unprecedented spike experts say the most serious threat may be over by next month we would like it to get down to that level where it doesn t disrupt us in the sense of getting back to a degree of normality. that s the best-case scenario. reporter: while omicron s wave may crest by mid-february, its wake is still rippling across the country. every day more than 2,200 americans are still dying. 16 states, hit later by omicron, have cases spiking by over 100% we have all reached the point where we re just so burnt out. reporter: many on the front lines are struggling to see the end to the spike things are sort of at unprecedented levels, and the numbers of patients that we re seeing that require emergency acute care services is overwhelming our ability to really supply those services. reporter: as the first free n95 masks arrive at select grocery stores and pharmacies in the midwest, americans are also starting to receive their free home covid test kits with millions more
miguel almaguer has the latest. reporter: for a nation on the brink of a covid catastrophe, clear signs of optimism in what appears to be the impending end to omicron dangerous surge as cases continue their steep decline in pockets of the country, new infections are down 14% across the u.s. a climb of new cases over the course of the pandemic reaching peaks and valleys, and now finally after omicron s unprecedented spike, experts say the most serious threat may be over by next month. we d like it to get down to that level where it doesn t disrupt us in the sense of getting back to a degree of normality. that s the best case scenario. while omicron s wave may crest by mid february, its wake is still rippling across the country. every day, more than 2200 americans are still dying. 16 states hit later by omicron have cases spiking by over 100%.