– A total of five cases of a new, more contagious strain of the coronavirus have been identified in Michigan so far, according to health officials.

The Washtenaw County Health Department announced Saturday, Jan.

23 that a total of five cases of the virus variant, also known as B117, have been identified in county residents.

The health department is warning residents of potential exposure sites, where patrons may have came into contact with the virus variant.

Cases of the COVID-19 variant B117 have been identified in Washtenaw County.

A total of 5 cases of the variant have been identified and additional sequencing continues for other possible cases already positive for COVID-19.

Two additional cases were identified in two more Washtenaw County residents on Jan.

“The possibility of additional spread of the variant is a concern,” says Juan Luis Marquez, MD, MPH, medical director with Washtenaw County Health Department.

“We have been warning people for weeks that this variant would likely be identified in the State of Michigan,” says Dr.