The World Health Organization deemed coronavirus variant B.1.1.529 — also known as omicron — a variant of concern and the U.S. followed suit Nov. 30 also classifying it as a variant of concern. The nation's first cases have been reported as U.S. officials race to contain it.
Editor's note: This list will be updated as states report cases of the omicron variant.
1. The first case of a COVID-19 patient with the omicron variant in the U.S. was detected by officials in California on Dec. 1. The Los Angeles Public Health Department reported a second case Dec. 2.
2. The Minnesota Department of Public Health reported the first case of the omicron variant in the state on Dec. 2.
3. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment officials confirmed the state's first case of the omicron variant on Dec. 2.
4. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Dec. 2 five cases of the omicron variant were reported in the state.
5. The Hawaii Department of Public Health confirmed a case of the omicron variant Dec. 2.
6. The Nebraska Department of Public Health reported six cases of the variant Dec. 3.
7. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan confirmed three cases of the variant Dec. 3.
8. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health reported the first case of the omicron variant in Pennsylvania Dec. 3.
9. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced the state's first case of the variant Dec. 3.
10. The Utah Department of Public Health reported the state's first omicron case Dec. 3.
11. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services confirmed a case of the variant Dec. 3.
12. The Louisiana Department of Health reported the first "probable" case of the variant Dec. 3.
13. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported the first case Dec. 4.
14. The Washington State Department of Health confirmed three cases of the omicron variant Dec. 4.
15. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont confirmed the state's first case Dec. 4.
16. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported the state's first case Dec. 4.
17. The Georgia Department of Public Health reported the first omicron case Dec. 5.
18. The MIssissippi State Department of Health confirmed the state's first omicron case Dec. 6.
19. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported the first case Dec. 6.
20. The Illinois and Chicago Departments of Public Health confirmed the first omicron case Dec. 7.
21. The Florida Department of Public Health officials confirmed the first omicron case in a Dec. 7 tweet.
22. The Arizona Department of Health Services and Yavapai County Community Health Services officials confirmed the state's first case Dec. 8.
23. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported the first case of omicron was detected in the state Dec. 9.
24. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the first case was detected in Kent County Dec. 9.
25. The Virginia Department of Health reported the first case of omicron Dec. 9.
27. North Carolina officials in the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department confirmed the first case Dec. 10.
28. The Idaho Statesman reported the first case of omicron in Idaho on Dec. 10.
29. The Ohio Department of Health reported the state's first two cases Dec. 11.
30. Tennessee reported two cases of the variant in Shelby County Dec. 11.
31. Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee confirmed the state's first case in a Dec. 11 release.
32. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed four cases of the variant Dec. 12.
33. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services reported the state's first case Dec. 13.
34. The Oregon Health Authority and Department of Human Services confirmed the state's first three cases Dec. 13.
35. The New Mexico Department of Health reported the state's first case Dec. 13.
36. Alaska officials confirmed the state's first case Dec. 13.
37. The Southern Nevada Health District reported the first case in the state Dec. 14.
38. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control confirmed the state's first three cases Dec. 15.
39. Alabama health officials reported the first case in the state Dec. 16.
40. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment confirmed the first case in the state Dec. 16.
41. The first case was identified in West Virginia Dec. 16.
42. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson confirmed the first case in a Dec. 17 tweet.
43. The Wyoming Deparment of Health reported the first case Dec. 17.
44. The Delaware Division of Public Health confirmed four cases Dec. 17.
45. Five cases were identified in Maine on Dec. 17, WGME reported.
46. The Vermont Department of Health confirmed the first case in the state Dec. 18.
47. The Indiana Department of Public Health confirmed the first case Dec. 19.
48. The North Dakota Department of Health confirmed four cases Dec. 19.
49. Montana officials confirmed the state's first case Dec. 20.
50. The Oklahoma State Department of Health confirmed the first case Dec. 21.
51. The South Dakota Department of Health confirmed the first case Dec. 22.