the woods yet, but there is a clear path forward. >> reporter: here in los angeles, school kids no longer need to mask up outside. still required inside classrooms. michigan, no longer urging masks in most indoor settings, including classrooms. >> it's understandable why people want to take masks off the kids. but right now given the level of activity that we have, it is risky. >> the national average daily covid-19 case count still high but just fell 42% in a week. numbers in the hospital down 25% in just a week. and almost back below pre-omicron levels. just for awareness for now, japanese researchers say the ba.2 subvariant of omicron needs more close monitoring, spreads faster, and also might cause more severe disease and increase the need for vaccine boosters.