what we are seeing now is not normal. >> not normal. sobering news from santa clara county on this final day of 2020. san francisco cancels its firework show and urges everyone to, please, just stay home. that's the final letter coming down from san francisco's cliff house. forced to close because of the pandemic. >> building a better bay area for a safe and secure future. this is abc 7 news. as 2020 comes to an end, officials are giving us one more, sobering reminder about gatherings. on a night that was seemingly made for getting together. instead, people are planning to celebrate at home. we found people at local liquor store stocking up. it's all under the cloud of the pandemic, which continues to

claim lives at near-record rates. good evening. i'm ama daetz. >> and i'm dan ashley. thank you for joining us. we will end this year with a sobering reminder how the virus has touched so many lives. california is reporting 428 new deaths, just four fewer than yesterday's record. more than 1,400 people died, between christmas day and today. and there were more than 27,000 new cases reported. that's below average, for a fourth-straight day. >> as we move onto the new year, santa clara county offering some encouraging news. officials say they will begin administering the second dose of the vaccine to frontline health care workers as soon as next week. but as abc 7 news reporter, chris wynn, found o as icu capacity drops to just 8%. >> reporter: new hope to a community that saw some of the first-confirmed cases in the country lability spring.

>> having some people in our community is not a path to start taking off our masks, and acting as though the virus is under control. >> reporter: as of today, nearly 95,000 doses of the pfizer and moderna vaccines have been delivered to the county, with much more on the way. officials say the vast majority of acute-care hospital staff county-wide have received their first shot, and work continues on vaccinating health-care personnel in long-term care facilities. >> it is the summation of our individual and collective decisions and actions that decide where this pandemic goes. we have, in our power, the ability to move this curve. >> reporter: earlier this morning, first responders began receiving the vaccine at the santa clara county fairgrounds, as officials make their way through the cdc priority list. >> the sooner that we get all of our first responders through, the sooner that we can move onto the next tiers. the sooner our community members can get vaccinated. >> reporter: conversations have already begun with other provider groups as outlined in

phase one of the vaccine-distribution plan, such as private practices, as well as trade organizations, including the santa clara county dental society. the county says those providers should be able to sign up in the coming weeks. while the rollout is certainly welcome, many keeping a close eye on the rising case count throughout the county, especially, with another holiday upon us. >> health-care workers are continually being exposed, and becoming infected as they care for your loved ones. >> reporter: another reminder that we were nowhere near the end of this pandemic. in san jose, chris wynn, abc 7 news. san francisco announced, today, that it is extending its stay-at-home order, indefinitely. that means all current restrictions, including the travel quarantine, will remain in place. the state could allow san francisco and other counties in the bay-area region to exit the st stay-at-home order as early as january 8th, if icu capacity improves. but based on current trends,

city officials are not confident that will happen. so far, no other bay-area county plans to extend the order, so far. >> san francisco will be very different, tonight, compared to last new year's eve. the city has cancelled the annual new year's eve firework show. the holiday light and golden gate park will be shut off. and the city says it will enforce the stay-at-home order. >> even if you gather outside in open with other friends, that is not allowed with the current health order. >> san francisco officials are asking residents to call 311. that's 311 if they see people setting off fireworks or gathering outside at a beach or park. >> those restrictions have left san fran s san fransiscans with little to do. we sent kris reyes all over the city to gather scenes of this very strange new year's eve. >> reporter: just call that sound our collective sendoff to 2020. and the scene that prompted it? just another stab in the heart

from an unrelenting year. the cliff house sign came down in front of a weepy crowd. officially, shutting down the restaurant after 157 years. >> i'm actually glad we had the earthquake this morning, so that we cleared that off our 2020 dister bingo card. i was kind of waiting for that. but this is just so inexpressibly sad for the cliff house to be closing. >> reporter: a crowd gathered for closing, instead of a celebration on new year's eve seems to be the most appropriate way to shut down a year like 2020. >> good riddance. >> i guess, we're not going to get a break until, maybe, 12:01. >> reporter: expect no fireworks to ring it in, either. instead, you will find closed parking lots, barricades, and eerie quiet. >> it is bizarre but a little comforting, too. >> reporter: like so many hotels all over the city, all boarded up when they would normally be getting ready for a big, new year's eve bash. so, there you go.

2020 ending with a big thud. you could definitely hear that thud at union square. no skating rink. no crowds. and maybe even more bizarre, we found someone beaming with optimism. >> i'm looking forward to all of the new things that are going to come with change, and see how i can adapt to those things. >> reporter: back at the cliff house, accepting change isn't as easy. the cloud here lingered for a while, taking in a sight that won't make it to the new year. >> i don't know if things will ever get back to normal. >> reporter: in san francisco, kris reyes for abc 7 news. and the state is deploying hundreds of medical personnel to help relieve the stress that the health-care system is going through. they will help with staffing at hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical facilities. the deployment includes the california national guard, personnel from the department of defense, and the u.s. health and human services department as well. they have also opened alternate-care sites to allow

hospitals to care for those with the most acute needs. 2020 has been an especially bad year economically for many people. so much so, many bay-area families are seeking help. simply, to put food on the table. as abc 7 news reporter laura anthony explains, that means unprecedented demand at bay-area food banks. >> reporter: it's one of the enduring images of 2020. people lined up for food. many, reaching out for help like this for the first time. for the alameda county community food bank, meeting this need has been a huge challenge. >> we have seen unprecedented spikes in need. we, almost overnight, saw a 1,000% increase in call volume to our emergency-food help line. we are now distributing about 50 to 70% more food now, than we were this time last year. >> the boxes that we get, we share with our neighbors. we have some neighbors that can't get out. and this is real important. it helps a lot of people.

>> reporter: the huge increase in demand for food, here, in all alameda county since the pandemic began is reflected at food banks and nonprofits all over the bay area. while struggling to keep enough volunteers on its rolls. the san francisco marin food bank now serving 55,000 households, per week. while, the food bank of contra costa and solano provides -- since covid hit. thankfully, community and corporate partners have stepped up their donations. but the cost of buying food as skyrocketed. >> we are now spending about a million and a half to $2 million on food, every month. this time last year, that was about $400,000. >> reporter: while rising to meet the need, bay-area food banks are hoping the new year brings many people out of the darkness that marked so much of 2020. >> do you have a new year's wish? >> stay safe and don't have no parties.

>> reporter: in pleasanton, laurie anthony, abc 7 news. was it training or animal abuse? we have an update on the disturbing video that shows a police officer punching his k-9 partner. also, the scientists who are spending the new year mapping the bottom of the ocean. abc 7 talked to the crew about their daunting work and its bay-area connection. and here is the scene in new york's times square, where the ball will drop tonight. but police are not planning to keep people away, they are out there doing that but no one, really, is showing up. the only thing we saw there are some air dancers along one side of the street. that's about it.

we want to update a story the abc 7 news i-team brought you earlier this week about the

officer punching his k-9 during an exercise. let me remind you, the video is graphic to some. the canine's been examined by a veterinarian, and showed no sign of injury. the dog's been removed from the care of his handler, and will under the care of a third party until vacaville police finish the investigation. earlier today, peta said the incident isn't training but abuse. >> scientists have long noted that we've mapped more of the moon's surface than we have the floor of our oceans. that's about to change. the daunting task has a small team of researchers spending the new year off the australian coast. david lui got to board their vessel, and how their work has ties to the bay area. >> reporter: they are sending out sonar beams from a research vessel as a ten-year international effort gets underway to map the entire ocean floor. >> we have a huge task ahead of

us. so far, less than 20% of the oceans have been mapped. and so, we still have 80% to go. >> reporter: a team of 23 aboard the research vessel is getting support from the schmidt ocean institute based in paul alto. trenches in the coral sea can be over five and a half miles deep. >> it actually creates 800 beams across. and all of those individual soundings get compiled into a surface. so, we can take many millions of soundings, and create a three-dimensional surface of the sea floor. >> reporter: earlier expeditions have already yielded new discoveries. >> we found over 50 new species this year. the world's longest species, 150-foot, and a brand new coral reef that had never been seen. in the great barrier reef. >> reporter: the research has drawn global interest. live feeds provide real-time data and video.

during the pandemic, scientists have been able to conduct research remotely. other ships and vessels with space to carry equipment will be enlisted. while the mapping is preplanned, the dynamics of deep sea volcanic eruptions and related changes will alter plans. >> we need to have this snapshot, to then look at these changes. if we don't have the baseline, then we won't understand more about how things change through time. >> reporter: all of this will lead to more knowledge of climate change and yield benefits to humanity, sea creatures, and deep-ocean organisms. david louie, abc 7 news. reign ain is on the way as start the new year. spencer christian is next with the forecast. isn't that a beautiful shot as the sun sets? back in a moment. >> hey, friends. here is what you need to be streaming on the abc 7 bay-area app over the holiday weekend. no pandemic firework shows.

no problem. from the archives, we pulled together an on-demand firework show from 2015. so, pop some bubbles and count down to midnight and hit play, just like it's old times. >> we are really speaking out and speaking up for each other, and fighting for equality. and it is a beautiful thing. >> she was one of the faces of 2020. 17-year-old tiana of san ramon organized this iconic black lives matter rally on the golden gate bridge. six months later, we are catching up with her to see how her life has changed. this is all part of our yearend series, facing 2020. >> this is kamala harris calling. how are you? >> and a bay-area teenaged artist getting a call from the one and only kamala harris. can you imagine? the vp-elect is given some props for a portrait tyler gordon painted of her. and you will be giving him some props, too. check out our latest episode of localish. all of that and so much more is right in the featured section it's at the top of our app.

and if you don't have the app yet, just fire up your roku, amazon fire, or apple tv. search abc 7 bay

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warning to anyone heading to the beach. the bay area seeing large waves and dangerous surf. the national weather service has issued a high-surf advisory through 3:00 a.m., tomorrow. waves can reach between 15 and 20 feet. officials are asking people to be cautious, and never turn their backs on the ocean. such great advice. all throughout the year, really. all right. time now for the accuweather forecast, and spencer christian is here with that. spencer. >> ama, very good advice, by the way. staying away from the coastline during these rough-surf phenomenon that we're having. well, right now. here is a look what's happening up above the surf. we have got clear skies over san francisco right now. as you can see from this view, looking back at what we call the

cityscape. it's about 54 degrees here in the city right now. it obviously did not automatically post at the top of this hour. san jose, morgan hill, and 50 degrees at half moon bay. check out this view of the post-sunset sky. it is just glorious out there. temperature readings in the mid-50s most locations. fairly, uniform temperature readings around the bay area. and from the golden gate looking north, present clear skies for now. these are forecast features. it will be dry new year's eve and new year's day. but clouds thicken tomorrow. a wet pattern begins tomorrow night, and we will have a series of storms coming our way all the way into next week. another look at that high surf advisory in effect until 3:00 a.m., it's worth repeating, as wave heights are growing and there is the danger of rip currents and strong -- strong rip currents and undertoe. so just stay away from the coastline if you don't need to be there. the approaching storm ranks 1 on

the abc 7 storm impact scale. it is a storm of light intensity, starts tomorrow night, continues into saturday morning. we can expect light showers, for the most part. rainfall totals will, generally, be under 15/100ths of an it's going to be clear for new year's eve and the new year will start off with clear skies. clouds will thicken quickly, tomorrow, in advance of this approaching system that's going to bring us light rain starting in the north bay, tomorrow evening. then, swinging southward and eastward, as our storms often do. and it will wind down on saturday morning. rainfall totals, generally a few hundreding th hundredths of an inch. cloverdale expected to get just over tenth of an inch. look for low temperatures mainly in the upper 30s inland. and 40s around the bay shoreline. tomorrow is highs under bright skies, mid-50s coast. upper 50s to about 60 elsewhere. and here is the accuweather seven-day forecast. we have another storm coming in

on saturday night, into sunday morning. that ranks one on the impact scale. rainy day, likely, on monday. showers on tuesday. a stronger storm will come in on wednesday. that one will rank two on the storm impact scale. it will be rainy and windy. and then, showers will linger into next thursday. we have got some wet weather ahead, dan and ama. >> certainly, wow, thanks spencer. >> coming up here next. memories of 2020. some final thoughts on the year a lot of people will be glad to see in the rear-view mirror. dick clarke's new year's rockin eve begins at 8:00. and if you are missing the local fireworks, you can watch a vintage display we put up on our website. abc7news.com. stay with us.

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as we all fight the coronavirus pandemic, california is mandating face masks to stop the spread. that's why abc 7 wants to remind you to wear a mask for you, your loved ones, and your community. please, wear because you care. abc 7 has launched new streaming app. so wherever you are, you can get our lives newscast, weather, and more. just search abc 7 bay area, and download it for free. coming up on abc 7 news at 6:00. the final episode of our series, "fire, power, money." tonight, a whistle-blower explains how her agency let pg&e off the hook for its punishment after breaking safety rules, and sparking deadly fires. coronavirus does more than affect your ability to breathe. new, at 6:00. frightening stories of what it can do to your mind.

you are going to hear from patients, all coming up in half an hour on abc 7 news at 6:00. hope you can join us then. but finally, tonight, saying good-bye, finally, to 2020. we all have different memories, and many will be long lasting. >> yeah. so, we asked people what they'll remember most about this year. >> most memorable is not important with these masks. i can't wait for this thing to be over. so, hopefully, real soon. >> i'm not sure there's a moment, but it's just being part of history. >> just very fortunate that i still have a job. that they haven't cut any hours. >> well, what i remember most is the beginning of the pandemic. and it was back in march. and i got laid off from my job. so, it's been a little hard. but, you know, i'm trying to hang in there and try to keep positive. >> yeah. i think it's been every single day. the groundhog day of working

from home, and just adapting with the twin 4 1/2-year-olds at home and the newborn. and it's been the same, every single day. >> so, i think it was not be able to visiting my family in czech republic because that's what i'm doing every year, at least once a year. so, yeah. i'm really missing them and it's been tough for me, for them being there. >> it's got to be probably the death of kobe. i think a lot of people were really sad about that, and it was just like a very influential thing, seeing all of like the memorials and everything. so, it's probably my biggest memory of 2020. >> well, it has to be the fact that joe biden won the election. had a couple nights, sleepless nights, but we got over it. and now, i'm a happy camper. >> the first time where, you know, everything was closed. all streets were empty. i live -- and that street's literally never empty, and it was empty for months. it did feel like something went

down san francisco. >> what comes to my mind is this little girl because we actually got her in 2020. in july, 2020, we adopted her and it's been, by far, the best decision of my partner and my life. >> stay healthy, trust in the vaccines because this is our -- our only hope. happy holidays and happy new year 2021. >> happy new year, indeed. thanks so those folks for sharing their memories. how about you, dama? any, specific memory? >> it is a funny how you forget how many things happen because of the pandemic. but i will say my sister getting her vaccine a couple weeks ago, you know, working in a hospital. i just felt so proud like, yeah, and a little bit of relief. what about you? >> driving in the first day after they locked it down coming to work and it was a ghost town.

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tonight, the final hours of 2020. america celebrating the new year in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic. an unprecedented new year's eve tonight, the final hours of 2020. america celebrating the new year in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic. an unprecedented new year's eve across the u.s. new york's times square, normally packed with 1 million people, will be mostly empty when the ball drops at midnight. police officials telling everyone, don't even attempt to come down here. authorities in cities across the country cracking down on large parties, asking people to stay home this year. and news tonight about a new year's eve celebration in las vegas that was expected to draw thousands. we're also tracking the frustration growing over the slow covid vaccine rollout. thousands of people waiting hours in their cars for vaccinations in tennessee. traffic backed up for four miles. states trying to speed up the