complicated, and health experts say, not purely medical. >> we want to get people back to the jobs, particularly those with essential jobs, to keep our society running smoothly. >> if you are an hourly wage worker and you feel reasonably fine, maybe you have mild symptoms, you're much less likely to get tested if you know that a positive result will mean ten days of not being able to work, of being isolated. >> reporter: one sector already struggling, vaccinated healthcare workers suffering breakthrough infections of the highly transmissible omicron variant. and being sent home. >> that's still an impossible strain on an already strained healthcare system. so, i understand the pressure to get workers back earlier. >> reporter: omicron is spreading so fast, the impact is now going far beyond the widely reported holiday travel problems. in new york city, apple has closed all its stores to browsing shoppers. in maryland, courts are cutting back their winter schedules. all over college and professional sports are dealing