BAY CITY, MI - A second variant of the COVID-19 virus has been identified in Bay County, according to local health authorities.
The Bay County Health Department issued a press release on Thursday April 1 stating that the P.1 Brazilian variant of the COVID-19 virus was recently identified in the county. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) notified the Bay County Health Department that the MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories identified the P.1 Brazilian variant in a Bay County resident and it is the first known case in the State of Michigan.
“We are concerned about the discovery of another variant in Michigan,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS Director. “It is now even more important that Michiganders continue to do what works to slow the spread of the virus by wearing their masks properly, socially distancing, avoiding crowds, washing their hands often and making a plan to get the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine once it is their turn. We all have a personal responsibility to slow the spread of COVID-19 and end this pandemic as quickly as possible.”
The P.1 variant was first identified in travelers from Brazil, who were tested during routine screening at an airport in Japan, in early January. It was first detected in the US at the end of January 2021, said the health department, and this variant contains a set of additional mutations that may affect its ability to be recognized by antibodies from previous infections and may increase the chance of reinfection.
The confirmed case is a female and the person’s travel history is not known at this time. The case was originally diagnosed in early March and has subsequently recovered said the health department. Samples from the original diagnosis were sent to the Bureau of Laboratories in Lansing for genotyping and the results identifying the variant were reported yesterday, according to the health department.
“This is the second new variant of COVID-19 to be identified in Bay County since last week, and the rise of these new variants definitely impact the progress we have made this year with vaccinations,” said Joel Strasz, Public Health Officer of the Bay County Health Department.
The Bay County Health Department stated that it has investigated three cases of the B.1.1.7 (UK) variant identified since the first case was identified in the county on March 26. No cases of the 1.351 (South African) variant have been identified in Bay County as of April 1.
With the high transmission rate of the variants and with Spring Break and the Easter holiday quickly coming up, the health department is stressing the importance of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. At this time, the COVID-19 vaccines appear to be effective against the variant, said the health department.
The Bay County Health Department is continuing to prioritize registrants 50 years of age and older to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but it will accept as many of the current age categories as allowed by the State of Michigan. All Bay County residents, aged 16 and older are encouraged to register and will be sent appointment invitations for other BCHD sponsored clinics in the future.
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