>> omicron surge of cases has now topped delta's, but hospitalizations haven't skyrocketed in the same way. they remain about 70% of what they were during the september peak. it's part of the reason many businesses are now pushing to shorten isolation times for asymptomatic cases. in new york state essential workers are now allowed to return to work just five days after testing positive. >> yeah, that's right. note here, it applies to workers who are fully vaccinated, don't be have symptoms and haven't had a fever for 72 hours. also note here, testing not required, perhaps because finding a quick pcr test in particular right now is nearly impossible unless you want to pay hundreds of dollars. coast to coast there have been long lines and days spent waiting for pcr results. >> i was just hoping to have a normal christmas with my wife and family and in the middle of the day her sister said she wasn't feeling well. she was able to get a rapid test