variant rages, testing lines are stretching out and tests running short in some places. new york city is enforcing a covid vaccine mandate for private businesses. >> no one thinks this is the holiday season we were hoping for. but contrast it to last year. it's so much better. >> reporter: also better, hospitalizations are not rising as quickly as feared. in many places, patients and staff alike are staggering against the surge. >> we have, as of this morning, 115 staff members out ill with covid, who have tested positive. >> reporter: even the holiday fun and games are getting shaky, with five college football bowl games canceled or scrambling to find new teams as covid rips through rock erlocker rooms. brand-new rules allow for the championship itself to be delayed or decided by forfeit, if necessary. although nobody wants that. >> everybody wants to play. the players are looking out for themselves, they really are. >> reporter: if you have plans