Michigan health officials have identified the state’s first case of the COVID-19 omicron variant in Kent County.

(NIAID-RML via AP)GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A new, more contagious strain of the coronavirus has been reported in a third Michigan county for the first time. Health officials say a confirmed case of a highly contagious COVID-19 variant, known as B117, was reported in Kent County on Sunday, Feb. 7. Michigan’s first known case of the virus variant was identified on Jan. 16 in a Washtenaw County woman who had just recently traveled to the U.K. Washtenaw County officials say that all known B117 variant cases within that county are tied to the University of Michigan community. Related: University of Michigan identifies virus outbreaks at off-campus housesAdThree COVID-19 variants, including the B117 variant, have been identified in the U.S. so far.