Michigan health officials concerned about variants of COVID

ANN TREE – As of January 22, 2021, Michigan has three confirmed cases of B.1.1.7, the new most contagious coronavirus strain.

The three women are connected to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. One of the women had traveled to the UK in early January.

“We have now identified one outbreak, but there may be others,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said. “Other cases in the state that have not yet been identified and cases that are not associated with the outbreak we have found.”

B.1.1.7, the UK variant, spreads more easily. Every person who gets it is significantly more likely to infect more people.

Scientists are also concerned about new variants detected in South Africa and Brazil, which have not yet been found in the United States.

In the White House. Dr. Anthony Fauci stressed that the new variants highlight the need to be vaccinated quickly.

“It’s even more of a reason why we need to vaccinate as many people as possible,” Fauci said. “As long as the virus is out there, it reproduces, the viruses do not mutate unless they reproduce. And if you can get rid of it with a very good vaccine campaign, you can avoid that harmful effect you could get from mutations. “

Fauci said that while certain mutations could make vaccines less protective, both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are effective enough to have a cushioning effect that would still provide protection.

The new UK strain is more contagious as it is better to adhere to the receptors of the nose, lungs and digestion, making it even more essential to follow precautions such as wearing a mask.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Friday that there is evidence that the new strain, in addition to being easier to spread, could be more deadly. The research is considered preliminary, but it is something that experts are overseeing.

RELATED: Michigan Health Director Robert Gordon announces his resignation

Robert Gordon, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, abruptly resigned Friday.

Gordon and the chief medical officer, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, have been the faces of the MDHHS throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Gordon has been present at Whitmer briefings and, most recently, participated in a virtual update on Tuesday.

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