MARQUETTE, Michigan (WLUC) – The Marquette County Health Department (MCHD) was notified on Tuesday that the genetic test confirmed that variant B.1.1.7 of the virus that causes COVID-19 was detected in a positive case in Marquette Municipality.
This is the first confirmation of variant B.1.1.7 in Upper Michigan. The first case B.1.1.7 was identified in Michigan in mid-January in Washtenaw County.
This variant is worrisome because it is associated with increased transmissibility, the MCHD said in a statement. Compared to the standard SARS-CoV-2 virus, variant B.1.1.7 is approximately 50 percent more transmissible, leading to a faster spread of the virus and potentially increasing the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
Therefore, the MCHD said, additional public health efforts are needed once the variant has been identified, to delay dissemination within the community.
The health department said that to protect our community, we must all work together to strive to be vaccinated and adhere to social detachment, wearing a mask, hand hygiene and other mitigation strategies. The vaccine registration is now available to ANY citizen 16 years of age or older. Those interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccination can now register through the link provided at www.mqthealth.org
As a reminder, once the vaccine is available to you, an email will be sent to the email address you provided on the pre-registration form. This email will contain a unique link that allows you to select a time for an appointment. The link will only work for the registered individual and can only be used once.
Emails will be sent out this week for consultation on Thursday, March 18 and Saturday, March 20.
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