they are young. they're unvaccinated. they have -- we can't allow the visitors in. the ones that can speak that aren't requiring ventilators tell us they wish they got vaccinated. unfortunately most of these patients are gasping for breath and can't actually talk to us. we are exhausted and i'm not sure how long this is going to keep up. >> new york city adjusting plans for new year's eve in times square. mayor bill de blasio announcing a scaled-back celebration with a maximum of 15,000 people allowed in and masks required for all. normally about four times that number are packed into times square on new year's eve. more good news on new covid treatments. for the second time in a week the fda green lighting a pill to fight the virus. for this to make a dent in the pandemic, testing capacity and turn around time will need to improve. senior medical correspondent elizabeth cohen has more. >> christine, paula, on thursday