correspondent mark meredith starts us off tonight. good evening, mark. >> bret, good evening to you. federal health officials say omicron cases are on the decline, that's the good news. the cdc says it's also still not quite ready to change its masking recommendations, officials stress though changes are likely coming sooner rather than later. >> cases are declining. we are all cautiously optimistic about the trajectory we are on. we all share the same goal. to say get to a point where covid-19 is no longer disrupting our daily lives. a time when it won't be a constant crisis. rather, something we can prevent, protect against, and treat. >> several states including new york and california dropped indoor masking requirements. several states keeping masking in place at schools for the time being. the white house says it thinks schools should be following cdc guidance which recommends everyone, regardless of vaccination wear a mask in schools. today virginia's new republican governor glenn youngkin signed into law a bill which formally allows parents to opt out of local school mask mandates.