This is the cbs evening news with norah odonnell, reporting from the nations capital. This is the cbs evening news ith norah odonnell, reporting odonnell good evening and thank you for joining us, were going to begin tonight with a possible breakthrough in the development of a coronavirus vaccine. Just as the country is entering a dangerous and deadly new phase of the pandemic. In a surprise announcement, the drug maker pfizer said its vaccine is 90 effective and it could be ready for approval in weeks. Well, that sent the dow soaring closing up more than 800 points. Its a glimmer of hope in what president elect biden is now calling a very dark winter ahead. One of his new advisors bluntly called it covid hell. And as we come on the air cases re growing at sucgrowing at such an alarming and exponential rate, tonight the u. S. Has topped 10 million infections, that is more than a million new cases since the end of october. And with the death toll rising again in cities like el paso now storing bodies in trailers, tonight the president elect is imploring americans to wear masks. Today he said beating the virus will be his top priority. And announced his own Coronavirus Task force. Mr. Biden is focused on his transition to the white house, hs current occupant spent the day on twitter arguing he had won the election. President trump did interrupt a slew of false tweets alleging Election Fraud today long enough to announce he had fired his defense secretary mark esper. So you can see there is a lot of new reporting to get to. We have our team of correspondents covering it all. Cbss jon lapook will lead it off from new york. Reporter good evening, weve been eagerly awaiting this news from pfizer, in came in a press release. The n. I. H. s Anthony Fauci said he believes some people may be able to get the vaccine before the end of the year. As cases continue to surge, pfizers news is seen as a major boost in the fight against coronavirus. All the stars are starting to align very, very nicely. Again you never want to get ahead of yourself but this initial news from the company is extraordinarily encouraging. Reporter in a trial of 44,000 participants, half got two doses of the vaccine and half a placebo. Analysts looked at 94 participants who came down with symptomatic covid19. Seven days after the second dose the vaccine was more than 90 effective in preventing disease. We were jumping out of the chairs, screaming. We may put an end to this terrible pandemic. Reporter pfizers chief scientific officer dr. Michael dolsten. It feels to me that this is one the biggest if not the biggest medical advance in the last hundred years. Reporter pfizer says it could be ready to apply for f. D. A. Emergency use authorization in the third week of november. The u. S. Government has paid pfizer nearly 2 billion for a hundred million doses. Even if the vaccine is authorized, most americans wont have access to it until at least the spring of 2021. Oure talking about efficacy if it holds that is on the level of say the childhood vaccines like measles. It is 90 plus, so this is extraordinary. We have accomplished, you know, in eight months. Odonnell and dr. Lapook joins us now. So this almost sounds too good to be true. Is it . Reporter well, we hope if is well, we hope if true. But there are still some questions. First of all, if it is effective, how long will the heotection last. Protection last. And second o and second of all, how do you roll out Something Like this to hundreds of millions of americans especially when the vaccine has to be kept at such a low temperature. And finally who gets it. The triage process, for people who are first line responders and for people who are vulnerable, they may get it frst. And then the question of people saying there is no way im taking it. Dt as dr. Fauci told me, when you have a vaccine that is 90 effective during the middle of a deadly pandemic, that may change a few minds. Odonnell yeah, some real hope. Dr. Jon lapook, thank you. More than a million new covid cases were diagnosed in the u. S. In the last ten days. Cases are rising in 47 states and this week we could hit a Record Number of hospitalizations. Cbss Janet Shamlian reports on the nationwide surge tonight from the covid hot spot of el paso, texas. Reporter the nations Top Health Officials warning tonight we could now be entering the darkest days of the pandemic. This is what it has come to in el paso. Mobile morgues filled with a backlog of bodies and its not enough. There will be ten of the trucks in the next few days. Were all a little bit overwhelmed. Reporter at the funeral home, nena macias showed us a room filled to capacity. How are these families coping when you talk to them . Theyre scared. A lot of families that have had roloved one pass away from covid, theyre all worried that they may be next. Reporter El Paso County is one of the nations covid epicenters. More than 22,000 new cases in the last two weeks. Texas now surpassing a million coronavirus cases. The most in the nation. The number of infections in our state is growing at an alarming rate. Reporter tonight a state of emergency in utah. A mask mandate until further notice. And inside hospitals there, a sobering reality. I cant tell you the number e have put at we have put a breathing tube in a patient and that is the last time that they are ever able to speak to their family. Reporter as coronavirus ravages the nation, no state is seeing a decline in new case. And 27 have seen cases skyrocket at least 50 . Wisconsins Positivity Rate is soaring. More than one out of every three tests coming back positive. The spread amid scenes like this, fans rushing the field at notre dame after its win against clemson. And the large gatherings after the election was called for joe biden. Philadelphia Health Officials now recommending anyone attending quarantine for 14 days. Tonight, some Grocery Stores are reimposing limits on key items like toilet paper and wipes. For those on the front line, its soul crushing. Almost everybody here knows somebody from their family or a friend thats caught in it. So it is really hitting home here. And its scary. Reporter tonight, el paso is under both a lockdown and an overnight curfew. Behind me, an Overflow Center for curfew patients. Mediituation is so dire here, the air force has sent in medical teams and visiting nurses from across the country are also here working overnight shifts. Norah. Odonnell Janet Shamlian, thank you. President elect biden is making fighting coronavirus his first order of business. Today he made a direct appeal to americans to wear masks. And warned of a very dark winter ahead while the vaccine approval process played out. Heres cbss ed okeefe. Reporter president elect joe biden today urged every american to help stop the spreadof coronavirus. It doesnt matter your party, your point of view. We can save tens of thousands of lives if everyone would just wear a mask for the next few months. Reporter biden said the news on Pfizers Covid vaccine is encouraging, but people must continue to social distance and wear mask. The head of the c. D. C. Warned this fall that for the foreseeable future, a mask remains the most potent weapon against the virus. Todays news does not change that urgent reality. Reporter Health Experts are warning that another 100,000 americans could die before Biden Takes Office on january 20th. The vaccine wont be available to the American People to a majority of the American People until late into the spring, so we really do have to control things and i think mr. Bidens plan hit all of the major marks pretty much right on. Reporter biden has assembled his own coronavirus tax force truh includes members of the obama and bush administrations administ plus rick bright, a former Trump Administration official who was removed after filing a whistle blower complaint that alleged the president had prioritized politics over science. Folks, the people of this nation have spoken. Reporter though few republicans have publicly congratulated biden on his win, he has heard from several World Leaders including canadian Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau who called him this morning. Biden is expected to announce some hair this week including chief of staff and National Security advisor. And his transition aides will soon begin to fill 4,000 federal jobs across the government. But that Transition Office is being blocked from doing its work by trump appointee emily murphy who leads the General Services administration and wont grant bidens team full access and funding until she ascertains a winner is clear based on the process laid out in the constitution. snight, biden aides remain re frustrated by the president s refusal to concede and they say the lack of signoff from the g. S. A. Means they dont have full access to things like secure facilities or even the state department to know what they should or shouldnt say on those calls from World Leaders. Norah. Odonnell ed okeefe, thank you. Thank you. Tonight mark tonight, mark esper has an ominous warning after President Trump fired him as defense secretary. Esper told the military times his replacement would be the president s yes man. And if that happens, he says, god help us. This as the president spent the day out of public view and fighting to stay in office. Heres cbss ben tracy. Reporter at the white house tonight, President Trump defiant, tweeting that he fired secretary of defense mark esper saying tersely mark esper has been terminated. During civil unrest this summer, esper publicly disagreed with the president who wanted to deploy active duty troops to u. S. Cities. I do not support invoking the insurrection act. Reporter the president named Christopher Miller acting secretary of defense. Af arrived this afternoon, the fourth person to run the pentagon in the past four years. Also tonight President Trump making more unfounded allegations about Election Fraud. He plans to exhaust all Legal Options before even considering conceding. That word is not even in our vocabulary right now. Reporter the campaign has not offered any credible proof of fraud. Election related lawsuits in michigan, georgia and nevada adae already been dismissed for have already bee lacking evidence. But the president s team is still promising more legal action. Many republican lawmakers are also insisting the election nsnt over, urging President Trump to stay strong. President trump is 100 within his rights to look into allegations of irregularities, and weigh his Legal Options. Reporter just four atorslican senators have have congratulated joe bi congratulated joe biden on becoming president elect including Susan Collins of maine who referred to it as his apparent victory. Cbs news learned the Trump Campaign is keeping a list of g. O. P. Lawmakers who are not fully supportive of the president. And now another covid outbreak at the white house. Chief of staff mark meadows and at least four other staffers are infected, along with h. U. D. Secretary ben carson and Trump Campaign advisor david bossie. All three were at the Election Night event inside the white house, where almost no one wore a mask. Now sources tell cbs news that despite all the bluster about challenging the election results, that President Trump would likely eventually concede once he exhausts all of his Legal Options and if the numbers dont add up. But that could still take several more weeks. Norah. Odonnell ben tracy, thank you. Political tensions are still running high in the battleground state of arizona, where joe biden holds an edge of just over 15,000 votes at this hour. And some Trump Supporters are angrily questioning the results. Tonight, cbs jamie yuccas hears from some young republicans in the grand canyon state who see differently. Ently. Reporter many of President Trumps strongest supporters here in arizona believe he should keep fighting the results of the election. But we found a group of yepublicans here who say it is time for the president to concede. So you are willing to accept that it is president elect biden. I think it is important for him to concede at this point. And allow president elect biden to begin the transition. I think it is important that we realize that we cant win every election. Ction. Orter arjun ronbla, arjun ronbla, jeremiah willet, j jeremiah willet, joe pitts and Cameron Decker are the young republicans. Three voted for trump, decker voted for neither candidate. I have a few friends who are currently denying that trump lost the election. And they will probably be like i will never talk to a democrat again. But i do think it will hopefully be rare. Reporter how do you feel with the outcome of the election. Im feeling pretty good. We were supposed to lose the senate. We were supposed to lose the house in a blue wave and it never materialized. Never mat reporter the front page of the Arizona Republic it say its time to heal in america. Which is something that president elect biden said. Thats something we need in this time of discourse. I will disagree with him on a lot and fight him on a lot of these issues, like the right to life. But were not going to let him off the hook because he said a few nice things. I think he has a lot to prove, to me at least that he is going to do that. So i will wait and see. But i am hopeful. Reporter jamie yuccas, cbs news, phoenix. Odonnell tonight, Tropical Storm eta is still dousing south florida with heavy rain t made landfall in the keys before dropping a foot and a half of rain in parts of broward county. Many had to be rescued from flooded roads and neighborhoods. In Central America at least 200 people are dead or missing in f eta. Termath of eta. The defens the Defense Department released this video of a u. S. Army black hawk helicopter crew rescuing a little girl in honduras. Eta is expected to strengthen this week as it moves up floridas gulf coast and it floridas gulf coast and it could ma could make landfall again as a hurricane. Well, there is still much more news ahead on tonights cbs ights cbsws. Evening news. There is a nationwide recall of older cars after a deadly air bag explosion. Also this story, sheer determination. A woman makes history as she reaches the summit of mountain climbing success. And well remember alex trebek, his brave battle with cancer and what made him americas most beloved quiz show host. W host. No sweat. Try it and love it or get your money back. Secret. All strength, no sweat ithe first full prescriptionis pstrength nonsteroidal antiinflammatory gel. Available over the counter. Voltaren is powerful arthritis pain relief in a gel. Voltaren. The joy of movement. So are we. Prudential helps 1 in 7 americans with their financial needs. Thats over 25 million people. With over 90 years of investment experience, our thousands of Financial Professionals can help with secure video chat or on the phone. 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She is now the first woman to she is now the first woman to free climb the 3,000 foot golden gate route in less than a day. It took harrington a little over 21 hours. At one point she cut her head open on the cliff wall but kept going until she finished. She said impossible dreams challenge us to rise above who we are to see if we can become better versions of ourselves. Amen, sister. And congratulations. Up next, remembering alex trebek, americas most beloved quiz show host. Im greg, im 68 years old. I do motivational speaking in addition to the substitute teaching. I honestly feel that thats my calling to give back to younger people. I think most adults will start realizing that they dont recall things as quickly as they used to or they dont remember things as vividly as they once did. Ive been taking prevagen for about three years now. People say to me periodically, man, youve got a memory like an elephant. Its really, really helped me tremendously. Prevagen. Healthier brain. 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Reporter but for the last few years of bitter disagreement in our country, he was a much needed figure of consensus. Everyone loved alex trebek. I have some news. Reporter which is why his announcement 20 months ago. I was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. Reporter . Devastated us all. This 80 year old canadian native turned American Icon conducted a nightly seminar by being the man with all the questions. And everyone felt welcome. I learned english because of you. Reporter alex trebek is survived by a wife and three kids, and a family of nightly viewers measured in the millions that he grew even closer with after his diagnosis. For 35 years i have enjoyed the success of the show. But ive never really thought about the impact the program was having on american viewers. And i have become part of their lives. Reporter almost a year ago to the day in the middle of his struggle, alex trebek was brought up short by a salute during a round of final jeopardy. What is, we love you alex, that is very kind, thank you. Reporter while technically ,ncorrect, no contestant on jeopardy ever got it more right. Jim axelrod, cbs news. Odonnell we watched it every night in my house growing up. Well miss him. Well be right back. M unitedhea. Think it solve it try and crack it breathe it calm it and renew it aarp staying sharp is part of renew active. Get medicare with more. Aarp staying sharp is part of renew active. For bathroom odors that linger try febreze small spaces. Just press firmly and it continuously eliminates odors in the air and on soft surfaces. For 45 days. But we can still help protect each other this flu season by getting vaccinated. If youre 65 or older, get the superior flu protection of fluzone highdose quadrivalent. Its the only 65 flu vaccine with four times the standard dose. And its free with Medicare Part b. 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An herbal stress reliever ashwagandha, ill get on it that helps you turn the stressed life. Into your best life. Stress less and live more. With stressballs. Odonnell on tomorrows cbs evening news, the inspiring story of the first person with down syndrome to finish an ironman triathalon. And a reminder, if you cant watch us live, dont forget to set your announcer this is t overnight news. Ncer this is t good morning. Thank you for staying with us. On the same day president elect joe biden announced his covid19 transition Advisory Board and urged all americans to wear a mask in public, pfizer made an even bigger announcement. Early trials showed one of their vaccines to be 90 effective. That sent stocks soaring and gave hope to millions of americans waiting to get back to a normal life. But creating a vaccine and getting it to the public are two entirely different things. David martin spoke to the four star general in charge of that mission for 60 minutes. So, this distribution of vaccines doesnt go according to plan, where does the buck stop . Me. Conversations over. Its pretty easy, me. I hold myself 100 personally acount able to that end. After a career as an army supply officer, the general was two months away from retirement when President Trump tapped him last may to lead operation warp speed. 60 minutes went into his Operation Center where the plan to get the vaccine out to 300 million americans is being orchestrated by military specialists brought in from across the country. We literally built the team, this collaboration, as we were going. There was no doctrine. There was no strategy. There was no structure of people to this end. Reporter he tracks progress in what he calls deep dives with leaders in the military and department of health and human services. And he does not want to hear happy talk. Its not about a facade of everything is good. We need to understand what is not right, and we need to get it right. Reporter he works out of a nondescript Washington Office with none of the trappings that usually go with four stars. These are all the meetings im doing today. Im already up to number eight with you. Reporter he describes himself as a hardworking b student on a steep learning curve to master the jargon of the pharmaceutical industry. Youve got a cheat sheet over here. I do, i do. This is all the drugs. It is. I started five notebooks of things. I listen every day to whats being said, and then i spend a good part of my evening googling