COVID-19 variant B.1.617 identified in Michigan The COVID-19 variant first identified in India is now in Michigan, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. By: WXYZ Web Team and last updated 2021-04-30 17:31:03-04 (WXYZ & ASSOCIATED PRESS) â The COVID-19 variant first identified in India is now in Michigan, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. A case of the B.1.617 variant was discovered in a Clinton County adult with recent travel to India. India crossed a milestone Wednesday of 200,000 people lost to the coronavirus as new infections surged in cities and rural areas and overwhelmed health care systems. The country on Wednesday also reported 362,757 new infections, a new global record, which raised the overall total past 17.9 million.