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Dr. Stephen Kessler Discusses 87 Doctors Signing Letter Urging Arizona Governor Not To Open Schools As Cases Surge; Suspected Gunman In Killing Of Judge's Son At Home Is Dead; Update On Coronavirus Responses Around The Country; Dr. Adrian Burrowes Discusses Anger That Athletes Get Coronavirus Tests While Others Must Wait; New York Governor: "Mistake" For States Was To Listen To Trump's Calls To Reopen. Aired 1:30-2p ET
Aired July 20, 2020 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[13:30:00]
DR. STEPHEN KESSLER, DERMATOLOGIST & PARENT: This letter came out of concern that the current research as to the spread of this disease by children, specifically the chances they get infected or spread it to others, is really evolving.
And there's some evolving data you touched on a few moments ago, especially a large study out of Korea this past week, that seems to suggest that this virus may act like any other traditional respiratory virus. And not only are children likely to be infected at the same rate as adults but just as likely to spread the virus as adults.
I'm, sorry. Are you still able to hear me here?
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Yes. No, I can definitely hear you, Doctor.
And you made a point --
(CROSSTALK)
KESSLER: My commuter went to sleep there.
KEILAR: No, you're fine. We heard them loud and clear.
KESSLER: OK.
And so, the concern is that, given the current uncontrolled spread of COVID in our community here in Arizona, that sending children back to school, if they're transmitting this virus at the same rate as adults, is just going to add fuel to the fire and worsen what is already a crisis here.
KEILAR: You mentioned that South Korea study. We'll talk about that in a second.
But as mentioned in this letter, making the point that there are a lot of doctors signing this letter with school-aged children. You are one of them. You have school-aged kids.
If it was decided that -- if the governor decides that they're resuming in-person classes next month, what do you do as a parent?
KESSLER: Our school district has really been fantastic in the response to this, our children in the Madison school district in Phoenix.
And in the Madison district, they have given the children the option or the parents an option for in-person education or 100 percent remote learning. And we have made a decision that our children will engage in 100 percent remote learning.
Our concern is not so much for our children as it is for kind of the public health aspect of this decision.
KEILAR: And then, really quickly, before I let you go, this study out of South Korea that found kids, age 10 to 19, are transmitting COVID within a household just the way adults do. But also that younger children, that may not be the case.
Does that change anything about how schools might want to approach this?
KESSLER: As with any study, I think that there are limitations. And the authors of the study noted limitations on the inferences to draw from the younger age population, specifically age zero to 9.
So I think the jury is out whether children in that age group spread it as efficiently as other age groups and including older children.
But given the situation here in Arizona, we need to proceed with caution because we don't know the answer to that question.
KEILAR: You are really in the thick of it there.
Doctor, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate it.
KESSLER: Appreciate it. Thank you so much for having me.
KEILAR: Vermont is reporting zero coronavirus deaths in the past 30 days. What is Vermont getting right?
Plus, Delta rolling out new screening procedures before you fly, including for those that refuse to wear a mask.
More on the breaking news. The suspect in the killing of a judge's son at her home is dead from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. We're looking for details ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:38:09]
KEILAR: Breaking news in the hunt for the gunman who opened fire last night at the New Jersey home of a federal judge killing her son and injuring her husband. A law enforcement source tells CNN that the suspect has been found dead of what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities say, last night, the gunman who appeared to be dressed in
a FedEx uniform came to the house of U.S. district Judge Esther Salas in north Brunswick. A law enforcement source says, when the 20-year- old son, Daniel, opened the door with his father behind him they were met with a hail of gun fire and the lone gunman fled.
Salas' husband, Mark, who is a defense attorney, is hospitalized but in stable condition. Judge Salas was not hurt.
Investigators do not have a motive for the attack. Salas, who was appointed by President Obama, is the state's first Latina federal judge.
She has presided over several high-profile cases, including the fraud trails of reality stars, Teresa and Joe Giudice, and the 2018 sentencing of a reputed gang leader in Newark. She was just assigned to a class-action securities fraud against a bank with ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Joe Mauro is a childhood friend of Judge Salas' son, Daniel.
Joe, I'm so sorry for your loss.
We've been watching the developments of this case. Horrified.
Tell us about your friend.
JOE MAURO, CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF JUDGE SALAS' SON, DANIEL ANDERL: I mean, Danny was always a nice kid. Very competitive. We grew up together. you know, I met him when I was about 6 years old. Went to the same school. We played sports together.
And it's just shocking to find this out because, right now, he was going to be a junior at Catholic University down in D.C. And he was going to follow law just like his parents did.
And just shocking what happened and took a bullet for his mother and is crazy.
[13:40:05]
KEILAR: How did you learn about this?
MAURO: How did I learn about this? I went down to the shore yesterday and came back to my house. My neighbors knocked on the front door and told me, did you hear gunshots. I was -- no, I was down the shore. And come to find out that two males were shot in the house.
I went over to the crime scene to check it out and then I realized it was him and it was just saddening.
This must be so hard to understand as you're watching this, as you're still looking for answers, everyone is in this story. Have you been able to talk to Judge Salas or anyone in the family or any of your friends about what's going on? MAURO: Well, my father and I were making contact with the neighbors to
figure out what was going on. And when we heard he was dead, it's a shame. Because a tree fell on our house in Hurricane Sandy and took us in. And prayers to him and his family.
It was just imagining how devastated she is. And pray that Mark will get out of the hospital. He is in stable condition. And hopefully, he gets out.
KEILAR: So they took you and your family into their home when your house suffered damage during Hurricane Sandy? Can you tell me a little bit about them as a family?
MAURO: Yes. They're a great family. Very generous. They would always donate. His dad coached my basketball team when I was younger. Coached our Little League team growing up.
They're a very good family. Always there when you needed them. Always went to church and everything. Treating us to Mets games. You would never want this to happen to them or any other family.
KEILAR: No. Sounds like -- we have been hearing about them and sounds like pillars in the community.
MAURO: Yes.
KEILAR: And we can't imagine how much they will be missed.
But thank you, Joe, for coming on and telling us a little bit about your relationship with them and what a great person Danny was.
MAURO: Yes. Prayers go out to the family.
KEILAR: Yes.
Joe Mauro, thank you.
MAURO: Thank you.
KEILAR: One Florida doctor is angry that athletes are being put at the front of the line for the coronavirus testing as other Americans wait weeks for results.
And why Dr. Fauci said we may see a rise in cancer deaths because of the coronavirus in the years ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:47:00]
KEILAR: As coronavirus cases and deaths surge across the country, Vermont just became the first state to report no COVID deaths in the past month.
While 56 people have died in Vermont from the virus there's been no COVID deaths in the state since mid-June. Vermont's governor is crediting residents for following social distance guidelines and wearing masks.
Our team of CNN correspondents have the latest stories from around the country.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: I'm Pee Muntean, in Virginia. Delta Airlines is strengthening it's mask policy for passengers. It's telling customers who can't wear a mask because of a health condition to maybe reconsider flying.
Customers who still show up will have to go through a health consultation at the airport. Major airlines have been requiring masks for weeks in the absence of any policy from the federal government.
DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Dianne Gallagher, in Atlanta. The lawsuit that the governor of Georgia filed against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms includes a request for an emergency injunction that would prevent the mayor from speaking to the press or even issuing press releases about any COVID-19 restrictions that exceed what is laid out in his executive order.
That would include rolling back to phase one as well as a mask mandate.
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has said that these don't have any enforcement mechanisms so they don't go above what he's laid out. But the governor says this is all confusing, especially for business owners.
Mayor Bottoms said she will keep doing what is safe for her citizens and following the science and she will see him in court.
CAROLYN MANNO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: I'm Carolyn Manno, in Atlanta. NFL players voice concern for their own health and safety and the safety of their families with training camp set to begin right around the corner next week.
Among those players speaking up, quarterback, Russell Wilson, saying he is concerned about the safety of his pregnant wife and their family.
The NFL and the union have a lot to discuss and league sources tell CNN they'll continue to do so today.
There's also a conference call set for 2:00 p.m. Eastern by the league so they can talk with the owners and try to get to the bottom of these crucial issues before the season begins.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: Thank you to my colleagues there.
Opening day for Major League Baseball is just a few days away and the NBA season is resuming next week. Professional athletes are being tested nearly every day and they're reportedly getting results back in less than 24 hours.
So to pull off this quick turnaround, the leagues are reportedly contracting with private labs. But it's a much different story for the rest of America with long lines for those who want to get tested. And the results take days, in some cases, even weeks.
Dr. Adriane Burrowes is a family physician in Orlando whose patients have had to wait up to 16 days for results of the COVID test.
Doctor, thank you so much for being with us.
So 16 days, what's your reaction to that? At a certain point, is it almost pointless that they got tested?
[13:50:05]
DR. ADRIAN BURROWES, FAMILY PHYSICIAN: Absolutely. I had a patient tested on the 2nd of July that I got the test results back in, and it's not acceptable. The usual quarantine period is about 14 days, where on the 16th day of post testing and the patients is just getting results, which is not OK.
And when we have a situation where we have people in my hometown, which is Orlando, Florida, we have professional sports leagues getting tested daily, getting their results back immediately, when the general public has to wait two weeks in some cases, it's not OK.
KEILAR: And to that point, the NBA is currently gearing up for its season restart in the self-imposed bubble in Orlando, which is where you're joining us from.
So it must really drive home, as they're there in your backyard getting ready that this is all in the effort, of course, to bring recreation and entertainment to Americans.
But you're talking about the health and lives of your patients?
BURROWES: Absolutely. Let's point out that I'm a huge sports fan, NBA fan hard core. I have season tickets to MLS. But that's not what the issue is.
The issue is, here in Florida ,we're having a surge. And we have very limited resources for that. It's not the testing that's a problem. It's the processing of the tests.
And so patients have to wait, seven, 10, 14-days for the results when these resources are being utilized by sports teams taking tests at intervals not necessary.
KEILAR: So, even if they're contracting with private labs, do you see a distinction between that being OK or do you see that as crowding out tests for regular people who just want to check on their health and may have symptoms?
BURROWES: At the very least, it's poor optics. They may very well have private contracts with these companies. I know
for certain, when I talk to my lab about why we're taking so long, they told me they have to outsource the lab to another lab because they were inundated with tests because they did not have the capacity to run.
In my opinion, those sports leagues should be assisting the communities in trying to find more resources to run the tests that we need to have run.
And I guess my big question is if we reach a situation -- right now, in Florida we're tapped out. We're over capacity for testing. If we get to a situation where we need more help, are they prepared to shut down to dedicate the resources to the general public?
KEILAR: Yes, it's a very good question. We'll see if there's an answer to that.
Dr. Burrowes, thank you so much.
BURROWES: Thank you.
KEILAR: The Florida governor says he's keeping gyms open because those who work out are low risk. We'll fact-check that.
Plus, are Russia's wealthy and powerful getting a secret vaccine test? We are live in Moscow.
And a mother loses two children to coronavirus in a span of 11 days. She'll joining live with a warning to Americans.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:57:59]
KEILAR: Coming up on the top of the hour. I'm Brianna Keilar. And I thank you for joining me.
Hospitalizations and case numbers are breaking records across many states. Deaths also on the rise. But there's one constant during the U.S. pandemic, and that's that there's no coordinated national plan to control the virus.
Now President Trump is digging in, denying facts, and even getting in the way, blocking some of the latest attempts by Congress to bring legislative relief. And 25 million Americans are expected to lose critical government help by next week if Congress doesn't act.
In the latest daily case count, another 60,000 people in the United States were infected. This capped a week that saw the highest seven- day average for new cases that this country has seen so far in this pandemic.
On average, the United States experiencing more than 66,000 new cases a day over the last week. And at least 10,000 of those cases a day have been coming from Florida, which is now being called the global epicenter of the pandemic.
People there are getting frustrated as the governor still refuses to mandate masks statewide. Watch this from earlier this afternoon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RON DESANTIS, (R), FLORIDA GOVERNOR: Doing an antibody test may be a better option because if you had been --
(SHOUTING)
DESANTIS: -- because if you had been infected then you --
(SHOUTING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Now, New York's governor, Andrew Cuomo, says the big mistake by Florida and other hotspot states was listening to the president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDREW CUOMO, (D), NEW YORK GOVERNOR: The federal government has been in denial on this situation.
As President Trump says, you should reopen the economy, I said, if I do recklessly, all it's going to do is increase the virus. And if the virus goes up, the economy is going to have to close back down.
No, no, no. That's exactly what happened to the other states. Their mistake was they listened to the president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[14:00:01]
KEILAR: I want to turn now to CNN's Jason Carroll, who's been tracking activity in the states seeing a surge right now.
Take us through this, Jason.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, a lot of mixed messages out there.
