the idea is to keep them out of hospitals like this one. david? >> all right, matt gutman leading us off tonight on these new numbers. matt, thank you. of course, the other story breaking as we came on tonight, news from the pentagon now. just 24 hours after president trump fired his defense secretary in a tweet, reports at least three more top officials are now out. and the president-elect joe biden was asked today what he would say to americans about what they're witnessing, a president who won't concede. abc's mary bruce right there asking the questions. >> reporter: today, president-elect joe biden reassuring the american people that he's forging ahead with his transition. even though the white house isn't cooperating and president trump won't admit he lost. >> sir, what do you say to the americans that are anxious over the fact that president trump has yet to concede and what that might mean for the country? >> well, i just think it's an embarrassment, quite frankly. the only thing that -- how can i say this tactfully? i think it will not help the president's legacy.