backing n95 and kn95 masks, which offer the best protection. according to the c.d.c., a person wearing a cloth mask standing within six feet of an unmasked individual with covid, can become infected within 20 minutes, while it would take two and a half hours for a person wearing an n95 mask. >> a typical cloth mask might be 50% effective, and that was okay before. it doesn't seem to be enough with omicron. n95s offer much greater protection. they're able to block 95% of particles. >> reporter: still, there are signs that the surge of omicron infections may have crested in the northeast. >> cases are slowing down. the rate of increase is slowing down, but they're still high. >> reporter: with testing among the first line of defense, at-home testing kits remain in short supply and testing lines long. doctors warn: stay away from overcrowded hospitals. >> there's really no need dom to the emergency room just to be