under, i would say, serious consideration. >> reporter: still, for now, the virus keeps hammering hospitals, patients and staffs alike. >> 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 locker 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: simply put, the pandemic once again has everything in flux despite most americans doing the right thing and getting vaccinated. and we have been living this way for a while. they predict the omicron winter surge could last six to eight weeks. jake? >> tom foreman, thanks. let's go to one of the testing sites with leyla