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The Global Brief with Bianca Nobilo

World Health Organization: Global Cases Top 118,000 More Than 4,200 Deaths; Markets Shrink After Coronavirus Declared As Pandemic; Join The Fight Against Modern-Day Slavery; U.S. Cases Top 1,000 As World Health Organization Declares Pandemic; Two Rare White Giraffes Found Dead In Kenya. Aired 5-5:30p ET

Aired March 11, 2020 - 17:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


[17:00:00]

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Our coverage continues on CNN continues right now. I'll see you tomorrow.

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Tonight on THE BRIEF, the death toll spiking in Italy and new cases surging in Iran as the World Health

Organization declares a Coronavirus pandemic.

Stocks plunging around the world the DOW Jones industrial now officially in bear market territory. And Joe Biden wins four more states as he closes in

on the Democratic Nomination but, yep, Bernie Sanders isn't giving up.

Live from CNN Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Paula Newton welcome to "The Brief." The World Health Organization says the Coronavirus outbreak is now

officially a pandemic. As always the organization is emphasizing that the virus can still be in their words suppressed and controlled but here is the

key. Countries must act fast. And they're not seeing that, they say, in enough places. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: W.H.O. has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we're deeply

concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Inaction you heard there. But Italy for one is taking steps to stop the spread. Now it is day two there of the nationwide lockdown. But they

just reported a massive jump in new cases more than 2,300 on Wednesday alone.

The virus is, in fact, also tearing through Iran. And nearly 1,000 cases confirmed in just the past day bringing the total to 9,000 there. Even Iran

Vice President is now infected with the virus. And more cases are popping up in the United States as well.

We're expecting to hear from President Trump in the next few hours. His administration is of course coming under fire for what some see as lack of

federal leadership and mixed messages. The Governor meantime of the State of Washington, the epicenter really in the U.S., has banned events with

more than 250 people in the hardest hit counties.

But of course here a lot to get to in Italy the soaring number of cases and the sweeping restrictions on travel, sports and public life. Fears are

mounting that it could take a very steep toll deed on Italy's economy. CNN's Ben Wedeman reports from Bologna.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Inside of the intensive care unit in the hospital in Northern Italy, doctors and nurses struggle with

what they say is a Tsunami of new patients. Every day brings every more new case ever more deaths. Despite it all, the few tourists left in the

northern city of Bologna, though many sites are now closed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAROLINA VERSAU, BRAZILIAN TOURIST: Italy is so beautiful outside. But I think inside is better. But I have next trip.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEDEMAN: This country of 60 million souls is now in theory under lockdown. Movement is restricted, schools and universities closed, public gathering

prohibited and all sporting events canceled.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FLIPPO BASSI, TEACHER: Every day just this main square is full of people with each other close, kissing, handshaking. You don't see that now. So of

course it is different.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEDEMAN: The bubonic plague killed thousands here in the 17th century but Bologna survived and went on to prosper. The cafes in the cities normally

bustling central - are emptier than usual. Yet a few patrons are hardly panicking.

Life must go on the dogs still need to get out. Two dark clouds hover over Italy at the moment. Of course there is Coronavirus, but many people here

are, in fact, more worried over the long-term impact the virus will have on the economy.

Business has all but evaporated. And if draconian measures are what it takes to bring it back, some say, so be it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have to face emergency with the strictest measures like they did in China says Alexandra. It is a dictatorship but they did

the right thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEDEMAN: Across the street Manuela says more should be done. I would be fine with a total 20-day shutdown, she tells me because people are afraid

work is going badly. It is bad, but the city has seen worse. Ben Wedeman, CNN, Bologna, Northern Italy.

[17:05:00]

NEWTON: As we just saw in Ben's report right that lockdown has changed everyone's daily life and that includes for Pope Francis who canceled his

usual appearance outside of St. Peters.

CNN's Melissa Bell joins us now from Rome. I mean, really the language, the CDC - the Centers of Disease Control here in the United States saying that,

look, as far as the world is concerned, the epicenter has gone from China to Europe. Are you feeling that right now in Europe but more acutely in

Italy?

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Paula, absolutely. This is now the country Italy where the whole world is really watching to figure out what happens

next. How the measures could be taken to contain this virus and how it could affect a country? What could mean in western liberal democracy simply

to close everything down?

Look at it from the point of view from Italians. We've seen the first decree over the weekend extending the number of lockdown regions and then

on Monday it said it is the whole of Italy people, policeman could ask where they are going and justify movements and tonight Giuseppe Conte the

Prime Minister announcing another level of measures this time to lockdown anything but supermarkets and pharmacies.

That means that all of the businesses that continue because people about their business with masks were simply told to lockdown. So the effects from

the Italian economy will be even greater. The big question Paula is what the effects will be on those daily rises in terms of the infection rates in

terms of the death rates.

Again, tonight, startling figures again in Italy in terms of the infection rates, we see that it is continuing. And Giuseppe Conte saying look, we're

taking these extra extraordinary lockdown measures but be very careful it is going to take another couple of weeks for these to filter through and

start having an effect.

NEWTON: And the reason he's saying that is the fact it is having on the public health care system in Italy, really at the breaking point. Melissa

Bell for us on the streets of very quiet streets in Rome right now appreciate it.

Now after the World Health Organization declared a coronavirus pandemic, U.S. markets plunged and the DOW officially closed in a bear market. The

DOW erased all its gains from Tuesday's rally. Seems like a long time ago doesn't it? The S&P 500 and NASDAQ also closed much lower.

U.S. President Donald Trump meantime met Wednesday with his economic team where leaders are working to cushion their respective economies from

coronavirus fallout. That, to that end, the Bank of England slashed interest rates to a record low of one quarter percent.

We want to bring in our Economic Commentator Catherine Rampell she is also an Opinion Columnist at "The Washington Post." So what it seems like the

measures so far have amounted to nothing I mean in my opinion, this isn't fear, this is terror right and why?

Because there aren't any real answers very pointed medical questions can't be answered so the market doesn't have clarity? To that end, Catherine,

what can governments do at this point in time?

CATHERINE RAMPELL, CNN ECONOMIC COMMENTATOR: Well at this point we have seen governments do is we've seen interest rate cuts here in the United

States you mentioned in the U.K. as well. And that has limited fire power right. It is a lower interest rate is not going to help unblock a supply

chain.

If you can't get your part from China because the factory is shut down in China, you are not going to have your part to make your product or put your

product on a shelf. So what we probably need here in the United States at the very least is some sort of fiscal measures so that companies can

continue to manage their cash flow because they still have to pay their bills.

So that workers can feel safe staying at home. If they feel ill, or if for that matter their shifts have been cut because nobody wants to go to the

restaurant any more or the gym or what have you, so that they could still pay their bills.

So there are a number of fiscal measures on the table but at least here in the United States we haven't seen resolution on that yet.

NEWTON: It is interesting here, because everyone turns to the United States in a situation like this as it was for the financial crisis. Even though in

terms of fiscal power right now, is that going to do it? My feeling is it is so unprecedented no one is really prepared for this kind of global

slowdown?

RAMPELL: Well, certainly fiscal policy can't in and of itself deal with the first order health consequences. If people are going to get sick, they are

going to get sick. That is a health crisis that is something that the public health system needs to deal with by getting medical professionals

the supplies they need et cetera and finding ways to contain the spread of the epidemic.

But what fiscal policy can do is deal with the second order effects again things like making sure people could pay bills, making sure that people

feel that the amount of financial cushion that they need to take precautionary measures like to stay home and watch their children, not go

to work or otherwise put other people at risk.

So, yes, of course, these kinds of economic policies are not going to target the health crisis itself but some of these knock on effects are on

the table.

NEWTON: Yes. And what is interesting here is that politicians are putting people's health really ahead of the economy.

[17:10:00]

NEWTON: Catherine Rampell, really appreciate it. Now the National College Athletic Association, this is significant the NCAA, has just announced that

due to the Coronavirus upcoming championship events will be limited to essential staff and families.

Yep that means basketball games will not have the fans in person. Including division one men and women's basketball tournament the move will likely

take a heavy financial toll on the association. And we'll have more on this major development in world sport at the bottom of the hour.

Meantime, U.S. Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders says he's staying in the fight after another bruising round of losses to his had Democratic

rival. Joe Biden cemented his front-runner status with wins in critical states on Super Tuesday II. He appeared though to gently encourage Sanders

you know to think about dropping out saying they could defeat Donald Trump together.

But after hours of silence, Sanders announced that by this time, as far as he was concerned, he was not stepping down. In fact, looking forward to a

one-on-one debate with Biden this weekend here on CNN he says while he's losing in the delegate count, his progressive agenda is winning over

Americans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Today, I say to the Democratic establishment, in order to win in the future, you need to win

the voters who represent the future of our country and you must speak to the issues of concern to them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: We want to get more on this from White House Reporter Stephen Collins. I know how closely you watch this. So you heard Sanders today. If

Sanders continues to fight as he has but then loses, what are the real implications of that in the General Election? Because the Democrats need to

be as solid as they could be and that includes bringing over Sanders voters if they're to beat Donald Trump.

STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well the big concern is that Bernie Sanders by prolonging this race is going to make it more difficult

for the party to unite behind Joe Biden who is now the likely Democratic Nominee in a fight against Donald Trump.

I think a lot is going to depend on how Sanders conducts himself. If he goes full scorch earth against Biden, that is going to anger a lot of

people, not just in Biden's Campaign but in the wider Democratic Party. Of course that will make it much more difficult to unite.

I think we could be going into a phase here when Sanders is not trying to win the nomination, any more, he's trying to influence the policy that will

go - the Democrats will take into the General Election and the debate that will ensure on how far to go on reform on issues like health care if Biden

becomes the President.

But the math is almost impossible for Bernie Sanders right now. So far he's won 42 percent of the delegates in the Democratic Race. He would need to

win 55 percent of the remaining delegates to win the nomination.

So you could see it is almost impossible for him to carve out a victory here. And we have a bunch of primaries next Tuesday which Biden is probably

going to do very well in. We're going to go ask him the same question next week that we're asking this week, which is why, is Sanders staying in?

NEWTON: Perhaps Sanders feels he owes it to his supporters and his so- called revolution. Stephen I know you'll stay on top of it. In really appreciate it. CNN's My Freedom Day is shining the light on fortunately

what is a very dark reality. Child labor and child sex trafficking.

Courageous young people around the world are speaking out about the dangers many of them have found through voices through social media. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're broadcasting against human traffics and especially we're raising our voice for children because 50.6 percent of

human trafficking involves children.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Freedom is to say no to slavery. Freedom is to say no to hunger and salvation and freedom is to say no to Coronavirus. Freedom is a

chance to be better. Freedom is to be expressive. Freedom!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Okay, and in the short time from now, students from the Atlanta International School will be hearing from one survivor of human

trafficking. Lynda Kinkade joins us now with her story. And Lynda, it is so special to see that young people do want to get involved in this, they want

to not just read about it right, they want to do something about it.

LYNDA KINKADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is exactly right, Paula. And this school in particular, the Atlanta International School is really a true

leader on this issue.

[17:15:00]

KINKADE: These students four years ago helped initiate My Freedom Day, helped kick start this global day of action. And behind me every year they

have this community forum and you could see they're setting up for it now which will happen in the next 15, 20 minutes.

They invite guests to share their experience and one of the guests with me now, this is Dorsey Jones. She's a survivor of sex trafficking. You're here

to share your experience with these students today. Tell us about the message you're going to share and what you went through as a child.

DORSEY JONES, CASE MANAGER, YOUTHSPARK: Today we're going to empower the community by getting involved and wanted to make sure that we eradicate the

calls. When I was 11-years-old my life changed, my neighbor crumbled up $20 and he placed it in my hand. When he gave me that $20 it made a difference

in my house because at that time we didn't have food or lights and we didn't have water.

So I used that $20 to prepare a meal for my siblings and after that I had to sleep with the man who gave me the $20. I had to sleep with his brother

and his father and before I turned 12 I had slept with half of the community. So it went from 11 until I was almost at my 18th birthday.

KINKADE: I can't even imagine how hard that is as a child going through that. How crucial is it for these young people to hear about your

experience and how can they make a difference?

JONES: It is very crucial because the more that we bring the awareness to the community and to the children, they will know the signs and they'll

know they're not for sale, they're not for lease and they're not for rent. They'll know they're valuable by the tools we're giving them so they could

be productive citizens and know they have the right to tell a person no when it comes to their body.

KINKADE: And from the students I've been speaking to today, many of them are quite surprised that this is an issue that isn't happening in some

other country, it is happening here in their home city and their home state. You're a local. You're from Georgia, right?

JONES: Yes. I was raised in South Georgia and that is where this took place, in South Georgia. Bainbridge, Georgia.

KINKADE: Well thank you so much for your time today and we look forward to hearing you tonight and this is a very important forum, Paula. There is

also going to be an FBI Agent on this stage. So this will kick off in about 15 minutes from now, Paula.

NEWTON: Absolutely Lynda and so good of Ms. Jones to speak to us of course because most people assume this goes on somewhere else. No unfortunately it

goes on all in all of our backyards. Lynda Kinkade for us in Atlanta I appreciate it.

Coming up next on THE BRIEF, health officials in the United States are expecting a surge in the number of coronavirus cases. We'll have more after

the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: The coronavirus pandemic is exposing challenges faced by America's health care system. At least 33 people have died in more than a thousand in

the United States have now contracted the virus.

[17:20:00]

But of course that number is expected to rise significantly, really every hour. And the reason is that there is a major backlog of testing. So some

people may not even know they have the virus.

Doctors are concerned the delay in testing is preventing treating patients efficiently. The White House says an additional 4 million test kits will be

available by the end of the week. Let's bring in William Wan. He covers health stories for "The Washington Post" for today's "De Brief".

I know how closely you've been watching this for years even before we got into this crisis. Okay, we have got the W.H.O. saying this is a pandemic

but still trying to get to something there, right? They used the word "in action", individuals are holding back countries are holds are back at this

point in time it is almost as if the W.H.O. is pleading you need to do more.

WILLIAM WAN, HEALTH CORRESPONDENT, THE WASHINGTON POST: Yes, the W.H.O. declaration was kind of amazing because they've been very reluctant to even

say the p-word pandemic for many weeks now. Epidemiologists have been saying it is already a pandemic they've been very reluctant. And the reason

they did that visa today is because they are alarmed at the inaction they're seeing. Countries are being too slow and not aggressive enough and

quick enough in mounting the response.

NEWTON: And when we talk about a response, we need to put the focus on the United States because right now that is really terrifying the world if the

United States continues to have this spike in cases and in deaths. There is a controversy over the test, right? It does seem like this was too little,

too late. What are the risks of that now?

WAN: I mean, the testing is at the heart of how U.S. has bungled their response. It isn't too late, though. I mean, it is too late in terms of

containing as well as they could have. But there is an urgency right now to get testing as widespread as they can because we don't even know the extent

of the problem. You can't really contain or mitigate a problem when you don't even know how wide spread the problem is.

NEWTON: And that is the issue. You can't contain someone if you don't know exactly what they have and know they're in isolation and they might become

gravely ill. Governments, individuals seem to be having a hard time with this though, William. I mean, where do you draw the line between hysteria

and caution that is prudent. What is the proper response and are we about to see that?

WAN: I sure hope so. I've been looking at countries studying the response. What is kind of puzzling about U.S. is we had all of this extra time, China

kind of like threw their body on a grenade in some ways to bide the rest of the world time.

We should learning lessons from South Korea, Singapore especially has done a great job and yet the response has been very slow, sluggish, there is not

aggressive contract tracing that you saw kind of in Singapore. Even the public health messaging, it has been pretty horrible to be honest here when

you look at what is happening in other countries.

NEWTON: Yes and stunning when you think about how much is spent on health care in the United States. I want to get to those public health care

systems and something that we see happening in Italy. I'm sure it is a prospect no one wants to think about in the United States or elsewhere.

But the issue here, William, is the fact that you need to be able to at least slow down this disease, right this infection part even if you cannot

contain it. And the reason is that you cannot overwhelm those hospitals, those clinics, those front line health care workers, right?

WAN: That is very important. Yes, the concern here in the U.S. as we are reaching this next phase is overwhelming the health care system. I've heard

this question kind of being asked more and more in recent days, should U.S. be locking down its cities, you saw China doing that Italy doing that and I

talked to many, many experts and they - the resounding answer is no especially not in a place like the U.S.

There are cultural differences in how we approach things. But even accounting for those, you know the way we emphasize liberties and

individual rights here, when do you something like a lockdown, it is not necessarily effective. Even in China, they're starting to be studies now on

Wuhan and what happened there and some surprising kind of facts coming out of that it may have bought a few days time, but at what cost socially in

terms of human rights violations.

NEWTON: And you make such a good point there. And yet really some of the anecdotal things that we've been hearing out of Italy are completely

alarming and they have a very good health care system.

WAN: Yes, it is really surprising with the U.S., you think U.S. is at the foremost of all of - in the health industry. We have the CDC, which can is

a lead internationally. And yet CDC, our county from the top down, federal to county health departments, it has been a really bad response.

NEWTON: We'll certainly hope that for everyone's sake it gets better in the very near future. William Wan, thanks so much. I really appreciate it.

WAN: Thanks for having me.

NEWTON: Now when THE BRIEF returns, two of the world's rarest animals are found dead.

[17:25:00]

NEWTON: Allegedly shot by poachers.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: It was one of the animal world's rarest sights a small family of white giraffes. Tall majestic and wonderfully unique I mean, just look at

them. But now only one of them remains. The remains of the mother giraffe and her calf were found in a skeletal state in Kenya, were killed by

poachers according to the rangers there.

The Kenya Wildlife Service was called to the reserve after it was reported that the giraffes hadn't been seen in quite a while. They estimate the

animals had been there for four months. Now the animals got their unique look from a condition known as Lookism a genetic condition that causes the

skin cells to fail to produce pigmentation.

The manager of the reserve called it a sad day and "A blow" to the tremendous steps taken by the community to conserve rare and unique

species. Only one white giraffe remains. It is a bull. And that is THE BRIEF. I'm Paula Newton. "WORLD SPORT" is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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