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Pandemic Rages Across U.S. Ahead Of Election Day; Pennsylvania Governor To Air Ad Urging Patience Around Election Day; Cities Brace For Election Unrest, Businesses Boarding Up. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired November 02, 2020 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:31:58]
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Overnight, the United States reporting more than 81,000 new coronavirus cases. That's the most ever on a Sunday. Eleven states are seeing record hospitalizations. Twenty states have positivity rates at or above 10 percent, meaning that the virus is spreading rapidly.
Joining us now is CNN political commentator, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. He's an epidemiologist and public health expert. Doctor, great to see you.
I just want to pull up that map one more time of the new confirmed cases because remember back in April when it was so frightening and the situation looked so grim, and look at what has happened since April. If you look at the inclines -- the two inclines since then -- I mean, we're just in such a worse place now.
DR. ABDUL EL-SAYED, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, EPIDEMIOLOGIST, PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERT: That's absolutely right. You can see how this virus has gone everywhere and now it's starting to replicate and cases are starting to grow. But instead of being in a few major cities as it was back in March and April and May, it's now everywhere -- every corner of our country -- and we have to treat it that way.
You know, you think about what Donald Trump said about it turning the corner. You can actually see the corner in the graph, right? We were on our way down and then we started to go back up because, of course, the weather changed and that spike that everybody who'd been looking at this had been predicting in the fall and winter months is starting to come true. And we've got to start behaving from the top to the bottom like we are in the worst surge of the pandemic.
And I'll tell you this. When the history is written about COVID-19, the peak they're going to be writing about is this one. That's exactly how it was with the 1917-18 flu pandemic and I'm worried that's how it's going to be with this coronavirus pandemic as well.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, talk about that a little bit, Dr. El- Sayed. Because Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commissioner, said that December could be the worst month ever in this pandemic. How much worse can it get? We had nearly 100,000 cases on Friday, so how much worse do you see it potentially getting?
EL-SAYED: Well, don't forget that at its peak, coronavirus can double every 2 1/2 days. That's at its peak. So the less social distancing, the less mask-wearing, and the less washing of hands people do, the faster it's going to double.
We're not dealing with linear dynamics here, right? We're dealing with a little bit more every day. We're dealing with a virus that can double in a short period of time and it can get a lot, lot worse.
And so I want folks to understand that even what you see right now is behind where it actually is, that's the nature of the virus. It takes time for it to replicate in the body, it takes time for tests to come back. And so we're getting a picture, but that picture is a couple of days removed from where it really is, and so it could get a lot worse.
And folks really have to double down on these protections -- social distancing, wearing a mask, maybe choosing not to go to that birthday party of that celebration. Maybe choosing to keep the kids at home. This is going to get worse and I worry a lot about November and December.
CAMEROTA: That leads us to Scott Atlas, the doctor on the White House Coronavirus Task Force who is not an epidemiologist, as you are, whose biggest fear is staying indoors. His biggest fear is are the -- are any sort of shutdown or stay-at-home orders.
[05:35:10]
And he, this weekend, gave an interview to RT (Russian Television) without knowing, he says, that they were a foreign agent and an arm of Russian propaganda. He has since apologized for that. But that's who has the president's ear.
And, Dr. Fauci came out and talked about Scott Atlas for the first time in, I think, the strongest words we've heard.
So here's Dr. Fauci. Oh, it's a full screen. I'll read it to you.
"I have real problems with that guy. He's a smart guy who's talking about things that I believe he doesn't have any real insight or knowledge or experience in. He keeps talking about things that when you dissect it out and parse it out, it doesn't make any sense."
Your thoughts?
EL-SAYED: Yes, you've got to agree with Dr. Fauci here. I'm really worried about the fact that we are going into the worst surge in the history of this particular pandemic and the main adviser who has the president's ear is a radiologist -- somebody whose job it is to image the inside of a brain. That's like getting a painter to do your roof because they both work on houses.
And what's worse is that this guy's doing -- saying the exact opposite from what the scientific consensus about this virus is. It's not that staying home is a bad thing. It's that going out and coming home and going out and coming home is a bad thing because, of course, what you're basically doing is taking a risk that you may be bringing virus from outside of the house into your house with you.
It is very frustrating that this is the person that we have at the helm in a moment where we may be teetering on the edge of another 100,000 or 200,000 deaths if we don't get this right.
And so, we've got to listen to the consensus of scientists, not -- of scientists -- not the handpicked scientists that Donald Trump took because he has an M.D. that he can use as a fig leaf for Donald Trump's own ignorance and choice not to do anything real on this virus. It is really, really worrying right now.
BERMAN: There's something a little bit on the nose about Dr. Scott Atlas going on RT to spread the information that Dr. Fauci thinks is flat-out wrong. If you're going to spread wrong information, go on a propaganda station.
Dr. El-Sayed, thanks so much for being with us.
EL-SAYED: Thank you.
CAMEROTA: All right.
Coming up, CNN has an exclusive look at a new ad being released by the governor of Pennsylvania. His message to voters ahead of Election Day. That's next.
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[05:42:07]
BERMAN: New this morning, CNN has learned that Pennsylvania's governor is releasing a statewide television ad urging voters to be patient surrounding tomorrow's closing of the polls.
CNN's Kristen Holmes live in Washington with the exclusive details. It seems like a smart idea to tell everyone they should be patient because they're going to need to be.
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it certainly does. And look, it tells us two things here. One, the governor, Tom Wolf, and the entire state of Pennsylvania, they know that they are a focal point of this election. And two, there are real concerns about what could happen when -- and I'm saying when -- we don't have results on election night, whether it's false claims of fraud or invalid claims of victory, or unrest.
Now, we have obtained exclusive access to this ad. I want to play it for you, John.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. TOM WOLF (D), PENNSYLVANIA: These are unprecedented times. Because of the coronavirus, there were millions of votes cast by mail, so it may take longer than usual to count every vote. The folks in our election offices -- your neighbors, family, and friends -- are working hard ensuring every single vote is counted.
So it may take a little longer than we're used to -- even a few days. But that's OK because it's critical that your vote is counted, and it will be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And this is going to air on Election Day and all day, every day until every single vote is counted and the results are in.
And look, this goes completely against what Donald Trump has been saying this entire time and what he said just last night at a rally when he said that the campaign would be going into Pennsylvania to challenge the expediency of the count there.
Just a reminder for our viewers why we will likely not see results in Pennsylvania. Two point two -- more than 2.2 (sic) absentee ballots were cast.
In Pennsylvania, you are not allowed to open, process, go through, do anything with a ballot until 7:00 a.m. on Election Day. We know that that race is tight and some counties have said that they will not have time to do it on Election Day. They're not even going to count absentee ballots until the next day.
So keep all of that in mind -- urging patience here. There will likely not be results in Pennsylvania on election night, John.
BERMAN: Right. There aren't two sides to this either. What Gov. Wolf is saying is the only side, which is that we'll know who won when the votes are counted, and it may take a few days and that's OK. That's the only side that matters here.
HOLMES: Absolutely.
BERMAN: Kristen Holmes, thanks so much for being with us. Appreciate your reporting.
So, people are watching the election very closely and there are concerns. Cities across the country preparing for the possibility of unrest. CNN talks with some business owners about how they're getting ready, next.
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[05:48:58]
CAMEROTA: Cities across America are preparing for election unrest with some businesses boarding up.
CNN's Stephanie Elam has more from Los Angeles.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As if a hurricane is coming, businesses across the country are boarding up. The perceived threat is far from normal for a modern American election.
After a season of charged political rhetoric --
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Biden remains silent in his basement.
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: You're the worst president America has ever had.
ELAM (voice-over): -- and months of protests, including looting in some places, it's the uncertainty of how people will react to the results of the presidential election that has business owners on edge yet again in 2020.
NANA BUSI, PARTNER, CASPI'S JEWELRY: I think it's just precautionary.
ELAM (voice-over): Caspi's Jewelry has been in this Los Angeles location since 1948. They're closing up shop until sometime after the election.
ELAM (on camera): Do you ever remember a time when you were concerned about an election result?
[05:50:02]
BUSI: Never in my life. This is such a surprise. This is incredible chaos everywhere.
ELAM (voice-over): Chaos that Beverly Hills wants to avoid. Ritzy Rodeo Drive is completely blocked off until at least Thursday.
LT. MAX SUBIN, BEVERLY HILLS POLICE DEPARTMENT: We're not mandating any businesses to board up. We're highly recommending that you harden the target.
ELAM (voice-over): In Portland and Chicago, the police departments have canceled officers' time off for Election Day.
MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT (D), CHICAGO: The city has been in close communication with our business community.
ELAM (voice-over): Plywood covers storefront doors and windows in Raleigh, North Carolina, as it does in Denver where the city is activating its emergency operations center, the first time for an Election Day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One hundred percent heightened awareness.
ELAM (voice-over): The nation's capital is doing the same.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We know, of course, that First Amendment activities have the potential to disrupt business operations.
ELAM (voice-over): The closer to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the more palpable the concern.
ANGELA ALLRED, MANAGER, IMPERIAL WINE AND SPIRITS: I think that people want to get closer to the White House to be able to express their concerns and their feelings.
ELAM (voice-over): And in New York City, officials are preparing for protests.
MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D), NEW YORK CITY: If anything turns violent, we are going to move to stop that immediately.
ELAM (voice-over): The Big Apple should be gearing up for the now- reimagined Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade due to COVID-19. The windows of Macy's flagship Manhattan store, usually a draw unto themselves. Instead, the store is all boarded up.
In the time of coronavirus --
WILL COOK, PRESIDENT, HOWARD LORTON FURNITURE AND DESIGN: We're really hoping that everybody doesn't protest violently.
ELAM (voice-over): -- a different kind of protection during an unprecedented election.
Stephanie Elam, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CAMEROTA: Our thanks to Stephanie there.
Meanwhile, a coronavirus surge in the Dakotas and huge positivity rates in South Dakota. We have details, next.
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[05:56:27]
BERMAN: This morning, the coronavirus pandemic is raging across the country, getting worse by the day. North Dakota and South Dakota are two of the hardest-hit states with the most cases per capita. In South Dakota, nearly half of all tests are coming back positive.
CNN's Dan Simon has the latest.
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DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The indifference to COVID on full display this summer as hundreds of thousands of bikers converged in Sturgis, South Dakota for its annual motorcycle rally. Within weeks, the Dakotas were among the hardest-hit states in the nation with experts pointing to the event as a likely super spreader. And now, things have only gone from bad to worse as residents continue to resist masks.
Dr. Deborah Birx, last week, in Bismarck. DR. DEBORAH BIRX, COORDINATOR, WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE:
Over the last 24 hours as we were here and were in your grocery stores and in your restaurants, and frankly, even in your hotels, this is the least-use of masks that we have seen in retail establishments of any place we have been. And we find that deeply unfortunate because you don't know who's infected and you don't know if you're infected yourself.
SIMON (voice-over): The result, nowhere has the disease spread more than in the Dakotas, each with more new cases per capita than anywhere else in the country -- even outpacing the spring surge in New York, according to figures from the CDC. North Dakota with a 12 percent positivity rate, and South Dakota more than four times that with a whopping 49 percent positivity rate.
GOV. KRISTI NOEM (R), SOUTH DAKOTA: The only reason you know who I am today is because the liberals have been busy kicking me in the head for all the decisions I've made for my people in South Dakota.
SIMON (voice-over): Even with her state in crisis, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem unapologetic for refusing to ask residents to wear masks.
NOEM: My people are happy. They're happy because they're free.
SIMON (voice-over): North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has also resisted a mask mandate, yet warns the approaching holidays could make matters worse.
GOV. DOUG BURGUM (R), NORTH DAKOTA: This is going to be a really challenging time for us as a state and as a nation.
SIMON (voice-over): In October, the state had nearly as many deaths, 260, than in March, April, May, June, July, August, and September combined.
CARL YOUNG, LOST MOTHER TO COVID, CREATED COVID-19 MEMORIAL: We're losing our humanity because we're being selfish.
SIMON (voice-over): Carl Young lost his mother to COVID and has spearheaded a memorial for virus victims in North Dakota's capital
YOUNG: The vast majority of people should be able to put aside their personal feelings of infringement and wear a mask when they're out in public. My goal is to show people in a concrete way exactly how many people have passed away.
SIMON (voice-over): Dan Simon, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: It's simply staggering what's happening there. A warning to so many states around the country.
NEW DAY continues right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Donald Trump is trying to finish out the campaign with a crescendo.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pennsylvania is so critical. If they can take that away from President Trump it all but ends his path to reelection.
RONNA MCDANIEL, CHAIRWOMAN, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: Republicans are wanting to vote on Election Day in person. So we feel very strong that we have a surge coming.
BIDEN: The president's not going to steal this election.
TRUMP: I think it's a terrible thing when ballots can be collected after an election.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: If the president loses this election in a tight, tight vote count, they are going to try to fight this out in the courts.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We need a president who is going to be a president for all Americans. Get your vote in. Every vote matters and these elections could get decided on small margins.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman.
