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California Under New Stay-At-Home Orders; Jobless Claims Rise; FDA Considers EUA for Vaccine; Building Trust around a Vaccine. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired December 10, 2020 - 08:30   ET

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


[08:30:00]

LT. GOV. ELENI KOUNALAKIS (D-CA): People have been hanging on, doing their best now for nine months, doing everything they possibly can to just keep a heartbeat in their business. It's very difficult. We do have some pretty robust programs that the state of California has put in place to help them. People can find them at our state website.

But we're also -- and we just saw Senator Hassan talking about a relief package from Washington. The first stimulus package, that Cares Package that came out, was extremely helpful in keeping our economy going, keeping food on families' tables, keeping people able to cope with this. We have not had another federal aid package since and we are watching what's happening in Washington very hopeful that we'll get some more -- some more aid for our businesses and our families.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: I want to put up the graphic of the hospitalizations in California again because they're so dire. And you can see the peak begins to spike around mid to late October and then it just goes straight up there.

And here in the northeast, and in the Midwest and the upper Midwest we're told that it's because of colder weather, that the virus particles actually can travel further in the cold weather and we're all going indoors. But in California, it's a more temperate climate. Much of your state is really warm. And so why are you seeing that sharp peak?

KOUNALAKIS: Well, it's still very similar. And our average temperature, of course, does go down in the wintertime. It's also there are shorter days, so people are pushed inside when it gets dark at 5:00. It's just the nature of it.

This is highly contagious. We know that by now. It spreads quickly. So this is the only way to handle it is to go back on lockdown, insist that people stay home, close the bars, close outdoor dining again and limit the number of people who can be in retail.

Now, at least because of the fact that businesses have put up these plastic barriers and instituted the other protocols, we're able to tell our retailers that they actually can stay open, but only at 20 percent capacity. That's a little bit of good news for a lot of businesses. So we really are trying to do everything we can, recognizing that first and foremost we want to make sure that our ICU units have enough capacity for people. We have not had those devastating stories of doctors having to decide who gets a ventilator and who doesn't. We haven't had that in this state and we really are intent on keeping it that way.

CAMEROTA: What's the trigger for lifting the stay-at-home order? What would the ICU or hospital capacity have to be for these orders to be reversed?

KOUNALAKIS: So 15 percent is the threshold. So as soon as we see, in these five separate regions, so region by region, not just as a state, but as each region goes under 15 percent, so we have at least 15 percent capacity, then we can begin the opening process again.

CAMEROTA: I want to ask you, on a separate note, what's going on with the selection of people who will replace high-level people in the Biden/Harris administration, such as Kamala Harris. And so your governor, Gavin Newsom, has to figure out who to replace Senator Harris, as well as Xavier Becerra, your attorney general, who has been nominated for HHS.

So have you had conversations with him about who those people might be?

KOUNALAKIS: I haven't, Alisyn. And it's really unprecedented. You know, we pride ourselves on our democratic process here in the state of California. And the fact that we have these -- all these very high- level open seats that the governor is going to have to fill is a really unusual process. But he's got lots of good choices. People are weighing in. Groups are weighing in. So we'll see what he decides to do.

But one of the other things, as just going back to COVID for one second, is that as we are grappling with this, you know, we just heard yesterday that we will be getting now about a million doses of vaccines by the end of the year, between the Moderna and the Pfizer vaccine. So we do have a light at the end of the tunnel. We are looking at our health care workers, first and foremost, getting that vaccine, and that's going to make a big difference in helping us drive the incidence of the virus down.

So we have a light at the end of the tunnel, even during this tough time.

CAMEROTA: We hope so.

Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis, thank you very much for your time and for being on NEW DAY.

KOUNALAKIS: Great to be with you.

CAMEROTA: You too.

We have a new snapshot of America's unemployment crisis. The new jobless claims numbers, next.

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[08:38:38]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, breaking news, the Department of Labor just released its weekly jobs report. And then there is a big jump in new jobless claims.

CNN anchor and correspondent Julia Chatterley has the breaking details.

This, again, is a big miss, Julia.

JULIA CHATTERLEY, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Yes, distressing numbers. I think that's the key takeaway. A further 853,000 workers filing for first-time benefits in the past week alone. That's a 137,000 jump from the week before that perhaps was flattened (ph) by the Thanksgiving week.

We've also got a jump in the number of people continuing to collect benefits here, too. If I look at the states for the latest data that we have that are seeing the biggest rises, Illinois, Oregon, Colorado, Indiana, and they're talking about the hospitality sector being hit, the services sector being hit. And this is exactly what you'd expect, John, given the backdrop of rising cases and the worst point actually in the pandemic that we've seen, if you think about that five-day -- five-day period at the beginning of December we saw, what, a jump in a million COVID cases just in the space of five days. So this is exactly what you would expect to see in terms of the number of people shedding jobs at this stage.

In total we did see a drop in the number of people collecting benefits to around 19 million people. Your reference point here, though, is a year earlier, and that was 1.5 million people. It paints a picture of a jobs crisis in America right now and why we need to see action from D.C.

[08:40:07]

BERMAN: I mean there's really no comparison between the year to year figures right there. And as you note, it's the pandemic that is driving this and we are reporting on that side of things that it will get worse, much worse, over the next month. So these claims could get even worse as the month continues.

So how much pressure does that put on lawmakers? We just spoke to Senator Hassan from New Hampshire. It's not clear that they're any closer today to any kind of relief bill than they were yesterday.

CHATTERLEY: The pressure couldn't be greater. But, John, you and I have been talk about this for months now, the pressure has been on for months and months and months. But what we're looking at here is a worsening of the jobs crisis. We saw that from the monthly jobs numbers as well. We're simply not adding the net amount of jobs that we would like to see.

The whole picture shows a deterioration. And you don't even need to look at the jobs crisis, you look at the health crisis and you know that with states putting in greater restrictions, people getting increasingly nervous, they're going to shop less. They're going to go out less. This is going to get worse.

And even just in the past week alone a further 853,000 families now looking at D.C. and saying, please do something. We're in crisis.

And, remember, in two weeks' time, 12 million people are going to lose the pandemic -- specific pandemic-related benefits that they've been receiving. I mean the alarm bells couldn't be louder, John, they need to do something.

BERMAN: Time's up. Time's up.

CHATTERLEY: Yes, time's been up for a long time and it really is up today.

BERMAN: Julia Chatterley, thanks so much for being with us.

CHATTERLEY: Thank you.

BERMAN: Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: John, if the FDA authorizes Pfizer's vaccine later today, the company will shift into high gear to begin the massive rollout with major delivery carriers standing by to help.

CNN's Pete Muntean joins us live outside the Pfizer facility in Michigan.

So how will they do this, Pete?

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a massive effort, Alisyn. And this is where it all starts, Pfizer's Kalamazoo facility. And we know from Pfizer that trucks could begin leaving here carrying the vaccine within 24 hours of FDA Emergency Use Authorization.

This is a key part of the distribution network, Pfizer's largest facility, 1,300 acres, a sprawling complexion. We know that vaccine arrived here late last month but now Operation Warp Speed is telling us that vaccine leaving her will go to 600 individual locations. Pfizer says in some cases directly to the point of use.

We have learned that FedEx and UPS will be largely handling those packages, packed with dry ice. They need to be at negative 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Not only do they have a thermal sensor, they have a GPS sensor on board. FedEx will be using planes and trucks. Also, there are long-term cold storage facilities. I've been inside some of those. The hope is that's just a pit stop on the way to getting these 2.9 million initial doses out the door.

We have learned, though, from states that they say that initial dose -- the initial doses going out will just not be enough to cover those considered to be those most at risk, those who need the vaccine right away, those in long-term care facilities, those on the front lines of the health care field. States now will have to prioritize within that top priority group, a tough job at the dawn of what will be a massive distribution effort, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Absolutely, Pete. I mean there's just not enough to go around, obviously. So we'll see what happens over the next few days. Thank you very much for that preview.

So the coronavirus pandemic has taken a disproportionate toll on minorities. How are doctors working with communities of color as the vaccines become available? That's next.

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[08:47:58]

BERMAN: We are just moments away from the start of a crucial FDA panel meeting to discuss authorizing emergency use of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccines.

Now, a majority of Americans say they would get this vaccine, but there are differences among minority groups. According to a Pew Research survey, 63 percent of Hispanic Americans, 61 percent of white Americans intend to get the vaccine, but just 42 percent among black Americans.

So, what can we do about this? How will public health officials approach the doubt that is out there?

Joining us now, Dr. Selwyn Vickers, dean of the University of Alabama and Birmingham School of Medicine, and CNN medical analyst Dr. Jorge Rodriguez, an internal medicine physician and viral specialist.

Dr. Vickers, first to you. When you see that 41 percent among African- Americans, why do you suspect that number is so low and how do you get it higher?

DR. SELWYN VICKERS, DEAN, UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: Yes, I think that number reflects, unfortunately, a long history of distrust between the African-American community and our medical enterprise in our country. And there are a number of historical events starting back from the Tuskegee syphilis study, the case of Henrietta Lacks, J. Marion Sims, there are a number of events in the history of how African-Americans have engaged with health care professionals that haven't always led to the best outcomes or had the best intent from their origins.

I think it's further reflected in the fact that our country, and most of our medical community, unfortunately, has tolerated health disparities. And that's something we live with and sort of didn't give a great deal of thought. But this pandemic, particularly in the case of COVID-19, we've seen a tremendous focus on it because of the lethal combination of a coronavirus infection and being African-American, essential worker, having to ride public transportation and living with a health disparity.

[08:50:00]

Those encounters have led to a lot of deaths disproportionately to the rest of our citizens. So African-Americans have, unfortunately, a history that doesn't necessarily lend them to immediately trust even the best opportunities for improvement of their health when they come out.

CAMEROTA: Dr. Rodriguez, how about Hispanics, what's the reluctance?

DR. JORGE RODRIGUEZ, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Well, I think the reluctance is the fact that there is probably more than anything else a communication gap and that's why I think it's very important to be able to see a physician that speaks the same language. And it isn't just that you can speak Spanish, but it's the nuances, you know, that make you connect, like for a doctor in any -- and any patient. So I think that's probably the main thing.

And you have to remember that the Hispanic community in the United States is not homogeneous. It's very heterogeneous. The Cuban American community in south Florida, of which I am part of, is very different than the Mexican American community in New Mexico. So there's a wide variation. But I think they have to connect with their physician and with the general health of the United States as a whole.

BERMAN: If California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is confirmed to be secretary of HHS, how much of a difference do you think that will make, Dr. Rodriguez?

RODRIGUEZ: I actually think that would make a huge difference. I think the layperson may not always connect with that, but I think if you have the secretary of HHS doing public service announcements and throwing in a few words of Spanish or doing it in Spanish, I think that is invaluable in making that connection and increasing the trust value between the Hispanic public of the United States and the ability and the probability that they are going to get vaccinated.

CAMEROTA: Dr. Vickers, for almost every demographic we have seen vaccine hesitancy go up just since May. So as the vaccine gets closer, fewer people feel comfortable getting it. And in some ways that's totally understandable. This is a new vaccine. This is a new virus. We're all learning about it on the fly. Nobody wants to be a guinea pig.

So what do you say? What words do you use to convince patients that this will be OK and safe?

VICKERS: Well, I agree with the comments made, that communication from trusted voices is imperative. I think our communities need to hear from their leaders, their pastors, their physicians who really look like them and come from the walk of life that they can understand. Now, that doesn't have to be exclusively that, but that's fundamental to get the message across.

I think also what you do have to say is to remind our citizens, particularly the citizens of color, of the stark differences in outcomes for their loved ones that have seen during this virus and hopefully reminding them of that data because we transition from a period of time where in the black community when this first started it was thought that it couldn't be even infected -- black people couldn't even be infected by coronavirus. And we quickly transitioned to understand ,that was far from the truth. And when we were infected, we did much worse.

So, one, I think it's communication from trusted voices. Secondly, I think we have to remind them of the outcomes that are clearly going on. The data says 71 percent of African-Americans will know someone who's affected, who's had a bad outcome or death from this coronavirus. And then encourage them around the data. The speed by which we've gotten the vaccine developed is not because of shortcuts, it's because of next generation molecular biology techniques that have allowed us to do that immediately after the virus was sequenced and then the time to enroll sometimes took two to three years to get 30,000 people enrolled. Well, with this pandemic, it took two to three months. So, no shortcuts have been taken. We, obviously, would love to have

two-year safety data, but we won't have that. But the data that we see from the public files that have been released from Pfizer appear to be encouraging. And both the Moderna and the Pfizer study took some efforts. The Pfizer study has about 10 percent African-American, has over 20 percent Hispanic, and the Moderna study, I think, has north of 20 percent African-American. So these studies have included our people to prove that they're safe.

BERMAN: Well, Dr. Vickers, Dr. Rodriguez, as they say, it's not the vaccines that save lives, it's vaccinations. It's people getting the shots in their arms that will make the difference. And with your help, I think it will get to the people who need it most. So, thank you so much for being with us this morning.

CAMEROTA: Thank you, doctors.

RODRIGUEZ: My pleasure.

CAMEROTA: OK, it's time for "The Good Stuff."

A holiday thank you for a woman in Massachusetts courtesy of a mystery elf.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOAN SULLIVAN (ph): It says thank you for spreading Christmas joy. We love your lights.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Nice. Joan Sullivan has lived in her home for 28 years. This year she decided to go big with Christmas decorations and it did not go unnoticed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOAN SULLIVAN: I could hear, Merry Christmas.

[08:55:00]

And then another little kid said, and Happy New Year. And I said, oh, my God, is that cute.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: I mean that's just (INAUDIBLE). I mean, first of all, this is "The Good Stuff" just for the accent because (INAUDIBLE) accent right there.

CAMEROTA: Absolutely. That is some good stuff. Duxbury right there. She enjoys the festive glow around her home but loves that it made another family happy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOAN SULLIVAN: It was just wonderful because what we're all going through, and I thought, this kindness in this world and if I can share this story and make some people smile, that, you know, would be wonderful for the holidays.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: You are sharing it, Joan.

BERMAN: (INAUDIBLE). That's not "The Good Stuff," it's the (INAUDIBLE) stuff.

CAMEROTA: (INAUDIBLE).

BERMAN: No, look, that's awesome. We've gone big with our -- with our Christmas decorations, too, like everywhere.

CAMEROTA: Is that right?

BERMAN: Yes.

CAMEROTA: Can you please provide photos for us tomorrow?

BERMAN: Oh, maybe.

CAMEROTA: OK. Very good. I'll look forward to that.

And in a matter of hours, the first coronavirus vaccine could get the green light in the U.S.

CNN's coverage continues after this.

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