about a christmas surge. millions traveling despite warnings hospitals so overwhelmed they may ration care. the christmas storm threat al roker tracking it. it's being called the worst cheating scandal at west poin in 45 years. dozens of cadets accused. attorney general william barr in the final days breakin from president trump on calls for special counsels to investigate the election and hunter biden. plus, the new charges barr announced in the 1988 pan am bombing. my conversations with victims' families. and the spectacular sight in the sky tonight that hasn't happened in 800 years. this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening. we're all trying to understand what the discovery of a mutated and more contagious strain of coronavirus in the united kingdom means for al of us here in the u.s., especially as the race to vaccinate americans spins into high gear. as we certainly know by now this virus doesn't respect borders. still tonight parts of the uk are under strict lockdown and a desperate move to contain the spread but is it too late and does the discovery change the fundamentals of fighting the virus let's begin from london with keir simmons. >> reporter: tonight uk government scientists expressing higher confidence that a new coronavirus strain is more transmissible, 50% more infectious they now estimate and they say there is hint it more easily infects children new york's governor andrew cuomo questioning why flights are still arriving from the uk >> if the uk believes the strain is so serious that boris johnson who said the week before we won't cancel christmas and then closed parts of the uk it's serious, my friends. >> reporter: tonight a compromise british airways, virgin and delta agreeing to test all passengers from london to new york. britain increasingly isolated today more than 40 countries banning travel from the uk and london back in lockdown its usually busy shopping streets empty. this is the world famous harrod's department store four days before christmas. british scientists still studying the mutations say there's no evidence they impact vaccines or mortality rates but now five other countries have reported cases italy, the netherlands, belgium, denmark and australia. already scientists here are predicting more tough restrictions they warn the last uk lockdown didn't control this new coronavirus strain lester >> keir simmons in london, thank you. while the new strain is raising alarm around the world new reasons fo optimism here in the u.s. as the first moderna vaccine doses were administered today and the vaccine effort getting a boost from president-elect biden. with more here's tom costello. >> go ahead. any time you're ready. >> reporter: today the most high profile endorsement yet of the covid vaccine. the president-elect and jill biden getting their shots in delaware >> i'm doing this to demonstrate that people should be prepared when it's available to take the vaccine. there's nothing to worry about. >> reporter: nationwide a new front in the battle against a deadly enemy with more ammunition arriving in the form of a moderna vaccine fedex and u.p.s. delivering to the front lines. >> i'm very proud to be part of this historic moment. i'm thrilled. >> reporter: at baptist health in miami, the first doses arrived early this morning. chief pharmacy officer madeline kamajo taking delivery nbc's kerry sanders was there. >> what does this mean to you >> it is like they say, it's hope in a bottle >> reporter: across the country 6 million moderna doses and another 2 million pfizer doses are shipping this week >> excited to be the first one? >> sure. >> reporter: in san antonio, paramedics rolled up their sleeves. in bridgeport, connecticut, nursing home residents both are in group 1-a prioritized for receiving vaccinations beginning in february the cdc says group 1-b should include people 75 and older and essential workers, more emergency responders, teachers, public transportation, postal workers and those working in the food supply chain. group 1-c will include 65 to 74-year-olds, those with high risk medical conditions and other essential workers. eventually phase two will involve anyone 16 and older recommended for vaccination. >> we believe late february into march we could be seeing more general vaccination approach. >> reporter: moderna's vaccine a better option in small town without the deep freezers required for pfizer's vaccine in remote craig, colorado, the moderna vaccine arrives this week. >> first week in october so we had 45 total cases in our entire county. we are up to almost 600 in the last couple months and so it is exploded here in our community. >> reporter: tomorrow dr. fauci along with other top health leaders will receive the moderna vaccine which was co-developed with the mih dr. fauci turns 80 on christmas eve so he is not only a front line medical worker, he is in that older age group. lester >> all right tom costello, thanks for that. for millions of americans struggling to make ends meet in this pandemic more help is finally on the way. congress is on the verge this evening of passing covid relief with new stimulus checks included. stephanie ruhle now with what it means for you. >> reporter: with the month's long standoff over covid aid finally at an end help will be on the way soon for struggling businesses and families what's in the $900 billion bill first, direct payments $600 checks for individuals who make up to $75,000. $1,200 for couples who make under $150,000 plus an additional $600 for each child money that could hit bank accounts in days. >> we'll be sending out next week direct deposit. i expect we'll get the money out by the beginning of next week. >> reporter: the deal includes an extra $300 a week in unemployment benefits starting in late december and lasting through mid-march. $325 billion to help small businesses an extension of th eviction ban through the end of january and $25 billion in aid for renters. >> i had no outcome. >> reporter: rachel alvarez was furloughed from her waitressing job in april and hasn't worked since. before the preponderance of the evidence she was making $6,000 a month. now alvarez and her three kids are livin on $255 a week >> i'm hurt for my children you know they shouldn't have to struggle like this. >> reporter: alvarez said she is frustrated help didn't come sooner. she hasn't been able to buy her kids a single christmas present this year. >> were you happy when you saw that congress did come to an agreement? >> yes for everyone in america, yes very much so something is better than nothing and everybody needs something right now. we are not okay. >> reporter: the package is an important step in preventing more economic pain but it's only a step. the majority of relief expires in early spring and we don't expect widesprea vaccination until the summer already lawmakers are talking about the next bill before they've even signed this one lester >> yeah. a lot of people hurting. all right. stephanie, thanks very much four days until christmas and the holiday travel rush is on millions of people flying despite urgent warnings that traveling could lead to yet another covid surge. with hospitals already passed their breaking points we get more from miguel almaguer. >> reporter: tonight across the country, hospitals are in need of a lifeline. with 18 million americans infected this year, in utah, icus are at 99.4% capacity in texas, hospitalizations have tripled since october. while 10,000 are getting sick every day in tennessee >> code blue >> reporter: but doctors believe california is becoming the new epicenter, averaging nearly 44,000 new cases a day. "the washington post" capturing scenes of covid patients struggling to breathe. hospitals may soon need to ration care. first reading those with the best odds of survival. >> it's christmas. if the holidays ar any repeat of thanksgiving we're going to be in for a world of hurt. >> reporter: parking lots like this one have turned into field hospitals in part because of holiday travel over the weekend, 2 million americans flew many of the newly infected could end up here if there's room the death toll since thanksgiving has now reached 54,000 roughly the same number of people who can fill the stands at dodger stadium sean and brandon blackwell will spend their first christmas without their parents. >> it's real and it hit home and it hit us and just want everybody out there to know that you need to do our part or you're going to end up being in the same position as us. >> reporter: tonight a season of joy overshadowed by a year of sorrow. miguel almaguer, nbc news. on this busy news night we are also tracking a major winter storm sweeping across the country that could have a big impact on your holiday plans. al roker joins us now. what are you watching? >> lester, we're watching a ver vigorous storm system pushing east tomorrow. it will brin heavy rain from the midwest to the gulf coast. snow back behind it. and then on christmas eve snow for much of the great lakes. wind and rain for the east coast and christmas day dreaming of a white christmas back through the great lakes but a wet one from the northeast all the way up into new england. rainfall amounts anywhere from 1 to 3 inches from the gulf up into new england. maybe even localized flooding but if you're from the dakotas, upper great lakes on into western new york and western p.a. it is going to be more of a white christmas. either way, enjoy. lester >> that's the spirit, al all right. thank you. just coming in tonight, what's called the biggest cheating scandal at west point in 45 years. dozens of cadets accused and facing disciplinary action. more on that now from courtney cubey. >> reporter: in what could be the biggest honor code violation in decades more than 70 west point cadets are accused of cheating while learning remotely last spring the cadets 72 fresh men and one sophomore caught when they all made the same mistake on one part of the calculus exam. two have since been exonerated, four left the academy and the others face administrative action. the 55 cadets who admittui g wltill be on probation for the rest of their time at the academy. west point's honor code states, a cadet will not lie, cheat or steal nor tolerate those who do in a statement, a spokesperson for the academy said cadets are being held accountable for breaking the code. while disappointing, the honor system is working and these 67 remaining cases will be held accountabl for their actions. >> when these kids graduated they go into the army and they're responsible for everything in the lives of maybe 40 people very much different than graduating from a civilian institution. >> reporter: courtney kube, nbc news, washington attorney general william barr has two days before his resignation takes effect and at his final news conference today barr made a major break from president trump while also announcing new charges in an infamous bombing. here's pete williams. >> reporter: no doubt further disappointing president trump the attorney general said there's no need for a new prosecutor to oversee the investigation of hunter biden which is going on for two years. >> i have not seen a reason to appoint a special counsel and i have no plan to do so before i leave. >> reporter: and no need he said for one to look at the election saying there's no evidence of widespread fraud in his last news conference as attorney general barr announced new charges in the 1988 terror bombing of n pa flight 103. 32 years to the day after the wreckage fell to the ground in scotland it killed al 259 people on board including 190 americans, most of them on their way home for christmas. a former libyan intelligence operative abu agila masud now in custody in libya on unrelated charges was accused of building the bomb that blew the plane apart after it left london for new york. >> at long last this man responsible for killing americans and many others will be subject to justice for his crimes. >> reporter: prosecutors said the evidence includes tiny fragments of the timer for the bomb concealed in a tape player and the interrogation by libyan police eight years ago recently turned over to the u.s. and admitted to building the bomb. two other libyans were previously charged in scotland one was convicted, one acquitted. but barr said he is optimistic that the libyan government will agree to send masud to the u.s. for a trial here lester >> all right pete williams, thank you those new charges announced today are in many ways testament to the family victims and their resolve to see justice carried out on behalf of their loved ones we spoke to some of them as they marked this somber anniversary. on both sides of the atlantic today, solemn remembrances for the victims of flight 103. >> brought the world together through a collective grief. >> reporter: cara weeps lost her big brother richard. >> i just remember hearing that, you know, a plane traveling from london to new york went missing. >> reporter: richard manetti among 35 syracuse university students returning for christmas after studying abroad. >> i think that when someone we love dies, two things never happen you never stop missing them and you never stop loving them. >> reporter: or in the case of pan am flight 103 families never stop pushing for justice. in washington today, cara stood on behalf of other families as the charges were announced against the alleged bombmaker. >> the motto of the family members over the past 32 years has been the truth must be known. >> reporter: frank chula sr. was also among the passengers his son frank jr. and his family visited lockerbie almost three and a half years after the bombing. >> was that visit pivotal in helping you understand and cope with everything? >> it was really important for us to put a face sort to speak on what had happened to see lockerbie. during that first visit we actually visited the farm where my father was found. and met those wonderful, kind people who watched over him that night. >> reporter: the families faced plenty of disappointment over the years. today hoping they are finally closer to answers. what questions do you still have that just haven't been answered all these years? >> well, i think it's important for us to take a closer look at the indictment we'll continue to search for more answers and we will continue to heal and try to bring meaning to our lives from what has occurred today's annual observance for the victims of flight 103 at syracuse university was partly virtual owing to the pandemic. new developments tonight in that botched police raid caught on body cam in chicago. mayor lori lightfoot announcing the officers involved are on desk duty pending an investigation last year the officers burst into the home of an innocent woman, anjenette young, handcuffing her while she was naked but they had the wrong home amid the growing outrage the city's top lawyer resigned on sunday in just 60 seconds -- how do you protect yourself from the new strain of coronavirus? do the vaccines work against it dr. john torres will be here to answer many of your questions. with that new highly contagious strain of the coronavirus emerging in the uk we know you have a lot of questions and here to answer them our medical correspondent dr. john torres. what exactly does more contagious mean in this case and how should we protect ourselves? >> lester, even though the new strain seems to be spreading faster in the uk especially in children we don't know if that's because of the strain itself or because people are interacting more before this latest lockdown but this just underlies the need to continue to wear masks, social distance and wash our hands. >> so will pfizer and moderna's vaccines protect against this new strain >> viruses constantly mutate but so far the changes researchers have seen in the coronavirus are smal enough that the vaccine should still work but the more it spreads the more it can mutate so the sooner we get this under control the better >> let's talk about choices. when it comes to the vaccines available, can you choose which one you get? >> doctors' offices will most likely have one type pharmacies may have more than one. cvs for example tells us they plan to offer both pfizer and moderna vaccines so people getting vaccinated at a drugstore may be more likely to have options. bottom line. any vaccine is better than no vaccine so get what's available when you can. >> finally, once you get vaccinated when is it safe to be around others >> lester, the pfizer and moderna vaccines both require two shots given weeks apart for the full protection they offer but even after both shots you need to continue to wear a mask and social distance because it's unclear if you can still transmit the virus. lester >> all right dr. torres, thank you, sir. up next, how to get the most out of your gift cards. back now with that not so secret weapon for holiday shopping vicky nguyen on how to safely buy and save big on gift cards. >> reporter: ever popular with procrastinators, gift cards are expected to rake in $27.5 billion this year with consumers planning to purchase at least three. sales of gift cards are up 28% compared to last year. you can always buy directly from the retailer but sites like gift card granny raise and card poo offer discounts on popular gift cards t stretch your dollar further, some selling for 20% off face value but guard those gift cards carefully. security firm mcafee says both physical and electronic gift cards are a top target for hackers. how can you tell if it's a real or fake gift card phishing for your information >> when you get any gift card what we suggest is one make sure you know the sender. >> reporter: don't be fooled by brand names and make sure yo protect your account with strong passwords. when getting an email or text claiming to offer an e-gift card never click on a link from someone you don't know lester, if you are sending an e-gift card, don't be shy about it let your recipient know it's coming and follow up to make sure that gift card doesn't end up in their spam or junk folder lester >> all right vicky nguyen, thank you. coming up, the amazing sight that hasn't happened in 800 years. finally some call it the christmas star but that bright light in tonight's sky isn't a star at all. here's harry smith. >> reporter: if you've gazed at the southern sky this fall as we have, you've caught quite the celestial show jupiter and saturn moving closer and closer as they traverse from east to west so close now they almost look like one and oh wow of the highest order. and super rare jupiter is about 550 million miles from earth. saturn a billion miles. their orbits of the sun are much, much slower than ours so when we can see them like this, well, the last time for most of the planet was in the 13th century some have wondered, could this be the christmas star, the star that led the magi to bethlehem not likely say astronomers but no matter that this is happening on the darkest day of the year in a year as dark as most of us can remember, well, we welcome the added light. behold harry smith, nbc news, new york >> you can bet i'll be looking tonight. hope you will, too that's "nightly news" for this monday. thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. good night right now. tracking a new coronavirus strain. what california's top doctor is doing to keep it out of the state. >> our foggy and dry conditions about to be replaced by plenty of rain and snow. the time line and how it could impact holiday plans. >> playing by a different set of rules. >> this is a new test. you balance staying safe and the situation. >> the reason the golden state warriors don't have to follow the mandatory travel quarantine in san francisco. >> the journey of a vaccine. >> there is light at the end of tunnel. >> what the front line doctor hopes to accomplish by documenting her experience. >> good monday. >> governor newsom will likely be asking californiaens it stay at home longer. the order set to last until january 8 could be extended. the governor says we'll know by end of this week or next week. state leaders will make the decision based on icu bed availability. and the here's bha the availability looks like by region. the bay area under 14% capacity. also more doses of a vaccine are on

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