so what now? the fda could approve it as early as tomorrow, and then millions of doses will be shipped by next week. >> and congratulations to us all for achieving this emergency use authorization for a second vaccine, which along with other events, will eventually and sooner, we hope, break the back of the pandemic. >> this is promising news. here's some notes for it. just like pfizer, 94% effective. you've also got to do two doses four weeks apart. now one of the questions, will you have a choice? well, at this point health leaders say no. whenever your time is up, your turn is up, you go to your local hospital or clinic, and essentially you'll be assigned either pfizer or moderna at this point. now, the federal government has bought more than 100 million doses of this moderna vaccine. it will be free to the general public. janelle, jessica. >> thanks so much, raj.

well, the pfizer vaccine is already out, and more health care workers around the bay area got their vaccinations. the doses in the south bay were given to frontline health care workers who work in the icu. you can see doctors and nurses very pleased, getting their shots, including at santa clara valley medical center and o'connor hospital. one doctor described the feeling as similar to getting a flu shot. staff members who work in nursing facilities also got vaccinated today. the santa clara county public health department vaccinated 210 skilled nursing home workers. those employees deal with 45% of the county's coronavirus deaths. they say they were excited and hope by getting the shots early, they can reassure anyone who is reluctant to be vaccinated. >> you know, get it. it's good for you. it's good for your family. it protects everybody around you. it protects you. >> so even as we have this hope and we begin to vaccinate, we have to still continue all of

the other efforts that we have been practicing. >> so far, santa clara county has received nearly 6,000 doses of the pfizer vaccine. okay. while the vaccine is certainly welcome news, the reality is california's surge is exploding. in fact, it's at its worst point yet. for the second day in a row, we have topped 50,000 new covid cases. there's no other state that's recorded that many cases in a day. now, clearly we are the most populated state, so it has the most people, so it would make sense. but this is really troubling. our state set a new record today for the number of deaths linked to coronavirus. 379 people died in one day. so let's talk about hospital capacity. it too is at its lowest point. this is the icu bed availability around the state. we've been showing you this every day. northern california is the only region above 25%, above that 15%

threshold, right? if you look at the entire bay area, it's at 13%. san joaquin only has 7% available. and southern california, it has zero beds available. think how big southern california is. all right. let's hone in on the bay area. yesterday we showed you that three counties had more than 30% available, right? today, it's down to one. only alameda, which has 31%. five counties are now in the red zone with less than 15% of beds available. we're talking about, you know, san francisco, san mateo -- pardon me -- san mateo, santa clara, solano, marin. and marin, that just continues to have zero beds available. so if you want to take a closer look at which hospitals still have room, you can track it on our website. go to nbcbayarea.com/hospitalbeds. we've got all the hospitals listed there alphabetically by city. now, it shows you the icu beds at kaiser in antioch, 90% full.

some very important new rules for those who live or work in san francisco. starting tomorrow, a new mandatory travel quarantine. take a look at this map. if you live in the city, here's where you can go freely. basically the entire bay area. but if you go outside of those green areas, you are required to quarantine for ten days when you return to san francisco. there are some exceptions, though. here's nbc bay area's christie smith. >> reporter: at sfo, maria was about to board a plane to denver. one of her parents just had surgery. >> i haven't seen them in over a year, and i'm just going home because they need the extra help around the house right now. >> reporter: she lives in san francisco, took precautions, and today learned about the new health order that would require a quarantine period for those returning to the city. >> i hadn't heard of the quarantine order, but knowing that i'm going to check in with

my work and make sure that they're aware of that because i have been going into the office occasionally. >> i know that this is hard, and i know this is yet another sacrifice and almost ten months into this pandemic. >> reporter: dr. grant colfax released the order as covid cases continue to skyrocket and icu beds dwindle. >> the travel order will require anyone traveling, moving, or returning to san francisco from outside the ten-county area to quarantine for ten days. >> reporter: it applies to visitors, people moving here, and any returning residents. there are exceptions that include medical professionals, first responders, and essential workers. they're trying to educate people but say the city can take enforcement steps if the situation demands. it didn't take long to find those who questioned the quarantine. >> i don't think much about it. i don't agree with it. i don't believe that quarantine has really done a whole lot.

>> reporter: one more qualifier. people moving through the airport and not staying in the city are not required to quarantine. in san francisco, christie smith, nbc bay area news. $700,000, that is the fine a san jose church says it's now accrued for holding indoor services, defying the county's public health orders. there was a hearing in federal court this afternoon. cavalry church is fighting orders against the church and the pastor, santa clara county says mcclure is putting the community at risk. the church argues people have the right to gather together to worship. late this afternoon a u.s. district judge said she'll make her decision by monday. well, the bay area as a whole is now just hours away from going into the state's deep purple tier, and that limits restaurants to takeout and delivery only, and it also places restrictions on the amount of customers that can be allowed inside a business. you remember this. most bay area counties already made that switch, some of them voluntarily. but as damian trujillo explains from san mateo county, for those counties that did hold out for

the state order, today is about counting down to the lockdown again. >> reporter: while most of the bay area decided to voluntarily close down two weeks ago, san mateo wanted to wait it out. so today was their last day for outdoor dining and other businesses for now. the food still sizzles inside chiquita's restaurant in redwood city. >> i think he has the best car nitas in town. it definitely sucks for the owners and outdoors and it -- it's an unfortunate position that these owners are being put in. >> reporter: half a mile away, a somber move for this general manager who might be signing the last paycheck for many of his workers. >> it's devastating for them not

to be able to work, especially this time of year. >> reporter: while the county's health officer chose to wait for the state, county supervisor david canepa pushed for a cloche two weeks ago. now with seton hall at zero capacity for icu beds, he says the county has no choice. >> right now we're in lifesaving mode, and lifesaving mode means we're going to have to do everything. if you can stay at home, stay at home. >> reporter: meanwhile, small business owners are hoping the new lockdown won't shut them down for good. in redwood city, damian trujillo, nbc bay area news. stanford meanwhile is getting ready to vaccinate its frontline workers. the hospital receiving 3,900 doses this morning. now, they are stored in that ultra cold freezer. workers held a dress rehearsal today for administering that vaccine. they're going to start those saturday morning. still to come, it's the same coyote. how wildlife officials tied an animal that attacked a grocery worker earlier this week to two

other attacks earlier this year. plus -- >> you know, at that point it became extremely clear that this was a life or death situation. >> a man trying to capture last week's monster waves ends up helping save a woman's life. it's part of our bay area proud series. i'm chief meteorologist jeff ranieri. get those heavier jackets out. temperatures are dropping across the bay area. i'll show you where we'll get close to the freezing mark coming up in about ten minutes. when we welcome our west coast viewers, as lawmakers appear closer to a covid relief deal desperately needed by so many, we'll tell you how it could affect you. also a grim assessment of just how much damage that apparent russian hack on u.s. government computers caused when we see you back here for "nightly news."

i just lost my job. with the kids at home and less money coming in, there'd be no way we could afford health insurance. my kids think i'm a superhero. but even superheroes need help sometimes. we found help at covered california. and not just us. 9 out of 10 people who enrolled got financial help. covered california. this way to health insurance. enroll now at coveredca.com

well, a months long stalemate over covid relief may be fading as both democrats and republicans appear to be giving some ground. negotiations grew more urgent as new unemployment numbers show a higher than expected 885,000 americans filing for the first time. the proposed $900 billion relief package is expected to include a new round of stimulus checks, about $600 for those who qualify, extended unemployment benefits of about $300 a week, and more small business money. >> we see food lines of people who never, ever in their lives expected to have to go to a food kitchen to support their families. it is a crisis. >> meanwhile, longtime new mexico congresswoman is the latest addition to president-elect joe biden's cabinet. he has nominated deb holland to lead the interior department.

a member of the laguna pueblo, she'd be the first native american cabinet secretary. a follow-up tonight on the arson at an armenian church in san francisco. the fbi is now offering a $50,000 reward in this case. the money is for information that leads to the identification, arrest, and conviction of whoever set this fire. it happened september 17th at saint gregory armenian church. today the fbi released a prerecorded statement on the case and the reward. we were not given the option to ask questions. >> regardless of how insignificant you think your information might be, we strongly encourage you to come forward, and we welcome your information and assistance. >> no one was hurt in the fire, but the church office and school were badly damaged. the church released these photos to us. the arson was the second attack on an armenian establishment in san francisco in two months. back on july 24th, suspects were seen on surveillance video breaking into an armenian school on brotherhood way. they vandalized the school's

walls with anti-armenian graffiti. investigators are calling this a hate crime. no arrests have been made in either case. this one is pretty stunning. details tonight about that coyote attack in lafayette. investigators have now linked the one coyote to two other attacks in moraga. fish and wildlife used dna to connect all three cases. that new coyote attack happened in a parking lot of a grocery store. the coyote just walked up and bit a store employee. that happened two days ago. two weeks ago, it turns out the same coyote attacked someone in moraga. that coyote also linked to another attack in moraga july 9th. well, high surf we've seen pounding the bay area coastline recently. skyranger caught these waves in pacifica last week. it can be beautiful to watch, but rogue waves can also be deadly. that was almost the case for one woman last week. >> luckily for her, a hero was nearby and recorded that rescue. garvin thomas is here with

tonight's "bay area proud". >> reporter: if there were ever such a thing as a pandemic-induced purchase, josh huggs' drone would fit the bill. he bought it back in march when the first wave of stay-at-home orders swept over the bay area. >> we were just finding things to do with the kids and bought the drone kind of on a lark. >> reporter: it was on a lark as well that last week josh grabbed the drone and headed for the coast. he heard the surf was big. >> i've always been fascinated by gigantic waves. >> reporter: when josh got to pacifica state beach and launched the drone, he wasn't disappointed by the video it was sending back. >> i was looking at my phone, and i was looking at the rocks on the north side. and the waves were blasting over these rocks. it was really pretty to look at. >> reporter: it was when josh looked up, though, something else caught his eye. >> i noticed that there was somebody who looked like they

had just gotten owned by a wave, just knocked over. somebody with a dog, and they seemed to be like rolling with the wave. i was like, uh-oh, that's not good. >> reporter: a woman was in the high surf. wave after wave pinning her to the sand. seeing no one else around, josh tossed aside the drone controller and raced to help. >> and as i was trying to help her up, she just couldn't move. she was incapacitated in some way. at that point in became extremely clear this was a life or death situation. >> reporter: what happened next, we know not just because josh told us, but his drone running low on battery began to return on its own and caught video of josh struggling to keep the woman out of the waves, her dog by their side. the woman was too heavy for josh to lift himself, so all he could do was hold on, yell for help, and hope a big set wasn't on the way. >> if a wave like that came, there's no way that she's going to be okay in that circumstance,

right? like it felt like the clock was ticking. >> reporter: after what felt like forever, two others came, and together they were able to drag the woman to safety. >> oh, i think he's a hero. >> reporter: battalion chief huntsy and his team from north county fire were on the scene a few minutes later. by that point josh was aware he had probably just saved someone's life. but it wasn't until her daughter came to retrieve the dog that the emotion of it all hit him. he realized he hadn't just saved a person's life. he saved the life of someone's mother. >> just that i was in that position was just so intense, right? like that i -- that she didn't have to be out there wondering, like, if my mom wasn't out at the beach with the dog that day, she'd still be with us. like that's something she would never have to do. >> reporter: one week later, josh still marvels at how monumental yet completely random the whole episode was. all he was hoping to do that day was capture some big waves. he ended up capturing something

much, much bigger. garvin thomas, nbc bay area news. >> that is remarkable. >> i know. >> being at the right place at the right time. you think you're going to be that person that you'd react that way, right? he actually is that person. >> right. the adrenaline just caused him to go to her and help her, and she is so lucky thanks to him. let's get a check of our forecast. we had some rain and heavy gusty winds i felt overnight, jeff. is it going to come back anytime soon? >> right now it looks like we're going to be clearing out of that. it was really good to get that rainfall earlier this morning, continuing to help to keep that immediate fire danger down. we'll start off tonight with a look at stormranger, our mobile doppler radar. unfortunately while we did pick up 0.15 to a half an inch, there wasn't that much to put a big dent in our rainfall season. we're still running about 3 to 6 1/2 inches behind for that rainfall season.

that storm system has cleared out. a bit of isolated drizzle right there at the coastline. so the big turn in the weather, the big story as we head through tomorrow is going to be the colder temperatures. right now 53 degrees. as we move through tonight going on down to the 40s, but here you'll see on my weather headlines, we're looking at widespread 30s back for tomorrow morning. so you've got to find that heavier jacket. sunshine stays as we roll through the day, and ahead some good weather to be outside with our current covid restrictions in place. if we can't get the rainfall, at least it's going to be beautiful. let's get to the chill as we move into tomorrow morning. down to 37 degrees in the south bay. get your jacket out if you're up early, taking the dog for the walk, maybe headed to the grocery. tri-valley down to 33. also coming in with 34 in the east bay and down to 34 for the north bay. some isolated patchy frost possible for the east bay and north bay. daytime highs tomorrow, they really don't adjust a whole lot as we head through our

microclima microclimates. we'll have sunshine, relatively light winds. good weather to be outside. it will put us at 59 in san jose. east bay, lots of upper 50s to low 60s. 61 in antioch. 60 in hayward. peninsula, more of these fifths to low 60s. san mateo at 60 degrees. san francisco very similar. 58 in downtown but a little bit chillier here for the marina and the outer sunset, in the mid-50s. and for the north bay, 60 in napa. 59 in santa rosa. my extended forecast keeps it dry in san francisco all the way through christmas eve. 40s for morning lows. 50s for daytime highs in s.f. for the inland valleys, keep that heavier jacket out. plenty of 30s over the next several mornings. daytime highs in the 50s to low 60s. we've been sharing a lot of photos of your christmas trees, and in honor of our nbc bay area virtual christmas party tonight, i wanted to share two photos from our employees. the first one is from the

goldberger family. that's bob and his tree. >> bob did not do that tree. >> he's got his dog elvis in front of that tree there in san jose. looking very studious. nice job, bob. and the second tree is from nbc bay area's janelle wang. >> thanks, jeff. >> love all the lights, janelle. you know, i got to say, that star shines as bright as you. nice job. >> wow. >> you always know the right thing to say. >> it looks good. >> he's a smooth talker, that ranieri. >> it's true. >> thanks, jeff. i appreciate it. coming up, more people than ever showing up at food banks for help, and food banks need help too, but not just with donations. we'll explain. that's coming up next. as lawmakers appear closer to a covid relief deal, desperately needed by so many, we'll tell you how it could affect you. also a grim assessment of just how much damage that apparent russian hack on u.s. government computers caused when we see you for "nightly news."

♪

ernest hemingway wrote the old man and the sea at 52 satchel paige was still dominating batters at 59. celia cruz was still winning grammys at 77 john wheeler illuminated our ideas of the universe at 70 and roger crouch was 56 when he first went into space your best is yet to come

new details about a theft at a high end bicycle company in morgan hill. police are looking for this person. they say he's not a suspect, just one of two men captured on surveillance video in front of the building right before the burglary. they'd like to speak to him. police say minutes later, the suspects used this white box truck to steal bikes. the company is known for its high end racing bikes. the stolen bikes worth an estimated $160,000. specialized is offering a $25,000 reward to help catch the thieves. there's a desperate call for helping feeding the hungry. sacred heart community service in san jose says it badly needs volunteers for its annual gift program. organizers say because of the pandemic, the need is greater than ever, but they have fewer volunteers helping out. sacred heart has enough donations, they say, but they don't have enough people to help pack the boxes to help feed the families. the shortage of helping hands is causing people to wait in really long lines. >> we're having a very, very,

very difficult time filling our volunteer shifts, and that's for this holiday toy program, but it's also for just day to day. >> sacred heart expects to feed nearly 2,500 families this year. san francisco is considering keeping its observation wheel for longer than it initially planned. the big wheel was to keep on turning in 2020 to celebrate the park's 105th anniversary, but the pandemic closed it for all but 39 days. now, some people say keep the wheel. it's in a lease, and keep it past the march end date. there is some opposition, though. the sierra club and audubon society said the giant wheel would disrupt bird migrations starting in february and they want the wheel dismantled. no decision has been made. >> we'll be right back with more news. this year, xfinity internet gives you more options

than a holiday dinner table. pick the speed that's right for you, with options faster than gig. and get reliable internet with top-notch coverage. plus, help keep your data safe and private with security included. no antlers on the table. how come you get to eat first? get started with this great offer, or ask about our fastest speed, 2 gig up and down. switch today. to your friends... your family... to your teachers. in that spirit of giving, chevy's proud to give our employee discount to everyone. the chevy price you pay, ...is what we pay.

not a cent more. because giving, ...and giving back, is what the holidays are all about. use the chevy employee discount for everyone to get a total value of over eight thousand four hundred dollars on this silverado. get the chevy employee discount for everyone today. four hundred dollars we have the power to harness california's abundant solar and wind energy, but it's not available all day long. use less energy from 4 to 9 pm for a cleaner california.

coming up tonight at 6:00, raj goes one-on-one with a bay area rap legend, too short. >> i'm fortunate enough to launch my career in the bay area where unlike other places, the bay area has long gone past "i hate you because you're white" or this or that. the bay area has a lot of multi-cultural respect. >> too short like you've never

seen him before on a variety of issues, including why he calls himself a nerd. raj will have that coming up at 6:00. up next on "nightly news," holiday shipping gridlock. the increasing trouble as you try to pack packages. some alternatives for last minute shoppers. lester holt joins news one minute. >> lots of packages not arriving. today marked the first step in addressing the crushing damage to big basin state park. that happened in the santa cruz mountains. >> it was #ing to see the sight of historic buildings and giant redwoods damaged by the czu lightning complex fire this past summer. many were inspired to donate, raising a half a million dollars through the save the redwoods league. today part of that money was spent on staff as equipment as they began removing damaged trees. one organizers says they are now clearing the way for a safe park to emerge from the fire. >> still hard to look at those photos. all right. that's going to do it for us. "nightly news" with lester holt is next. then we'll be back at 6:00. >> hope to see you soon.

tonight the newest hope in the pandemic an fda advisory panel endorses emergency use of a second vaccine, one that can be stored more easily as the country endures more grim milestones. record setting infections and deaths, icu capacity now at zero at a big part of southern california, plus our broadcast exclusive on the virus nters trying to track down where it actually came from. congress reported close to a deal on new covid economic relief. how much you might be getting and when as unemployment claims continue to rise. the storm that made history burying parts of the northeast in record amounts of snow