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European Union Considers Banning Travelers From The U.S. & Other Countries; WHO Special Envoy Stresses Vigilance As Countries Reopen; FBI: NASCAR's Bubba Wallace Not A Target Of Hate Crime; New York, New Jersey, Connecticut Governors Announce 14-Day Quarantine For Travelers From States With High COVID-19 Rates; IMF Forecasts Even Deeper 2020 Recession For Global Economy. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired June 24, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Also ahead, the European Union debates blocking visitors from the U.S. or any country which is yet to
bring the pandemic under control. And the FBI says the noose found in the garage of black NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace isn't linked to a criminal act.
COVID-19 isn't done making people sick in many parts of the world, and it's brought the U.S. economy "To Its knees" those words from the Director of
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. He was one of several public health leaders who testified Tuesday at a hearing on Capitol Hill.
Over half of all states are seeing a rise in new cases. Just look at this 7-day moving average. New confirmed cases are almost back to where they
were in March and April. Meanwhile, deaths in Latin America and the Caribbean have surpassed 100,000 according to a Johns Hopkins tally and
government figures.
Brazil accounts for more than half of that total. And European Union member states are talking about banning travelers from several countries,
including the U.S. Lucy Kafanov reports from Texas, a state that's considering putting restrictions back in place.
LUCY KAFANOV, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kim. Coronavirus cases spiking here in Texas and this is just one of 26 states across America
that's seeing an increase in the number of cases from this illness the nation's top health officials ringing the alarm but the U.S. President
ignoring those warnings.
On Capitol Hill, an urgent warning from the nation's top infectious disease doctor as President Trump campaign on the other side of the country in
Arizona, one of the states experiencing a rapid increase in reported Coronavirus cases.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: We're now seeing a disturbing surge of infections. The next
couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surging that we're seeing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAFANOV: New weekly infections are on the rise in at least 26 states, including California, recording 5,000 new cases, its highest daily count
since the start of the pandemic. Here in Texas, one of the first states to begin reopening, Governor Greg Abbott now says it's possible restrictions
will be back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. GREG ABBOTT (R-TX): Because the spread is so rampant right now, there is never a reason for you to have to leave your home unless you do need to
go out. The safest place for you is at your home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAFANOV: There is no statewide man mandate for wearing masks in Texas, nor is there in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis is still resisting issuing
one.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RON DESANTIS, FLORIDA GOVERNOR: Catch more flies with honey than vinegar. And you attach criminal penalties for something, you got to enforce it. And
the question is, in some of the parts of Florida, is that really a good use of resources?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAFANOV: A county face mask rule was not enforced at Trump's indoor event at an Arizona mega church as the state reported a new single day record of
cases at nearly 3600, Dr. Anthony Fauci giving this advice to help slow the spread.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. FAUCI: Plan A, don't go in a crowd. Plan B, if you do, make sure you wear a mask.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAFANOV: Fauci, along with other top health officials, testifying before House Committee about the Trump Administration's response to the
Coronavirus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ROBERT REDFIELD, DIRECTOR, U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROLS & PREVENTION: We've all done the best that we can do to tackle this virus and
the reality that brought this nation to its knees.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAFANOV: And shutting down this claim from President Trump last week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: So I said to my people, slow the testing down, please.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAFANOV: Trump's staff said he was kidding. But according to the President- -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I don't kid by having more cases, it sounds bad. But actually what it is, we're finding people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAFANOV: Fauci telling lawmakers he was unaware of any delays.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FAUCI: To my knowledge, none of us have ever been told to slow down on testing. That just is a fact. In fact, we will be doing more testing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAFANOV: And on the question of a possible vaccine--
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FAUCI: I still think there is a reasonably good chance that by the very beginning of 2021, that if we're going to have a vaccine that we will have
it by then.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAFANOV: Now, U.S. Health officials warn that the recent surge in cases is largely being fueled by younger people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Here in
Texas the Governors now empower local authorities to try to restrict the number of people gathering publicly, especially if that group of people is
numbering at 100 or more. Kim?
BRUNHUBER: All right. The European Union is considering banning travelers from the United States and several countries. So I want to talk more about
this with International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson in London. So Nic, first of all we've just heard from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and
his reaction to his possible ban. So let's listen to that.
[11:05:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE POMPEO, U.S. SECRETATY OF STATE: We certainly don't want to reopen - jeopardizes the United States from people traveling here. And we certainly
don't want to cause problems any place outside. I'm very confident in the coming weeks we'll figure that out as between not only the United States
and the EU, but the United States and other parts of the world too.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: And all over the branch of sorts, Nic. You can imagine diplomats working away feverishly to stave off what could be possibly a huge economic
blow. But this is far from a done deal, so take us through where we are right now.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, far from a done deal. European Commission or European Union Ambassadors today met to
discuss the criteria by which the European Union should advise its member nations that they should agree on what the thresholds should be to allow
people into the European Union.
The borders are opening up internally within the EU. But the criteria as they're seeing now, and one of the biggest ones is reciprocity, and that is
if a country is putting a block on EU citizens visiting them as the United States is right now, that's a key test. So at the moment the United States
fails that test.
And the other thing is the testing for COVID cases and the numbers of COVID cases in any other country. Is there an equivalency between where the EU is
at or where the other nation, in this case, the United States, would be?
And currently there isn't, frankly. The European Union on average has about 15 COVID cases per 100,000 people. Compare that to the U.S. where it's
about 106-plus per 100,000. So you can see that there is a lot more COVID- 19 presence in the United States than the European Union. So that again, it's a real reality check for the EU.
The EU is very concerned about the possibility of a second wave. Its primary concern is for the health of its citizens. It needs to stand
business back up, and despite the fact there is over $800 billion worth of business done backwards and forwards between the EU and the U.S. Annually,
that's not, in and of itself, big enough to make the EU throw caution to the wind.
So at moment, as it stands, though no countries are on or off any list at the moment, that's what EU sources tell us. But at the moment the facts are
not stacking up favorably in the U.S. favor at all to come to fair Americans that come to the EU.
BRUNHUBER: Well, that's right. I mean, this is a huge black eye for the U.S. in terms of prestige. Even just talking about it, it hasn't come to
pass, but just talking about it is a real condemnation of the way the country has handled this crisis.
ROBERTSON: Yes. What we're being told here is this is not a political decision on any part by the EU. They're not trying to put the U.S. down
because President Trump early in March stopped EU citizens traveling to the United States. That's not the picture, it is all about health.
Now one of the problems that face the EU of course internally as 27 member nations that is getting everyone to agree on those different positions. Now
what the European Commission does is, give advice on what those criteria are, but it's up to the individual member nations to make up their own
decisions on who they allow into their countries.
Take Portugal, for example. Long, historic, deep, deep ties with Brazil. Brazil has a death rate right now of about 183 per 100,000. But Portugal is
currently allowing Brazilian citizens into Portugal. Portugal can make its own decisions.
So there are a lot of ramifications, a lot of details here, you know, that play into the bigger picture decision making. But it is, at the end of the
day, up to the individual EU nations to make their own decisions. But they're trying to work collectively, because they believe collectively
that's how they keep the health of half a billion EU citizens.
BRUNHUBER: You're right, thanks so much Nic Robertson in London. Mexico is seeing another daily record of new Coronavirus cases that brings the case
count in the country to nearly 200,000. The health ministry there says there were 6,288 new cases Tuesday, and the virus death toll is also
climbing to more than 23,000.
Adding to the misery, patients have to be evacuated after a powerful earthquake struck south of the capital Tuesday. Our Matt Rivers is in
Mexico City with the latest. Matt, obviously, it continues to be a huge worry. What's the latest there?
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kim, what we're seeing is just an outbreak in Mexico that just does not show any signs of slowing down.
[11:10:00]
RIVERS: I mean it was yesterday as you mentioned. This is the first time that Mexico has recorded more than 6,000 cases in a single day since this
outbreak began. And remember, Mexico is testing at a far, far lower rate than what most epidemiologists would tell you is necessary to truly
understand the amount of cases that actually exist in a country.
And we've had health officials in Mexico tell us personally that the actual case number, which stands just now stands just shy of 200,000, it could be
ten times higher than that at the end. So the outbreak here is just not slowing down, and the death toll is also particularly worrisome.
You know, there have been more than 2,500 recorded deaths in just the last three days, and where it goes from here, we don't really know. But what we
do know is that the economy in Mexico is slowly being reopened.
I was out doing stories yesterday, and there are a lot more people out on the streets, there's more businesses that are reopening. And when that
happens, the obvious risk is that the outbreak just gets worse than it already is right now.
And not to mention that earthquake which could have been far worse, damage very slight as a result of that earthquake despite the fact that it was a
7.4-magnitude earthquake, we felt the shaking violently here in Mexico City.
Thankfully not a lot of damage, not a lot of reported injuries, but I did see a lot of people who are forced out on to the street yesterday standing
right to each other not wearing masks.
BRUNHUBER: Now there was an interesting case. Premature triplets tested positive for COVID-19 despite the fact that their parents didn't have it.
Tell us about that.
RIVERS: Yes, very unusual, and I think this is just a great example of how little is still known, how much there is to be learned about this virus?
This particular case, this is a set of triplets born prematurely in the Mexican State of San Luis Potosi. And what happened was doctors say that,
all three triplets tested positive for COVID-19, all thankfully are in stable condition at the moment.
But neither parent tested positive for COVID-19, so doctors say they're not sure how the triplets contracted the virus? They're examining multiple
different possibilities on how this spread, but they're just not sure. And they say that this is highly relevant to the scientific community as it
studies the behavior of this virus, which clearly we still don't understand, you know, in its entirety.
BRUNHUBER: Yes, it's not the first time this type of thing has happened, but still very interesting scientifically. Thanks so much, Matt Rivers, in
Mexico City. In the last hour, David Nabarro, a special Coronavirus envoy for the World Health Organization, spoke to Hala Gorani about the
importance of staying vigilant as countries open back up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. DAVID NABARRO, W.H.O. COVID-19 SPECIAL ENVOY: Please take this virus really seriously. It hasn't gone away. It's very much there. Please respect
what the public health folk are telling you to do. They're saying it for a reason. Please protect yourself and others, maintaining physical distance,
wearing a mask when you're in public places, and if you're not at all well, don't go out.
It's really important that we recognize that this virus is dangerous, and we've all got to work to get on top of it. I really ask everybody in the
U.S., and indeed, everybody everywhere to go on taking this virus seriously. Please.
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: So do you think some of these states opened too quickly, or in the case of the United Kingdom, for instance,
with pubs and restaurants scheduled to open on July 4th, do you think all of this is a bit too soon?
NABARRO: I just want to make sure that as countries reduce their lockdowns and improve opportunities for people to move, that they're clear with their
people on what are the basic steps that we all have to take to avoid the risk of infection.
And that they've got strong defenses in every community, so that if outbreaks do build up, they're dealt with quickly and efficiently. It
really is important that the messages are clear and that the basics are in place. Then you can, of course, release the lockdowns. You can encourage
movement, because you know what you're doing.
And it is important to continue testing because that's the only way you know where the virus is? We're dealing, frankly, with an enemy. It's an
unseen enemy, and we need to do everything possible not to let the enemy actually defeat us, and it defeats us if we don't take it seriously.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Important words to remember as nations around the world continue to reopen their economies. And please stay with us. Coming up at the half
hour, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is set to make an important announcement.
[11:15:00]
BRUNHUBER: And we're going to have that for you in about 15 minutes. Coming up, the company responsible for this stunt at an English soccer match is
now grounded and could face even more consequences those details ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRUNHUBER: A U.S. appeals court has ordered a lower court to dismiss Michael Flynn's case which effectively exonerates him if there are no more
appeals. President Trump's Former National Security Adviser pleaded guilty twice to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian
Ambassador.
Last month the Justice Department moved to dismiss the case, but the trial judge asked for a review of the decision. The appeals court found that the
judge didn't have enough reason to question the Justice Department's decision.
A U.S. police officer involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky has been fired three months after her death. Detective
Brett Hankinson received a letter of termination on Tuesday, where those police chief says, he found Hankinson's conduct to be "A shock to the
conscience".
Taylor, a 26-year-old black emergency worker was shot eight times after police broke down her door in an attempt to drug sting. No drugs were found
and none of the officers involved have been charged.
In the UK, local airport officials outside Manchester, England have stopped all banner towing operations after a "White Lives Matter Burnley" banner
flew over an English Premier League match on Monday. So here you can see that banner over the stadium in Manchester.
Police are looking into the incident. You may remember the league spoke out in support of the black lives matter movement. CNN's Phil Black brings us
up to date.
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kim, police initially said they were investigating this incident, because they thought the banner and its
message could be seen as widely offensive. But after looking into it, they decided no charges were appropriate.
Here in Burnley, people are talking about being offended so much as being really disappointed, frustrated by what they see is a deliberate effort to
undermine anti-racism efforts in this town a deliberate effort to also mischaracterize black lives matter, as anti-white.
It was a powerful moment of reflection and protest. All the players from two English Premier League clubs kneeled against racism, demanding a wider
understanding that black lives matter. Moments later in the sky above a deliberate well-planned effort to belittle that cause a small plane
trailing the words "White Lives Matter Burnley."
In Burnley the next day, outside the club stadium, we find at least one other person proudly supporting that message, whatever it means.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I write the message.
[11:20:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm just amazed that you need to ask that.
NEIL HART, CEO. BURNLEY FOOTBALL CLUB: I was disgusted and ashamed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACK: Burnley CEO says, he knows the true intent behind the words as they were dragged through the sky.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HART: Inside racial hatred, folks - and that is unacceptable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACK: And he knows who is responsible for organizing it. Fans, he says, who are linked to a far right group. Have they caused trouble for you
before?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HART: These individuals are known to the club.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACK: Burnley's man knows this town has history with the far right. He's been fighting those groups throughout his career.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WAJID KHAN, BURNLEY, ENGLAND MAYOR: The people that did the banner, they had their way of thinking, but that way of thinking is being defeated
consistently and persistently through people out there making a positive contribution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACK: The people behind the banner don't speak for anyone in this pack. The players in this passionate family football match are all refugees who
escaped the Syrian war and are now proud members of Burnley football club. There is a pretty consistent view here on those behind the banner. They're
missing the point.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLACK: When people say white lives matter, does that offend you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To be honest with you, it doesn't offend me, no. It disappoints me. And the reason for that is because I know how powerful the
black lives matter movement is, and I know what they're trying to do. All they're trying to do is educate people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACK: In Burnley, as around the world, people who believe in overcoming centuries of inequality are not seeking to devalue white lives. They just
hope for a future where racial identity really doesn't matter.
So no criminal charges, but the club is determined to act and says anyone suspected of being involved in this stunt will be banned from future
matches for life. In a town where the football club is a big part of the social fabric, it hopes that will be enough to deter people from trying
anything like this again. Kim?
BRUNHUBER: All right, thank you. So all this week, we've been covering how race is viewed both inside and outside the U.S. A poll conducted by CNN
found when it comes to race the views of black people and white people in the UK are profoundly different.
So, let's talk to Patrick Vernon. He's a social commentator and campaigner and has been at the forefront of several high-profile movements on cultural
heritage and social justice in the UK over the last decade.
What struck me from that report that we just saw, aside from the ignorance of those responsible for the banner, you know, how the club and the city
has come together? We saw yesterday the club captain made a powerful statement of unity. It's not something we've always seen from football
players who hither to usually shy away from social issues. So, does the reaction to this incidence suggest we've reached an inflection point, do
you think?
PATRICK VERNON, POLITICAL ACTIVIST, SOCIAL COMMENTATOR: I think - nearly over 20 years ago. But at the - often there has been this growing consensus
and particularly in Premier League clubs and other sporting activities, about trying to stamp out racism and discrimination in the sports.
It's been a journey, it's got a long way to go - but I think it's supposed to move when you have clubs like Burnley who are willing to speak out in
this way.
BRUNHUBER: Our poll highlighted what you know that, already knew the very desperate view that and black and white Britain's have in terms of the
level of racism that's pervasive in society. And we've seen similar stark divisions here in the U.S.
But then after the death of George Floyd polls showed that those attitudes shifted remarkably quickly, the gulf between the two racists narrowed
considerably. Our polling suggests that doesn't seem to have happened to any significant degree in the UK. So, why not, do you think?
VERNON: I think Britain - calling itself from being - more competitive than America. And I think a lot of people don't speak out as much as - compared
to the American experience as well. So it's not that surprising, but at the same time, a lot of people suppress their experiences of discrimination.
And often people are traumatized by the experience of racism, so much so that they're not confident even to speak out, even on TV, radio or having a
conversation or doing an opinion poll.
[11:25:00]
VERNON: And what was interesting around the black lives matter global movement when it came to Britain, it gave the permission for lots of black
people in Britain, and white people, the permission to talk about their experiences of racism in the boardroom, in sports, in the housing projects,
and the community, everywhere in terms of architect, in terms of museums, the pulling down of the Colston's statue. It released this permission to
speak out, which I think is important.
BRUNHUBER: But on the other side, though, why do you think that white opinions seem to have calcified so much, and can anything change that?
VERNON: It's all about - it's about educating and unfortunately in Britain, most of our history, most of our education reinforces a certain type of
perception of what Britain is? So in America, you probably see Britain as the royal family. You know, maybe some pop stars or maybe the other
extreme, you know, working class people in England.
But there has been a black presence in Britain going back 2,000 years. Obviously majority of us came post Second World War, but some of them -
ship, which was the emergence of much of racial Britain as we know today, especially places like London.
But in that context, everyone lives in the past. There is a cultural amnesia in British society they don't, for example, they don't make the
connections between the links between the - of the slave trade and all the wealth and profits that were made in Britain. And that kind of cultural
amnesia suppresses thinking what we were great, but that obviously how it became great.
BRUNHUBER: Well, hopefully that can change. Thank you so much for joining us, Patrick Vernon. Still ahead, accusations of a hoax are being thrown at
NASCAR's Bubba Wallace after the FBI determined he was not the target of a hate crime the latest from Talladega, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRUNHUBER: Welcome back to "Connect the World" in Atlanta. I'm Kim Brunhuber. The FBI has determined that NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace was not
the target of a hate crime. Investigators say the noose found in his garage had been there since last October, months before Wallace was assigned that
stall.
[11:30:00]
BRUNHUBER: According to NASCAR the rope was used to pull the garage door closed. Wallace the sports only black top circuit driver says he doesn't
care how long it's been there it's still a noose. CNN's Nick Valencia joins us now from Talladega, Alabama. Nick is Bubba facing a backlash in our
people accusing him of essentially crying wolf?
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right you know some people have gone so far Kim as to accuse him of manufacturing this hoax. Briefly last
night according to one of our reporters have been covering this Dianne Gallagher the #bubblesmollett a reference to Jussie Smollett and the
controversy surrounding his or what some claim are false claims of a noose.
You know some people conflating that in equating Bubba Wallace to making false claims. He gave an interview last night to Don Lemon saying in his
words that he's pissed that his integrity has been brought into question but he's been accused of making this all up.
In fact he was very clear last night and again this morning on "New Day" saying that he never saw on the news. It was a member of his team that saw
it and they were so concerned that they elevated it to NASCAR officials.
And also he said that it wasn't until after the NASCAR President said that Bubba Wallace was the victim of a hate crime that Bubba Wallace took to
social media to talk about what had happened? You know he says that this is part of a larger discussion surrounding the sport.
As we have been reporting he was leading the charge to remove the confederate flag successfully. We saw on Sunday fans setting up across in
the Talladega, Superspeedway selling confederate flag memorabilia and it was a very troubling revelation or development I should say surrounding you
know Bubba Wallace and his role in the sport when everyone learned about this noose.
But again we should mention the FBI and DOJ concluding their investigation saying that there was no hate crime video in fact posted on YouTube from
2019 shows that that noose as is being called by team Wallace was there in the garage.
NASCAR saying that there's actually no way that anyone could have known that Wallace was going to use that same garage. They are under fire this
morning from fans who believe that they jump the gun in this hyper charged environment.
NASCAR however saying that they stand by what they did that this was the best possible outcome and that they are committed to providing an inclusive
environment for everyone in their sports, Kim?
BURHUBER: All right. Nick Valencia thank you so much. Some new faces on the ballot and the new reality for primary voters in several U. S. states
Tuesday. The Coronavirus pandemic led to a shortage of poll workers in Kentucky that vastly reduced the number of voting sites across the state.
The health crisis also triggered a big increase in mail in ballots in the states where it's allowed many of them are still being counted in Kentucky
and in some hotly contested Democratic Congressional Seats in New York. Jeff Zeleny joins us from Louisville, Kentucky with the latest results
there in Kentucky the movement - the nationwide movement for racial justice's has really changed the momentum of the primary there at least for
the Democrats?
JEFF ZELENY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kim, there's no question. Of course we've heard so many times the name Breonna Taylor. The 26-year-old EMT who was
killed by Louisville police in March she has become one of the names that has been said over and over by protesters across the country. Well, she is
from Louisville and her killing has affected this Senate primary challenge here.
Democrats were deciding yesterday at the polls who to support in the race against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell? So the outcome of the
results from Tuesday's election is still unknown. Voting in the age of the pandemic is going to take some patients.
They are counting absentee ballots and mail in votes the result is likely to be known in a week or so. Who Mitch McConnell the longtime Republican
Majority Leader from here will face but this is yet one more example of how the protests and the calls for racial justice are influencing U. S.
politics as well here?
And we're also seeing so many other interesting developments from across the country in terms of outsiders versus newcomers. But the one that we
have our eye on today is a North Carolina winner 24-year-old Madison Cawthorn a Republican not expected to win a Congressional Seat.
President Trump supported his opponent but he won that will be the youngest serving member of the House if he happens to win in November, Kim.
BURNHUBER: All right. Fascinating race we'll have to leave it there. Thank you so much Jeff Zeleny in Louisville, Kentucky. So happening right now New
York Governor Andrew Cuomo is making an important announcement and he is joined by Governor Phil Murphy of neighboring New Jersey. So let's listen
to him.
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO, (D-NY): --spread all through the community. So we had the highest numbers to deal with in the country. And you look at where we
are now we did a full 180 degrees we went from the highest cases the highest viral transmission rate to some of the lowest rates in the country.
[11:35:00]
CUOMO: No one else had to accomplish as much as we had to accomplish in such a short period of time. No one else had to bend the curve as much as
we had to bend the curve. And when people take a deep breath when the political rhetoric dies down, those are going to be the facts.
So I applaud my colleagues for doing an extraordinary job. We now have to make sure that the rate continues to drop, and that's what keeps me up at
night, and I'm sure it keeps them up at night, so we have to make sure we're doing everything and we're diligent and our citizens are diligent.
We also have to make sure the virus doesn't come in on a plane again. Learned that lesson, been there, done that. So we're announcing today a
joint travel advisory. People coming in from states that have a high infection rate must quarantine for 14 days, and we have a calibration for
the infection rate, and any state that goes over that infection rate, that state will be subject to the quarantine.
It's only for the simple reason that we worked very hard to get the viral transmission rate down. We don't want to see it go up because a lot of
people come into this region, and they could literally bring the infection with them. It wouldn't be malicious or malevolent, but it would still be
real.
So we are jointly instituting that travel advisory today. Because what happens in New York happens in New Jersey happens in Connecticut. And I
think it's right, and I think it's smart, and I'm glad we're doing it together.
We've done a lot of good things together, and hopefully we're on the other side of this mountain, and we'll continue to see the numbers go down, and
we'll continue to see the economic activity go up. And with that I'm going to turn it over to my neighbor, Governor Phil Murphy.
Phil, thank you again for everything. Thank you for what you've done, not just for New Jersey, thank you for what you've done for New Yorkers. There
is no doubt that our partnership has made it better for both states. So thank you very much, Governor Phil Murphy.
GOV. PHIL MURPHY, (D-NJ): Andrew, thank you. And I echo your words of thanks and deepest appreciation for the partnership with you and with Ned.
You know, we live in the densest neighborhood in America. We've been clobbered by this virus.
No region in the country has paid a bigger price with the loss of brothers and sisters. We've lost just under 13,000 members of our New Jersey family.
New York has paid an enormous price, Connecticut has paid a big price as well, and I can't thank you enough for your partnership, guys.
We need to do things right inside the four walls in our respective states. We need the Federal Government, but boy, have we needed our neighbors, and
I can't thank you and Governor Lamont enough for your partnership and the spirit of teamwork in this extraordinary chapter in our state's and our
nation's history.
This was a smart thing to do. We have taken our people - the three of us - these three states through hell and back, and the last thing we need to do
right now is to subject our folks to another round. And this virus is risky enough on its own in terms of the potential to flare back up.
So doing something commonsense as this is to say to folks, listen, it's time for personal responsibility. If you've been in a state that has a high
infection rate, do the right thing, and that is taking 14 days and self- quarantining. It's the right thing to do, it's the commonsense thing to do, it's the responsible thing to do.
So I'm honored to be alongside my fellow Governors today and support this notion whole wholeheartedly, and I know the details will come from the
respective health departments on exactly what this means, but it's a really smart, commonsense step, particularly as the three states have really
broken the back of this virus. Thank you again for everything and for having me today.
CUOMO: Thank you. Thank you very much, Governor Murphy. And again this I do believe we're all on the other side of the mountain, but we determine what
happens. It's what our people do, it's our policies, and it's not over until it's over. And I think this will be - it will help us all. Thank you
very much, Phil.
And our other colleague and partner, Governor Ned Lamont from Connecticut, Governor, thank you very much for your partnership, thank you for the
personal support and personal friendship you've given me.
[11:40:00]
CUOMO: Nobody wanted to go through this but you see sometimes in life when the pressure is on you seeing the best and the worst in people and society.
And I think we saw that here. And one of the high points one of the best facets that came out of this was strong people got stronger and stronger
relationships got stronger.
And New York and Connecticut and New Jersey really stood together and I want to thank you very much. Governor Ned Lamont. Okay, technical glitch.
Can we get Governor Lamont back? One second for Governor Lamont. Let me give you some details he arrived--
GOV. NED LAMONT, (D-CT): --on a jet airplane but it's not going to leave on a jet airplane. It only goes by working together with New York, New Jersey
and the other states in our region to make sure that we maintain the protocols to social distancing the mass everything we have done
successfully over the last few months to bring our positivity rate to less than 3 percent.
And I got to say I'm blessed to have you guys as fellow Governors as well as Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The northeast region is taking this
seriously and that's allowed us as a region to power through and get our positivity rates very low but we're not an island.
And as we look around the rest of the country you know we've seen not just spikes but we've seen real community spread better than 10 percent
positivity rate in a number of these states that we're talking about right now.
And if it was limited to you know the nursing homes or the prisons or something containable perhaps you would not be as concerned but right now
we're seeing you know places within some of the states we have a positivity rate of 20, 30, 40 percent in many cases younger people folks who travel 18
to 35 who are maybe not at risk themselves but are highly infectious.
So you know working with them - over the last you know a week or 2 we reluctantly came to the conclusion that this is what we've got to do to
make sure that our region stay safe and our states stay safe as we make sure that we can safely get our business back and our schools back up and
operating you know this fall.
And we'll be monitoring this carefully. We've got the quarantine in place. We'll be doing publicity and social media. Reaching out to the travel
agents doing everything we can to tell people you know if you come to Connecticut you come to New York you come to New Jersey you come safely and
you follow the protocols starting with quarantine. And you feel great being with you guys.
CUOMO: Great. Governor Lamont same here, thank you very much. And hopefully we're on the other side and we stay on the other side. Governor thank you
very much Ned thank you.
Okay let me give a couple of - more details on this. The infection rate formula will be 10 per 100,000 on a 7 day rolling average or 10 percent of
the total population positive on a 7 day rolling average.
So any state that has an infection rate above that would require 14 day quarantine. As of today the states that are above that level are Alabama,
Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas.
That's as of today that the states themselves can change as the infection rate changes. And we will update daily what states are above that infection
rate. But as of today those are the states that are above the infection right now again.
It's just common sense it's the spirit of community. If you're in a place that has a high infection rate we understand that and will help you any way
we can and we been helpful in reaching out to every state across the nation.
But we don't want to see the infection rate increase here after what we've gone through and that's the 14 day quarantine. That is a uniform policy
across the 3 states. Each state will be responsible for the enforcement of that policy within their state. Let me give you a couple of other facts as
we hear on days 116.
[11:45:00]
CUOMO: The number of hospitalizations is 1071 that's the lowest level of hospitalizations we have seen since this nightmare began. And again when I
say we're on the other side of the mountain sometimes I'm talking to myself.
I'm often talking myself but this is the mountain I'm talking about. We're on the other side. We're on the decline. We just don't want to see us
reverse and we are at the lowest level we have been on hospitalization since this started.
We paid a very dear price for it. Our tests we did 58,000 test yesterday highest number of tests in the United States. Without the test you don't
know where you are? We're at 1.1 percent positive. You can see the testing by region and all the regions are constant since the reopening including
New York City which we're watching very carefully but we watch it on a day to day basis.
And right now all the numbers look good within New York City. We look at the numbers by Borough. We also look at the hot spots in the Boroughs. We
know that there are some zip codes that are much higher than others have codes. So we also studied those hot spots zip codes.
The number of deaths is 17 today. This is right about where the lowest numbers have ever been. And again that's more great news and again we don't
want to see these numbers reverse. Number of lives lost on the 3 day average again is just about as low as it's ever been.
So all the numbers are good what we doing works our approach has been vindicated. And the phase 3 opening by data works. I said from day one I
think these states in this theory over handling it politically that people at a political theory of how to deal with the virus?
You can't have a political theory on how to deal with the virus? You can't, it's a virus. It doesn't respond to political theory. It response to
science and data so we're going ahead with our metrics--
JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: The Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo what we haven't done this in awhile listens of the Governor's Coronavirus update.
But an important announcement at the top of that briefing New York now implementing along with its neighbors New Jersey and Connecticut what the
Governor called a Coronavirus travel advisory, a joint travel advisory between the 3 states.
And he said if you're coming from a state with a high positivity rate, a high infection rate of the Coronavirus right now they'll be a 14 day
quarantine policy in place in each of those 3 states. The Governors talking about how important it is it is quite remarkable if you go back a couple
months to the beginning what are we talking about?
How bad things were in New York in New Jersey and Connecticut? Those states now among the best in terms of performance in terms of lowering, flattening
the curve, lowering the positivity rate in their tests and the like.
Let's bring in one of our public health experts to walk through this Dr. Saju Matthew is with us. And Doctor it is so striking when we had our first
conversation months ago it was about New York, New Jersey Connecticut and New England which was the leading on the bad side of this going up the hill
they are now in much better shape if you look at the map if you look at the testing?
If you look at hospitalizations, does this make sense the Governor listed he said it's a rolling standard obviously but as of today 9 states if
citizens of 9 states if they were traveling into those states would have to quarantine themselves including Arizona, Florida and Texas which we all
know are having what Dr. Fauci causes a dangerous surge right now?
DR. SAJU MATTHEW, PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERT: Hey John, always nice to be on your show. Listen I was absolutely thrilled to listen to Governor Cuomo that's
exactly what we need as a leader. We need a leader who listens to the signs who made sacrifices who talked to his people on a daily basis.
And I'm actually really excited that he is going beyond that and not just celebrating early and saying listen we did all the hard work and we don't
want the virus back in our state. So we're going to impose this restriction and it makes total sense.
Certain countries in Europe we're doing that in fact they're talking about not even letting Americans get into gear continent. So I commend Governor
Cuomo and doing that and that is exactly the way to try to kill this virus.
KING: And one of the things he said there is without testing you don't know where you are? That's a very different message that we hear from the
President of the United States. The President of the United States calls it a double edged sword and he keeps saying he's not joking even though staff
said he never gave the order.
But he has said several times - he several times he's talked about asking for less testing so that the numbers don't look so bad as a scientist and a
doctor that's the backwards approach right?
DR. MATTHEW: Exactly the backwards approach John. You know I've gone from being really sad frustrated to just being mad.
[11:50:00]
DR. MATTHEW: You know I'm absolutely beside myself now as a public health specialist that would be exactly the opposite of what we're supposed to do?
I'm a Primary Care Physician John, if you came to see me how would I know if you have high blood pressure unless I check your blood pressure?
How would I know if you have diabetes unless I check your sugar? How do we know how many people have COVID-19 unless we test them? That is where it
all begins. You have to test. You have to quarantine and you have to isolate.
And now with these 7 states John that are showing escalating soaring numbers of new COVID-19 cases you know the hospitalizations are going to
follow. They're already there and that is a bad metric. And I was just talking to a colleague of mine here in Atlanta saying that listen there 20
million people that are unemployed.
We need to be able to maybe reach out to some of them and train them and see if they can help us with contact tracing because that's something that
is absolutely lacking in this country. It's not enough to tell somebody you have COVID-19. You have to also tell them to isolate. We have to contact
trays everybody that they've been in contact with going backwards and forwards as well.
KING: The challenge obviously continues a big import announcement from New York Connecticut and New Jersey today. Dr. Matthew I appreciate your
insights as always thank you so much.
DR. MATTHEW: Thank you John.
KING: Quick break, we'll be right back.
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[11:55:00]
KING: A grim economic forecast today from the International Monetary Fund. The IMF says global growth this year expected to shrink to its lowest point
since the Great Depression. CNN's Richard Quest joins us now with more on that pretty bleak outlook Richard?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Extremely, it cuts us perfect outlook is the way the fund describes it John. And there are two sides of
the equation. This year will be worse than expected. The actual downtown will be worse and next year the uptick will not be as good as they'd hoped.
And there are two reasons first of all simply they undervalued the number so far. But more worryingly they now expects social distancing and
mitigation measures to have to be further and longer and deeper than originally and not that's why John if you look at the way they define this.
What's happened is happened but the worrying part is what goes on forward? When you're seeing this today you're seeing it in the news from New York,
New Jersey and Connecticut the sort of announcements that are taking place in this country at the moment.
They are going to make recovery harder because the situation is worse than expected not just here but elsewhere and that's why the IMF says this is a
catastrophe.
KING: Catastrophe, look at those numbers on the screen. Global growth shrinking like that if this tough stretch and a long stretch ahead of us
that will be tough. Richard Quest I very much appreciate the reporting there.
And don't forget for the latest stock market news and strategy for your portfolio check out "Markets Now" streaming live 12:45 p.m. Eastern only at
CNN Business. Stay with us.
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