that number is the result of a lag in reporting over the christmas holidays, but it is a staggering toll nonetheless. the centers for disease control and prevention is now forecasting 44,000 new covid deaths over the next month. now, the cdc also projects those fatalities will rise most quickly in early january, then tapering off later in the 3407b89. -- month. more u.s. states are employing the national guard to support health care workers, especially with testing and vaccination efforts. tom foreman has the day's other headlines from washington. >> reporter: schools in d.c. will require all students and staff to have negative covid tests to come back to class. new york city will require rigorous testing, too. all that as the white house says it expects to sign a contract for 500 billion at-home covid tests next week. >> it really had a lot to do