everybody to come home all at once. >> thanks so much. the rapid rise of the omicron variant has led to a rush to get tested for covid, especially for those planning for holiday gatherings. but finding a testing location or an at-home test has been a real challenge. here's lucy kavanaugh with the latest search for covid tests. >> yes, we're here to make some toys. >> reporter: christmas cheer tempered this year as omicron spreads at a rapid case with new covid cases hitting record highs. the u.s. now averaging more than 180,000 new cases each day, up 48% from last week, surpassing the peak of the delta variant surge in the summer. the good news, hospitalizations remain half the record high from january. amid the omicron surge, the cdc cutting quarantine time for infected health care workers. those who test positive but are asymptomatic can now return to work after seven days of isolation instead of ten with a