Washtenaw, MI – The first Michigan case of the new COVID-19 variant has been identified in an adult female living in Washtenaw County by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Laboratories.
The person recently traveled to the United Kingdom, where this variant originated. Close contacts of this individual have been identified and are in quarantine. At this time two new cases have been identified from close contacts with the person, but it is not known if they are infected with the variant.
The virus is believed to be more contagious, but there has been no indication that it affects the clinical outcomes or disease severity compared to the virus that has been circulating across the United States for months.
To date, the variant has been identified in at least 16 other states and jurisdictions in the U.S. This is the only known case in Michigan at this time, however it is possible that there are more that have not been identified.
Based on available evidence, current tests and vaccines for COVID-19 also work against this new variant. Protective actions that prevent the spread of COVID-19 will also prevent the spread of the new variant.
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