How likely is the spread of the COVID variant to lead to another lockdown in Michigan?

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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 that this threat will lead to another lockdown.

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

LILY: 7 takeaways from Governor Whitmer’s COVID briefing on Tuesday

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“While our numbers generally continue to move in the right direction, I am very concerned about what we are seeing with the new B117 variant,” Khaldun said. “Although this variant first appeared in (UK), not all of the cases we’re seeing in Michigan have been associated with someone who had traveled before, meaning the variant is likely in the community in general. “

“We’re in a race, like I said,” Whitmer said. “There are variations that are present now that we need to be concerned about.”

Even though the B117 variant is not believed to cause more serious complications from COVID-19, it spreads more easily and could cause another spike in cases.

“If these become the dominant viruses, what is the likelihood that we can revert to more restaurant closings and other public gatherings?” a reporter asked Whitmer.

You can listen to the full question, along with Whitmer and Khaldun’s answer, in the video below..

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“Nobody wants to go back, take steps back,” Whitmer said. “This is why we ask everyone to continue doing their part. The B117 variant, the other variants that we’ve seen around the world – we always know they can’t pass from person to person if we wear our masks, socially walk away, and wash our hands.

“We still know how to beat these viruses and these variants of this virus if we keep doing it, but we are in a race to get these vaccines into the guns, and that is why the resources for this COVID recovery plan of Michigan are so crucial at this time. It’s a race, and we want to continue leading in this race, and we have to put those resources into it.

Khaldun said the state’s contact tracing and testing was in good shape as cases had declined so there are plenty of contact tracers and antigen tests available at the moment.

“Of course I’m concerned, but like the governor said, masks, social distancing, hand washing – those things work,” Khaldun said. “We have accelerated our public health response and I am confident in what we have done with our local health departments and other places where we have seen these outbreaks.”

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

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

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