COVID-19 live updates: 5 cases of omicron variant identified in Alameda County

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A surge in coronavirus cases has been reported in the Bay Area and across California as well as the country due in part to the emergence of the highly-contagious delta variant.

The latest number of confirmed cases in the U.S. can be found at the CDC's 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the U.S. page. (The CDC updates the webpage on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.)

Join anchor Kristen Sze for ABC7's daily, interactive newscast about the coronavirus outbreak in the Bay Area and around the world. You can check here to stream the show Monday-Friday at 3 p.m.

• MAPS: Check out the latest maps of COVID-19 cases, deaths in the US, world


• CORONAVIRUS IN CA: Get resources and information about COVID-19


• LATEST LOCAL CASES: Updated number of COVID-19 cases, deaths in San Francisco Bay Area


• CORONAVIRUS TIMELINE: Tracking major moments of COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco Bay Area

Here are the latest developments on the respiratory illness in the Bay Area:

6:00 p.m.
5 cases of omicron variant identified in Alameda Co.
Alameda County health officials announced Friday evening that they have identified five cases of the omicron variant, all individuals are vaccinated, and most had received boosters. Officials say the cases are linked to a Nov. 27 wedding in Wisconsin which one of these individuals attended upon return from international travel.

5:20 a.m.
Hawaii latest state to confirm omicron case
Hawaii became the fifth state to detect the omicron variant, after confirming a case through expedited genomic sequencing, health officials said. The individual is an unvaccinated resident of Oahu who had a previous COVID-19 infection, the state health department said. The person is experiencing "moderate symptoms," the department said. The resident has no recent travel history, indicating that this is a case of community transmission, health officials said.