this time, although we don't expect bumper to bumper because. >>one it's early to because san francisco has done a voluntary shelter in place so if you need to get into san francisco at this time, your biggest problem is not getting a ticket because you have plenty a roadway in front of you. no problems on the bay bridge from there let's bounce to the san mateo bridge, holding steady plenty of tail lights and headlights but more importantly, no bumper to bumper traffic our east or westbound and no fog in that particular area as well. the richmond sandra fell bridge just a way to set the headlights heading toward the toll plaza. then that you shouldn't have any problems usually around 10 minutes to cross that spanned from the east side of the span on to the other side the moraine county side of the richmond sandra fell bridge. california is seeing a spike in covid-19 deaths as the state activates its mask. fatality program here are the latest local covid numbers, california has recorded more than 1.6 million coronavirus cases and more than 21,000 people have died in our state. in the bay area there have been over 195,000 cases and more than 2100 people have died from covid-19 kron four's ashley zavala has more on how the state is responding to the spike in covid deaths. this is a deadly disease. a deadly pandemic and when the middle of governor gavin newsome giving a grim update to california's covid-19 situation tuesday. the state is averaging more than 160 deaths per day over the last week prompting the state to activate its corner mutual aid and mass fatality program we just had to order 5,000 additional body bags, they just purchased for the state and we just distributed. >>down to san diego, los angeles and you know counties. >>that should be sobering california is now averaging more than 32,500 new covid-19 cases per day with about 12% of those expected to be hospitalized in a matter of weeks as regional available intensive care unit capacities dwindle state leaders say putting together surge. staffing is a priority california is distributing an extra 500 medical professionals throughout 20 counties, 50 of them from the california national guard. in the state is also working to vaccinate frontline essential workers in every county 29 jurisdictions in california are slated to receive doses of pfizer's vaccine between tuesday and wednesday the state hoping to have more than 2 million people vaccinated within the next month or so, but we have work to do again in the tunnel. though there's like at the end of the tunnel the state's vaccine advisory committee this week will begin public discussions on who will get the next round of vaccines in this following phase phase one b. >>newsom says farmworkers grocery store workers and teachers are in the discussion reporting in sacramento, ashley zavala kron 4 news. >>here's a look at the current available icu capacity is across our state in the bay area less than 16% of total icu beds are available to patients. once the region falls below the 15% threshold, a stay at home order issued by the state would kick in extending the current order by another 3 weeks currently 6 bay area counties are under a voluntary stay at home order including san francisco county happening today, san mateo county will be receiving freezers to store a covid-19 vaccines. this comes as the county is expecting to get nearly 5900 doses of the visor vaccine. it also expects to receive more than 5 to 6 times the amount from both pfizer and moderna by the end of this month. solano county is expecting 7900 doses from pfizer of this week. restaurant owners in the east bay are suing contra costa county for shutting down outdoor dining they say there's no data or evidence proving that outdoor dining contributes to the spread of covid-19 kron four's taylor but sackey spoke to several restaurants on that lawsuit as well as their attorneys. >>mark of the wine whiskey and eatery here in martinez is one of several restaurants suing the city like others they're operating on a takeout delivery only basis and the owner says it's not enough to pay the bills or keep his business running through this lawsuit. he says that the restaurants are simply fighting for their right to survive like other restaurants in contra costa county mark of the wine whiskey and eatery in martinez invested thousands of dollars to pivot into outdoor dining. >>but now it's patio is closed and they're operating on takeout delivery orders only that's after the county along with 5 other bay area counties. we have deadly went under a stay at home order before state guidelines require them to do so why can't we. >>keep going this whole time to be making money to pay our bills not to lay off our employees to pay or vendors. none of that is happening right now. the streets are quiet corner, corey cats is one of at least for business owners. >>and then the lawsuit against the county saying they shut down outdoor dining without proof that it contributes to the spread of covid-19 we're just not doing ourselves we're doing this for. >>the whole entire restaurant. industry. >>we support wearing masks we support doing social distancing. and we just want people to know that that we're not in this we're not trying to be greedy. we're trying to fight for constitutional right to survive and we came on terrible wounds, retro junkie in walnut creek is also on the lawsuit. >>he says the damage is caused by the county are obvious the bills don't stop we rent we have insurance. >>that to and those things don't go away. i have employee reached out to me for payroll still and in in you know we're covering those out my personal credit cards, i've been tapped, you know you towards the business. has just american dream turned american nightmare if you can imagine nathan gandhi who is one of the lawyers representing these restaurants and bars says. >>they're not asking for favors but for what's fair orders in contra costa county that are mandate an outdoor dining to close a purely based on speculation a lot of the data that the county has provided. it does not show any relation to contra costa county. a lot of the numbers have no support behind them. this comes after an la judge ruled in favor of restaurants last week saying the county could improve that restaurants are causing a spike in cases we reached out to the lawyer representing the county to get their response but have not heard back yet. >>the next court date is december 24th christmas eve, but the restaurants will provide more evidence of the damage being done to their businesses from there. the judge will then make a decision in martinez taylor kron 4 news. >>contra costa county will not increases fines for businesses that violate covid-19 health orders the board of supervisors they were talking about making fines as high as $20,000 to punish repeat offenders. the proposal was met with strong opposition and the supervisors apologize for even considering it. but they say that they are stressing that the businesses can do a little bit better to make sure that covid-19 rules are being followed. hundreds foreigners in san francisco are asking city leaders to forego all or a portion of their upcoming vacations to help small businesses survive. the city's bar owner allies sent a letter to the board of supervisors yesterday. here's what the letter reads in part. our bars have been absolutely devastated about the outdoor dining ban after forcing us to abruptly close the city offered a snow really for us or our workforce with the man said to be extended in early january. we cannot wait until after your 3 and a half week vacation to have this hearing. many of our businesses are slipping rapidly into bankruptcy and we are working frantically 7 days a week to stave off disaster for our businesses workers and families. we are asking for your help now every single day matters for us. in response supervisor matt haney announced he will be calling for a special meeting to discuss support for small businesses. in the east bay from san francisco to the spay the oakland unified school district is pushing back the start date for in person instruction. the targeted date to return to class was set for january 25th. but that was set when alameda county was still in the orange here as infections continue to go up and up in the county rolled back to the purple tier which is more restrictive that plan changed the district says setting a date was required for submitting a reopening plan and plans right now to return remain in the in the facts at this particular time. the vaccine out now is only authorized for use in people, 16 years old and older so what about kids. the american academy of pediatrics says more than 1.6 million kids tested positive for covid just this past year. kim posey spoke to doctors in denver about vaccinations for children. i spoke to the chief medical officer here at rocky mountain hospital for children in denver and he says it could be several months before clinical trials and those younger kids are completed. >>rocky mountain hospital for children in denver has treated about 70 kids with covid while children have much less risk associated with covid doctors know the importance of eventually making vaccines available for younger people i think parents need to be here in the back seat you're on the horizon for kids doctor reginald washington is the chief medical officer, he says clinical trials for kids as young as 12 our plans through pfizer and moderna you need to do gerri and one of the most effective dose is for child. >>because it may be different than the dosage. and we need to the side that children may experience would be the vaccine. doctor washington tells the problem solvers drug makers need to make sure the vaccine is effective and safe and an adequate trial can take several months so what about summer activities in school, it's too early to say these vaccines will be available children the school year next fall. >>too early to answer that question research shows children are far less likely to die from covid as adult but doctor washington says we will need to continue wearing masks and taking precautions until herd immunity is reached pfizer started its trials with kids as young as 12 back in september moderna started its trials this month. >>and trials with even younger kids could follow. >>in denver kim posey. >>still ahead on the kron 00:00am morning news, san francisco leaders are launching a new essential services ha to support a community in need. we'll have the details right after the commercial break. >>welcome back to the kron 00:00am morning news. let's get another check on the weather conditions with john trouble john yeah, they're well we are looking at clear dry conditions this morning across the bay area. a smooth drive into work really no fog out there and no rainfall even though we be closing out your wednesday with some rain a few hours from now as far as the golden gate bridge goes obviously beautiful crystal clear, you know it's going to be a clear day when the golden gate bridge is this clears it is we are going to be seeing dry conditions not just for your morning commute. but also for your evening commute later on today. that's because showers that we do a 100 or step really are can arrive until well after sunset tonight after most of us have settled back down into our homes and we'll be prepared for a cozy evening indoors as this rainfall actually arrives at some pretty convenient timing so a dry wednesday wednesday evening on the other hand not so much this is 11:00pm tonight, you'll see a couple of showers across the north bay. but this line of rainfall really settles in towards midnight and just after one 15 am here light moderate even pockets of heavier rainfall pushing in across the bay. yeah, you're definitely snug in bed by this point and staying that way through 02:45am as the south bay chief some shower activity does does the east bay as well this line of showers push us further out of the region in by nearing 05:00am tomorrow morning just a couple of sprinkles holding on for most of us rainfall pushing out of the region snow in the sierra nevada does hold on likely through mid morning into early afternoon tomorrow while the bay area just looks at sunshine returning for much of your thursday, how much rain are we expecting here well we could be seeing a half an inch for many areas and even more than that for areas like santa rosa and napa today's daytime highs, nothing to remarkable here. it's back to some pretty familiar staff a range of upper 50's to low 60's for most of the region burlingame at 62 south san francisco at 61 degrees today, foster city will be at a nice 62 along with redwood city and san mateo south bay daytime highs also back into the low 60's for yet another day we've got free month's knoll pleasanton and union city in dublin all at 64 your highs, well temperatures in oakland while that creek danville in san ramon, each at 60 sonoma youngsville napa the lay help pittsburgh in vacaville at 57. santa rosa at 56. here's a look ahead at the next 7 days tomorrow, we will be seeing drying conditions pretty early after these overnight showers friday saturday and sunday will be nice and dry and then and unsettled week looking likely next week. now that's your week of christmas right there. so keep you updated on if any each rain chances for the holiday week ahead. well, so because you said there are no rain chances right now that means the roadways are dry and they are free and clear as far as bumper to bumper traffic. >>there's the bay bridge toll plaza yes traffic has picked up at this time you don't see the cars that typically back up right as we get close to the 5 o'clock hour. so you're good to go from the east bay into san francisco from their this go to the richmond sandra fell bridge that looks like the cars are getting away from it as far as that the richmond direction you can see headlights coming to the toll plaza 10 minutes if you need to go from richmond into marion county at this time. a new essential services have been san francisco is open to the community, it's in the bayview district. the hub will serve as an ally flying to essential services for communities of color disproportionately impacted by the covid-19 pandemic. >>on our city's response to covid we focused on equity. we wanted to make sure we're reaching the communities that have been hardest hit. san francisco has been hit the hardest by covid-19 in all of the neighborhoods in san francisco, the bayview hunters point has the highest rate of covid cases we're in touch regularly with organizations like mission neighborhood center to hear what they need what else. the city can do to support them. >>the bayview essential is part of mayor breed's 28 and a half million dollar commitment to support the hispanic community as they deal with the covid-19 and the struggles that they face the location will also provide access to food housing health services and workforce, stabilization. make sparked a magical friendship between a 4 year-old girl and a ferry in los angeles. it's a relationship born of kindness during the pandemic's darkest hours. it's a story that's gone viral. kimberly chang has the story. >>the more i looked at all the little trinkets. it it spoke to a part of me that was that still. >>you know childlike back in march, kelly kenny stumbled across a fairy garden near keystone and rose avenues in the palms neighborhood. a sign read or 4 year-old made this to brighten your day please add to the magic did she had to be the ferry that lived in the tree for months set fire the ferry left letters and gifts for little elly on a magical story unfolded so i kind of told her that i grew up there with gnomes and trolls and i come to l a and didn't really have any friends here and i knew that she was probably really lonely not being able to enter the park or school or see her friends. >>everyone's feeling, you know kind of animal alone at this time are you feel she's really missing. her friends is just really beautiful and what it's doing if anything is just capturing in inspiring her imagination. which i think is what a lot of kids what all kids need. >>after being penthouse for months the adults took covid tests and the 2 finally met, kelly dressed in a halloween costume when this unexpected friendship started kelly says she was simply trying to spread cheer and gives back sapphire has just encourage her in these things that. >>in her own gifts and talents and has also just a given her the confidence it seems they both gained quite a bit from this experience. >>i had purpose to my to my days again i was going through a really tough time could barely get out of bed and suddenly i i was waking up action action to buy some are glitter kelly shared the story on twitter and it's been viewed more than a million times i think all of that is just striking a chord with a lot of people right now that just need happy story. >>miss stranger has these sweet and loving note saying gifts and make changes like that israel and but you know even when she grows up to learn that this you know that. that she's a >>and that was kimberly chang reporting for us this morning says that she'd love to bring the group to disneyland when it's safe once again. kron 4 is teaming up with that super bowl of caring to raise 1 million meals for families in need if you would like to donate. take out your phone scanned the qr code on your screen. text the word n y e don't 8 to 2, 6, 9, 8, 9 or visit tackle hunger dot org. once you do that you can pick a local charity of your choice and you can choose how much you would like to do. >>one of helpers is ditching the sleigh for a delivery truck bringing christmas a little earlier than usual is not 25th of course the little bit earlier and that's happening in arkansas claire cruz shows us how she's not only delivering gifts ahead of the holiday she's also making spirits a lot brighter. >>through the neighborhood. okay one of santa's helpers is making house calls and mom during the pandemic giulia bruce has been home schooled and really only feeds the twinkling lights in garland from her window. >>it's been rough. >>that is until this jolly green now started making a regular appearance in her front the largest amount of impact in people's kris kringle himself sent rosie the christmas elf to mom out to help deliver gifts ahead of the holiday. >>at the same time she's getting to know all the kids in the neighborhood like this. he when it's not christmas forecast, giving them a little insight into what really goes on in santa's workshop or he's the boss and so that kind of tells everybody what to do. and we listened very because he's a lot bigger than us let's be honest all the time as she makes her list and checked it twice to want for christmas for more time she's delivering a little christmas cheer right to their front doorstep >>and that was clear crews reporting for us if you want to see more of her deliveries you can check out her tiktok account. rosie the christmas elf. >>still ahead on the kron 4 morning news at the 5 o'clock hour one bay area county says it is out of icu beds as the bay area moves closer to the state mandated shut down. and more covid vaccines are expected to arrive in the bay area in the next several days to weeks how hospitals are preparing and when you can expect to see the vaccine in europe particular. and a second vaccine could be just days away from being approved by the fda all those stories and lot more when we come back at the top of the 5 o'clock hour. ok everyone, our mission is to provide complete, balanced nutrition for strength and energy. whoo-hoo! great tasting ensure with 9 grams of protein, 27 vitamins and minerals, and nutrients to support immune health. >>news station. you're watching the car. good morning, everybody thanks for joining us here on the kron 4 morning news today is wednesday december 16th we're halfway through the week, i'm james fletcher and i will tran filling in for darya folsom, we've got lots to talk about first though we should probably get a check. >>of the weather forecast cold when you head out this morning. >>cold but not raining some i can't complain i plane but not this might be a different story come tomorrow morning us time find out john in the weather john yeah guys that can be cold but once you start getting rain on your shoulders and it's called yes when it's a little uncomfortable and we certainly are off to a chilly start this morning. but yes, very dry conditions out there the bay bridge behind me looks beautiful. >>and crystal clear tonight is when the rainfall arrives and it's going to be well after early risers have gone to bed tonight. so at least during daytime hours not a whole lot to worry about very clear view at sea church hour right now in a very clear view all across the bay was still quiet conditions on radar when we zoom out ac