3 new cases of COVID-19 B117 variant found in St. Clair County – here are the details

ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mich. – Three new cases of more contagious COVID-19 B117 variant are identified in St. Clair County

St. Clair County health officials said the first case of B117 in their county was identified in February. Now three more cases have been confirmed.

According to the health department, the cases were found in a man in their 30s, a woman in their 60s and a woman in their 40s.

The man and woman in their 40s completed isolation, but the woman in their 60s has since died, officials said.

According to St. Clair County health officials, the woman in her 40s was a close contact with the woman in her 60s.

B117 was originally identified in the United Kingdom, but has spread to the United States. It’s more easily passed between people, but there’s no evidence it causes more serious cases of COVID-19, experts said.

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“We are doubling the number of studies in different cases,” says Dr. Annette Mercatante, medical health officer for the St. Clair County Health Department. “Suspicious cases will be contacted more often and will have to be quarantined for 14 days, versus 10.

“Because the variant can be more contagious, the virus could potentially infect more people with less exposure. It is imperative that our residents continue to follow all preventive measures, especially as the severity of the disease and the efficacy of vaccines for variants are still being studied. “