So far 5 total cases of COVID variant have been reported in Michigan

YPSILANTI, jo. – Five cases of a new, more contagious strain of coronavirus in Michigan have been identified so far, according to health officials.

The Washtenaw County Department of Health announced Saturday, Jan. 23, that a total of five cases of the virus variant, also known as B117, have been identified in county residents.

The health department warns residents of possible exposure sites, where users may have come in contact with the virus variant.

People who visited the following locations on Sunday, January 17th We encourage you to take COVID-19 tests immediately:

The county is offering free COVID PCR tests on Sunday, Jan. 24 between noon and 5 p.m. at Ann Arbor’s Pioneer High School. Interested people are recommended to register for the online tests in advance, but it is not mandatory. More information here.

Michigan’s first known case of the new strain, which is believed to be highly contagious and potentially more deadly, was found in a woman in Washtenaw County on Jan. 16. Two additional cases were identified in two more residents of Washtenaw County on January 21st. people were reportedly in close contact, but officials say it is unclear if any of the five cases are related to the first case.

“The possibility of an additional spread of the variant is a concern,” says Juan Luis Márquez, MD, MPH, medical director of the Washtenaw County Department of Health. “Right now and with the guidance of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, we are encouraging you to take additional precautions. Look for evidence if you have symptoms, have recently been exposed to COVID-19, or have recently traveled to a location where the new variant is circulating. And everyone should make sure that they use all the precautions of COVID-19 consistently. This includes facial masks, social distancing, hand cleaning, avoiding crowds or meetings, and then guiding isolation and quarantine. ”

Month: Michigan health officials concerned about variants of COVID

Variant B117 was first identified in the UK in late 2020 and sent part of that country to strict closure to help curb the spread of the virus. The strain was first identified in the United States in late December, first in Colorado and then in California. According to reports, the virus variant has targeted at least 20 states in the country so far.

Michigan officials believed it was likely that the COVID variant had already entered the state by Jan. 16.

“We’ve been warning people for weeks that this variant would probably be identified in the state of Michigan,” says Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and deputy chief of health at MDHHS. “We want everyone to understand that this variant is transmitted much more easily and that there is a greater risk of rapid spread. Now is the time for people to take extra precautions and limit possible exposures. Put on your mask, wash your hands, avoid meeting, and make an appointment for a vaccine when it’s your turn. We all have a role to play in ending this pandemic. “

Officials say there are likely to be more than five cases of strain B117 in Michigan that have not yet been discovered.

To help prevent the spread of the virus, individuals are encouraged to continue practicing mitigation measures that include good hygiene and frequent hand washing, wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding crowds and meetings.

Related: The leading British scientist says the new variant of the virus could be more deadly