The director of Beaumont Royal Oak Hospital’s investigation into infectious diseases is investigating in what drives the COVID-19 boom in Michigan. He calls for the reduction of schools and restaurants as a way to control variants.
According to the state, there are 3,300 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Michigan, and the variants distributed throughout the state play a major role.
“Some of them do nothing, but some of them can make it more contagious, others can make it more dangerous, deadly,” said Dr. Matthew Sims said. “Some of them may make it difficult for the vaccine’s ability to protect us.”
Sims said he sees the COVID-19 come to life first-hand 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 like the virus that goes through an open door.
“What happens is that when you open the state, you open the door wider. So you can get more virus through,” he said. “Now, you take a variant that is more contagious and like running through the door.”
The B.1.351 and the highly contagious B.1.1.7 variants have been identified in our state, but the B.1.1.7 strain is spreading throughout the country.
Nearly 2,000 cases have been identified by the state health department, but it is probably much higher. It needs a state laboratory to determine the voltage.
“If you want to go the other way, then you want to delay it, you have to close the door, restaurants, sporting events. I know the governor does not want to do that. I know Dr. Khaldun does not want to do that. We numbers are rising, they are not falling, ‘he said.