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Vaccine Trials In Brazil; U.S. National Security Adviser Tests Positive For Coronavirus; Phase Three Vaccine Trial Underway In U.S. Aired 10:00-11a ET
Aired July 27, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: As the United States battles to get over its first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, Europe seems to
already be heading for its second. Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This past March. I was really, really anxious and I cry a lot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: One of the worst hit countries in the world finds itself on another COVID frontline. The global race to find a vaccine. We're live in
Brazil up next.
And North Korea's leader declaring a national nationwide emergency. We tell you why later this hour.
It's 6:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi. It's 4:00 p.m. in Paris, 10:00 a.m. in D.C. This hour infecting Trump's inner circle. U.S. National Security
Advisor testing positive for the coronavirus. I'm Becky Anderson. Welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD from our Middle East broadcasting hub.
Well COVID-19 is sparing almost no place on a earth it appears. It isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Some countries still riding out their first
wave while others are already being slammed by a second wave.
In Asia where it was thought things were under control. Millions are being impacted by fresh lockdowns. India has reported almost 50,000 new cases in
a single day, its highest number in a 24-hour period. China reported its highest number of locally transmitted cases since early March. China has
also agreed to help Hong Kong build a temporary Wuhan style hospital after it saw a record number of new daily cases.
Hong Kong has now made it mandatory to wear masks even outdoors. It's also temporarily banning dining in restaurants and at food stalls. Singapore's
government says it is seeing new cases coming from foreign workers living in dormitories. And in Europe, many British tourists are angry over the
U.K. sudden decision to impose a two-week quarantine on travelers returning from Spain as fears of a second wave rattle economies across the continent.
More on this situation in Europe in a moment. But first, as the United States fights and accelerating situation. There is some positive news on
the vaccine front there. A large phase three vaccine trial is now underway. A private public partnership It is to be conducted at nearly 100 research
sites across the country. The WHO says it's one of 25 potential COVID-19 vaccines currently in clinical trials around the world.
That there is hope for the future. Right now the United States is in the grips of a major crisis. It remains the number one hotspot for COVID-19.
Rosa Flores reports.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Florida's coronavirus crisis is showing no signs of slowing down. The Sunshine State now has the second highest number
of positive cases, surpassing New York.
Miami-Dade County's hospital ICU beds are at 146 percent capacity. And on Saturday, the county had a daily positivity rate of 18 percent, meaning
nearly one out of five people tested here have the coronavirus.
MAYOR FRANCIS SUAREZ (R), MIAMI, FL: Our base line is way too high. The growth rate has shown flattening since we implemented the mask in public
rule, and we're following, you know, the advice of our healthcare professionals.
FLORES: With the higher demand for testing across the state of Florida, some are experiencing an extremely slow turnaround time. It's a problem
happening nationwide, including in California, which added nearly 8,300 additional cases to its total Sunday.
DR. ANISH MAHAJAN, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, HARBOR-UCLA: Wearing a mask is essential. Social distancing is essential. What we have to do differently
now is we have to have more testing. And we have to have contact tracing. Without these steps, we will be in this perpetual cycle of, as we reopen,
we'll again see a resurgence of infections.
FLORES: In Louisiana, there's a significant backlog, too. And the health department says 94 percent of the 3,840 cases reported Sunday coming from
community spread.
President Trump repeatedly made this claim throughout the pandemic.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If somebody wants to be tested right now, they'll be able to be tested.
FLORES: But now, the Trump administration official overseeing testing admits it's taking too long for people to receive their results.
[10:05:07]
ADMIRAL BRETT GIROIR, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: We are never going to be happy with testing
until we get turnaround times within 24 hours, and I would be happy with point-of-care testing everywhere. We are not there yet. We are doing
everything we can to do that.
FLORES: Health experts fear that delays in states experiencing high levels of transmission, like Texas, could be damaging.
DR. PETER HOTEZ, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE: What happens is people give up even trying to get
testing. The lines are really long, and the lines themselves not even safe, so people are not getting testing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Rosa Flores reporting there and she joins me now live from Miami with more including, Rosa, the story of a little girl with no underlying
health conditions who has tragically become the state's youngest victim.
FLORES: You know, Becky this story is very tragic. This nine-year-old, her name is Kimmy Lyneham. According to her family she had no underlying
conditions, and she started feeling sick and so they took her to the hospital. The hospital actually sent her back home and it was after she got
back home that she collapsed and then died. The family is still trying to grapple with this. They don't know exactly how she contracted the
coronavirus.
We understand that her mother tested for the -- for COVID-19 and she's still waiting for her results now. It's heartbreaking this family describes
little Kimmy Lyneham as just a happy little girl who wanted to make everybody happy as an amazing young lady. And this comes as there is this
debate, this battle here in the State of Florida to reopen schools for in person instruction.
And all new this morning, Becky, we're learning that in eight days. The number of children who tested positive for COVID-19 in the State of Florida
increased 34 percent. When you look at child hospitalizations, those increased in that same time period by 23 percent. So all of this, of
course, must factor into the calculus of what the state is going to do. We've asked the governor's office, we've asked the Department of Education
to see if this will change anything in the State of Florida for now, the legal battle about whether or not to reopen schools continues. Becky?
ANDERSON: Rosa Flores in Miami for us. We are often told by political leaders that kids are spared this virus tragically, clearly, that is not
always the case. Well, America deep into its first wave but even places that "Successfully shut down" have found that as soon as they open back up,
the virus runs rampant once again, Case in point Europe, Spain, Germany and France are all seeing new pockets of infection.
Let me focus in on a second in -- on France for a second because they're -- the health ministry says a good chunk of the progress that the country has
made has simply been raised. Health Minister Olivier Veran tells (INAUDIBLE) newspaper that the country is not yet in a second wave of the
outbreak. But there has been a massive spike in infections he said and I quote him here, "We have seen for a few days the number of positive cases
rise sharply. While it has been falling for 13 weeks. It's reached the same daily level today as when the confinement was lifted."
I want to get you to CNN Cyril Vanier live in Paris. Cyril, what are you seeing there?
CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, right now we're by the on the banks of the River Seine. It's a popular summer's spot for Parisians.
People flock here, you know, to get some fresh air, be by the river every summer but this year has been made COVID compatible. So I want to get some
eyes on this for you and show you what's happening. This is a mobile testing lab, right?
So people are coming here, and they're getting either the nose swabs to know if they currently have the coronavirus or those or the blood tests and
know if they have had it and therefore have some level of immunity. So, a lot of people want to get tested right now because some people are going on
holiday, because it's hard to get a test. It's just hard to have those answers. Many people want to know if they've had it.
So the appointments for this lab all filled up within 30 minutes of the lab opening, they're over there, where they're doing the blood tests, they get
the results within 15 days, they tell us the positivity rate, there's about eight percent. About eight percent of the people who come here have had the
coronavirus. And here this is the nose swab, right? And they have a positivity rate of about one to two percent.
So typically, on average, they have one person every afternoon who's had it that seems pretty low, but it is higher than where we were when the
confinement ended 2-1/2 months ago, Becky. And as you said, The French government now concerned that much of the success that France saw in
fighting the pandemic over the last two months has been erased.
[10:10:08]
ANDERSON: And Cyril, that story, it seems beginning to be reflected on a wider basis around Europe. Tell us what we know at this point.
VANIER: And, you know, Becky, to a large extent, this was expected. Governments expected it, here in France and also in the other countries
that started to reopen their economies. And it's just the simple fact of this pandemic that as people resume their normal lives, the virus starts to
spread faster. France had said this would be the case. That's what they're seeing now. In Spain, they saw the virus spread much faster in the
Catalonia region.
So they had to confine -- reconfine Barcelona, millions of people. In Germany, they found clusters, they had to reconfine on a local basis. I'll
tell you. No government wants to go through what Europe -- most European countries went through in February, March, April. They do not want to shut
down their countries and the French government here has all but ruled out a national re confinement.
What they do want to do is they want to test aggressively with systems like the ones you see here so that they are able to catch clusters and areas of
contamination before that gets out of hand. And that's what you're -- that's why you're seeing reconfinements in Spain, in Germany, and
potentially at some point during the summer here in France, Becky.
ANDERSON: Cyril Vanier is by the banks of the Seine. Thank you, sir. A little later this hour I'll be looking at the backlash as the U.K. defends
its abrupt Spanish quarantine move. Right now though South America remains the pandemics worst region in the world behind the U.S. Its worst state
country is Brazil. Just past two million cases of the coronavirus. The country's president Jair Bolsonaro says that he is finally tested negative
for the virus at the third time of asking.
Meanwhile, a union representing more than a million healthcare workers accuses Mr. Bolsonaro of crimes against humanity for refusing to take the
necessary measures to protect the people. Still, Brazil is offering some hope to the world as thousands of healthcare workers there volunteer in
vaccine trials. Nick Paton Walsh is on that story. He joins us from the Brazilian capital of Brasilia. Nick?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's extraordinary that so many of the frontline healthcare workers here in Brazil, particularly in Sao
Paolo, the mega city, which may frankly be the worst hit city in the world, because the numbers in Brazil only tell part of the picture. One study
saying actually, those cases may only be a sixth of those in the country. It's extraordinary that they too after weeks, months of bravery, fighting
the disease in hospitals, are now taking on the extra task and sacrifice of being kind of the guinea pigs if you like of a number of vaccines that have
come here.
Most first was the Oxford University, one with AstraZeneca that's been put into a health workers systems their bloodstream for about a month or so.
Now the Chinese Sinovac vaccine arrived last week. And it's possible that the Pfizer vaccine part of the Trump administration's operation warp speed
may end up being tested here very soon as well. Extraordinary individuals. We caught up with the first one to be tested under the Oxford University
scheme as she went about her remarkable daily risk work.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALSH: There's an extra bit of bravery here you can't see. Denise is a dentist, doing for five months of coronavirus in Sao Paulo, the not too
pretty job of cleaning infected mouths. Like everyone here, living away from her family, death around her daily. But she's a first. The first
Brazilian to be given a trial vaccine from Oxford University, carrying the hopes of pretty much all of us, that this front-runner vaccine works.
Being a volunteer is an act of love, she says, donating a little bit of yourself.
All the staff here have been offered if they want to take part in the Oxford vaccine trial, putting them on another frontline, the world's urgent
hunt for immunity from this disease.
Denise was subject one and her boss, Flavia, was roughly subject 1,000. In their hearts, the memory of a fellow doctor.
FLAVIA MACHADO, PROFESSOR OF INTENSIVE CARE MEDICINE, UNIFIES: I lost my friend for 23 years. He works -- he worked here for 23 years.
WALSH: I'm so sorry for that.
MACHADO: Yes, it was -- it was quite bad.
WALSH: Their eyes betray exhaustion, yet here, they still give what they have left.
The vaccine trial needs more people like us at high risk of contamination. Being away from the people you love is very difficult.
[10:15:02]
WALSH: Across Sao Paolo, there's a race between powers raging in one of the worst-hit cities on earth over who can prove first that their vaccine
works. China, last week, sent its Sinovac vaccine for trial here among the city's frontline workers, but its rollout was met by an angry fringe,
railing on what they call, "The Chinese virus," and so also railing at the China vaccine.
Are there concerns amongst your staff here for the safety of people who participate in this because of that right-wing rhetoric?
ESPIER KALLUS, HEAD OF SINOVAC VACCINE TRIAL IN BRAZIL: This is the number one concern. Some people may react oddly in these days to a volunteer who
participated in a -- in a vaccine that was conceptualized in a Chinese company.
WALSH: Dr. Stephanie Texieira Porto is the only Chinese trial subject to go public yet, and this is the easy bit of her painful pandemic.
STEPHANIE TEXIEIRA PORTO, DOCTOR AND VACCINE TRIAL VOLUNTEER: I was really, really anxious. I cry a lot.
WALSH: While she's not had any threats since she had the jab here, she says she'd been warned by the trial to be careful.
PORTO: They told me to not expose it too much and to try -- not to tell everybody how this study is going to be.
WALSH: Yes. Isn't that strange that --
PORTO: Yes, it's a -- it's very strange. All of -- all of that. I don't understand why they hate China.
WALSH: As if this wasn't enough, the Americans are coming. Pharma giant Pfizer looking to test its vaccine, which the U.S. has paid $1.9 billion
for in Brazil's mega-city hot spot, too. All hoping to be first, all finding Brazil wants access to their vaccine in return, and all feeling the
heat and anguish of the months ahead.
You can be sure as the world increases demands immunity from disease through these vaccines that the pressure, possibly sadly some of the
xenophobia here in Brazil will mount as well the demands for benefits for the Brazilian people. The Oxford trial says it will produce here. The
Chinese say that they will share their technology. The U.S. Pfizer vaccine, have they've asked -- been asked by the Brazilian health ministry to
produce doses here.
Still, I think waiting for a response, as far as we know. But also to the continuing political drama here something of a distraction from the ghastly
case numbers. 50,000 new cases reported pretty much every day last week. 24,000 yesterday, the last count on Sunday off on the drop because of the
weekend. The key case that everyone's been talking about, the president Jair Bolsonaro, Saturday he was brandishing the medication unproven,
possibly dangerous hydroxychloroquine that he says brought him from three positive tests to the negative one he got on Saturday.
He's also been talking about despite first saying that he could feel a slight fever when he had the disease. But now, in fact, he says, oh, I
wouldn't even have known that I had it. Had I not had a positive test, focusing a lot of his rhetoric to now an ongoing battle about social media,
and free speech in the courts. Oddly, Supreme Court Justice here, in fact, has just tested positive for the disease.
So even the hierarchy here, the elite, not immune in a city like this Brasilia, spacious and verdant from the disease itself. It's very prolific
in the south, it seems spreading fast down there too. And the numbers frankly, quite terrifying. That hope, though, that may be amongst this sort
of continuing infection in the key cities, they might find some kind of hope through the vaccine trial.
I think very clear in many Brazilians hearts now. But I have to remind you, Becky, the startling bravery of these frontline health care workers.
They've endured months of loneliness and risk fighting the disease. And now frankly, put their bodies on the frontline again, to try and give us all a
bit of hope here.
ANDERSON: Yes, it's an absolutely remarkable story. Nick, Thank you. Nick Paton Walsh is in Brasilia for you. Will the pandemics economic knock on
effects. Will long outlive the health crisis. So what will that mean for a country like Lebanon, already in crippling debt. We'll be connecting you to
Beirut. Up next.
Plus, later in the show, we take a look at the protests in Portland, Oregon. As the mayor that demands Federal agents leave his city calling
their presence unconstitutional. And there was more than pride on the line is the Premier League wrapped up play. We're going to tell you how one
English team turned a victory into a $19 million payday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:21: 53]
ANDERSON: The coronavirus pandemic is crippling if not breaking the countries already in crisis. Lebanon, a nation push to an economic knife's
edge could now be looking down the barrel of another complete lockdown. CNN's Ben Wedeman is standing by in Beirut. Apologies, Ben. As I understand
it, the country's health minister has proposed this idea after an uptick of cases. Is it clear just how wide any new lockdown might be?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Really at this point, there are a lot of suggestions recommendations for a new lockdown, exactly
what form it would take. The health minister and others have recommended various things to be done but all their recommendations are going to be put
to the higher defense counsel tomorrow, which will then make their recommendations to the cabinets.
So it may be 24 hours at least before we hear anything. What is beyond dispute, however, Becky is that the coronavirus outbreak which initially in
the first few months here seem to be under control is now rampaging forward. We've had for the last eight days, every day at least 100 new
cases. Yesterday Lebanon 168 new cases of coronavirus, reaching 3750 recorded cases. Now that's relatively low compared to many other countries
around the world.
But keep in mind, Lebanon, of course is in a state of economic collapse. The American University in Beirut hospital, two Fridays ago, let go of 850
of its employees because they simply don't have the wherewithal to pay them. So on the one hand, Lebanon is facing a growing problem with
coronavirus, and on the other it doesn't have the financial wherewithal to deal with the crisis.
So this is why perhaps Lebanon. In the coming days we'll go under a two- week lockdown. Now what we've heard from various sources is that the airport will remain opened. It opened on the first of July. Keep in mind
that many members of the Lebanese diaspora were returning during the summer break are bringing with them badly needed hard currency, and therefore the
government doesn't want to cut off that source of monetary salvation.
But the worry is that as more and more people come back to the country, the number of cases continues to increase. Becky?
ANDERSON: And Ben, is it any clearer at this point? What this current government plans to do to address this economic demise? If you will, I
mean, call it what you will. I mean, I think we've described it as everything that's due at this point. I mean, it's a total mess.
[10:25:04]
WEDEMAN: It's a total mess and there does not appear on the horizon anyway out. They've had 17 negotiation negotiating sessions with the International
Monetary Fund. But those talks are stalled because the Lebanese side can't agree or come up with the actual amount of money that's been lost as a
result of corruption, mismanagement, and otherwise shenanigans within the banking sector.
And therefore at this point, there is nothing on the horizon. There is no solution that's been worked out at this point. And what we see is that the
situation just continues to deteriorate, as I said, with no end in sight, Becky.
ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman is in Beirut in Lebanon for you folks. Thank you, Ben. Well, several other countries in the Middle East and North Africa are
quite frankly struggling to curb new cases of the virus. Now governments reimposing restrictions out of the Eid al-Adha celebrations which begin on
Thursday. Iraq imposing a 10-day curfew starting on the holiday. Oman has announced a complete lockdown until the end of the holiday, which is August
the 8th.
Morocco is banning travel to and from major cities like Marrakech and Casablanca, Algeria also extending curfews and banning use of private
vehicles for 15 days. Let me get you up to speed on some of the other stories on our radar right now and emerging from what was one of the
strictest lockdowns in the world. Jordan is beginning to open its airports again starting August the 5th. Travelers from 22 countries can enter
without quarantine.
China, Italy, Germany and Canada are among the countries approved. Meantime, Australia reporting its highest daily count of new infections. On
Sunday, all but 17 cases came from the State of Victoria. The record numbers despite several weeks of reimposed restrictions there. Melbourne,
which is the epicenter of the outbreak is in the middle of a six-week lockdown.
Vietnam in the process of evacuating 80,000 tourists from the City of Da Nang due to a new virus outbreak there. Until now, Vietnam had gone 100
days without recording a single locally transmitted case. On Monday. 11 more people can contacted the popular destination testing positive.
Well, we had to act rapidly. The U.K. defending its southern quarantine role for Spanish travelers. Up next, it'll be -- I'll be looking at that
and the backlash as we take you live to Valencia.
Plus, Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister says it's personal. He's talking about his weight and his brush with death to try to help the U.K.
beat COVID and protect its health service.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:30:27]
ANDERSON: You're with CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. (INAUDIBLE) here in the UAE and all corners of the globe we are seeing disturbing
surges in the coronavirus outbreak in many cases coming from countries that thought they had things under control and it started to reopen. And the
coronavirus is again striking at the heart of the White House. CNN has learned that U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien has now tested
positive for the disease.
So Brian is working from home and he's not in the hospital. He had just returned from a trip to Europe where he was working closely with senior
Officials in the U.K., France, Germany and Italy. In the middle, the troubling news there are signs of hope. These images taken just hours ago
of the very first person being vaccinated in phase three of Moderna's vaccine study in the U.S. 30,000 people will be given doses over the next
several weeks.
Several other vaccine studies have also recently entered large scale phase three trials including one from Oxford University and a Chinese one using
participants here in the UAE.
All tourists angry the travel industry is livid. But the British government remains adamant it warns it will not hesitate to add more countries to its
quarantine list at short notice the way it did with Spain over the weekend. British travelers are more than a little vexed. Many went to Spain on the
way they would have to self-isolate for two weeks as soon as they return home to the U.K.
Madrid none too happy either. Urging Downing Street to take Spain's most popular Island destinations off. What is its dreaded list you can also hear
a chorus of disapproval echoing from some airlines who say the U.K. is abrupt quarantine decision will further (INAUDIBLE) already devastated
travel industry. Let's bring in Atika Shubert who is in Valencia. She's at the airport. There is a question hovering over all of this.
Right from the start of the pandemic, Atika. Critics have charged that the government -- the British government was way too slow to come up with the
coronavirus safety plan. Now when they come up with one reacting swiftly to what they see is a significant risk they are criticized. Do they have good
grounds for their decision, Atika?
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Spain says no. Spain says the country is safe and that the outbreaks that are happening are happening in
very specific regions. But according to the British government, they've seen a very alarming surge in COVID infections. And in fact, there have
been more than 200 outbreaks across the country. Having said all that, I'm in Valencia, which has a very low infection rise here.
And a number of the passengers I spoke to who are heading back to London are very upset because of course, they left coming for holiday to visit
family. And now when they arrive back home, they're going to be quarantined for 14 days. So -- and it's not just here, it's all up and down in Spain.
And remember, there are more than a million British tourists that came here last year. So this is going to affect thousands of people.
Take the listen to what some tourists told us yesterday about their reaction to the news.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
Um If this spike here is quite big, I kind of get it. But if it's only minor, then I don't see the point really, because there's more measures
here than there is in the U.K. at the moment anyway.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Being here for almost a week now, everybody wears masks everywhere. And this is really helpful. I don't -- I feel really safe.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's okay to be here. And I'm very disappointed in your own government (INAUDIBLE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SHUBERT: The things I heard most from passengers were the fact that it was such a sudden decision that they didn't really have any time to make any
changes or to adjust in any way. And also a lot of the passengers that I spoke to pointed out that the measures were actually stricter here in Spain
than they were in the U.K. So they didn't feel unsafe here, but they did feel that going back to the U.K., they wouldn't be as safe. So some
interesting reactions from the passengers going home, Becky.
ANDERSON: And perhaps understandable as well. Thank you, Atika. And to know Norway also imposing quarantine restrictions on travelers from Spain. Well,
the country's sudden removal from the U.K.'s "Travel bridges" shows just how fluid the situation is, after all as we learn to navigate this
coronavirus one step forward can often result in two steps back contact.
[10:35:04]
ANDERSON: The U.K.'s junior health minister says all travel bridges are being kept under
constant review with a close eye currently on Germany and on France. She said if those two countries see a rapid increase in infections, rapid
action will have to be taken.
Well, Boris Johnson is declaring war on Britain's weight problem and he is making it personal. British Prime Minister nearly lost his life to COVID-19
and he says the fact that he was heavier than he should be made a situation even worse. So he put his walking shoes on and got the music going and took
to his twitter feed today to let the U.K. know that there is help out there in the Battle of the Bulge.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: What we're doing now without better health strategies, just trying to help people a little bit to bring that
their way down, not in a excessively bossy or nannying way I hope. We want this one really to be sympathetic to people to understand the difficulties
that people face with their -- with their weight. The struggles that everybody faces with many, many people face.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Never a bad idea when you are a new father too. Mr. Johnson says the campaign to counter obesity will not only help defeat COVID-19 it will
also protect Britain's National Health Service better known as the NHS. While the U.K. strategy includes banning T.V. and online ads for foods
loaded with sugar and calories before 9:00 p.m. local time and restricting buy one get one free deals on what are at least perceived to be unhealthy
foods.
You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me Becky Anderson. 36 minutes past 6:00 here in the UAE. Coming up. Tensions between China and the U.S. are
heating now. We will take you to Chengdu, the latest site in what is this tit for tat escalation.
And in the world of sports, how a victory on the pitch meant victory for the bank account of Manchester United.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: American diplomats are heading home from the consulate in Chengdu. The consulate officially closed on Monday morning. Now this is the
latest development in what is his tit for tat route between China and the United States, which comes just one week after Washington closed the
Chinese Consulate in Houston in Texas. Both sides accused the other of endangering national security and both countries deny wrongdoing.
Let's bring in CNN's Correspondent David Culver who is reported -- reporting from Chengdu. What are you hearing there?
DAVID CULVER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And Becky, I have actually hoped to have the former consulate now as our backdrop but while we were
there, the crowds were getting so big and so intense and rather passionate at times. We actually had to move to another location. So instead you have
the backdrop of the city skyline of Chengdu, a city of 16.5 million.
[10:40:06]
CULVER: That as of today, no longer has a U.S. consulate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CULVER: After some 35 years, the US flag lowered for the last time Monday at the now shuttered U.S. consulate in Chengdu, China, only state-
controlled media allowed to capture these images of Chinese officials taking control of the property. The U.S. mission in China tweeting this
farewell video adding we will miss you forever. Over the weekend, the U.S. insignia taken down, moving truck scene entering the conflict compound.
A bus pulling out on board, U.S. diplomatic staff, U.S. foreign service officers were flown in from other consulates in China to help with the rush
to move out. They are now headed to Beijing to the U.S. Embassy. Firecrackers ignited outside the conflict on Friday when China announced
its closure. A celebration of so far some locals in Chengdu, who since have packed in to get a shot of history.
This is the portion where the crowd really builds, you can see a lot of uniformed police officers but you also see some plainclothes police
officers making their way through the crowd too.
And it gets to be a rather, well, popular tourist site. But you'll notice a lot of people staring at us because obviously, we're foreigners, and
they're taking pictures of us because we too are part of this tourist attraction. Now, that's true.
In shutting it down, China's foreign ministry claimed U.S. personnel were engaging in activities that were harmful to China's national security
interest, and near identical claim to what the U.S. alleged of the Chinese Consulate in Houston. U.S. officials saying it was involved in an illegal
spying effort, a claim China denied. The closing of the Chengdu U.S. consulate has a major impact for many Chinese students looking to start or
continue their studies in the U.S.
They come here to apply for visas graduate student Burson Yang among them. He supports China's decision to retaliate but wishes it had not come to
this.
BURSON YANG, GRADUATE STUDENT: Emotionally. That's not what I want to see. I want this to great nations to in good relationships.
CULVER: Months of rising tensions have now pinned the world's two largest economies against one another on a variety of fronts, leading some to label
it a new Cold War.
LONG XINGCHUN, CHENGDU INSTITUTE OF WORLD AFFAIRS: For most U.S. people, very nice. We have so many close friends from the U.S. So we say why we
wish to go to war?
CULVER: Professor Long Xingchin runs the Chengdu Institute of World Affairs in international relations think tank. He says he does not fault the U.S.
for being tough on China.
XINGCHUN: But we're worried about his irrational decision crazy, sometimes crazy decision to turn to China.
CULVER: He points in particular to the Trump administration and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who says this is about protecting the free world from
a totalitarian regime.
MIKE POMPEO, UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE: It must induce China to change more creative and assertive ways because Beijing's actions threaten
our people and our prosperity.
CULVER: Channels of communication closing up and moving out, as China and the U.S. drift further apart.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CULVER: And a short time ago, Becky, we did hear from a State Department spokesperson acknowledging the closure. They say in part, we're
disappointed by the Chinese Communist Party's decision. And we'll strive to continue our outreach to the people in this important region through our
other posts in China. And the people they referenced in particular, are those of Tibet because the Chengdu consulate here handle relations with
that region. Becky?
ANDERSON: This is fascinating, David. I wonder all people generally aware that you have spoken to in China that all of this this is tit for tat U.S.-
China spat is coming just shy of 100 days from the U.S. election.
CULVER: I think that's what surprised me most in talking to a lot of the folks here is that they are very aware that this is an election season. And
part of them has this understanding that there are things they're going to be done that perhaps are irrational as one man put it crazy. At the same
time, though, even if it's part of just an election season, they also recognize that it's doing damage that can go well beyond the election.
And can go into several different administrations, quite frankly. So that's the real concern. When you talk about closing a consulate, not only the one
here, but also the one in Houston. Closing these channels of communication of diplomatic dialogue. The real fear is that even if it's just part of the
hype going into an election and one administration or another trying to rile up their base, it's doing damage that may be irreversible. That's the
concern that's been portrayed to me here, Becky.
[10:45:06]
ANDERSON: Yes, fascinating. As you were talking, we were just being reminded with a loop of photographs of the -- this sort of genial relations
between Donald Trump and the Chinese President just months ago. We will see what happens next. David, thank you. All the pleasure. It is a somber day
in Washington, D.C. has the American public prepares to pay its last respects to U.S. Congressman John Lewis.
The body of the beloved civil rights leader will lie in state. The Capitol building over the next two days before returning home to his Congressional
district in Georgia. On Sunday, the man known as the moral conscience of Congress, cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama one last time. His
march across that bridge in 1965 defined his role in the non-violent movement for racial equality and led to a pivotal change for voting rights
in the United States.
Well, do stay with CNN as our special coverage of John Lewis's final journey continues at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time. That is 6:30 p.m. in London,
9:30 here in Abu Dhabi. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, fans are back in the stands for professional baseball in South Korea. The nation has gone through two waves of coronavirus. The new
rules have now been established for the players, the audience and even the cheerleaders in this sports starved season. My colleague Paula Hancocks
with this report.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is what a baseball game looks like in South Korea during a pandemic. As of today, Sunday, 10 percent of fans
are allowed into the stadium to watch live. But of course, there are rules. You've got the markings on the ground to make sure there's social
distancing within the cueing itself and then as you come in, gone are the days of flashing a ticket and walking in.
You have to have a temperature check to make sure you have no kind of fever somewhere. And if you do there is actually a quarantine area just outside
of the stadium in case there are those who have a high temperature. So the next part of the process is the Q.R. codes. Now this is to me They know
exactly who is inside in case they need to do any kind of contact tracing. Now I will admit it took me a few times to try and download this technology
but it did work in the end.
And there you go. Simple as that. You scan it, they now know that I am inside. So if there is a problem or any kind of outbreak, I know exactly
how to get ahold of me.
So just under 2500 fans have been allowed inside this stadium and the tickets actually sold online within less than an hour and a half according
to officials. Now the fans are scattered throughout the stadium. No food or alcohol is allowed in the stands. That baseball is massive here. In the
past games that I've been to, watching spectators is almost as much fun as watching the game itself.
So fully in France are known for their chanting, their singing, their dancing. Now the cheerleaders here are not encouraging the riving chanting
as they usually do. Fans have also been asked not to chant as much in order to try and prevent saliva droplets. Now one father here with his 11-year-
old son tells me to create the Korean baseball atmosphere.
[10:50:06]
HANCOCKS: Everyone needs to come together. It's like a rock concert since can't do that, it's quite sad.
DANIEL KIM, ESPN COMMENTATOR: There's always a competition between the fans as well. There's a cheering section for a whole team and a visiting team.
And they go back and forth.
HANCOCKS: Now, there is no doubt that it is not the same. Very little news these days. But the fans here, this is a very big set. Paula Hancocks, CNN
(INAUDIBLE)
ANDERSON: Amazing. Well, the last champ you know of Europe's top five Football League this season was crowned on Sunday, and it was a familiar
one.
Well, this has become an all too common seen in Italy. Juventus celebrating as they clinched a record ninth consecutive league round. That's right.
Ninth straight. Cristiano Ronaldo help the courts with 31 goals and 32 games at the tender age of 35. For more, we're joined by Don Riddell. And
Don, it wasn't pretty for Ronaldo and company, but they got the job done.
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT CORRESPONDENT: They certainly did, Becky. Thank you. A frustrating season for Juventus actually. And that really says
it all. How many teams could win nine titles in a row, and not be totally happy about it, but they have very high standards and cheering and despite
having by far and away the best players in the league, they kind of leave it at times.
The players didn't always buy into the ideas of their new manager, Maurizio Sarri and he had never won a domestic league title, but it all came
together in the end. And thanks to another goal from Ronaldo as you say his 31st league goal of the season and then a second half strike from Federico
Bernardeschi who followed up on Ronaldo shot here. Juve beat Sampdoria two- nil to clinch the title with two games to spare.
Juventus had been struggling before this one going four games out of five without a win, but they are over the finish line now. And they can now
focus on the resumption of the Champions League tournament in August and that is the one that Ronaldo really wants to win.
England's Premier League season is now in the books. The title there had already been decided last month when the runaway leaders Liverpool clinched
their first domestic title in 30 years, but there was still plenty to play for on the final day, especially for two of the biggest teams in the
country. Manchester United and Chelsea. Alex Thomas joins us now to tell us how it all went down.
Alex, this final day had garnered considerable hype. What do you think? Did he live up to the billing?
ALEX THOMAS, CNN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ANCHOR: It felt the same as other final days if you were a fan back home watching on telly but of course it
was happening when we're almost in August, almost a year after it started because of that over three months break for the coronavirus problems. And
it was down to another nail-biting finish on the final day. We've seen those before even though the title was done and dusted.
Issues at the top of the table in terms of Champions League and Europa League qualification and also at the bottom of the table as far as
relegation is concerned, both Manchester United and Chelsea having to effectively not lose the key game was the one you're watching here at the
king power Stadium, Manchester United beating Leicester two-nil. And it was telling probably that Bruno Fernandez scored the opening goal for United
when it had been quite tense and goal is up until 20 minutes from the end.
(INAUDIBLE) Jesse Lingard eight minutes into stoppage time, Chelsea winning two-nil after a terrific free kick from Mason Mount. The youngster keeps
getting better and better. And Olivier Giroud, the veteran French international has also proved his worth for Chelsea this season. They take
the final two spots, Don, if we look at the top six of the table, and it's less than the drop down into the Europa League places, along with Tottenham
Hotspur who managed to squeeze into that top six place as well.
So terrific for Chelsea and Manchester United hope, United having not played in the Champions League last season, they're back again. They've
played in it and the European Cup before it more often than any other English club of course. And Chelsea retain Champions League Sabres despite
having conceded a lot of goals. That's something that Frank Lampard, the manager want to work on.
All he can associate the United boss, Don says it's not enough for them just to get into the Champions League, that is mission accomplished, but
they need to then close the gap, or Manchester City and Liverpool above them. 33 points between first and third, only 32 points between third and
the relegation zone.
RIDDELL: Wow. Yes. A lot of credit to those two managers, especially Frank Lampard, in his debut season. He spent hardly anything in the transfer
market, you blooded a lot of young players that previously would have been farmed out on loan. So I think for Chelsea in the long run this has been a
really good season for them. And Frank Lampard really disappointing though for the 2016 champions.
Leicester in the top four for pretty much all of the season that matter but they had to settle for fifth in the end. How disappointing do you think is
that for the (INAUDIBLE)
[10:55:07]
THOMAS: Massively disappointing because you wondered whether after that fairy tale marched the title back in 2016. If they would ever get a glimpse
of the big time, they obviously had Champions League football for a season and had a chance to get another taste of it under Brendan Rodgers, who
interestingly was praised the fair bit and all the analysis and assessment of Liverpool finally becoming English champions for the first time in 30
years.
People like Jurgen Klopp kind of tipping their hat to the groundwork that Rogers had laid. So I don't think his reputation has been done any harm,
but ultimately, they came back after the three-month plus break for the coronavirus crisis and didn't play well. Just two wins out of their nine
English Premier League games after restarting. in the form table it was the Manchester clubs near the top and less than one of those clubs in the
bottom half of the table.
If you take results just after the break because of the coronavirus problem. And it's a real blow to their coffers as well. Because
financially, you're looking at $100 million plus just for playing in the Champions League. Certainly if you get into the knockout stages, and that's
money less than perhaps could have done with more than some of the other clubs they're competing against, but still encouraging for them.
I guess if you ask them at the start of the season, they probably would have bitten your hand off if you'd offered them fifth placed, Don.
RIDDELL: Yes, I think when you consider regardless of their title, which was against all the odds a few years ago. The fact that they are still
competing in the top six for a club of their size is quite remarkable. Alex Thomas, great roundup for us. Thanks very much. And Becky that's all we've
got time for on the sports around up just now. But I'll see you again in about 45 minutes time.
ANDERSON: Thank you very much indeed. And what a day it was for the English Premier League I watched the West Ham-Aston Villa game but I watched all
the other -- I watched the gold from the other games as they came in. It was an amazing day for football fan. Great bite. All right.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Absolutely just. Well, every folks may not have its day but every dog show does, as they say that couldn't be more clear for this St. Bernard
rescued from England's highest mountain over the weekend. Just look at her. Daisy climbed the peak with her own his but collapsed on the way down. It
took more than a dozen rescuers to get the 55-kilogram dog safely downhill on a stretcher.
The team joke that poor Daisy feels a little bit embarrassed about letting her ancestors down since some burdens of course were originally bred to
help with mountain rescues in the Swiss Alps. She's all right.
Up next, the White House promises a big announcement tomorrow, but what? We take a look into that up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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