Five years after the COVID pandemic, the effects on our politics, public health, and civic life continue to be felt across many communities.

As part of her ongoing reporting project, America at a crossroads, Judy Woodruff recently traveled to southeastern Michigan to find out how divisions that emerged during the pandemic continue to play out today.

Sunday morning service at Second Baptist Church in Ipsilanti, a celebration of life and faith.

Years after first weathering the storm of the pandemic. Pastor George Waddles.

We had one of our members who died early,

a man who was an integral part of our church, an auditor and a trustee.

He was one of the first people in Michigan who passed away from COVID.

So we were immediately impacted by the reality of how

this was going to impact our community.

And then the tidal wave begun.

About 15 miles to the south in the small city of Mylan.

I think I was just blended out really now.

Ashley St. Clair's salon and tattoo parlor had been up and running for only six months when everything shut down.

Salons, tattoo shops, massage parlors, we all had to shut down end of day that day. So I came in,

told my husband, this is your last client of the day, and we all giggled and said, we'll see you in two weeks. Yeah, because they're going to make hamburgers tonight.

A little to the east, mother of two, Holly Valade,

remembers the fear of those early days, and being thankful officials had stepped in to keep the public safe.

I was grateful that they were making the decisions they were making.

It was a scary time.

As time went on, you know, you kind of, you start to do your own research.

You start to kind of watch what's happening around you.

And I think, I think your patience grows thin.

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