in new jersey, princeton university will delay the return to class by one week. in alabama, auburn will require masks whether you re vaccinated or not. even as primary schools struggle to reopen amid hopes that masks, testing and more will keep the virus at bay. i think parents have had enough of school closures due to poor policies so let s protect our students. let s protect our staff. let s keep our communities thriving. reporter: a glirm of hope. studies and reports continue to suggest it may not be as lethal as delta. even as it spreads wildly. these numbers are very, very striking. but nonetheless, i am optimistic that most people who get this infection will not become critically ill. reporter: that will not stop the giant rush happening on hospitals right now. in texas, it s just become one of the latest states to request more federal help, more experts to come in and help with their caseload there. more treatments, more testing