One Year Later, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun Reflects on Michigan’s COVID-19 Response
The state’s Chief Medical Executive says new variants in U.S. cause for concern amid slight uptick in new cases.
We have come upon the one-year anniversary of the first confirmed coronavirus cases here in Michigan. It’s been a challenging year for all of us but especially for public officials tasked with protecting public health while also trying to manage an economic calamity caused by a deadly virus.
“We’re watching our cases closely and we’re concerned. We have started to see a slight uptick. National experts believe potentially by the end of this month, the UK variant might be the more prevalent strain of the virus in the United States.” — Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive
One of the key figures to emerge on the public health side of things in Michigan is Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan’s chief medical executive. Khaldun has been a part of a team that has kept Michiganders informed and up-to-date on COVID-19 cases in the state of Michigan.
Listen: Dr. Joneigh Khaldun talks about COVID-19 and how our understanding of the virus has evolved over the last year.
Guest:
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun is Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive. Khaldun talks about the variety of COVID-19 variants that are now in the United States. “We’re watching our cases closely and we’re concerned. We have started to see a slight uptick. National experts believe potentially by the end of this month, the UK variant might be the more prevalent strain of this virus in the United States,” she says.
Khaldun also discusses the impact that the virus has had on communities of color. “Black and brown communities were more impacted by virus. That’s not about skin color, that’s about a lack of resources and a lack of opportunity. I do hope that the lessons we learn through this pandemic carry into the future,” says Khaldun.
In the meantime, the connections that have been made in communities as a result of this virus have been a bright spot from Khaldun’s perspective. “The silver lining is the partnerships that have been formed during the pandemic and I hope that continues when this is over,” she says.
Web story written by Allise Hurd
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