Beaumont Royal Oak Hospital’s director of infectious disease research is weighing in on the cause of the COVID-19 wave in Michigan. He calls for a restriction of schools and restaurants to combat variants.
According to the state, 3,300 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 in Michigan, and the variants that are spreading across the state play a big role.
“Some of them don’t do anything, but some of them might make it more contagious, others might be more dangerous, more deadly,” said Dr. Matthew Sims. “Some of them may make it more difficult for the vaccine’s ability to protect us.”
Sims said he saw the COVID-19 wave firsthand as director of infectious disease research at Beaumont Royal Oak. 40% of the patients in his hospital have the B.1.1.7 variant.
He compares the infection that spreads to the virus that goes through an open door.
“What happens is when you open the state, you open the door further. So you may be allowing more viruses to pass through,” he said. “Now you take a variant that is more contagious and that is like running through the door.”
The B.1.351 along with the highly contagious B.1.1.7 variants have been identified in our state, but the B.1.1.7 strain is spreading everywhere.
Nearly 2,000 cases have been identified by the state health department, but that number is likely much higher. It takes a state lab to determine the strain.
“If you want to go the other way, you want to slow it down, you have to close the door, restaurants, sporting events. I know the governor doesn’t want to do that. I know Dr. Khaldun doesn’t want to do that. numbers go up, they don’t go down, ”he said.