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Fatal Texas Arrest; Reports on Coronavirus Around the World; Nasdaq Hits Record High; Fauci Comments on WHO Statement. Aired 8:30- 9a ET

Aired June 10, 2020 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00]

JAVIER AMBLER, FATHER: It could have been avoided if the officers were to just use common judgement and don't do -- don't look at my son as just a big, black guy that is -- his life doesn't matter.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It was just after 1:00 a.m. on March 28th of last year when according to a Williamson County Sheriff's Department incident report, a deputy started pursuing Ambler for failing to dim his headlights as he approached oncoming traffic. For unknown reasons, that triggered a 22 minute pursuit that ended in the city of Austin when Ambler crashed his car. The incident report says Ambler stepped out of his car with his hands up and was unarmed. The report says Ambler failed to follow verbal commands of laying down on the ground. Within moments, several deputies were on top of Ambler, who suffered from cardiovascular disease and congestive heart failure. Officers tased him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go down. Roll over!

MARITZA AMBLER, MOTHER: I just want some justice. I want these (INAUDIBLE) to suffer exactly -- you know, go to jail, you know, be, you know, be responsible for what you -- you know, your actions. They used their badge, they used their gun, they used their position to try to overcome people and it's not right.

LAVANDERA: Ambler's death was ruled a justifiable homicide. The Williamson County Sheriff's Office of Professional Standards determined the deputies acted properly and used reasonable force. Those deputies are still patrolling the streets, according to local prosecutors.

Riding alongside the lead sheriff's deputy that night was a film crew with the A&E Network show called "Live PD." Their cameras were rolling. But prosecutors say they haven't been able to get their hands on it. Maritza Ambler believes the pursuit of her son was entertainment. She hasn't seen the video, but has strong opinions about it.

M. AMBLER: That's exactly what it was. He was just putting on a show to show that he has the power. And he didn't care who got hurt. He didn't care what was the consequences.

LAVANDERA: The sheriff's office is refusing to comment on the case, but in a statement A&E said investigators never asked for the video captured by the show's producers and they no longer have it available. The footage was deleted as part of the show's policy to avoid having the footage used by police against private citizens.

After Javier Ambler lost consciousness, deputies administered CPR until medics arrived on the scene. But it was too late. Javier Ambler has two children. His mother carries her son's ashes in a locket around her neck. His father called him a gentle giant.

J. AMBLER: Previously he's my father soul buddy (ph). I'm sorry, I -- I'm not as tough as -- as his mom. Everything has changed since -- since he was taken from us.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA: The revelation of this video, Alisyn, has sparked a great deal of controversy there in Williamson County. Several commissioners have now called for the sheriff to resign. The sheriff says he will not step down, will not back down. Said these are partisan and cynical attacks on him. And also there have been allegations that the Williamson County Sheriff's Department has stymied and stonewalled this investigation for more than a year by not providing evidence to local prosecutors here in Austin that they say is crucial to this case. The sheriff insists that that is false and that they are ready and willing to participate in the investigation. But as all of these sides who bicker about exactly what is going on, Alisyn, the Ambler family continues to wait more than a year for the answers they're looking for.

Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Our heart just breaks for them. I mean listening to his father through his tears and his mom, it's just heartbreaking. We hope that they can get justice of some kind.

Ed, thank you very much.

Well, wear a mask or pay a fine. We have reporters around the world to bring you the latest on coronavirus, next.

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[08:37:58]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: So this morning where a mask or pay a fine. Just one of the developments around the world as the coronavirus pandemic reaches record level. Our reporters on all of it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Shasta Darlington in Sao Paulo.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro lashed out at the WHO in a tweet after one of its officials suggested the spread of Covid-19 by asymptomatic people was rare. Millions were locked up at home, lost their jobs, he tweeted. He also threatened to cut funds to the WHO, like President Trump did.

In the meantime, coronavirus infections and deaths continued to shoot up in Brazil. More than 32,000 new cases and 1,200 deaths in the last 24 hours.

AL GOODMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Al Goodman in Madrid.

Wearing masks in public places in Spain will be mandatory, even after the state of emergency is lifted on June 21st. That's for everyone six years and older when social distancing of at least five feet isn't possible. And there are potential fines of up to $110 for not wearing one, according to a government decree.

Masks are required on public transport and in many workplace settings. Spain has finally brought down its infection rate from the coronavirus. Officials hope masks will help keep it that way.

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm David McKenzie in Johannesburg.

The president of Tanzania had said that his country is East Africa is Covid free by the grace of God. This comes after a U.S. embassy announcement in May that cases were surging in that country and that there was a very high risk of contracting Covid-19.

Now, there is certainly an atmosphere of fear in Tanzania with the people we're speaking to, to try and ascertain exactly what's going on. I spoke to the head of the Africa CDC. He said there still clearly are cases in Tanzania and he said any country that is failing in its fight against Covid-19 puts other countries at risk.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CAMEROTA: Our thanks to all of our correspondents.

So even in the middle of a recession, and a pandemic, the stock market is banking on a recovery.

[08:40:05]

In a couple of hours, investors will hear from the head of the Federal Reserve.

Chief business correspondent Christine Romans joins us now.

So, Christine, you've been telling us how Wall Street and main street seem not to be on the same page.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, or, look, it's a real split screen here. The OECD, that's the, you know, the big organization representing developed countries, this morning warned that this will be the worst peacetime recession in 100 years. Yet, the stock market is on fire again. The S&P 500 up 40 percent from the March low and the Nasdaq crossed 10,000 yesterday for the first time ever. Didn't close above there, but it could make it there today. And these so-called F.A.N.G. stocks have been impervious to the

coronavirus recession. Look at some of these big tech stocks. They have been the leaders in the market all year. And they are higher. So when you look at your 401(k), when you look at Wall Street returns, you don't even see a pandemic there. Looking far ahead to some sort of recovery, there's also risk in that because warning after warning we're hearing about just how long this could be damaging for the U.S. economy. We'll hear from the Fed chief later today. We'll get our first official targets from the Fed and it's likely going to show this economy still has a lot of trouble here.

CAMEROTA: Christine, as you know, President Trump always touts the economy, particularly in his re-election campaign. But now we have this new polling and it shows some negative impressions for him. What are you seeing?

ROMANS: You know, his handling of the economy has been something that, when we poll people, they've given him high marks and consistent marks across the board. But that's starting to stumble a little bit.

The June number is now 48 percent. And I think it kind of goes hand in hand with his overall handling of the pandemic. You know, there's disappointment in the overall handling of the pandemic and that, of course, relates to the economy. So his handling of the economy number has slipped a little bit here.

This had been, you know, the central argument for his re-election up until just a few months ago here. So that's going to be one really to watch.

Also, in this polling, I think it's so interesting, John, when you look at how people feel, how comfortable they feel. And about -- a lot of people, like half of the people who say they are not comfortable returning to normal behavior this year, I think that's really interesting. Of those, 32 percent say it will be next year before they get back to normal. That feeling, that confidence among workers and consumers and the public will be critical for what this recovery looks like.

BERMAN: Yes, it's ticking up, but ticking up very slowly.

ROMANS: Right.

BERMAN: Christine Romans, thanks so much for being with us.

So new video this morning of a controversial counter protest during a Black Lives Matter demonstration in New Jersey. A group of white men in front of a Trump sign mocking the murder of George Floyd.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CROWD: George Floyd! George Floyd!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: So this moment led to a shouting match. It happened Monday in Franklinville, about 30 miles outside Philadelphia. One of the so- called All Lives Matter protesters was identified as a FedEx employee. He's since been fired. Another apparently a state corrections worker who has since been suspended pending an investigation. It's unclear who's who in the video. CNN has reached out to both men for comments.

All right, new comments just moments ago from America's top infectious disease expert. What Dr. Anthony Fauci says about the confusing guidance on coronavirus spreading without symptoms. That's next.

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[08:48:15]

CAMEROTA: Do asymptomatic people spread coronavirus or not? The World Health Organization said this week that it's, quote, very rare. Then they tried to clarify those confusing comments.

Moments ago, Dr. Anthony Fauci just responded to it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE: The evidence that we have, given the percentage of people, which is about 25 -- 45 percent of the totality of infected people are likely without symptoms. And we know from epidemiological studies that they can transmit to someone who is uninfected, even when they're without symptoms. So to make a statement, to say that's a rare event was not correct.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: More than 112,000 Americans have died from coronavirus and the U.S. nears 2 million confirmed cases.

Joining us now is CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

So it's confusing. I mean that -- where are we this morning with what asymptomatic people's effect on others is?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think that what people should understand is that somebody could not have any symptoms at all, no symptoms whatsoever, still be carrying the virus in their body and still spread the virus. That's the important part. That's why we still wear masks when we go out in public. That's why we keep distance. If you have symptoms, you should obviously be staying home. But if you are going in public, you have to assume that you could have the virus, even if you have no symptoms.

Let's put up the definitions of asymptomatic spread for a second here just so you understand. A lot of times people may have no symptoms whatsoever, but they're about to develop symptoms. So if you have no symptoms and you never get any symptoms, that's asymptomatic.

[08:50:02]

If you are about to develop symptoms but don't know it yet, that's pre-symptomatic.

But I think, you know, the issue is people could still be out there without having any symptoms and spreading the virus. That is why we all have to behave like we have it.

BERMAN: I mean it would be a shame, as I said yesterday, Sanjay, if this came to a debate about vocabulary, whether it's pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic. The bottom line here is, people need to be careful and I think not quibble over words there.

I want to move on, though. You've got some inside information from Dr. Anthony Fauci on the status of the vaccine research and maybe the government backing behind some of it.

GUPTA: Yes, I mean, this is -- you know, just keep the context here in mind. In January we knew hardly anything at all about this virus. Now, what we're about to -- to see is that in -- in the next month, in the first week of July, one of these candidates, one of these vaccine candidates, is going to go into phase three clinical trials.

Now, again, it doesn't mean that for sure it's going to work, that we're going to know for certain that this is a safe and effective vaccine. But within months to go into phase three clinical trials is very, very fast. Typically that takes years, if not decades.

So Moderna is this first company. It's supposed to go into phase three clinical trials the first week of July. A couple of weeks after that, AstraZeneca/Oxford is supposed to go into phase three clinical trials. And then by the end of the summer, Johnson & Johnson. And, you know, there are several vaccine candidates out there. These are the three that are sort of moving along at the fastest pace.

Now, one thing to -- in phase three clinical trials, you're basically giving the vaccine to tens of thousands of people. And you're comparing that to tens of thousands of people in similar areas that didn't get the vaccine and basically getting an idea, is it working, is it preventing the infection in people? It can take a while to get results like that back and you have to have populations around the world where the -- where the virus is circulating pretty robustly. So it may not just be the United States. There's vaccine trial centers in Brazil, in South Africa. We may start to hear about this trial starting to expand to all these places to see if they can get some idea, is the vaccine actually starting to work?

CAMEROTA: Sanjay, you know, some people are so grateful that scientists are fast tracking this vaccine and some people are nervous that scientists are fast tracking this vaccine.

GUPTA: Right.

CAMEROTA: So by the time it makes it to market, this will -- will theoretically be the fastest we've ever had a vaccine. And will people be able to feel safe and confident in getting that vaccine by then?

GUPTA: You know, I think that's a very legitimate concern. I think, you know, you look at some of the polling and they say, you know, a third of people may not -- may choose not to get the vaccine, even if it becomes available. I mean, I think that the -- you know, with all the news that we talk about, the speed of this, we, you know, are looking, obviously, for conclusive evidence that it is both safe and effective. Can you do that in a compressed timeline? Perhaps. You know, there's been a lot of work that was already done on these vaccines, even before they started, because of work that was on previous coronaviruses. So they weren't sort of starting from scratch here and that's part of the reason they've been able to go more quickly.

But it's a -- it's a legitimate concern. I think it's one that we're probably going to be reporting on, you know, for the rest of the year, into next year, is, what is the evidence that not only is it safe and effective, but it's safe and effective in all populations of people. What about the elderly? What about people with pre-existing conditions? What about children? Right now it's primarily been given to young, healthy volunteers. So those are -- those are big questions and they'll going to have to be answered, you're absolutely right.

BERMAN: Generally speaking, though, Sanjay, because I'm terrified by the notion that people aren't going to take the vaccine if it's proven safe. The bar to prove it safe will be much higher than the bar to prove whether or not it's extremely effective, right? I can't imagine they're going to compromise on safety.

GUPTA: Right. That's right, John. I think one way to think about it though is, if you look at the phase one trial, it is typically in young, healthy volunteers. One of the things you do get as you start to expand this into tens of thousands of people is a more diverse population of participants. So what -- you know, again, what about the elderly? What about people with pre-existing conditions, children? That's also part of this. You do show that it's safe in human beings as part of phase one, but I think part of phase three, in addition to showing efficacy, how effective is it, is, is it safer in larger and larger populations as well?

BERMAN: Sanjay Gupta, always an education. Thanks so much for being with us this morning.

GUPTA: You got it. Thank you.

BERMAN: It is time now for "The Good Stuff."

A Wisconsin community coming together to help James Aldridge. After his car broke down, the nursing assistant rode his bike to his job, two and a half hours each way, every day. So a neighbor who works as a car salesman started a fundraiser to get James a car.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT BRASS, STARTED FUNDRAISER FOR JAMES ALDRIDGE: The original goal was going to be like a $1,000, $2,000 car, you know, something cheap, reliable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[08:55:05]

BERMAN: In a little over a week, they raised $22,000. Enough to put Aldridge into a brand-new 2020 Chevy Sonic.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES ALDRIDGE, GIFTED NEW CAR: This car, it has everything. Everything you need and more.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: And James is determined to pay it forward.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALDRIDGE: It's over. You don't -- you don't have to ride in the rain anymore. You don't have to lose sleep anymore. Your journey -- your journey, well done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Doing good and doing right for James, who was doing good and doing right working on the front lines of this pandemic. Great work by everyone involved.

All right, a lot going on this morning. CNN's coverage continues, next.

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