The indefinite closure of a major pork processing plant in South Dakota will reverberate to farms across the Midwest — including Minnesota.Smithfield Foods announced Sunday that its plant in Sioux Falls will shut down amid an outbreak of COVID-19. Nearly 300 cases have been confirmed among the plant’s 3,700 employees. The company did not give a targeted date to reopen.For Minnesota, one of the biggest pork-producing states in the country, the plant plays a significant role in hog farms' sales.“It would be pure speculation as to what the price impact for farmers is going to be starting this...…The indefinite closure of a major pork processing plant in South Dakota will reverberate to farms across the Midwest — including Minnesota.Smithfield Foods announced Sunday that its plant in Sioux Falls will shut down amid an outbreak of COVID-19. Nearly 300 cases have been confirmed among the plant’s 3,700 employees. The company did not give a targeted date to reopen.For Minnesota, one of the biggest pork-producing states in the country, the plant plays a significant role in hog farms' sales.“It would be pure speculation as to what the price impact for farmers is going to be starting this...WW…

For the first time since mid-March, outsiders will be allowed into Minnesota’s long-term care homes to visit residents.The Minnesota Department of Health put out new guidance Friday that allows residents to designate an “essential caregiver” to visit them inside their residence and to have physical contact with them.The guidance indicates those caregivers would likely be a family member, friend, volunteer or “other, close outside caregivers” who had provided regular support to the resident before — or during — the pandemic. The designated caregivers — state officials said residents could...…For the first time since mid-March, outsiders will be allowed into Minnesota’s long-term care homes to visit residents.The Minnesota Department of Health put out new guidance Friday that allows residents to designate an “essential caregiver” to visit them inside their residence and to have physical contact with them.The guidance indicates those caregivers would likely be a family member, friend, volunteer or “other, close outside caregivers” who had provided regular support to the resident before — or during — the pandemic. The designated caregivers — state officials said residents could...WW…

New drive-thrus have been banned in the city of Minneapolis.The Minneapolis city council on Thursday passed an ordinance that no longer allows the building of drive-thrus for banks, restaurants and other businesses. Council president Lisa Bender says the city had already been limiting them."We've already restricted drive-throughs over the years in a number of ways, through pedestrian-oriented overlay districts and other tools. There's a map included in the materials allowed today and it's actually quite limited today, but this just says that we will not have any new drive-thrus in the...…New drive-thrus have been banned in the city of Minneapolis.The Minneapolis city council on Thursday passed an ordinance that no longer allows the building of drive-thrus for banks, restaurants and other businesses. Council president Lisa Bender says the city had already been limiting them."We've already restricted drive-throughs over the years in a number of ways, through pedestrian-oriented overlay districts and other tools. There's a map included in the materials allowed today and it's actually quite limited today, but this just says that we will not have any new drive-thrus in the...WW…

Minnesotans in nursing homes are beginning to take steps to safety. At the St. Cloud VA Community Living Center, residents and staff began receiving the COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday.Just after 2 p.m., the first resident and first staff member at the nursing home received initial doses of the Moderna vaccine. They're among the first long-term care residents and staff members in the state to get vaccinated. "This is the road to our veterans getting to see their loved ones again, getting to go outside, getting to move freely again," said nurse manager Mandi Loxterkamp.An assisted living facility...…Minnesotans in nursing homes are beginning to take steps to safety. At the St. Cloud VA Community Living Center, residents and staff began receiving the COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday.Just after 2 p.m., the first resident and first staff member at the nursing home received initial doses of the Moderna vaccine. They're among the first long-term care residents and staff members in the state to get vaccinated. "This is the road to our veterans getting to see their loved ones again, getting to go outside, getting to move freely again," said nurse manager Mandi Loxterkamp.An assisted living facility...WW…

More people soon will be able to visit loved ones in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. The changes are set to go into effect on Saturday.Right now people can visit elderly relatives at some nursing homes outside, through a window or as an essential caregiver.  That means people can visit a family member in their room and do caregiving tasks for them.Not long ago, , as long as the facility had not had a COVID-19 exposure in 28 days and spread in the surrounding community was under a certain threshold.The new rules cut the number of days since a COVID-19 exposure in...…More people soon will be able to visit loved ones in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. The changes are set to go into effect on Saturday.Right now people can visit elderly relatives at some nursing homes outside, through a window or as an essential caregiver.  That means people can visit a family member in their room and do caregiving tasks for them.Not long ago, , as long as the facility had not had a COVID-19 exposure in 28 days and spread in the surrounding community was under a certain threshold.The new rules cut the number of days since a COVID-19 exposure in...WW…