The state of Michigan’s COVID-19 case rates are down to 113 cases per million – an 85% drop since a mid-November peak. But, even as COVID case rates in Michigan drop, health officials continue to monitor the spread of a more-infectious coronavirus variant.
Chief Medical Executive Doctor Joneigh Khaldun says when the B.1.1.7. variant is detected, there’s a swift response.
“We continue to move forward with a proactive public health response,” explains Khaldun. “This means isolation, quarantine and frequent testing whenever we identify outbreaks associated with the variant, so that we can slow the spread as much as possible.”
Khaldun says while public health officials keeping an eye on it, the strain isn’t widespread yet. So far, 157 cases of the more-infectious strain have been detected across 12 Michigan counties. 90 of those are tied to the Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility in Ionia.
Wearing masks and following social distancing guidelines are still the best way to prevent the spread of all coronavirus strains, according to Khaldun.