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White House Send Mixed Messages to the Public; Oxford Ramping up its COVID Vaccine; Many People Oppose Selling of Wildlife in Asia' Coronavirus Pandemic; U.S. Vaccine Agency Chief Says Departure Was Retaliation; Georgia Governor Is Reopening State Too Soon; Las Vegas Mayor Pushes To Reopen Casinos; Families Wait In Long Lines For Food Bank Distribution; U.S. Condemns Iran's First Military Satellite Launch; President Trump Tells Navy To Shoot Any Aggressive Iranian Boats; U.S. Oil Prices Rise After Trump's Threat To Iran; Chevron Ordered To Halt Oil Production In Venezuela; Health Care Workers Attacked; Worldwide Incidents Of Harassment Against Health Workers; Bolivian Doctors And Nurses Protest Lack Of Supplies; Nurse Providing Patients With Photos Of Loved Ones; Andy Murray Talks About Life Under Lockdown. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired April 23, 2020 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. You are watching CNN Newsroom. And I'm Rosemary Church.
Just ahead. Chaos overtakes the White House's coronavirus response as mixed messages are sent out.
Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS WHITTY, BRITISH CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER: I'm very hopeful that we will have vaccines which have proof of concept much earlier than a year, to be clear.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: The U.K. will soon begin vaccine testing for the virus on humans. All the details on that just ahead.
Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "We are scared for our lives," she says. "But we have to go to work because we have to help people."
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHURCH: Attacks, assault, and threats from those that want to help. This hour, we bring you the tragic stories of healthcare workers around the world under attack.
With close to 47,000 Americans now dead from the novel coronavirus, the message from the White House is growing more contradictory and chaotic by the day.
On Wednesday, Donald Trump trotted out the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to walk back his comments from a day earlier, that the virus could make a comeback this winter, and could be especially difficult if it coincides with the flu season.
The president had tweeted, "CDC director was totally misquoted by fake news CNN on COVID-19. He will be putting out a statement." And so, came the statement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That quote that I just read this afternoon, that's the quote from the Washington Post. You are actually quoted, correct?
ROBERT REDFIELD, DIRECTOR, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: I'm accurately quoted in the Washington Post. As difficult, but the headline was inappropriate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Accurately quoted, and Redfield went on to explain he only wanted to encourage Americans to get their flu shots.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REDFIELD: I didn't say that this was going to be worse. I said it was going to be more complicated, or more difficult, and potentially complicated because we'll have flu and coronaviruses circulating at the same time.
The key to my comments, and the reason that I really wanted to stress them, was to appeal to the American public to embrace the flu vaccine with confidence. One of the greatest tools we have as we go through the fall, winter season, that we are into is to get the American public to embrace the influenza vaccine, and thereby minimizing the impact the flu to be the co-respiratory disease that we confront.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Well, next came some mix signals from the president who insisted only embers of the virus would remain this winter. But Dr. Anthony Fauci said the virus would definitely return in the fall.
The president was also critical of Georgia Governor, Brian Kemp, a Republican ally for moving too quickly to reopen businesses, including gyms, hair, and nail salons, and tattoo parlors. The president was supportive of the governor on Tuesday. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: So, he's a very capable man. He knows what he's doing. He's done a very good job as governor, Georgia. And by the way, and South Carolina. Governor McMaster also. So, you have two very capable people. We are going to find out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: All right, so see if you can spot the difference in the president's remarks on Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I told the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, that I disagree strongly, with his decision to reopen certain facilities which are in violation of the phase one guidelines for the incredible people of Georgia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Then, there is the case of Dr. Rick Bright, in charge of the office developing coronavirus vaccine. He says he was abruptly demoted in part because he spoke out against unproven treatments pushed by the president, including hydroxychloroquine. Here's how the president responded.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to ask you about Rick Bright. He is the head of the federal agency in charge of getting a vaccine out to Americans once it's ready. He says he has been pushed out of his job because he raised questions about hydroxychloroquine, and some of your directives on that. Was he pushed out of job?
[03:05:06]
TRUMP: I've never heard of him. You just mentioned the name. I never heard of him. When did this happen?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This happened today.
TRUMP: Well, I never heard of him. If the guy says he was pushed out of a job, maybe he was, maybe he wasn't. You have to hear the other side. I don't know who he is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: And all this comes as we are now learning the first COVID-19 deaths in the United States came weeks earlier than anyone thought.
CNN's Nick Watt has that.
NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We thought the first coronavirus death in the U.S. came the last day in February in Washington State. Not true. Now, we know COVID-19 killed someone in the bay area more than three weeks earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARA CODY, HEALTH OFFICER, SANTA CLARA COUNTRY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT: The fatality on February 6th was a 57-year-old woman.
ASHISH JHA, DIRECTOR, HARVARD GLOBAL HEALTH INSTITUTE: That is a very significant finding. The things we put into place in late January, like the travel ban, the virus is already here by then and probably circulating quite widely.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: Meanwhile, the president claims states are safely coming back, but one model used by the White House now says 12 states, including Georgia, should wait the longest at least another six weeks before relaxing social distancing. Georgia's governor forced to defend, even on Fox, what he calls a measured step to open gyms, hair salons, and the like this Friday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. BRIAN KEMP (R-GA): The fitness owners, I have great confidence in them spreading people out when they are doing a work out. It is not saying that they have got to screen them. These are best practices. They could do temperature screening.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: While others, preach caution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): Talking to many local officials, they feel political pressure to open. I get the pressure, but we can't make a bad decision. Frankly, this is now time to act stupidly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: Some preach them caution to the wind.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR CAROLYN GOODMAN (D), LAS VEGAS: I want everything back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: This is a long-time mayor of Las Vegas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOODMAN: We've never closed the United States, we've never close down Nevada. We've never closed down Las Vegas, because that's our job, an entertainment capital of the world where everything is clean.
(END VIDEO CLIP) WATT: In Texas, daylight emerging between the Republican governor who is expected to soon announce business openings and the Democratic mayor of the state's biggest city.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR SLYVESTER TURNER (D), HOUSTON, TEXAS: When it comes to allowing something like elective surgeries which will start, today I agreed with it, but if you go much further than that, if you start opening up everything like what is taking place in Georgia, then I think he run into a serious problem, creating a resurgence of this virus.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: Pork processing plant in Iowa just finally close after pressure from local Democratic officials and resistance from the Republican governor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR QUENTIN HART, WATERLOO, IOWA: I understand the impact that this has on our national food chain, but in order to be able stop the spread, this was the best course of action.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Nick Watt reporting there from Los Angeles.
Well, the White House continues to send muddled messages about how states should deal with the coronavirus. Response coordinator, Dr. Deborah Birx says the guidelines for reopening government and businesses are fairly strict, starting with a downward trend of cases for two weeks.
The U.S. State of Georgia and its larger city, Atlanta, haven't established that, but as Georgia's governor moves toward reopening anyway, Dr. Birx notes the states can decide for themselves. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEBORAH BIRX, COORDINATOR, WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE: I believe people in Atlanta would understand that if their cases are not going down, that they need to continue to do everything that we said. Social distancing, washing your hands, wearing a mask in public.
So, if there is a way that people can social distance and do those things, then they can do those things. I don't know how, but people are very creative. So, I'm not going to prejudged.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Joining me now is Michael Head, he is the senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton. Thanks so much for being with us.
MICHAEL HEAD, SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW, GLOBAL HEALTH, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON: Good morning. Thank you for having me on the show.
CHURCH: So, Dr. Birx says states can decide for themselves, but even President Trump said Wednesday he strongly disagrees with the Georgia governor who is set to open up close contact businesses on Friday.
Mr. Trump saying it's too soon for hair and nail salons, and gyms to open up. But that is a lot of mixed messages, isn't it? And hasn't changed the fact that some of those workers will return to their jobs on Friday? What's your reaction to a state opening up these sorts of businesses before infections are declining?
HEAD: Yes. I think the mixed messaging is extremely unhelpful, and I don't think there is any real good evidence for Georgia to be opening up its businesses at this point in time as cases are increasing and directly are.
[03:09:59]
So, I think there probably would be best advice to follow the public health messaging, that has come out to say that lockdown to remain in place for a little while longer yet.
CHURCH: Now if we had extensive COVID-19 testing across the country, those who are sick could be isolated while healthy could go back to work. The same goes with antibody testing. Those immune workers could return to their jobs, testing is key, isn't it? And yet, we are not seeing anywhere near the necessary level of testing in either the United States or the United Kingdom. Why?
HEAD: Yes, there is too little testing going on, but that I think is in part because there are few tests available. There are also supply issues here in the U.K., and perhaps also in the U.S. as well.
There are very few countries doing as many tests as they would like. Countries like Germany, for example, doing fairly well. But yes, the U.K. and the U.S. have a shortage of tests that are not able to scale up the capacity for testing at this point in time to levels I would like to see. But certainly, testing is --
(CROSSTALK)
CHURCH: But why -- why is that? I mean, what's at the core of this?
HEAD: Well, certainly here in the U.K. the core has been the supply chain issues, getting enough reagents and materials to be able to process the tests. We are scaling up capacity, and there has been this target of reaching 100,000 tests per day by the end of the month, although that target is looking a little optimistic.
So certainly, here in the U.K., and perhaps probably in the U.S. as well, that's a key issue.
CHURCH: Well, I just want to listen to what the WHO chief has said about the virus. Let's just bring that sound up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: Make no mistake, we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time. One of the greatest dangers we face now, is complacency.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: All right. So, we mustn't be complacent. Then we hear President Trump suggest on Wednesday that the virus may not even come back in the fall, but his medical expert, Dr. Fauci, contradicted him, reminding everyone the virus will return along with the flu.
So, with that in mind, what is the smartest way to open up an economy while living with this infectious virus that won't go away until we get a vaccine?
HEAD: Yes, I think we need to listen to the public health experts. I think in each country and in the U.S. in each state we probably will see some phased openings of businesses as we go through. But certainly, increasing the level of testing so that we know how many cases we are dealing with, and how effective the community is going to be key going forward. Until we get to that end point where we have a vaccine that can we distributed widely.
CHURCH: And just very quickly, how far away do you think we are from getting that vaccine? Is it going to be accelerated? Are going to see those trials accelerated a little bit more now?
HEAD: Well, I think the trials will be accelerated as much as they can, we've seen faster than any previous vaccine has been tested. So, the University of Oxford have been optimistic that they will have a vaccine ready in about six months. I don't quite share that optimism. I think it will be probably more likely be 12 months or so, but we certainly are at least a few months away from having a vaccine available that can then be scaled up and widely distributed.
CHURCH: All right. We shall watch that very closely. Of course, Michael Head, talking with us there. I appreciate it.
HEAD: Thank you.
CHURCH: All right, as you just heard, so researchers at Oxford University in England are beginning human trials of a possible vaccine. It's based on a weaken version of the common cold virus found in chimpanzees. And British health authorities are cautiously optimistic about its success. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHITTY: I'm very hopeful that we will have vaccines which have proof of concept much earlier than a year, to be clear. And there are very large numbers of people around the world, very good groups, exit once in the U.K., first vaccine tomorrow into man here, but there is a long path between having a vaccine that's proof of concept.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHURCH: But he went on to say until a vaccine is obtained, we must rely on social distancing measures to stay safe.
Let's cross now to CNN's Nic Robertson who is standing by there, live in London. Good to see, Nic. This is of course exactly what everyone wants to hear. What more are you learning about these vaccine trials and just how hopeful should we be?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: The government clearly wants them to be successful. It says it's throwing everything at it. It has given Oxford University $24 million to help prove this vaccine is giving $27 million to another university Imperial College in London that will begin its human trials later in the summer.
I think as we hear from the experts, clearly, people understand they need to be cautious about it, and that, if you will, is the very first step in this -- in this new clinical trial that's beginning today in Oxford.
[03:15:05]
The first step is to make sure that the drug is actually safe so they begin a limited test that they think they could have the answers for by fall this year. That limited test will make sure that the vaccine doesn't do more than that it does good. And if they decided that it's safe then they'll scale up and then they can really begin to have a proper clinical study of how effective the vaccine is.
So, you know, in the U.K., the government obviously wants to have a message here that shows that they are on top of this, their messaging on many issues, personal protection equipment, and other things has been shaky, there's finger-pointing in government at the moment. So, it's a very important message, but the reality is, you know, it's expected to be hundreds of tests in this first phase. It's going to take a while, Rosemary.
CHURCH: Yes. And of course, we're also hearing of a new large-scale study that will supposedly track the spread of coronavirus in the U.K. and try to understand levels of immunity. What more do we know about that?
ROBERTSON: Yes. So, to track infection and to track, you know, who has had the virus. Do they get it again? Under what conditions do they get it again? This is, again, a big piece of the government planning going forward to understand more about what's happening.
Twenty thousand homes, the government says will be contacted. It is over this 12-month trial, as many as 300,000 people, which is roughly less than about half of 1 percent of the total population of the U.K. could be involved in this study. This is what they are saying, and it will involve people giving blood samples, having swab tests done by themselves, at home. Perhaps in the beginning on a weekly basis.
The government says this a selective sample of representative geographic area or population across the area. So, they are hoping that this then gives them a sort of a database of information to see what happens. You know, so much is unknown about the virus. And I think we're seeing governments all around the world are doing it, and this is Britain beginning it today, Rosemary.
CHURCH: It's progress and we want to see that. Nic Robertson, joining us live from London. Many thanks.
Well, months after the virus emerged in Wuhan, China, its precise origins remain something of a mystery. We go back to Wuhan to have a look.
And later, the U.S. issues a new warning to Iran after a series of tense confrontations at sea. What the U.S. president is threatening to do. Back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Now to the regional epicenter of COVID-19. CNN's David Culver reported from Wuhan, China just before the lockdown took effect. He is now back, looking into the source of the virus. Was is it a wet market as the Chinese insist or a laboratory?
[03:20:07]
He takes us to both locations.
DAVID CULVER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You can just look at the street behind me here in Wuhan, China and you can tell that traffic is coming back onto the roadways, you can tell life is starting to resume. Albeit amidst a cautious optimistic.
A lot of the folks there hesitant that this virus is gone for good. In fact, many of them believe there could be a second wave.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CULVER: CNN back at the original epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Wuhan, China, and it's more than 11 million residents navigating this post-lockdown uncertainty. Among them, American Christopher Suzanne.
Let's switch out masks, that's your preference here.
He suggested we upgrade our protective equipment before going for a stroll. It's a city he knows well.
CHRISTOPHER SUZANNE, WUHAN RESIDENT: So, this place is, you know, I was married here, I had a baby here. I've been here for the past 10 years.
CULVER: This is home.
SUZANNE: Yes, this is home.
CULVER: Christopher's home is slowly emerging from a brutal 76-day lockdown. He returned to Wuhan in the midst of it.
SUZANNE: I'm really happy to see like people, at least, you know, keeping their distance, getting around going about their day.
CULVER: But just two weeks after the reopening, and some here are closing the gap on social distancing. Many stores and restaurants keeping people from coming inside, but that's not stopping crowds, like this one from standing shoulder to shoulder waiting outside for their orders.
In places like our hotel, there are noticeably stricter measures. Staffs spraying us down each time we walk in, and checking our temperatures inside, even the elevators telling you where to stand. And offering you a tissue to touch the buttons. But will it last?
Like we are afraid that there is going to be the second wave, I think everybody here knows.
CULVER: You think it's coming?
SUZANNE: Absolutely.
CULVER: Yet, there is growing skepticism over where the first wave actually originated.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CULVER: So, this is where Chinese health officials believe the source of the novel coronavirus is. This is the Huanan seafood market, of course, they believe other things have been sold here, hence, the transmission from animals to humans of this virus.
But you can see it's all closed off still. This has now been since January 1 that they shut it down. However, I want to take you now to the lab where U.S. intelligence is looking into the possible origins of this virus having come from there.
We drove to the lab inside China Center for Disease Control, just down the street from the market.
This is one of the labs within Wuhan, not too far from the market either. It's an origin theory Chinese official quickly dismissed. They also pushed back at claims that their reported number of cases and deaths is far less than reality, even as numbers have repeatedly been revised upward to account for previous undercounts.
Just last week, another 50 percent was added to the Wuhan death toll alone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUZANNE: You know, whether or not they want to share that information with the public, it doesn't really concern me. I'm really more concerned about my family and what we can do.
CULVER: Others, like this convenience shop owner more worried about resurrecting their businesses.
"I'm a bit worried, I don't know when we will resume completely."
As China claims to get the virus under better control, in places like Wuhan, there is now greater concern of those coming in from elsewhere. From our arrival in the city to this interview out in the street, we were questioned repeatedly.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE: I'm from -- I'm from the U.S., but I live in Beijing.
CULVER: A group of plain clothed police grew increasingly uneasy with our being there, a reflection of both their fear of imported cases and a mounting distrust of foreign media.
SUZANNE: Yes. We'll walk in the car.
CULVER: Yes.
SUZANNE: We'll go.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CULVER: It is interesting to note that as you walk around Wuhan, you begin to assess different levels of complacency. You have some folks who seem to be very comfortable just wearing the mask, which is part of the law, it's mandatory, and will often go into crowds and be shoulder to shoulder with others.
And then you have those who are still wearing protective gear, from head to toe, they are not in the medical profession. They simply do not trust that this virus is gone for good. And hence, they want to protect themselves in as many ways as possible, and that means sometimes wearing as much protective garb as possible. And for them, it's about protecting not only themselves, but also those they could come to contact with.
David Culver, CNN, Wuhan, China.
CHURCH: And ever since this outbreak began, Asia's wet markets have come under harsh scrutiny. Yes, some do sell wild animals linked to outbreaks of disease including COVID-19, but others don't sell any animal products, and they are simply an easy source for affordable food.
[03:24:59]
Kristie Lu Stout reports now on the vast array of these markets and how local attitudes about them are changing.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Walking through, it's clear why it's called the wet market.
There's live fish in open tubs, chicken wings on ice and plastic boots on slick floors. Here at Hong Kong's ground street market I meet student Alex Chang. Since he was a young boy, he shops here once a week with his family. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The meat and the fish is more fresh. And the vegetable is more fresh, as well. It's just cheaper.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: A wet market is a term commonly used across Asia to describe places like this, markets that sell fresh produce, fish, and meat. They are very popular across the region and in China.
The initial outbreak of the novel coronavirus has been linked to a market in Wuhan. CNN is not able to independently verify these graphic images from inside the Wuhan market, taken in early December. They show a disturbing array of wild animals ready for sale and slaughter before the market shut down.
When wild animals are kept in close proximity and unsanitary conditions, experts say there is a high risk of viruses spreading between animals and humans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEO POON, VIROLOGIST, HONG KONG UNIVERSITY: Because these animals, we don't know the history. We don't know what type of pathogens or viruses that they are having in their body.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: As the pandemic slows down in mainland, China, its wet markets are opening back up. Sparking outrage online. Several petitions have attracted tens of thousands of signatures, and this from Australia's prime minister who slammed the World Health Organization for supporting the reopening of China's wet markets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT MORRISON, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: I think that's unfathomable, frankly. We need to protect the world against potential sources of outbreaks of these types of viruses, and look, it's happened too many times. I'm totally puzzled by this decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: In a statement, the WHO says all sectors affected by COVID- 19, including food markets in China and around the world, need to ensure high standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and safety once they're in a position to gradually resumed normal activities.
The vast majority of wet markets in Asia do not sell exotic wildlife. And attitudes are changing. At the market, I meet David Olson, director of conservation at the World Wildlife Fund. According to a new poll, he says there is overwhelming support for the closure of illegal wildlife markets across Asia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DAVID OLSON, DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION, WWF-HONG KONG: The message should be we need to end the wildlife trade. The sale of wildlife for consumption for other purposes. This is what's creating situations where diseases can jump from wild species to humans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: Olson says this is where the problem lies. And not here. A wet market where there are mandated cleaning regulations, regular inspections and loyal customers who returned again and again.
Kristie Lu Stout, CNN, Hong Kong.
CHURCH: Well, Germany may soon make a compulsory to wear a mask to contain the spread of the coronavirus. They will be mandatory on public transportation throughout Germany, and nearly all states will require them for shopping.
Some stores were allowed to reopen Monday, under strict social distancing and hygiene rules. Germany has over 150,000 coronavirus cases, according to Johns Hopkins University, about 5,300 people have died.
And you can tune in this Thursday for a special coronavirus global town hall. Alicia Keys join CNN for the world premiere of her new song dedicated to the everyday heroes on the frontlines of this pandemic. That's Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday at 8 a.m. in Hong Kong.
And you are watching CNN Newsroom. Coming up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No job, no money. So, you're coming for the food. He told me he's been out of work for weeks and has no food at home. Same story for this man.
Do you need food? Badly
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yes, yes. I'm not working at this moment. It's very fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: The coronavirus is costing thousands of people their jobs. How food banks are stepping up to help them make ends meet.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[03:30:00]
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: The doctor involved in developing a coronavirus vaccine in the United States says he will file a whistleblower complaint, Rick Bright says he was abruptly demoted for resisting President Trump's efforts to broaden the availability of an unproven treatment for the virus. Mr. Trump said Wednesday he had never heard of Dr. Bright. The president also said he disagrees with the Georgia governor's plan
to reopen some businesses on Friday. Brian Kemp, allowing nail salons, gyms, tattoo parlors and bowling alleys among others to resume operations. Health experts say Georgia is one of the handful of states that shouldn't not reopen its economy until mid-June.
Well, the mayor of Las Vegas is again pushing for America's gambling capital to reopen, but she is not offering any social distancing guidelines. She thinks that is something casino owners need to figure out, and she talked about it with CNN's Anderson Cooper.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, BREAKING NEWS SHOW HOST: I mean, 100,000 people coming there in casinos, smoking, drinking, touching slot machines, breathing circulated air, and then returning home to states around America, and countries around the world. Doesn't that sound like a virus petri dish? I mean, how does that say?
MAYOR CAROLYN GOODMAN (LAS VEGAS-NV): You know, what it sounds like you are being an alarmist. I'm not. I have lived a long life, I grew up in the heart of Manhattan, I know what it's like to be with subways, and on buses and cram in elevators.
COOPER: I'm being an alarmist?
GOODMAN: I think you are, by saying what you have just said.
COOPER: So, you don't believe there should be any social distancing? You don't believe that this is are --
GOODMAN: Of course, I believe there should be. Of course, I'm a rational.
COOPER: How do you that in a casino?
GOODMAN: That's up to them to figure out. I don't -- I don't own a casino. I don't know anything about a casino.
COOPER: Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Well, the Democratic governor of Nevada is firing back against Mayor Goodman. He told my colleague, Anderson Cooper, that his state and Las Vegas are not ready to open yet and he will do what he can to protect his citizens.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. STEVE SISOLAK (D-NV): It's important that we protect the health and the future and the well-being of our citizens. We can rebuild our economy. We will rebuild our economy. Las Vegas will continue to thrive. But I can't do that if I lose more people. We need to protect their health and their well-being. There will come a time to open Las Vegas, in a phased approach, and I urge everyone, Nevada has been incredible.
The vast majority of citizens were wearing face coverings, are practicing social distancing, they are doing everything they can, and we need to send a sincere message and you know, a consistent message and it is difficult when we get one person that's kind of leaving people a stray and I am disappointed in that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: And the union leader representing thousands of hotel workers in Las Vegas calls the mayor's push to reopen the city crazy. I spoke with him just a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
D. TAYLOR, PRESIDENT, UNITE HERE LABOR UNION: We are not going to be canaries in the mines as test cases. As you know, the coal miners did that 100 years ago. I thought we were done with experimenting with workers lives to see if it is safe to work.
[03:35:00]
We are prepared to go back to work when it is a safe environment, not just for the workers, but for the guest. So, I think it's not only irresponsible, I think it is crazy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Next hour, hear my full interview with detail about his views on reopening Las Vegas.
Well, many people across the U.S. are eager to go back to work after the coronavirus forced their businesses to close. About 22 million Americans have filed jobless claim since March. And many of them are low income workers. CNN's Randi Kaye shows us how families are struggling to make ends meet, especially when it comes to providing food.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go, come on.
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This was the scene in Hialeah Gardens, Florida. Car stretching for miles, all of them waiting for free food. Before dawn, organizers say more than 1,000 cars were waiting.
What time did you come this morning?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Four.
KAYE: 4:00 a.m.?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
KAYE: Some came as early as 2:00 a.m., sleeping in their cars for more than six hours before the food line opened. More than 60 volunteers showed up to help distribute potatoes, fruit, pickles, and chicken. Lots of it.
How much chicken do you think you are giving away today?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know, but it's a lot.
KAYE: Much of the food gathered by the nonprofit group farm share was purchased from farmers, so it wouldn't go to waste.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've seen probably the biggest need in the history of farm share during this pandemic.
KAYE: (Inaudible). Are you hungry?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
KAYE: Many who came to pick up food told me they have lost their job, and are running out of food at home.
KAYE: No job? No money? So, you are coming for the food?
He told me he has been out of work, for weeks, and has no food at home. Same story for this man.
Do you need food badly?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I'm not working at this moment. It's very fine.
KAYE: You are not working so you need food?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I'm not working. I need food for my family.
KAYE: And the fact that it is free, so that helps?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, it's good. Good idea.
KAYE: Because you don't have the money to pay for it right now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. No.
KAYE: Each family takes home about 15 pounds of food, during this pandemic, farm share has given away nearly five million pounds of food to families in Miami-Dade county, one of the hardest hit.
When they first started doing these food giveaways in early March, they were serving about 400 families. Here, they expect to serve about 1400 families, so clearly, the word has spread and so has the desperation for food.
Cesar Borrelo is a flight attendant, he's barely working, and has much less money coming in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now we are three adults and 2 kids.
KAYE: So, that is a lot of miles to feed?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes it is.
KAYE: Some people tell me there are rationing and not eating as much as home, are you doing that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we are doing that. We organize the menus. And you know, all the time.
KAYE: Still, despite his cut in pay, he thinks it's a mistake for neighboring Georgia to start reopening businesses later this week to get the economy going again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's too soon. You know, you must stay safe at home at the moment. Keep your distance.
KAYE: Randi Kaye, CNN, Hialeah Gardens, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Well, the executive Director of the World Food Program warns there could be multiple famines of biblical proportion. He briefed the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, urging them to act now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID BEASLEY, DIRECTOR, U.N. WORLD'S FOOD PROGRAM: Today, with covid-19, I want to stress that we are not only facing global health pandemic, but also a global humanitarian catastrophe. Millions of civilians living in conflicts scarred nations including many women and children face being pushed to the brink of starvation with the specter of famine, a very real and dangerous possibility.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: As of 2019, the World Food Program estimates more than 800 million people, that's about one and nine, don't get enough food. The United Nations-backed group offers a lifeline to about 100 million and if it can't get aid to those people it's says over three month period, 300,000 every day could die.
Well, the U.S. is condemning Iran after Tehran announced the country's first successful launch of a military satellite. Now this is considered a significant step in Iran's space program because it uses technology needed to fire an intercontinental ballistic missile. U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, says the move violates a U.N. Security Council resolution, and says Iran, quote, needs to be held accountable.
[03:40:00]
Well, hours after the launch was announced the U.S. president fired a warning to Iran about a different dispute. He says he has instructed the U.S. Navy to shoot down any Iranian gunboats if they harass American warships at sea. The threat comes one week after the U.S. released this video, accusing Iranian boats of conducting dangerous maneuvers as they approached the U.S. Warships. Iran blames the U.S. and has push back against the threat saying it would not hesitate to defend its territory against an attack.
U.S. oil prices jumped after President Trump's threat. John Defterios is in Abu Dhabi, with more on that. And John, this is the second time in a week that we have seen tensions flare between the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. Let's talk about the impact of this.
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Well, there's nothing like, Rosemary, a vela cost tit-for-tat if you will to wake up the region, here in the Middle East. And therefore, the oil markets at the same time. The Strait of Hormuz handles about a fifth of the global traffic in oil every single, day so even if there is a (inaudible), the tensions kind a trump that and that's what we see. Let's see what the gun boat diplomacy is having in terms of prices right now.
We are off the highs that we saw in the last 90 minutes of trade, but we are still around $14 and $21 a barrel for the indices that we have. And a far cry where we are at $10 and $15 a barrel over Tuesday and Wednesday, and hitting that 21 year low for North Sea brand. And this is despite the fact, Rosemary, that inventory have been rising in the United States, there's another report out yesterday, so we could be running out of storage by late June because of the overproduction and the fall and demand due to the coronavirus.
I think it is worth noting, also, here politically in the region that the hard-liners have taken control of the modulus or the parliament in Iran, and that is why you hear the tone change, and we are almost right for our furthered tensions because of the November polls in the United States. And Donald Trump taking a hard line here, and also presidential elections in 2021. And I think the statement that came back from the spokesman for Iran, out of the United Nations suggested that we won't be intimidated by the White House plays into this new narrative and why prices are rising on the news.
CHURCH: Yes. Interesting turn of events, no doubt. And President Trump is also putting Venezuela's oil sector in notice, ordering U.S. oil giant Chevron to shut down nearly all its operations by December. What is the strategy there?
DEFTERIOS: Well, I think they are trying to hurt Nicholas Maduro, the president of Venezuela, when he is most vulnerable with this oil price crash because they are so dependent on revenues. Chevron had the relationship in Venezuela for about 100 years, and they're being asked by December 1st to bring it nearly to a halt, along with four other oil service providers. Three of them are American companies at the same time. They support, as you know, Rosemary, Juan Guaido, the opposition leader.
So, if indeed this pressure lays out a very difficult challenge for Nicolas Maduro, you can see these companies coming back in if Guaido came to power. For context though, this is not just about the U.S. sanctions in this latest measure. We saw the production in Venezuela dropped from 3 million barrels a day, a decade ago, to just over 600,000 barrels a day last month. That is a total mismanagement by the Maduro government. But if you take a step back here, the (Inaudible) would suggest this hardline by President Trump and Iran and then coming in against Chevron in Venezuela, it does support the U.S. producers.
So, there is a cynic that would say this is -- also has another motive by the U.S. president at the same time. We won't go that far, but we do need to put it out there, that's for sure.
CHURCH: Indeed, John Defterios, many thanks as always, I appreciate it.
And we will take a short break here, still to come, in Asia, Europe, South America, some health care workers are being attacked. Even though they are putting their lives on the line in the fight against the coronavirus. We'll explain when we come back.
[03:45:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Many countries are being cheering and saluting health care workers and thanking them for their sacrifice in the midst of this pandemic. Many of them have become infected, and even lost their lives after treating patients with covid-19. But in some places, health care workers are coming under attack. India is one of those places, where the government had to put out an executive order discouraging violence against health care workers. A mob had stone some of those working in the front lines.
And some doctors in Spain have been getting hate messages like this one, calling a doctor a quote, contagious rat. Well, these attacks on health care workers also happening in Mexico with dozens of incidents being reported daily. CNN's Matt Rivers has their story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In Argentina, they clap for health care workers. In the U.K., even the youngest come out to say thanks, and in the U.S., police departments do the same. But in some places, like Mexico, it is very different. Inside one Mexico City hospital this month, angry family members assaulted a nurse for not letting them see their loved one. His face, later, swollen and bruised. And he is not alone.
DR. ALONDRA JOVANNA TORRES, DOCTOR WHO WAS ATTACKED: They attack us, and it's only frustrating.
RIVERS: Doctor Alondra Jovanna Torres was walking her dog last week while wearing her medical scrubs. Someone screamed and threw bleach on her face and neck. Her vision went blurry and her skin burned.
Where you scared?
TORRES: I think shocked but then I was kind of scared and angry.
RIVERS: Five days earlier nurse of 40 years, Ligia Kantun was in a parking lot. She heard someone scream infectada -- infected, that person then threw scalding coffee on her back.
We were scared for our lives, she says, but we have to go to work because we have to help people.
Mexican officials say there have been at least 44 attacks against health care workers since last month, authorities say the common motive is misinformation. People lashed out because of rumors that doctors and nurses are actually the ones responsible for spreading the virus. Health officials have begged people to stop the violence.
It hurts to talk about what is happening to my colleagues, said the head nurse in Mexico's public health system, we are also people. We also have families.
Melody Rodriguez works as a nurse in a hospital about 15 minutes from her home in (inaudible). But when she came home after her recent shift, these men blocked her from entering her town. She could get everyone sick, they said. Now, she is staying with a friend near her hospital.
Most Mexicans don't feel that way, they support health care workers, and for every attack, there are far more examples of people trying to do some good. Donate protective equipment, or send a thank you card. But that doesn't change the fact that many doctors and nurses aren't wearing their scrubs in public anymore because they say it makes them a target.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let us do our job without fearing an attack.
RIVERS: In Mexico, there is more than just a pandemic to worry about. Matt Rivers, CNN, Mexico City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: And not only are some health care workers getting attacked, many are simply not getting the basic support they need. Here is just a latest example of that in Bolivia, and one of the most tragic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR, PAOLA SILVA, GENERAL HOSPITAL OF THE NORTH (through translator): We have a coronavirus death from this morning that requires two body bags to protect the cadaver, and prevent the infection from spreading. We don't have body bags. The infection is spreading, and as they continue to move around in there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[03:50:00]
CHURCH: And despite working under grueling conditions, many health care workers are still going out of their way to help patients feel more comfortable in their hospital settings. Our affiliate, WCBP in Boston met one nurse who is among these shining stars.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeanna Barbieri has been an R.N. for nearly a decade. Nothing she says could have prepared for her this. JEANNA BARBIERI, NURSE: Just surreal is the word, I keep saying
everything just feels very unreal right now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For 12 hour day, sometimes five days a week, she and her colleagues at old general hospital are surrounded by death and by dying and by human beings who are scared and alone.
BARBIERI: I was in a room with a woman who was very ill, very critically ill, and was quite frankly not even going to make it out of the emergency room. So, I spent five hours in a room with her.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Emotionally, and physically exhausted Jeanna still wanted to do more. She purchase a printer and vowed to get pictures of loved ones to her patients.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was always smiling.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She taught me to persevere through whatever it is.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Inaudible) was admitted to (inaudible) general last week. Her grandchildren Erika (inaudible) and Tayla Savidge soon learned of the pictures for patients program.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She is an angel on earth.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeanna delivered on her promise, and by Sunday, their nana held all of their smiling faces.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They were supposed to post them on their wall, but she said, no she wanted to hold on to them.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She passed the next day. She was 88 years old.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I truly believe she needed those pictures to let her go.
BARBIERI: That was an emotional moment for me. I got into my car and that just kind of let it all come out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeanna says for her it is cathartic. At a time when she wishes she could do more. She can at least do this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is no way that we could ever repay her or expressed our sincere gratitude to her.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: We all need those stories. And just ahead, with the sports world in an extended timeout, tennis star Andy Murray has a surprising prediction about when he might return to the court.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Andy Murray is a British icon on and off the tennis court. He was nearing a comeback early this year when the coronavirus pandemic shut down the sports world, now he is speaking with CNN's Christina MacFarlane about life during lockdown and getting back on the court.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Give us an idea but a typical day in the Murray household.
ANDY MURRAY, TENNIS STAR PLAYER: I get up with the kids, and that can be anywhere from 5:30 in the morning until 7:00. We have been doing cosmic yoga for like -- it was anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes, and so like 9:00. Look at that, I normally try and train over lunchtime, so whether that is -- I have like a little kind of gym set up in my bedroom here, which I'm kind of looking, at just now it's quite amusing. Weighs and medicine balls, and boxes. There has been, you know, some positives obviously, you know, and I got to spend a lot of time at home with the family, and the kids. I guess, when you are traveling and stuff, you often miss like the first time that maybe your kids, walk or the first time they crawl, and things like that.
[03:55:07]
Well, both of our kids, we got some bikes for our kids, and they typically, you know, cycle for the first time, that has been the positive at what is you know, being really challenging time for everyone.
MACFARLANE: Do you know of anyone of your friends and family who have been affected by coronavirus?
MURRAY: Yes, I think most people, I'm sure, you know, have people that they know and people close to them, you know have been infected. I was a little bit sick for two or three days, about four weeks ago, but it's kind of difficult to know like whether you were -- whether you actually have the virus or not. And obviously, the test obviously should be saved for you know, people that are in severe, you know situations and the frontline NHS workers.
MACFARLANE: Perhaps your tennis, Andy, this lockdown, if you'd like came at a time when you were really nearing fitness again. When do you think we might see you back on a tennis court?
MURRAY: Yes, I mean, I would definitely play on (inaudible). You know, if it goes ahead. I'm a bit skeptical whether it will, you know, I'd imagine tennis would be one of the last sports to get back to normality, because obviously you've got players and coaches and teams coming from all over the world into one area, so, I'd be surprise if they were back, you know, playing sports by September time. But we will see.
MACFARLANE: Say, we know that you in your wife, Kim, sets the hundred volleyball challenge. How impressed have you been with how people are taking up this challenge? And if there had been any favorite videos that you've seen?
MURRAY: Just thinking of something that might be fun for people to try it with their friends and family, thankfully quite a lot of the tennis players and stuff have given it a, go and tried it, which was nice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Andy, thanks for nominating everybody in the tennis community.
MURRAY: I'm getting video sent in for people trying it, like in China, in South America, and kind of all over the world.
MACFARLANE: You know who else has given that shot, Andy, me, and my partner at home. Which, I'm going to show you real quick.
MURRAY: Pretty good. I could send you a couple of tennis rackets if you'd, so you could give it a go with some proper rackets.
MACFARLANE: I think my partner said we are never doing this again, because he sort of walked out the front door.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Great stuff. And we will take a short break here. I will be back with more news in just a moment. So stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
