THE FIRST TIME WE'VE TOPPED 4000 FOR THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF NEW CASES, AVERAGE DEATHS ARE JUST BELOW A RECORD SET IN NOVEMBER, AT 37. >>> A NEW MASK RECOMMENDATION, AND A MAN FROM IRWIN IS PLEADING WITH EVERYONE JUST TO WEAR ONE. HE SENT A VIDEO TO TWITTER, URGING EVERYONE TO TAKE THE VIRUS SERIOUSLY. ROSALIE SPOKE WITH THE MAN AND SHARED HIS MESSAGE. >> I AM A NORMAL GUY HEALTH. AND I AM STILL STRUGGLING. >> Reporter: A HEALTHY GUY IN HIS 30s STILL FOUND HIMSELF IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, BATTLING COVID-19. >> I REMEMBER SAYING TO MYSELF, WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO? THAT'S WHEN IT HIT ME. >> Reporter: ON THINGS GIVING HE LOST HIS TASTE AND SMELL. OVER THE WEEKEND IT GOT WORSE. >> THEY HAD TO GET ME OUT OF MY CLOTHING AND PUT ICE PACKS ALL AROUND ME. IT WAS ROUGH IT WAS A ROUGH SIX TO 12 HOURS. >> Reporter: JOHN AND HIS WIFE TOOK ALL THE PRECAUTIONS, BUT BOTH STILL CONTRACTED THE VIRUS. THE CDC IS NOW RECOMMENDING THAT PEOPLE PUT ON MASKS INSIDE, WHEN THEY ARE NOT AT HOME. AND STUCK AT HOME, HE COULDN'T AGREE MORE. >> MASKS, ALL THE TIME, YES. >> Reporter: AFTER BEING IN HOSPITAL FOR THREE DAYS, HE IS FEELING BETTER. HE POSTED A VIDEO ON TWITTER, HOPING FOR MEDIA ATTENTION TO GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS. >> GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE, DOING TO GET GAS, YOU ARE BUMPING INTO SOMEBODY CARRYING THAT, AND IT IS GOING TO RUIN SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE. >> Reporter: THE 1.1 MILLION INFECTIONS AND 275,000 DEATHS SINCE FEBRUARY IN THE UNITED