Michigan Coronavirus Update: 3,440 New Cases 36 Deaths

MICHIGAN — More than 840,000 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Michigan, according to the most recent data released Friday by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The state reported Friday that Michigan had added 3,440 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 840,954. Michigan also reported 36 more deaths on Friday, increasing the COVID-19 death toll in the state to 17,611.

The state reported 3,623 new COVID-19 cases and 108 more COVID-19 deaths on Thursday. As of Saturday, 626,254 in Michigan had recovered from the coronavirus, according to state data.

Michigan's coronavirus update comes as the state reported its first case of a new COVID-19 variant with ties to India. The state's first case of B1617 — otherwise known as the coronavirus variant from India — was reported in Clinton County, health officials told Patch Friday.

The variant has been called a double-mutant because it carries a second mutation that changes the spike protein and could make the virus less susceptible to pre-existing antibodies. Authorities believe the virus is more contagious than others due to its second mutation, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's more deadly.