Michigan Chief Medical Executive Joneigh Khaldun testified and answered questions Monday before the Republican-led joint House and Senate committee looking into the state’s COVID-19 response.
This was the first such appearance since the state Supreme Court ruled Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s use of emergency orders stretched beyond the limits of her power.
Republican state Representative Matt Hall (R-Emmett Township) chairs the joint House and Senate committee on the state’s COVID-19 response.
“Our job now is to take all these things and to balance them,” he said, “and to come up with a smarter plan to protect lives and livelihoods and to have a healthy Michigan and a healthy economy.”
State House Republicans will roll out their plans Tuesday to address the COVID-19 crisis in Michigan.
Khaldun defended the now-lapsed executive orders as well as a separate set of health department orders issued since the court decision.
She said that’s because COVID remains a threat.
“The evidence shows that mandates do work,” she said, “and mandates save lives.”
Khaldun also said the Department of Health and Human Services will make a decision this week on issuing new indoor visitation rules at nursing homes as cold weather makes outdoor visits impractical.