More cases of COVID variant discovered in Michigan

An emerging strain of the coronavirus is spreading through Michigan and raising concerns of a potential spike in new cases in the state.

State health officials have reported 45 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in ten different counties.

The variant was discovered in Kalamazoo County last week. Since then, three additional cases have been found. None of the latest three are linked in any way to the first, suggesting the strain may be more widespread than we know.

The B.1.1.7 strain is estimated to be 50% more contagious than other variants of the virus, though it doesn’t seem to be any more deadly.

The state’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said keeping the variant at bay is the same as ever: Face masks, hand washing, and social distancing.

“I know this may sound overwhelming,” she said in a press conference on Tuesday. “But the good news is that we know how to slow the spread, and it’s the same thing that Michiganders have been doing so well for the past year to slow the spread of the virus.”

You can read more on MLive.