Updated at 5:32 p.m. ET
As Michigan remains a hot spot for COVID-19, a new variant of the coronavirus has been identified in mid-Michigan.
Michigan’s first case of a new coronavirus variant from India was reported in Clinton County Friday.
The World Health Organization on April 16 deemed B.1.617 a “variant of interest" with two mutations: E484Q and L452R.
It was first seen in two states at the end of last year and the number of new cases of B.1.617 is increasing nationwide.
The U.K.'s B.1.1.7. variant is now the most prominent in Michigan. The state health department has also reported cases of the Brazil P.1 and B 1.351 South African variations.
The CDC says some variants can be transmitted more easily and may result in more severe disease.
There's also concern of possible reduced vaccine-induced immunity.
