reporter: with dr. fauci reaffirming our nation s covid cases could double by fall, there is also growing concern a new variant could elude current vaccines. in florida, where a spike in cases pushed one hospital system to turn conference rooms and a cafeteria into patient care center, covid is coming with a cost. very difficult to have someone, a family member die and you re not there with them. reporter: tonight the evolving toll of this pandemic and the price no family should pay. miguel almaguer, nbc news. i m morgan chesky in new orleans, where tonight as the delta variant packs hospitals, doctors are seeing a new type of patient. we re concerned because we re seeing some very sick kids. reporter: at children s hospital in new orleans, dr. mark klein says patients under 10 years old make up one in five new cases and are especially vulnerable, since many don t qualify for the vaccine. 16-year-old riley brode did qualify.