Crushing Wave News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

>> huge problem we're going to get into. this morning, the travel chaos continues at airports across the nation with a crushing wave of flight delays and cancellations before the busy july 4th weekend. severe storms and staffing shortages created a nightmare since saturday. this morning, more than 1,000 flights are already delayed or canceled. across the country we're seeing scenes like this, the newark new jersey airport where people have been stranded for days sleeping on cots, sleeping on the floor. the misery became even worse last night when thunderstorms forced ground stops at newark and...

Hospitalization from omicron. meantime, infections in the east are dropping the south and west, though, still struggling with more, here's miguel almaguer. >> reporter: today as the cdc cited new data saying booster shots are at least 90% effective in preventing hospitalization, less than half of americans who are eligible have actually received one. it comes as rooms, gurneys, hallways and triage areas outside hospital lobbies in states like california face a crushing wave of covid cases. >> i have 32 patients down here waiting for a bed. >> reporter: hospitalizations here in the hardest hit ...

There appears to be hopeful news in the united kingdom. the u.k. health agency says data suggests omicron patients are 50% to 70% less likely to require hospitalization than those with delta. the fda today authorized a second covid pill for emergency use. this one from merck. >> in patients who are at high risk for covid-19 complications, there was a 30% reduction in the risk of hospitalizations and deaths. >> reporter: that's less effective than pfizer's pill, but an additional tool as delta devastates hospitals. >> we have seen so many deaths. >> reporter: doctors and nurses simply can't kee...

Supply miguel almaguer leads our coverage tonight >> reporter: the fda's emergency use authorization officially clears the way for the nation's first covid antiviral pill if taken within five days of the onset of symptoms, it could reduce hospitalizations by 88% for those americans already considered high risk with tens of millions likely to become eligible, the treatment, which appears to fight off omicron, now found in all 50 states, could be available in just days but supply will be tight, at least for now. >> as quickly as pfizer gets the pills manufactured and delivered, we will immediate...

Projections mean the current devastating surge may be just the beginning. already facing a crushing wave of delta, hospitals are now bracing for an ominous outbreak of omicron. by christmas week, the cdc predicts the combination of variants could skyrocket cases by 55% or 1.3 million infections in 7 days but the grimmest outlook during the first week of january, deaths could spike 71%, up to 15,600 lives lost in seven days. >> it's tough sitting with families while they watch their loved ones truly just dying because they cannot breathe. >> big pinch. >> reporter: many of the new omicron cases...