(WXYZ) — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says they have now confirmed two more cases of the B.1.1.7. variant of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The two Washtenaw County women are close contacts of the patient who was initially diagnosed with the B.1.1.7 variant on Saturday.
All three individuals are associated with the University of Michigan.
In all, a total of seven additional cases of COVID-19 are linked to the initial patient with the B.1.1.7. variant. While two of those cases are now confirmed to have the variant strain, it is not yet known whether the remaining five contracted the variant strain.
The B.1.1.7. variant of COVID-19 is believed to be more contagious than the more common strain of the virus, but it is not believed to lead to more severe cases of the coronavirus.
The Washtenaw County Health Department says they are working closing with U of M on strategies to prevent the spread of the virus.
“While not unexpected, this means being even more vigilant with the public health measures that are known to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said Preeti Malani, MD, chief health officer at the University of Michigan in a news release. “The Community Surveillance and Tracking Program offers convenient testing to all members of the University of Michigan community.”
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