Governor Gretchen Whitmer and top state health officials are strongly recommending Michiganders take COVID-19 safety precautions like avoiding indoor dining and youth sports. But they’re not making you do these things, even though Michigan’s infection rates are higher than they’ve ever been. And to throw another wrench into the works, the state announced a pause this week on the use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine after incredibly rare blood clots were linked to vaccinations in a handful of people.

Today on the podcast, we talk to Michigan’s chief medical executive about the state’s plans for moving past this new surge. And we’ll hear from a restaurant owner who decided to take action on his own and go to takeout only service amid this latest rise in cases.

GUESTS:

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan’s chief medical executive

Phil Cooley, the founder and owner of Slow’s Bar BQ in Detroit

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Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT.

Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.