

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It was hailed as the 'Minnesota moonshot' — but why hasn’t antibody testing taken off?

One reason state health officials say they have been reticent to suggest widespread testing is reliability. In addition to the Mayo and University of Minnesota tests, private companies have also developed their own antibody testing. State officials say there are tests on the market that don’t produce reliable results.

FAQ: Minnesota's expanded testing plan
Getting an antibody test for the coronavirus?: Here's what it won't tell you
Questions over reliability: Antibody tests for coronavirus can miss the mark
FDA cracks down: On antibody tests for coronavirus

Biden says he was too 'cavalier' about black Trump backers

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden says he “should not have been so cavalier” in his comments on Friday in which he suggested African Americans who back President Trump “ain’t black.”

Fauci voices cautious optimism about Moderna vaccine, calling trial 'quite promising'

Dr. Anthony Fauci says it's "conceivable" a coronavirus vaccine could be ready within months but cautions "when you're dealing with vaccines, there could be so many things that get in the way."

Meet the Minnesota scientists trying to track COVID-19 spread — through sewage

Two University of Minnesota researchers are looking for the virus in wastewater — even before test results reveal its presence in a community.

Previously: U researchers to study whether coronavirus could get into drinking water

Efforts aim to share COVID-19 info, help in St. Cloud's Somali-speaking community

As the number of cases of COVID-19 in the St. Cloud area continues to climb, an effort is underway to reach out to the region’s Somali American community with information and assistance.

MN's 'stay safe' order: Read what you need to know in Somali
State officials expect: Virus to take greater toll on racial minorities
Family, charity, community: Coronavirus upends Ramadan traditions

'We’re all one paycheck away': More Minnesotans flocking to food shelves

As more Minnesotans lose their jobs because of COVID-19, local food shelves are seeing a surge in first-time visitors needing emergency food services — and the demand doesn’t look like it’ll let up anytime soon. About 1 in 3 Minnesotans say they’re worried about affording groceries and healthy food.

Meals for kids: Nonprofit sees 400 percent increase in demand
MPR News with Angela Davis: Combating food insecurity during the pandemic
In the Twin Cities: Food shelf provides culturally specific foods for immigrant communities
Food banks get the love: But SNAP does more to fight hunger

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