13 cases of COVID U.K. variant confirmed
While the COVID B.1.1.7 variant has been in the state of Michigan for several weeks, now 13 cases have been confirmed in Oakland County.
No time to panic. Put on your mask and take a deep breath.
“Overall I’m not that excited about it,’’ said Dr. Russell Faust, Oakland County’s medical director. “To put it in perspective, based on our population in Oakland County of 1.2-1.3 million, as of today we have 13 B.1.1.7 variants.’’
Thirty-one counties in Michigan have at least one case of the variant, which was originally discovered in the U.K. The state has confirmed 725 cases — 420 of them in the Michigan Department of Corrections — per the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
“We don’t make much of it because it doesn’t change anything. I think if we end up getting a variant here that has reduced sensitivity to vaccine immunity then I’m going to get more excited and let people know,’’ Faust said. “We know this is here, it’s widespread across the state. If that knowledge helps inspire people to wear the masks and distance, I’m all for it.’’
The variant is known for being more easily transmissible but not more deadly.
“Most of these variants that are at all concerning are more transmissible. Something about their mutations make it easier to spread. That can be a num
ber of reasons if you think about what the virus has to do; maybe it divides faster, replicates faster. Maybe it sticks to the nasal lining more easily. Maybe it sheds more easily. There’s a lot of steps involved in the transmission that the mutation may improve from the perspective of the virus,’’ Faust said.
That part is concerning, but there is good news.
“The vaccine works for all of the variants so far.
There are some variants that have decreased effect from the vaccines but the vaccine still works for all of them, it’s still effective for all of the variants,’’ Faust said.
One day a resistant mutation could develop, but so far so good.
“That leads me to my most important point, we are literally in a race to get as many people vaccinated as possible before a variant evolves that the vaccine immunity might not take care of,’’ Faust said. “If there is enough community immunity, if enough people are vaccinated then it will put an end to this.’’
Along with the vaccine, the best way to fight the variant remains the same.
“No matter what happens with a variant, masks work,’’ Faust said. “The virus just can’t mutate to suddenly become a smaller virus. It is what it is, it’s the same size. Masks continue to work. It continues to be transmitted by respiratory droplets. Masks work, it’s that simple.’’
He also recommends the other protocols of social distancing and avoiding indoor gatherings with lots of people.
The 13 variant cases were confirmed by Michigan’s Bureau of Laboratories.
“We range about 1,500 to 4,000 diagnostic test specimens a week. Around 500 samples a week is our capacity right now for sequencing. It takes about a week to sequence a sample, so yes, a person would not know they had a variant until at least a week after they received their positive test results, and possible longer,’’ said MDHHS spokesperson Lynn Sutfin.
Faust said the 13 cases in Oakland County are already past their transmission window.
It’s not a surprise that the variant is in the county since there are so many cases in the state. In fact, only Florida has more cases of the variant (738) than Michigan.
“We know it’s here. It’s fairly widespread and we know it’s more easily transmitted. It’s no surprise,’’ Faust said. “It won’t be long before it’s the dominant strain. It’s more easily transmitted — bang that’s what happens. It will be transmitted more easily than the original strain and before we know it all the positive strains will be the B.1.1.7.’’