How likely is it that the spread of the COVID variant will lead to another blockade in Michigan?

LANSING, Mich. – As a variant of the COVID-19 virus continues to spread in Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was asked on Tuesday about the likelihood of this threat causing another blockade.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the chief medical officer of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, revealed on Tuesday that the state confirmed 45 cases of the COVID-19 B117 variant in 10 Michigan counties.

READ: 7 topics from Governor Whitmer’s COVID briefing on Tuesday

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“Although our numbers continue to trend in the right direction, I am very concerned about what we are seeing with the new B117 variant,” said Khaldun. “Although this variant first appeared in (the United Kingdom), the cases we are seeing in Michigan were not all associated with someone who had a travel history, which means that the variant is probably in the wider community.”

“We are in a race, as I said,” said Whitmer. “There are variants that are now present and that we have to worry about (about).”

Although variant B117 is not believed to cause more serious complications than COVID-19, it spreads more easily and can cause another increase in cases.

“If they become the dominant viruses, how likely are we to return to more restaurant confinements and other public gatherings?” a reporter asked Whitmer.

You can hear the full question, as well as Whitmer and Khaldun’s answer, in the video below.

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“Nobody wants to go back, take steps back,” said Whitmer. “That’s why we ask everyone to continue to do their part. The B117 variant, the other variants that we saw around the world – we still know that they cannot pass from person to person if we wear our masks, distance ourselves socially and wash our hands.

“We still know how to beat these viruses and these variants if we continue to do so, but we are in a race to put these vaccines in the guns, which is why the resources in that Michigan COVID recovery plan are so crucial for this moment. It is a race and we want to continue to lead this race and we need to get those resources there. “

Khaldun said the state’s contact screening and testing is in good shape because cases have declined, so there are many contact trackers and antigen tests available at the moment.

“Of course I’m concerned, but as the governor said, masks, social distance, washing your hands – these things work,” said Khaldun. “We have accelerated our public health response and I am confident that we have done with our local health departments and other places where we have seen these outbreaks.”

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On Tuesday, Michigan announced its lowest single-day total since September 22, and it was the first time the state has announced fewer than 1,000 cases since October 6.

The the number of new COVID-19 cases was 563. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the state has confirmed 569,980 cases of COVID-19 and 14,965 deaths related to the virus.

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