(WWJ) As state health officials keep an eye on a more contagious COVID-19 mutation found in Michigan, eight cases are being investigated in Wayne County.
Wayne County public health officials said Tuesday noted they have been able to confirmed four cases of the COVID B.1.1.7 variant in the county. Health officials also say are looking into four additional COVID-19 positive cases of people who had close contact with the four people who tested positive for the variant strain, which was first discovered in the U.K.
All eight people have been advised to quarantine for 14 days, offiails said.
The four people who tested positive for the variant include:
• 41-year-old man, who recently arrived from international travel, and has since left the country
• 42-year-old woman
• 35-year-old woman
• 35-year-old man, who recently has returned from international travel.
Those four confirmed cases were noted during news conference on Monday, when Michigan's top medical executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said the state is keeping close track of cases of B.1.1.7. Along with the Wayne County cases, Khaldun said at least 17 cases of the variant have been found in Washtenaw County.
"There are likely even more cases that we have not yet identified, and there's possibly spread of the variant that is happening right now," Khaldun added.
"The good news though, this variant has not yet appeared to cause more severe disease, our current test can identify it, and our current vaccines appear to work against it," she said.
Meanwhile, Wayne County's four suspected variant-positive cases have been retested, the health department said, and results from those procedures are not yet available.
While the idea of a "mutated" virus may be unsettling, Wayne County public health officials, as well as those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, note it is usual for viruses to mutate over time.
Something to keep in mind, however, is that the B.1.1.7 variant spreads more easily and quickly than other variants.
"As we administer our vaccine, it is important for people to mask up, wash their hands frequently, and avoid large groups," said Dr. Mouhanad Hammami, Chief Health Strategist for Wayne County. "We are vaccinating people as fast as vaccine is available to us. Until then, we need to keep doing the safe practices we know help lower the risk of catching or spreading the virus."
Wayne County encourages residents to get tested frequently to slow the spread of any variant of the virus. Testing is widely available throughout Wayne County.
People who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms — such as a dry cough, fever, body aches, a sudden loss of smell or taste, or fatigue should get tested by calling their primary care provider or visiting one of the free testing sites in Wayne County. Testing site and COVID-19 information can be found at www.waynecounty.com/covid19.
