Michigan Reports First Case Of COVID-19 Variant From Brazil

LANSING, MI — Michigan reported its first confirmed case of P.1, otherwise known as the coronavirus variant from Brazil, on Thursday.

Officials with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday that a Bay County resident had contracted the variant, which was reported by commercial lab Quest. The state was notified of the positive test on Wednesday.

"We are concerned about the discovery of another variant in Michigan," MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said. "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."

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Bay County health officials have been notified of the person's exposure history and are attempting to pinpoint the source of the infection, according to a news release. The county also is reaching out to people who have been near the person who tested positive for the virus and are requiring a 14-day quarantine for those people.

The COVID-19 variant from Brazil was first identified in travelers from Brazil during routine airport screening in Tokyo, Japan in early January, the state said. The variant has been associated with increased transmissibility and there are concerns it might affect both vaccine-induced and natural immunity, the state said.

As of Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 172 confirmed P.1 cases from 22 states. Michigan has also identified 1,468 cases of B.1.1.7 variant infections in 51 Michigan jurisdictions and seven cases of B.1.135 variant infections in six Michigan jurisdictions as of Wednesday.