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Biden's Pandemic Adviser on Christmas Gatherings; Cleaning the White House for Changeover. Aired 8:30-9a ET
Aired December 11, 2020 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:33:04]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, DIRECTOR, THE CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA: I don't care if I'm accused of being the Grinch that stole Christmas, but, you know what, I want you to be around for next Christmas and the Christmas after that.
Don't get together with neighbors. No Christmas parties. There is not a safe Christmas Party in this country right now unless everybody for the previous 10 to 14 days were podded (ph).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: OK, that is President-elect Joe Biden's coronavirus adviser, Michael Osterholm, urging Americans to cancel Christmas parties as the pandemic rages to record levels.
Joining us now is CNN contributor Erin Bromage. He's a biology professor at UMass Dartmouth who has been focused for months on how Americans can stay safe through this.
Professor Bromage, is Michael Osterholm being too extreme? I mean basically his point was, you should only be with your immediate family, the people who you live with, for the next many weeks through the holidays.
ERIN BROMAGE, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, we've tried the nuanced approach, we've tried layers of defense, we've tried to educate people and it's obviously not working. We are at the stage now where this pandemic in the United States is spiraling out of control and the small handbrakes that have been put on by the, you know, the governors are just not working. So as much as I hate to say it, that's where we need to be in the vast majority of the United States is just keeping to your pod, the group that you've been around for the last ten days and not introducing extra people into it because it's just going to keep accelerating if we keep doing what we're currently doing.
CAMEROTA: Yes, I mean, everybody thinks that, well, maybe I can just make an exception, you know, for this one night or maybe I can just make an exception for Christmas, and maybe I'll just have, you know, two people over. And I think that -- I think that people do respond to very clear guidance and so you basically are saying the very clear guidance right now is nothing, shut everything off except your own family.
BROMAGE: Right.
[08:35:00]
You know, people will also get into the mind-set of saying, look, I got away with it at Thanksgiving, I did it right at Thanksgiving, and so I can do it at Christmas. But we are looking much worse than what we were at Thanksgiving, much worse. And so now the risk is much higher. And you got away with it at Thanksgiving because you were lucky it didn't come into your home. If you do this again, you're just -- you're chancing too much fate at this stage bringing it into your house.
CAMEROTA: In terms of how you look at this, I know you use the Swiss cheese model, and we have a graphic of what the Swiss cheese model looks like. But I can't quite understand how that translates to what we should be doing every day. So explain what this means to us.
BROMAGE: Yes. So, you know, you've seen the memes on the Internet about if masks work, why the distance. If distance works, why the masks. Well, no one protective layer is 100 percent effective. And so what we need to do, and when we look at defenses against being infected, we need to layer multiple levels of defense, you know, against the virus infecting us. So masks plus distance is additive in regards to its safety. If we're in well-ventilated spaces, that adds another layer of safety.
So when I look at any situation, you know, working with businesses, you know, even in my own personal life, we make sure that we put as many layers as possible between each person in order to stop the spread of infection.
CAMEROTA: That's really actually helpful. That's a different way to look at it, I think, than we have been looking at it for every month, which is just that, OK, the mask gets you so far and then you have to add on to that the social distancing, and then you add on to that the hand hygiene, and then you add onto that making sure that you're in a good, ventilated place and all of that adds up to safety is what you're saying?
BROMAGE: Yes, it makes it safer. And it just -- it's, you know, if a mask were to fail or a mask came down, what is your defense? Well, if you've got distance, then you've got that second defense there. But then if you've got distance and mask and they're both working, it adds safety and another layer of safety.
So what we really try to do is not think of it in just such a way of one thing is, if I would walk into a space and it's hot and it's stuffy and the air is not moving, I'm out because I know that just the mask alone is not going to provide me with the protection that I need inside that space if there was an infected person. So you layer defenses one on top of the other and that creates, you know, a safety net for you to make sure that infection doesn't take hold. CAMEROTA: Professor Erin Bromage, thank you very much for all of the
guidance, as always.
BROMAGE: You're welcome.
CAMEROTA: Millions of Americans are approaching a financial cliff this morning with many on the verge of homelessness. One man's agonizing story ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:41:49]
BERMAN: This morning, stimulus negotiations appear to be on the brink of collapse. There's only one week left to strike a deal, but millions of Americans struggling to make it through one more day and their financial lifeline is about to get yanked out from under them.
In south Florida, an eviction avalanche is looming.
CNN's Rosa Flores has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Since his wife died in 2012, John Ayers counts his blessings, like Bella and Bear.
JOHN AYERS, UNEMPLOYED AND FACING EVICTION: He's just such a goofball.
FLORES: And his job as an insurance agent.
You were earning good money.
AYERS: I was making a salary.
FLORES: Enough to pay $2,000 rent on a house in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, good morning Mr. Yonst (ph). We're here for you.
FLORES: And because of his severe arthritis and diabetes --
AYERS: Let me catch my breath for a second.
FLORES: An Uber driver known as Fast Ice to get around.
But a few months after the pandemic broke, John lost his job, exhausted his savings on rent, medicines and utilities, and was slapped with an eviction notice.
AYERS: I need help. This is the first time I've said it. I need help because I'm about to be homeless.
FLORES: Like millions of Americans, John could be homeless on New Year's Day when the CDC's order halting evictions expires. AYERS: And right now I can't.
FLORES: While he can't afford his medications, he's not worried about himself.
AYERS: It's the thought of being out there with a dog because I'm not putting my dog down.
JUDGE ROBERT LEE, BROWARD COUNTY COURT: This is a residential eviction for non-payment of rent.
FLORES: County Judge Robert Lee says evictions in Broward County could triple in the first three months of 2021 from 5,000 to 15,000. And in the case of some landlords --
LEE: They are almost in the same desperate position as the tenant is.
FLORES: To meet skyrocketing demand, the court has moved judges who try crimes, medical and insurance claims to evictions.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm with (INAUDIBLE) legal aid.
FLORES: Pro bono attorneys are going where the need is great, food lines, to help tenants fight to say in their homes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So you're looking for a shelter?
FLORES: But the call volume at this homeless shelter in Miami-Dade County increased from 800 calls a month on average to 1,200 last month. And the homeless population is already growing.
RON BOOK, CHAIRMAN, MIAMI-DADE HOMELESS TRUST: The fear of that turning into thousands upon thousands drives me completely crazy. I cannot almost have the conversation without breaking down over what it means.
FLORES: As for John, he's looking for a job.
AYERS: I'm going to upload my resume to these places.
FLORES: And counting a new blessing. Fast Ice now drives him free of charge.
AYERS: You're a good man, my brother.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are a good man.
FLORES: A man desperate for a miracle.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[08:45:00]
FLORES (on-camera): Here in Miami-Dade County, where I am, more than 6,400 evictions have been filed since March 15th. Now, according to the chairman of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust, a man who has 25 years of experience, he says that that translates to more than 18,000 people impacted. And his fear is that come January 1st, the floodgates of homelessness will open and this will mean that thousands of people, including senior citizens, will be out on the street.
Alisyn, people who have never been homeless before could be homeless for the first time.
Alisyn.
CAMEROTA: It's hard to imagine, Rosa. It's hard to visualize what that's going to look like. It's just a horrible, horrible time. And it looks like nothing is going to stop it before that happens.
Rosa, thank you for sharing his story with us. It was really heartbreaking.
So for many this time of year is about giving back. This year's "CNN Heroes: All-Star Tribute" salutes the people who put others first throughout this unprecedented year.
Here's a little preview.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's been a year of challenges and change, but it's also been a year of hope.
This year's CNN Heroes is a celebration of everyday people doing extraordinary acts during two of the biggest stories of 2020.
ON SCREEN TEXT: The fight against COVID-19.
The battle for racial equity.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Join Anderson Cooper, Kelly Ripa, and celebrity guests.
ON SCREEN TEXT: Chef Jose Andres, Angela Bassett, Orlando Bloom, Millie Bobby Brown, Glenn Close, Cynthia Erivo, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gal Gadot, Jim Gaffigan, Leslie Odom Jr., Patton Oswealt, Yara Shahidi, Finn Wolfhard, Jeffrey Wright.
KELLY RIPA, HOST: Tonight is about hope, it's about decency and it's about compassion.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In a salute to the people who keep our spirits lifted.
ON SCREEN TEXT: Frontline workers, advocates for justice, communities, champions for democracy, teachers, volunteers, young wonders.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Show the world the impossible is possible.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We need to see the world differently.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Anyone can have an impact, no matter their age.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): We can do anything.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Plus, the viewers' choice for this year's most inspiring moment and a special musical performance by Tony, Grammy and Emmy winner Cynthia Erivo.
"CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," Sunday at 8:00 on CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:51:38]
BERMAN: So, he doesn't want to hear it, but President Trump leaves office on January 20th. The White House itself has been a super spreader site for coronavirus. So a serious question arising is, what are the plans to clean it and make it safe before the Bidens and the Biden administration move in?
Joining us now, CNN White House reporter Kate Bennett.
Kate, you've got some reporting on this. And I will only note, it's even more challenging this year because the actual, physical turnover will be much quicker, unlikely to be a parade, unlikely to be the congressional lunch when usually all of that disinfecting goes on.
KATE BENNETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Right. So typically there is a very small five-hour window where literally the moving truck from the outgoing president pulls up and the moving truck from the incoming president pulls up and there's this remarkable turnover of moving one president out and one in.
This year, since we don't know if the president will be attending the inauguration as tradition, as President Trump will be attending, we're not sure of that timeframe. But what we do know, John, is that there will be a very deep and extensive cleaning done of the entire White House campus, that's 55,000 square feet. There are some 35 bathrooms, 16 bedrooms, six floors in the residence alone. It is a massive undertaking.
We've already seen at the White House, though, misters that the GSA contracted with who come in and spray frequently disinfectant, keeping things clean in the press area and the West Wing. So it's just going to be a massive undertaking for everybody to get in there and deal with some of these very priceless, historic items. There are more than 65,000 items in the White House collection, including paintings and decorative arts. And so when you really wrap your head around it, in the era of COVID, that's a lot of surfaces, that's a lot of things to keep clean.
CAMEROTA: And, Kate, what's your reporting on what First Lady Melania Trump is planning after she leaves the White House? Does she have ambitions beyond that? What does she have up her sleeve? BENNETT: So, you know, I think the fact that she's just planning to
leave the White House is notable, too. You know, obviously, publicly she's been aligned with the president and hasn't said like, let's get out of here. But behind the scenes she's been packing up and figuring out what to take to Mar-a-Lago, which is going to be their home in Florida. She hasn't given any large indication that she will set up official office. She has, however, sent an emissary to check into whether there's a budget for that. The government does supply a budget for former presidents to set up an office and establish a staff after leaving office, not for a first lady, however.
So she's looking into things like perhaps writing a book, not a memoire, this is a very private first lady, more like a coffee table book about the history of the White House or design, but certainly she is thinking that she's moving out on January 20th.
BERMAN: And you said, the news is she is planning on moving out and starting to send stuff away. That in and of itself is notable. Shouldn't be, but it is. It tells you something about where we are.
I find it interesting that she's done inquiries, and this is your reporting, you broke this, about whether or not she would have an office funded. For what? I mean, do we know why?
BENNETT: So, most first ladies do establish an official office after leaving office, even second ladies do. They handle correspondents, they continue whatever initiative they started in the White House. You know, for Michelle Obama that was Let Girls Learn. You know, it's a little bit different for Melania Trump. She's a first lady who has had a very scant staff as it is while in the White House.
[08:55:00]
You know, you and I can probably bounce back initiatives of first ladies from modern times off our tongue. It's very difficult for most Americans to understand or sort of repeat what Be Best was about in a specific sense, other than broadly helping children. So it's difficult to say.
But there is no money allocated, as I said. The only thing that first ladies get after they leave from the government is a $20,000 a year pension should their husband die, which is not a lot of money. Presidents get more, but first ladies do not. So any office that she does establish will have to come from her own funds, and that will be set up in Florida likely.
BERMAN: Very interesting reporting, I have to say. You've learned so much there.
BENNETT: Perhaps (ph).
BERMAN: Kate Bennett, as always, thanks so much.
CAMEROTA: Thanks, Kate.
BENNETT: Thank you.
BERMAN: All right, a lot going on this morning. CNN's coverage continues right after this.
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[09:00:02]
