will follow shortly. so ask your pediatrician. ask your doctor. they re there to give you good advice. and doctor, cnn was first to report that the cdc is lifting covid testing restrictions for people entering the united states. was that the right move? oh, yes, i think it was, boris. you know, we have oodles of covid here, asking people to be tested before coming into the united states, it is like saying don t pour a glass of water into my swimming pool. and also, i think the cdc will be looking to see if there are new variants that crop up around the world. if that happens, they may reinstitute that testing program. but even so, testing on admission to the united states offers only an opportunity to delay transmission of these highly contagious respiratory viruses.
system teetering on the edge here s miguel almaguer reporter: tonight with omicron now discovered in nearly 20 states, the mayor of new york city is implementing the nation s most sweeping vaccine mandate for all private employers. by the end of this month, those who work in person must have at least one dose of a vaccine unless they qualify for an exemption. we needed to do something bold quickly and get ahead of all of this. reporter: with new testing restrictions also implemented today for all travelers entering the u.s., our nation is bracing for omicron but already facing a disaster set into motion by delta. i used to wake up crying because i thought i was going to die. reporter: like 99% of those infected with the virus, vera martinez-ruiz, who isn t vaccinated likely has delta i never thought it would get me, and it got me, and it s really scary. reporter: martinez-ruiz is lucky
this is the first confirmed case of covid-19 caused by the omicron variant detected in the united states. reporter: a fully vaccinated person, returning from south africa to san francisco, the first to test positive for the new variant about which it wille is known. have they had a booster shot yet? to my knowledge no. reporter: they returned to the united states on november 22nd and tested positive a week later, and is now isolating as close contacts are being traced and tested. all close contacts thus far have tested negative. reporter: the news coming as the cdc prepares to tighten testing restrictions on all travelers entering the united states shortening the time frame for a negative test from 72 hours to 24. this person, i mean, did what we hope other people would do. they got off and as soon as they became symptomatic, they went and got tested and it was positive. reporter: a mandatory quarantine not under consideration as dr. fauci is calling on the 100 millio
new variant. have they had a booster shot yet? to my knowledge no. reporter: they returned to the united states on november 22nd and tested positive a week later and isolating as close contacts are being traced and tested. all close contacts thus far have tested negative. reporter: the news coming as the cdc prepares to tighten testing restrictions on all travelers entering the united states shortening the time frame for a negative test from 72 hours to 24. this person, i mean, did what we hope other people would do. they got off and as soon as they became symptomatic, they went and got tested and it was positive. reporter: a mandatory quarantine not under consideration as dr. fauci is calling on the 100 million eligible americans who have yet to get boosted to do so. if you look at the peak following the third shot boost, it goes way up here. reporter: fauci warning not to wait for a omicron tailored booster shot. the mistake people make is to say let me wait and s