Michigan Cases Decline, But COVID-19 Hasn’t Disappeared

As businesses begin to reopen and protests around police brutality and racial injustice unfold throughout the country, many Americans are shifting their focus away from COVID-19.

“There have been a lot of messaging failures. And part of that is that most health organizations have never had to respond to a global pandemic like this before.” — Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic

Reports of new cases in Michigan have decreased since the onset of the pandemic, but the virus hasn’t completely vanished from the state. 

Listen: Have Americans forgotten about the COVID-19 Pandemic? 

Guest

Robinson Meyer, staff writer at The Atlantic, recently co-wrote story on America’s collective disregard for the virus and how that could impact a potential second wave. Some states that were quick to re-open their economies are now experiencing a spike in cases.

“In the Sun Belt now, and in the West, cases have never been higher,” says Meyer.

He adds that protests, while incredibly important, could also impact the spread of the virus. Even though most protestors are wearing masks, Meyer says that mass gathering combined with measures like tear gas and crowding in local jails could exacerbate the problem. He says conflicting messaging has also impacted the public responses to the pandemic.

“There have been a lot of messaging failures. And part of that is that most health organizations have never had to respond to a global pandemic like this before,” says Meyer.