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Mayor Bill de Blasio is Interviewed about Vaccine Distribution; Winter Storm Aims at Northeast; Early Voting Begins in Georgia; Vaccines Arrive at Hospitals. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired December 14, 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]

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Give us some of the nuts and bolts here. Do you know what time the first person will be vaccinated in New York?

MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D), NEW YORK CITY: Well, Alisyn, I just have to say at the outset, we have been through so much in this city. We were the epicenter of this crisis. I mean this is an amazing day. This is a day we have been waiting and praying for. And -- and the -- it's -- it's not just a vaccine, it's a shot of hope. It really is a moment where we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

So, today, the vaccine is here in New York City. And I'm proud to tell you, it is here. It has arrived. First vaccinations will happen later today. This afternoon I'm going to be there as one of the first New Yorkers gets vaccinated. And, look, we have a lot of tough weeks ahead still, but this is going to put wind in our sails and give us the hope to keep going.

CAMEROTA: Do you know who, do you know the identity of the first person who will be vaccinated?

DE BLASIO: I don't have that yet. I do know what our priorities are. Our priorities are the frontline health care workers who have been the heroes of this cries, protecting them so they can protect all of us. And, of course, nursing home residents and nursing home workers who have been through just the brunt of this. So that's where the first shots are going to go.

Can you tell us where the first vaccines will be happening?

DE BLASIO: It's a group of New York City hospitals. Again, we're -- we're waiting for the final confirmations. We know the vaccine's here in New York City. You're going to start to see vaccine given out in the course of the day. I'll -- I'll be there to, you know, narrate it for you when it comes at one of our hospitals.

But what is definitely the case is vaccines start -- vaccinations start today in New York City. They're going to -- throughout the week, more and more, we're going to really go fast because we have that command center that you mentioned, which is going to make sure the vaccine is moving quickly, where it's needed most, and we're going to be very transparent about who's getting the vaccine, how the priorities are being followed. We're not allowing people to cut in line. It doesn't matter how much money you have, how much privilege you have, you have to wait your turn like everybody else. We're going to make sure, Alisyn, that the neighborhoods hit hardest by the coronavirus and, overwhelmingly, that was black, Latino and Asian communities, that they get their fair share and they get priority in getting this vaccine out.

CAMEROTA: When do you think you'll get one?

DE BLASIO: You know what, I've said it, I believe in this vaccine. My health care team believes in it. But I'm going to wait until it's my turn. I think it's really important for leaders to follow the instructions of our health care leadership. And when they say it's time for a leader to go up there, because it's our priority time, by age, by health care, et cetera, that's when I'll get mine.

CAMEROTA: So, at the same time that this very promising development is happening, obviously hospitalizations around the country are going up. Today indoor dining in New York City is being shut down. And I know that you and Governor Cuomo don't ever reach these decisions lightly.

But in terms of the data, I mean if I just pull up the data of where the most spread happens, the way coronavirus is spread is, number one, in these household gatherings, small gatherings with, you know, friends and neighbors and family. That's 74 percent, OK, of the spread, I mean according to contact tracers. Then there's, number two, health care delivery. Number three, higher education system, meaning at the colleges. Number four, education. And, number five, is restaurant and bars. And by the time you get to number five, it's 1.5 percent of the spread.

And so is it possible that -- that closing restaurants isn't going to do what you hope it will?

DE BLASIO: Look, Alisyn, there's no question we're dealing with a huge and complex challenge. And I feel for these restaurant owners. We've been working so hard to help them stay open. We created outdoor dining as a permanent feature here in New York City to help restaurants survive and the hundreds of thousands of people who work there, we want them to have their livelihoods.

But here's the problem, positivity for the coronavirus has increased intensely in New York City and New York state in recent weeks. Hospitalizations -- unfortunately, we're seeing a surge of hospitalizations. We've got to protect people's lives. We've got to protect our hospital's ability to save lives. And when it comes to this situation, you've got to start shutting down the most sensitive areas.

And, look, Governor Cuomo said in a "New York Times" interview that he could see a larger shutdown happening in New York City. I think he's right. I think that's something we have to be ready for in the coming weeks because this kind of momentum that the disease has right now, we've got to stop it. We've got to stop it before it causes too much damage, too much pain. And we have to stop it to give time for the vaccine to really be properly distributed. This is the last big battle against the coronavirus here in New York

City. This -- I've been saying to people, we've got a tough December, tough January. Let's fight one more battle and then the vaccine will have been spread and do its work. We've got to be disciplined in this last chance to make sure we fight the coronavirus back.

[08:35:07]

CAMEROTA: I understand. But, I mean, in terms of you saying that we have to start shutting down the most sensitive places, it doesn't look like restaurants are that place. And so on balance, maybe it would be more important to protect people's livelihoods and paychecks than a place that does 1.5 percent of the spreading.

DE BLASIO: Look, it's a very fair concern, but I want to go back to what our health care leaders say all the time. When you're trying to stop this kind of momentum with a disease, you're going to have to do a number of different things. It's not just one thing. We're obviously not going to people's homes to check how many people are around the table. We have to deal with the places where people gather. And, unfortunately, with restaurants, they're gathering indoors and they're gathering without face coverings on because you're eating and drinking. They are particularly sensitive. That's been proven all over the world, Alisyn.

And, look, unfortunately, this is just one of a number of steps that I think are going to be needed. There's going to be more restrictions after this. So it's not just choosing one industry.

CAMEROTA: Like what? Like what? Yes, I understand, but what are you imagining?

DE BLASIO: This is just the first, I fear.

CAMEROTA: What other --

DE BLASIO: So we've got more to do to say the least. But, look, the bottom line here is New Yorkers are responding.

CAMEROTA: But, I mean, just tell us like, what kind of restrictions? I mean just to prepare us, what other restrictions are you imagining next?

DE BLASIO: I think, Alisyn, you're talking about the potential, and, again, I'm quoting from Governor Cuomo, and I think he's right, there's the potential of having to do a full pause, a full shutdown in the coming weeks because we can't let this kind of momentum go.

I mean think about it for a moment, this city was the epicenter. We fought back. We became one of the safest places in the country. We opened our schools when most major cities didn't. We've kept our schools safe. But now we're seeing the kind of level of infection with the coronavirus we haven't seen since May and we have got to stop that momentum or else our hospital system will be threatened.

CAMEROTA: Yes. DE BLASIO: That's worth putting restrictions in place for.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

DE BLASIO: Protect our hospitals right at the point when we can beat this thing. Save lives, protect hospitals, turn the page over the next month or two.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

DE BLASIO: Them I think our economy comes back very, very strong.

CAMEROTA: And just in terms of that full shutdown, is that just across the board, is that targeted, and what would be the trigger for that?

DE BLASIO: Look, the state of New York makes the ultimate decision, but I think what we're looking at now is something that would be more across the board because of the sheer magnitude of what we're facing. It's a conversation I'm having with the governor and states having with the city constantly. And we, obviously, are sensitive to the fact it's the holidays, it's the holiday shopping season. We want people to shop at those local small businesses, mom and pop stores, help them through. But, in the end, our number one job is to protect people's health and safety. So I think the direction we're going in could well be one of those fuller shutdowns.

CAMEROTA: OK. Mayor Bill de Blasio, we really appreciate your time. Thanks for all the information. And we'll be watching at the vaccination command centers today.

DE BLASIO: It's going to be a good day, Alisyn. Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Thank you. You, too.

OK, some wintry weather today, but the northeast is about to get its first major winter storm. Chad Myers is going to tell us when and where, and if John and I will show up for work on Thursday.

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[08:42:36]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: So a major winter storm brewing, taking aim at the northeast. The question is, will I get a snow day, but not Alisyn?

CNN meteorologist Chad Myers with the forecast.

CAMEROTA: What?

BERMAN: Chad, this is big.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It is. It is going to be a big storm. Certainly more than a foot of snow in many, many places. Watches are already posted. They're not warnings yet because this doesn't happen until Wednesday. They will get upgraded to warnings for sure. This weather is presented by O'Keefe's, guaranteed relief for extremely dry, cracked skin.

So what's going on? Well, it isn't what you're seeing outside right now. That's a rain event for most people across the Northeast.

What we are going to be seeing later on this week is a storm that right now is in Colorado that will move in the same places, but air slightly colder than what we're seeing now.

There goes the storm for today. Rain is over by evening rush hour. But the storm is back out here still making snow in Colorado for the ski resorts out there. By tomorrow it's in Oklahoma and Texas. And then it runs up the East Coast and it's colder this time with this storm and there will be significant snow.

Models this morning are absolutely colder, cold enough to make all snow in New York. New York, usually it's a rain/snow slushy mess. This looks like all snow in New York. A little bit of ice into parts of Virginia. But look at these models.

Now, the European models, slightly deeper in snow, could be two feet in the Poconos and certainly ten inches in New York City. No question about that. And the American model not far on its heels. This is going to be a big one.

Will you get to work on Friday? Only if you spend the night Wednesday night.

Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: OK, so you're saying John and I should not come to work on Thursday morning?

MYERS: That is correct. Work from home.

CAMEROTA: Thanks.

BERMAN: He's an expert.

CAMEROTA: You heard it here first. Thank you very much.

BERMAN: Making snow out of nothing at all is my favorite Air Supply song, I'm just saying.

CAMEROTA: Wow. That's -- that's old school. Thank you.

All right, early, in-person voting begins today in the Georgia Senate runoff races. They will, of course, decide which party controls the Senate.

CNN's Nick Valencia is live in Atlanta.

How's it going, Nick?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Alisyn. Georgia continues to be the center of the political world here as

early in-person voting begins today in those two highly contested Senate runoff races. Also today an often overlooked process will get a lot of attention, especially as President Trump continues to repeat unfounded and unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud.

[08:45:03]

Those 16 Democratic electors will -- are expected to certify the 2020 election win for President-elect Joe Biden, as we Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

And just to give you a rundown, a little bit of what we expect to happen today.

Shortly after noon, those 16 Democratic electors will enter the Senate chambers here in the Georgia capitol and cast two votes, one for president, one for vice president. Six certificates will be generated. And in order to finalize those votes, they will then be sent off to four locations, including the U.S. Senate president, Mike Pence, northern district here, a court, northern district of Georgia, as well as the secretary of state here. And that will then go be counted on January 6th.

This is a formality that was attempted to be blocked by President Trump and his allies through litigation, a lawsuit that was thrown out by a federal judge. And, again, this is expected just to be a formality. But the 16 electors are a who's who of the Democratic Party, including former Gubernatorial Candidate Stacey Abrams, who many people here in the state credit with a very successful mobilization effort to get out the Democratic vote. Also U.S. Representative-elect Nikema Williams, as well as Calvin Smyre, he's a state representative here and the only one of the 16 electors to cast a vote for the last time a Democrat won here in 1929.

We talked to him yesterday. He said today is a great honor, though he did juxtapose this year with the last time he cast a vote in 1992. He says he worries slightly about the external factors of those that are attempting to undermine today's vote.

Alisyn. John.

CAMEROTA: OK, Nick, thank you very much for all of that reporting and letting us know what to expect.

VALENCIA: You got it.

CAMEROTA: So, we are, we think, moments away from the first coronavirus vaccines being given. Up next, we'll speak to one of the frontline doctors who is first in line to receive it.

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[08:50:50]

BERMAN: All right, just in to CNN, we just got our first video of the coronavirus vaccine arriving. That's such a wonderful sound to hear. That's at the University of Michigan Hospital right there. You could you see the UPS delivery person literally leaving the box of vaccine there and getting a round of applause as she walked out. What a moment to be witnessing and we'll be following this all day long as those boxes get unpacked and the shots get administered.

Here to discuss now how these health care facilities are rolling out the vaccine is Dr. Nicholas Gilpin. He joins us. He is the director of infection prevention and epidemiology at Beaumont Health.

And, Dr. Gilpin, you will be the first person at your hospital to get the Pfizer vaccine today. When? When today?

DR. NICHOLAS GILPIN, DIRECTOR OF INFECTION PREVENTION AND EPIDEMIOLOGY, BEAUMONT HEALTH: Great question. Still working out the logistics. I'm expecting to hopefully get it sometime this afternoon.

BERMAN: How did you end up first in line and why?

GILPIN: Well, that's a great question. I think I kind of live in this sort of hybrid world where part of my job is I'm an infectious disease doctor and I'm taking care of a lot of COVID patients, so, obviously, I have sort of a frontline caregiver role. But I think even more important than that, to our -- to our health care providers, I've been very much involved with the pandemic response and the vaccine preparedness efforts, so I'm -- I'm really -- I'm fortunate to be looked at by our health care providers as a leader. And I think as a leader my job is to really be a good ambassador for the vaccine and show our frontline staff that it is safe and it is effective.

BERMAN: And there was, I understand, some concern among the frontline staff, a touch of hesitancy. What were those concerns?

GILPIN: I think the conversation has changed a lot over the last several weeks and months. You know, it went from really a theoretical idea of what is a vaccine and what might that look like to now actually having a vaccine and having data. I still have a lot of conversations with doctors and nurses and I feel like the confidence in the vaccine has grown a lot, but there are still a lot of folks stopping me and asking, are you going to get it? Is it safe? And I think this is a good way for me to put my money where my mouth is.

BERMAN: That's right, you can say, yes. In fact, I already did get it. You know, look at this Band-aid in my arm.

GILPIN: Right.

BERMAN: I think it's perfectly safe. You are leading right now and that is so important to set this example.

We just showed pictures moments ago, I think you might have heard the applause there from a different hospital in Michigan where the box of vaccine got dropped off and the UPS delivery person actually got a round of applause as she walked out.

Just reflect on this moment, the magnitude of what we're all going through right now?

GILPIN: Well, this has been the longest year in the history of years. I think it's been like nothing I've ever experienced and probably like anyone else has experienced. I -- and this feels like the beginning step in what will hopefully be our ticket out of here. I think it's important for us as health care workers to lead by example. I think that it inspires confidence in the public, if we, as health care providers and physicians, can get this vaccine. It sends a clear message that we believe it's safe. And I really hope the public will follow suit.

BERMAN: How is this going to change? You know, you're going to go to bed tonight a different person in a sense. You will have received the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, which in a few day will give you some immunity, not complete immunity. You need to get the second dose three or four weeks from now. But how do you anticipate this changing your life?

GILPIN: What a good question. I really think that, in the short term, I don't expect a lot is going to change, other than that obviously the new mission is going to be one of being an ambassador and being an advocate for the vaccine. But, practically speaking, I'm still going to be seeing patients. I'm still going to be wearing a mask. I'm still going to be practicing hand hygiene and doing all the things that I and other physicians have been preaching out about for months. So I guess that's probably the best answer I can give you.

[08:55:00]

BERMAN: Yes. Maybe life itself won't change for you very quickly over the next few weeks, but over the next several months and into next summer, life for all of us will change, Dr. Gilpin, and I have to believe that's something that's just a huge weight off your shoulders.

GILPIN: Man, I hope so. I'm ready to be over this. I think the whole world is ready to move on and get toward something that looks more normal.

BERMAN: Listen, Dr. Gilpin, thank you for everything you have done. Thank you for being willing to go first today, letting people see you lead, getting this vaccine, which the data does show is safe. Thank you for everything you do. We really appreciate your time.

GILPIN: Thank you.

BERMAN: All right, it is this momentous, historic day. We will watch people get the first dose of coronavirus vaccine sometime in the next few hours.

Also, today's the day the Electoral College votes. The election becomes even more official today. Our special coverage of all of this continues right after this.

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