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Ford Plant Shuts Down After Positive Coronavirus Tests; Airlines Announce New Measures; Trump Muzzling CDC?. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired May 20, 2020 - 15:00   ET

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


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MARK SHAFFER, PARENT SUING GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: Some parents need the money. Some parents might not. But it's really the basic principle of -- just the business principle.

If you can't deliver what you promised, you should give the people some of their money back.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Mark, thank you so much for coming on and explaining this to us. We appreciate it.

SHAFFER: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: And our special coverage continues now with Kate Bolduan.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN HOST: Hello, everyone. I'm Kate Bolduan. Thank you so much for joining us this hour.

Muzzle, that is the exact word a current CDC official is using to describe to CNN what the Trump White House has done to the nation's premier public health agency in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.

CDC officials describing how their work has been sidelined and how it appears there are things superseding science in the administration's pandemic response, namely, politics.

Likely evidence of that? The CDC has finally released the guide, the detailed guidelines for reopening the country that had previously been shelved by the White House, the guidance posted with no press release and really no announcement. It provides what many have been asking for, a detailed road map for schools, restaurants, child care centers and other venues to consider before reopening their doors again.

Just as President Trump, according to sources, went after the CDC in a closed-door meeting with Republican senators on Capitol Hill, and as the president continues to feud with scientists writ large, dismisses scientific studies as anti-Trump, and promotes treatments that go against FDA guidelines.

And this isn't, of course, happening in the vacuum -- in a vacuum. This isn't over. Americans are still dying from this virus. Now more than 92,000 Americans have been killed. Well over 1.5 million Americans have been infected. CNN's Kristen Holmes and Nick Valencia have new reporting on this

troubling conflict emerging between the president and the CDC.

Kristen, you're reporting this is putting the head of the CDC in the hot seat today. What are you learning?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Kate.

After weeks of this tension, a senior administration official telling me that there are informal conversations going on about what to do about Robert Redfield.

And just to give a little bit of background here, we know that this relationship between the CDC and the White House has grown increasingly strained, particularly between Redfield and Dr. Birx. They had a -- really had a heated conversation about the data practices of the CDC.

Dr. Birx growing frustrated during this conversation in front of other task force officials, and growing frustrated with the director himself. Now, as recently as last week, Redfield expressed to colleagues that he wasn't concerned about his job, that this was routine.

He said that he and Birx, who have known each other for decades, that they would go back to being on good terms. This was just a fleeting bit of tension. But the tides really shifted over the weekend. We heard the White House trade adviser, Peter Navarro, really being the first administration officials to go that far against the CDC, at least on the record.

And he said that the CDC let America down when it came to testing. Then -- then again yesterday, we heard, President Trump behind closed doors, as you said, really excoriating the CDC.

Now, I do want to note a couple of things here. One, during that time, he never mentioned Redfield by name, so that is important. The other thing here is that CDC officials are really pushing back on this idea that anything is wrong. They are telling us it is business as usual, Redfield's relationship with the White House has not changed.

They even point to the fact that he was at a meeting at the White House Monday.

BOLDUAN: Kristen, thank you so much.

So, Nick, let me bring you in on this. What are you then hearing from CDC officials?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it depends on which officials we talk to, Kate.

Senior officials that we have spoken to at the agency are frustrated the way the agency has been treated by the White House. They believe that they have been putting politics ahead of science. They feel as though that there's been political components coming back from the top messages from the White House, things like the southern border being a foregone conclusion, travel restrictions focusing on the wrong country.

Initially, at least the cases on the East Coast could be traced back to cases coming from Europe. Instead, CDC officials have told us that the White House was intensely focused on travel from China, when they should have been focused elsewhere.

Otherwise, though, we have heard from sources that are closer to Dr. Robert Redfield, who, as Kristen mentioned, pushed back on this assertion that he's in trouble at all. They say that he's proud there of leading the agency. They say that he's committed to doing this work, and that he is the right man for this job right now.

He is not, though, infallible, according to our sources. They have said that he is not the right man for this moment. He's not charismatic enough. He's not pushing back on misinformation coming from President Trump.

And there's been a lack of announcement about these recommendations that were published over the weekend as well. For weeks, 68 pages drafted by the CDC recommendations that they thought would help safely reopen America were shelved by the White House, they say, because they were overly specific.

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Now we're getting these 60 pages of also very specific guidelines, which officials say are a 50,000-foot view. States can tailor them to their own liking. But, really, there is a lot of anger and frustration among those senior leaders that we're speaking to.

They say that the White House is putting politics ahead of science and leaving tens of thousands of lives, of American lives, hanging in the balance -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Nick, thanks for your reporting. Kristen, thank you so much. I really appreciate it.

Joining me now for more on this is Dr. Seema Yasmin. She's a former disease detective at the CDC. She's also now, of course, a CNN medical analyst.

Doctor, thank you so much for being here.

DR. SEEMA YASMIN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Of course.

BOLDUAN: This tension between various agencies in the government, it is not unheard of. But in a time of crisis, true crisis, having the president trash the CDC, and CDC officials saying that they're being sidelined because of politics, just what is your reaction to this, as a former CDC official yourself?

YASMIN: So, you're totally right. This is not unheard of. And it's certainly not new. I have a piece in "The New York Times" today detailing my experiences

of being an officer in the Epidemic Intelligence Service, kind of laying it clear for the public that any time you're leading an epidemic investigation, you're not just chasing after the bacteria or the virus.

You're also dealing with these tensions. There's a lot of public health diplomacy involved as you navigate federal bureaucracies. But it seems so much worse now. And I'm really concerned about this.

Americans make up less than 5 percent of the global population, but more than 30 percent of COVID-19 cases. So right now is not the time for that to be any kind of spat between different leaders. We need the CDC to be energized and to have power behind it to do its job.

It's really heartbreaking to me that there are thousands of staffers there who have exactly the skills that we need to deal with a pandemic. And it feels like they are being told to sit on the sidelines.

BOLDUAN: So, then, in the midst of this, the 60 pages of guidelines that were finally released, the fact that any guidance for faith and religious institutions was left out of it, what do you -- what is your reaction? What do you think of the guidance?

YASMIN: I'm very troubled by this, and especially this idea that back, on May 7, the CDC was told, thanks for weeks of work on providing this detailed guidance, it's too detailed, and now CDC staffers are saying that it's too general.

And, in fact, that kind of granular detail about exactly how many inches and how many feet there should be between people, how spaced out school desks should be, that kind of tiny detail is exactly what the CDC is so good at.

I spent so much time with tape measures when I was there, because that's the kind of detail you're giving to states, so that they're not left in the lurch. And I think that's now how many state officials feel, that, as 50 states are in some phase of reopening, how are they supposed to trust the guidance that they're getting, when there's this back and forth between the White House and the scientists who actually know what we should be doing?

BOLDUAN: Well, and, Doctor, where does it leave the country if the White House isn't endorsing? Let's see, right? Like, if they're not endorsing these guidelines, they aren't -- and aren't promoting them to the public?

YASMIN: It leaves us in a state of mayhem, right when we need to have a coordinated federal response.

Even just picking one thing like temperature checks, Georgia, Ohio and Pennsylvania are defining a fever as 100.4 if they do temperature checks. Texas is cutting it off at 100, Delaware at 99.5. Like, it's just mayhem. We need to all be coming off this from the same playbook, having a coordinated response. But, right now, when we need that kind of technical expertise that the

CDC is so good at, they are being immobilized by politicians. And that's dangerous for public health.

BOLDUAN: And the way you put it just crystallizes the need for leadership, because it goes from the very 50,000-foot view to the granular.

Just like you said, what is the appropriate temperature? Where should the line be when it should be flagged in terms of temperature checks? You get right to the heart of it.

Thank you so much, Dr. Yasmin. I really appreciate it.

YASMIN: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: A major milestone right now. All 50 states have now begun to loosen lockdown restrictions and at least partially reopen for business.

Take a look at this. The daily average of new cases of the coronavirus trending down or holding steady in a majority of states. That number, though, trending up in 18 states in the nation right now.

Today, Connecticut is beginning to lift restrictions. Here's a look at the numbers, that state's numbers. Starting today, residents can begin heading back to some stores and restaurants.

And that's where Brynn Gingras is. She's in Milford, Connecticut.

One restaurant opening up there. You have been there since, I think, even before opening today, Brynn. What are you hearing from people?

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BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: ... lifted even just a little bit.

We're hearing people say they're finally able to have a meal with family members outside, co-workers, friends. And they say, honestly, it's giving them life at this point.

This particular restaurant, Archie Moore's in Milford, Connecticut, they're doing all the steps that they need to take, guidelines by the CDC in order to make this step. This all has to be approved before they could open, before today.

Let me show you some of them. For example, they have menus here. They are individual paper menus. Their -- all their silverware is plastic, individually wrapped. And then, of course, they have pepper and salt and wipes, all individual.

So these are just some of the steps. And then as you walk into their outdoor dining area, which is the only area that can open in restaurants in Connecticut, it's an outdoor space. You see all the areas, the flow, that not only the people who are eating, but also the servers, are all following.

So it's going quite smoothly. And I can tell you a lot of people here, they're just pretty happy to be outside. And even one person, Kate, came here, didn't have a mask, and the restaurant offered them a mask, so everyone really trying to follow those precautions.

And I want you to hear more from people who are actually taking advantage of this.

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CLAIRE GLOSSA, CONNECTICUT RESIDENT: How the world has opened. And being able to see traffic actually brightens my life a little.

So, being able to see people actually enjoying their life again really, really is a nice gesture.

So, my mom's my best friend,. She means the world to me. So, being out, being able to enjoy lunch with her, like we only do on the weekends, really is my everything to me right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GINGRAS: Now, Connecticut, of course, one of those states that is in the downward trend.

The numbers are the lowest as far as deaths are concerned they have seen since April. Of course, the governor the state is going to continue to watch those metrics and bring back restrictions should there be -- because, of course, we're in the tristate area, Kate, the hardest-the area of the entire country, for the most part -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: What used to be so normal now is so special. You can just hear it in the tone of that girl's voice.

Thanks, Brynn. Really appreciate it.

GINGRAS: Yes.

BOLDUAN: So, we are just days away from Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial kickoff to summer, a long weekend that usually sees people packing beaches, parks and pools everywhere in the country.

But, this year, that is not so easy. Take Virginia Beach, one of the country's largest beach destinations, the governor just announcing it will reopen this Friday. But there are restrictions.

Let's find out what this weekend could mean.

Joining me right now is Ron Williams. He's the deputy city manager of Virginia Beach.

Mr. Williams, thank you so much for being here.

So, the beaches are going to be opening. What can people visiting this weekend do and, maybe more importantly, what can people still not do? RON WILLIAMS, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, VIRGINIA BEACH: Well, most

importantly, Kate, they can finally sit on the beach.

We have had an exercise and fishing only environment for the past few weeks. And that's been nice to be partially open. But they can finally sit on the beach.

The most important thing that we're asking and that the governor's provision for us provides is that we need to require the physical distancing. These executive orders still have a six-foot requirement for individuals and no more than 10 people gathering in a group.

And so, thankfully, everybody's going to be able to enjoy the widest beaches on the East Coast here in Virginia Beach.

BOLDUAN: And there are other restrictions on kind of the sports and recreation that can be done on the beaches, right?

WILLIAMS: That's right.

So there are some existing laws that -- for certain portions of the beach, of our 28 miles, sports, no alcohol. But we also wanted to put an emphasis on regulations that would discourage gatherings and groups. And that is no amplified music or speakers, no large coolers, no canopies or tents or clustering of umbrellas.

Certainly, we want people to have their individual umbrellas. And if they spread out and keep their distance, then we feel like that we have a very safe environment on Virginia Beach's beaches for people to visit.

BOLDUAN: So, how do you enforce the rules and kind of the rules of the road this weekend? How do you enforce it?

WILLIAMS: Great question.

So, over the past few weeks, predominantly, our law enforcement, the police department has been enforcing the existing exercise and fishing only orders from the -- From Governor Northam.

Now we're adding in a layer of about 100 to 150 individuals that are going to be called beach ambassadors. They will be in friendly yellow uniforms. And they are that reminder verbally to what the rules are for everyone, but they will also see signage at each beach access.

But when and if they see someone who is not physical distancing, or they see groups gathering, they will ask for voluntary compliance. When that doesn't happen, then they will ask for law enforcement to come and give that reminder about that.

We would like everybody to appreciate the physical distancing, to respect that, to follow the regulations, so that we can continue the privilege of sitting on our beaches.

BOLDUAN: Look, I mean, let's just hope everybody respects it, but you will have to see, and you have to have those plans in place. Look, the crisis in the country is on two fronts that we are becoming

very well aware of, the public health crisis and an economic crisis in -- everywhere, really.

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Being able to reopen for Memorial Day, what does this mean for your city?

WILLIAMS: It's very important, Kate.

We have industries that have been rocked by this. Hardest hit and the highest unemployment in our city is in the retail, restaurant and hotel industry. Opening up for summer, which is where really they make their money for the year, is very important.

But, of course, we want to do it in a safe manner. We want to have the gold standard for safety for not only the beach operations, but also that industry that supports the beach in the resort. So they have higher protocols and are following the CDC guidance for cleaning and sanitation, both in the hotels and restaurants.

And then we also have clean teams that will be along the boardwalk doing the high-touch surfaces, for railings, for bollards, for the shower towers, to make sure that they're following CDC guidelines on cleaning as well.

BOLDUAN: Mr. Williams, thanks for coming in. Good luck this weekend.

WILLIAMS: Thank you, Kate.

BOLDUAN: Thank you very much.

Coming up: Airlines are announcing new moves to convince passengers that it is safe to fly once again. Are those moves enough?

Plus, this just into CNN: A Ford factory in Chicago has now new coronavirus cases just a day after reopening the plant.

Details are next.

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BOLDUAN: This just into CNN.

This afternoon, Ford is reopening its Chicago assembly plant after having to temporarily suspend production because two workers tested positive for coronavirus.

CNN's Cristina Alesci joins me now with much more on this.

Cristina, this is a plant that had obviously been closed for two months and just reopened on Monday. What's going on?

Cristina, it's Kate. Can you hear me?

I think we lost -- I think we lost Cristina. We will try to get back to her for much more on that in just one second.

But, also, let's look to the airline industry right now. As the airline industry is looking to make a comeback amid devastating losses from the pandemic, some of the biggest companies are making moves to try and reassure customers that it is safe to fly once again, just as there are hints demand is on its way back.

CNN's aviation correspondent, Pete Muntean, has the very latest here.

Pete, what are you hearing from the airlines?

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kate, airlines are getting a bit of a glimmer of hope right now, even though this is typically what will be the start of a very busy summer travel season for them.

The Transportation Security Administration says the numbers of folks traveling through America's airports are actually ticking up slightly, but still only about 10 percent of the norm. So airlines are really in a race to prove that they are the safest carrier to fly on.

I just want to walk you through a few different policies that airlines have. United made a big announcement today, saying that it was partnering with Clorox and the Cleveland Clinic to guide its health policies.

It says that it's now at about 25 percent of its normal passenger loads. JetBlue says it will block off middle seats through the July 4 holiday, until July 6, and it will now start instituting temperature checks for crews, something we have also heard from United as well.

Delta says that it's adding flights, announced that just the other day, to try and keep capacity on flights at about 60 percent, so two- thirds full, to try and keep middle seats empty.

So, airlines are really trying to prove that they can win passengers back. I have been doing a bit of reporting on this. I talked to Qingyan Chen, who is a researcher at Purdue University. He's one of the research behind that animation that went viral for a while of how a cough travels through an airplane.

And he says the only way to really make travelers safe while flying is to have 100 percent mask compliance. This is happening in the absence of any requirement from the federal government, Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yes, mask up needs to be the new mantra for everything these days, especially flying.

Pete, thank you so much for that reporting.

I want to get back to Cristina Alesci. I think we have reconnected with her with this reporting about the Ford plant in Chicago.

Cristina, one day after reopening, the plant forced to shut down operations temporarily. What's happening?

CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN POLITICS AND BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: That's right.

And this underscores how difficult it's going to be and how touch and go it's going to be for companies to reopen.

So, in Chicago, the company said that it instituted a policy where employees were getting their temperatures checked, and anyone exhibiting symptoms or having a high temperature would have to undergo testing.

Two employees tested positive. The company shut down that Chicago plant for the evening, and reopened it today. And then, just today, moments before going on air, I confirmed with the company that the same fact pattern emerged in a factory in Dearborn, Michigan.

Obviously, this is going to be a fact pattern we're going to see across the corporate landscape. A couple of days ago, we reported on Apple reopening its stores, and its executives saying that it would not -- they would not hesitate to reclose stores if there's an issue in that locality.

So, this is all very much touch and go. All eyes on Ford, obviously, right now, because the president is going to visit one of the plants tomorrow. So, this just goes to show you the lengths that companies are going to.

Also, I should add, the company saying that none of these employees, as far as they can tell, contracted the virus within the plant. They believe that the employees got it before coming back to work, Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

And, look, this is hopefully a sign that the systems that these companies are putting in place is working to stop the spread. But this is also companies all over the country, big and small, need to look to this as, you're looking at your future here.

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Great to see you, Cristina. Thank you so much.

It seems, every day, we're hearing another big announcement about progress in the race for a vaccine. So, why is one scientist warning, the rush to share this news could do more harm than good?

That's next.

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