capacity and the governor there now allowing health care workers who have covid but who are asymptomatic to come to work because there is such a need for front line workers. authorities had warned we would see this with the colder weather and americans heading indoors. and they now say it is going to get much worse unless we all act. abc's chief national correspondent matt gutman leading us off. >> reporter: tonight, new york, the original epicenter of the coronavirus, taking swift action in the face of a troubling sign. the positivity rate climbing to 2.9%, the highest since june. starting friday, a new curfew. bars, restaurants and gyms will close at 10:00 p.m. gatherings in private homes will be limited to ten people. >> if these numbers keep going crazy, you have some scientists who believe we're going to go back to a closedown. i'm just praying that doesn't happen. >> reporter: tonight, texas is the first state to surpass a million cases and the nation's new epicenter, el paso, parts of