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New York and San Francisco require proof of vaccinations for entry to restaurants and concerts. Philadelphia is considering it.
But Michigan, facing its worst surge in Covid cases and hospitalizations since the pandemic began, has no plans for new restrictions.
Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said Friday at a press briefing that the state's position is that vaccines and boosters “are the absolute best tool that we have," Bridge Michigan reports:
Hertel and Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive, said the current surge is worse than at any point of the pandemic and that COVID case counts continue to rise as the omicron variant — detected in a Kent County adult this week — looms.
“We're in a critical stage right now. We are surging. We're leading the nation in terms of cases, we are trailing in terms of vaccinations, and we have omicron here,” Bagdasarian said.
At the start of the pandemic, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was among the most aggressive governors when it came to mask mandates and shutting businesses and restricting indoor dining and events. She also got a lot of grief from some residents who thought she was impinging on their rights.
Now, with re-election less than a year way, some political observers believe that she's far more reluctant to impose restrictions on businesses and institutions. Instead, a state advisory suggests mask-wearing indoors.
