MILWAUKEE — Five mildly symptomatic COVID-19 cases involving the Omicron variant found in Alameda County, California, have been linked to a wedding in Milwaukee County.

A health department in California initially announced Friday evening, writing that the outbreak was connected to a wedding in Wisconsin.

Shortly afterward, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services confirmed that the wedding happened in Milwaukee County on Nov. 27.

DHS said the City of Milwaukee Health Department is investigating with the DHS.

The DHS says that no Omicron cases among Wisconsin residents have been identified, but the investigation continues.

In California, a state lab used genomic sequencing to identify 12 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Alameda County to that wedding. Of those cases, five cases involve the omicron variant. One of the infected people attended the wedding upon return from international travel.

All 12 people were vaccinated, most had received booster shots, and no one has been hospitalized. All experienced mild symptoms, the health departments said. All are between the ages of 18-49 years old.

DHS and the City of Milwaukee Health Department are now reaching out to all Wisconsin residents who were close contacts, and isolation and quarantine protocols are being followed.

“Although the news that this variant is continuing to spread throughout the country is concerning, it should not be a cause for panic. We know COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing serious illness and death,” said DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake in the statement. "That’s why it’s critical that all eligible Wisconsinites get vaccinated or get their booster as soon as possible and follow public health best practices to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.”

The first case of the omicron variant has yet to be confirmed in Wisconsin, but this may change soon as health officials track the California-Wisconsin connection and as the variant spreads across the country.v

This story was first reported by staff at TMJ4.

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. (TMJ4) — COVID-19 vaccinations of animals will begin next week at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Several different types of animals will receive a shot similar to the Pfizer vaccine that humans have been getting for the better part of a year now.

Senior Staff Veterinarian Dr. Pamela Govett says the COVID-19 risk to animals is very similar to the risk to humans. The decision to immunize the animals comes after a couple of scares at the zoo.

“We have tested two animals that we thought might have it, that were showing respiratory signs, but so far we’ve been lucky,” said Govett.

Donated by the animal health company Zoetis, the shots will first be given to river otters, primates and large cats, all animals that are thought to be susceptible to the COVID-19 virus. The animals will get their shots in a series of two separated by a few weeks, just like humans.

The vaccinations will start the week of Nov. 15.

This story was originally reported by Tom Durian on tmj4.com.

YouTube has suspended Sen. Ron Johnson from posting new videos on the platform for one week over coronavirus comments.

YouTube told The Hill that it made the call for comments the Wisconsin U.S. Senator made in a video posted on his account.

He reportedly supported unproven, experimental treatments for COVID-19, such as Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin.

The platform said it removed the video per its COVID-19 medical misinformation policies, which don't allow content encouraging people to use Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin to treat the coronavirus.

YouTube's misinformation policy states, "YouTube doesn't allow content that spreads medical misinformation that contradicts local health authorities or the World Health Organization’s (WHO) medical information about COVID-19. This is limited to content that contradicts WHO or local health authorities’ guidance on:

• Treatment
• Prevention
• Diagnosis
• Transmission
• Social distancing and self-isolation guidelines
• The existence of COVID-19."

On Friday, Sen. Johnson pushed back against the decision in a tweet Friday, writing that "YouTube’s arrogant COVID censorship continues. How many lives will be lost as a result? How many lives could have been saved with a free exchange of medical ideas? This suppression of speech should concern every American."

The Hill reports the video in question showed Johnson criticizing President Biden's administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic and promoting the use of Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin.

Hydroxychloroquine, in particular, came into the spotlight after former President Trump promoted its use as a way to combat the virus.

Last year, a National Institutes of Health clinical trial concluded that Hydroxychloroquine provided no clinical benefit to patients hospitalized with the coronavirus.

TJM4 first reported this story.