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France Closes Border with U.K.; Dow to Tumble on Virus Fears; New COVID Variant Could be More Transmissible; Food Insecurity Surges in America; New Jersey Teens Save Kids from Icy Pond. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired December 21, 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]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: India banned travel from the United Kingdom. As of now, Britain's Channel Tunnel, trucks are backed up. This is following France's decision to close its border with Britain.

CNN's Salma Abdelaziz is live in Dover, where this is all happening.

What can you tell us?

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Hello, John.

Absolutely a ghost town here. This is supposed to be one of the busiest ports in the world. I'm just going to step out of the shot to show you, just behind me here, there should be ships coming in and out, importing and exporting goods. All of that now stopped. You can see the red lights in the distance, the French/U.K. border now closed. The governments between these two countries are trying to negotiate a deal to reopen this border in a matter of hours. That's how crucial it is. This country's transport secretary tried to reassure the public because there were reports that there would be food shortages, medicine shortages, particularly during Christmastime, this is extremely concerning. That's why they need to get this solved soon.

You mentioned those trucks. Well, we couldn't even access that part of the motorway, that part of the highway, because it's been shut down where those 18-wheelers are essentially sitting with their drivers. The authorities saying that they're going to distribute food and try to keep these drivers going until this is solved.

But it's important to remember here, just over the weekend the authorities saying this virus is out of control. Well, critics of the government might say the response, the backlash is also out of control. This country feeling like it's being sealed off, trains stopping, ships stopping, cars and trucks stopping, planes being turned around. It's absolutely chaos.

Back to you, Erica.

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Salma Abdelaziz with the latest for us from Dover. Keep us posted. We know this is -- really is somewhat of a fluid situation at the moment. Thank you.

Stock futures right now down on the news on this new variant.

CNN's Julia Chatterley live now with more.

There is a lot of concern across the globe, Julia.

JULIA CHATTERLEY, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: There absolutely is. Good morning, Erica.

Any optimism on the financial band-aid that was agreed in D.C. over the weekend swamped I think by what we're seeing in the U.K. and the reaction from particularly European nations, but others in the world locking down on travel connections with the U.K.

As you pointed out, U.S. futures are down. But I have to say, stocks always seem to defy economic and health gravity and reality here. And we're already off the lows. Europe, though, is bearing the brunt. Look at what we're seeing for some of the European stock markets. You can see Paris and Germany, they're down over 3 percent. The U.K. also under some significant pressure here. It's anything related to hospitality, to travel. So the airline stocks are under pressure, hotel stocks. The banks also suffering here.

It's a reminder, I think, that main street is not Wall Street. When you look at -- take a look at this, the CNN Fear and Greed Index. I want to point this out because coming into this morning, we were in greed territory. We hit record highs in the United States on Friday last week. I have to say, Erica, despite what we're seeing today, I think we'll probably end up higher this week as we head to the final trading day of the week despite the concerns on the health crisis and actually the optimism will kick in here on the stimulus deal, too. So I don't think we can take a look at what we're seeing today, John, and see this is a reflection more broadly of what we're seeing stocks defy gravity and I think they will this week, too.

BERMAN: We'll see.

CHATTERLEY: Yes.

BERMAN: Although concern this morning over the new variant, but maybe that will wane over the court of the day and the week.

CHATTERLEY: I have to say. Yes.

BERMAN: Thanks so much.

CHATTERLEY: Thank you.

BERMAN: Joining us now, CNN medical analyst, Dr. Leana Wen. She's the former Baltimore City health commissioner.

Dr. Wen, thanks so much for being with us.

Look, there are a number of countries that have banned travel over the last few hours from the United Kingdom. Obviously that shows a high level of concern over this new variant. We spoke to Admiral Giroir, who works for the Trump administration, battling the virus right now, part of the Coronavirus Task Force. Some of the things that they believe they know, they believe the vaccines will be effective against this new variant. They don't believe that this new variant is any more deadly per se. But the open question is, how much more transmissible is it? Are more people going to get this variant? Will more people get sick? And that remains an open question. And in and of itself, Dr. Wen, I imagine, is cause for concern.

DR. LEANA WEN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: That's right, John. So I do think it's important for us to lay out the significance of what we know and also what this means and what it does not mean. I think it is really important, as you said, to point out that we do not think that this is more deadly. There's no reason for us to believe that a vaccines -- the vaccines that are developed would not work against this variant.

But if it's more transmissible, that's a big issue because this is already a highly contagious virus. We know it's something that doesn't just spread through coughing and sneezing but also through breathing, through seeing, through just speaking. You can exhale these microscopic aerosols that then can suspend it to others. And so if this is something that's even more transmissible, it's very concerning.

[08:35:03]

Though here's the thing. I think if anything that we should be taking away from this is that we need to be doubling down and being even more vigilant, especially coming into the holidays. This is a virus that spreads from person to person. It's not going to spread if we don't give it the opportunity to. So let's not panic, but rather let's double down on these precautions that we've already been talking about, masking, physical distancing, but, very importantly, not having indoor gatherings.

HILL: We've talked so much about these -- these travel bans. You know, we just heard from -- from Salma about the concern, right, in the U.K. and across Europe. We know the strain was first identified I guess in September in England. Now it's been found in at least four other countries. And Admiral Giroir telling -- telling John a short time ago that right now there is no guidance from the CDC that there needs to be a travel ban. There's going to be a meeting later today and, in his words, quote, everything needs to be on the table.

Is that something that you think we may be looking at, a possible travel ban for traffic coming into the U.S. from the U.K.?

WEN: So, look, a travel ban in theory could be effective, but only if we know exactly where this variant is located. We know that it is in the U.K., but it's also the dominant strain in South Africa and it's also in other countries as well. And so it would not really make sense to only have a travel ban out of the U.K. if it's in other parts of the world, too. The other thing, too, is it may well be already in the U.S., but we're just not picking up on it. Instead of a travel ban, I think there's something else that we could

consider that may have less economic repercussions, and that's asking everyone to quarantine once they arrive in the U.S. That's what many countries have been doing already. It's something that we could consider here for people arriving from certain other countries. And I would just add, too, that right now the U.S. is the viral hot spot in the world. And so for us to be imposing a travel ban from somewhere else I think would raise a lot of eyebrows.

BERMAN: The Moderna vaccine could go in people's arms as soon as today. What are you looking for in the coming days with this? How will this change things?

WEN: I think it's great that we have another vaccine candidate that is now going to be distributed. The Moderna vaccine also is much easier to store and to transport. It doesn't require those arctic temperatures. In a normal refrigerator it could last 30 days. It doesn't need to be diluted. And so I think that it increases the ease of transport.

But what I'm looking for, John, is whether we'll be able to get those distribution challenges sorted out because at some point there's a level of -- well, a lack of coordination and miscommunication that happened with the Pfizer vaccine, and I also would hope that whatever stimulus package ends up getting passed would have much more aid for local and state health departments that are on the front lines of distributing the vaccine.

HILL: Dr. Leana Wen, always great to have you with us. Thank you.

WEN: Thank you.

HILL: A mall parking lot packed before the holidays, but not with holiday shoppers. We'll tell you why so many people were there, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:42:28]

BERMAN: The coronavirus pandemic has plunged millions of Americans into food insecurity this holiday season. Food pantries across the country now dealing with huge lines.

CNN's Rosa Flores live in Florida for the very latest.

Rosa.

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, good morning.

You know, the need for food is so great right now. Here in south Florida it has doubled since the pandemic began.

Take a look behind me. The food that you see here will be delivered this morning. It's about to get loaded onto trucks to be delivered to people in need. But I want you to take a look at this warehouse because one in five

people in south Florida need the food that you're looking at to make ends meet. That includes 300,000 children. That is why we're seeing moms, dads, grandparents waiting in food lines for hours to get a box of food.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FLORES (voice over): Before dawn, people waited at a south Florida mall on the weekend before Christmas.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are we sleeping?

FLORES: But they're not here holiday shopping. They're in line for free food.

DEBORAH HIGHTOWER, FOOD BANK RECIPIENT: I've always been hesitant about coming because I've -- I would -- I'm sorry. I would hate for the person -- me to get the last of something and the person behind me be in a worse position than I am.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Melon. Can I have two melons here, please?

FLORES: It's a scene replayed across the country, from Los Angeles, where one food bank says distribution of groceries has doubled since the pandemic began, to the suburbs of Atlanta, where 500 cars waited for an hour and a half before distribution started.

MICHAEL THURMOND, CEO, DEKALB COUNTY: This is another indication of the pain and the suffering that's being felt all across our nation.

FLORES: Since the pandemic began in March, hunger in the United States has skyrocketed. Feeding America, the nation's largest food bank network, reports a 60 percent increase in the demand over last year.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Merry Christmas. God bless you guys.

FLORES: In south Florida, one in five people need food assistance and a quarter of children go to bed hungry according to Feeding South Florida.

Deborah Hightower is an accountant.

HIGHTOWER: So, you know, this -- this is hard for me to come here.

FLORES: The mother of three teenagers was recently hospitalized and says she has lost her job twice since the pandemic started.

HIGHTOWER: I'm very independent and do not like to ask for help. But sometimes you just have to do -- God humbles you.

[08:45:00]

FLORES: Some people, like Larry Batiste (ph), waited for hours not to get food for himself but for three members of his church who are unemployed or can't leave their homes due to COVID concerns. LARRY BATISTE: You certainly get a lot of smiles, and you can't hug

them anymore.

FLORES: Leonard and Julie Thompson delivered the food they received to seven neighbors and friends.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Appreciate you. Appreciate you sharing with me, as usual.

FLORES: As the pandemic surges, demand for food --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Merry Christmas!

FLORES: Is expected to grow.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll see you soon. Ho, ho, ho!

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FLORES: But as you take another live look, his is food that is getting loaded right now to be delivered to families in need in south Florida.

Now, the good news, of course, is that there is a COVID relief deal that was made in Washington. But, John, I've got to tell you, this particular food bank is still trying to figure out if that money will actually trickle down to this particular food bank to meet the demand, which we have to add continues to grow.

John.

BERMAN: Well, it won't help this week. I mean maybe by the first of the year we'll start to see some of that money.

Rosa Flores, thanks so much for being with us. Thank you for that report.

So a group of teenagers bans together to save two young kids who have fallen into an icy pond. We're going to hear the whole, heroic story, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:50:06]

HILL: Time now for "The Good Stuff."

Five teens from New Jersey are being called hero this morning. They rescued an eight-year-old and her four-year-old little brother who had fallen into an icy pond while sledding. All five high school freshmen are with us this morning. Kieran Foley, Drew Scalice, Joseph Detric (ph), Ryan Day and Tyler Armagan.

Great to see you guy this morning. I know it's chilly out there, so thanks for braving the cold to join us this morning.

I mean, boy, talk about some quick thinking. So, as I understand it, you guys were getting ready to leave. You had

had a pretty good day of sledding. But you weren't gone yet.

And, Kieran, what moment did you realize that these kids were going right into that icy pond?

KIERAN FOLEY, JUMPED INTO FROZEN POND TO RESCUE TWO KIDS: The moment I realized it is when the dad started yelling, hop off the sled, to the two little kids. And they were -- they just went so fast right down the hill. And I think Joey and Ryan, I believe, also noticed the dad yelling.

HILL: And you -- and you went right in?

FOLEY: Yes, I just walked right in. I knew it wasn't that deep, the water, so I just picked them up and brought them to the side of the pond, and tried to get them as warm as possible.

HILL: I'm sure they were soaked. I know you got soaked. I imagine, too, they were so scared, eight and four years old.

FOLEY: Yes.

HILL: What did you -- what did you say to them in those moments? I mean were they -- were they able to talk to you or were they just so scared and awe-struck?

FOLEY: They -- when they were coming down the hill, they actually came down backwards. So they were -- they really didn't see it coming. And they -- they were just so traumatized, I believe, that like this whole thing happened. And I wasn't really like trying to comfort them, I was more just trying to get them out of the cold as fast as possible. Once they were ashore, the rest of my friends, they did comfort the two children.

HILL: Yes. You know, Drew, you all really jumped into action, right, and banded together to help.

DREW SCALICE, HELPED RESCUE TWO KIDS FROM FROZEN POND: Yes.

HILL: I know Kieran ran in to grab the kids and then you're handing them off.

What were those -- what were those moments like for you? Do you remember what was going through your mind at the time?

SCALICE: It was just actions. I mean all I can remember is seeing the kids come down and then they just went in and I grabbed Tyler as we handed the boys up and Joey and Ryan got the boy, RJ, while me and Tyler got the girl.

HILL: And, as I understand it, you guys are also members of the same Boy Scout Troop 47, which I love, too. As you're all coming together to make this happen, I'm curious, what did you guys -- after you get the kids safely to shore, you're all, you know, some of you are kind of trying to dry off, too. When -- when did the kids start talking? What did they say to you,

Drew?

SCALICE: Well, when we went to the car, back to the car, they were -- they started to cry a bit. But I feel like they were in really shock. But I remember Ryan was trying to calm the kid down. He was asking him questions, like what he wanted for Christmas, all that type of stuff.

HILL: I -- I know, and I'm sure you know, their parents are so, so grateful. They sent us a video that we'd love to play and hopefully you guys can hear it.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD HEID, FATHER OF CHILDREN RESCUED FROM FROZEN POND: Hey, boys. We just wanted to say thank you for your courage and bravery and wish you guys a Merry Christmas and a happy holidays.

RJ HEID, RESCUED FROM FROZEN POND: Thank you.

OLIVIA HEID, RESCUED FROM FROZEN POND: Thank you.

STEPHANIE IRLBECK, MOTHER OF CHILDREN RESCUED FROM FROZEN POND: Thanks, guys.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Your quick thinking certainly making this a Merry Christmas for their family.

Kieran, I know you've been getting a lot of attention since this happened.

FOLEY: Yes.

HILL: I think -- I think part of that comes from the fact that we could all use a little good news these days. How does it feel to know that you're -- you know, this story and your quick thinking is really bringing a lot of joy to people this morning?

FOLEY: I'm grateful that it's a good, positive impact on everybody's life and that the kids came out safe. No one was hurt or anything. And that especially during the holidays, that it's a -- it's a good vibe and nothing bad about it.

HILL: Yes.

Drew, how are you feeling this morning?

SCALICE: I think it's great. I think it's good that we helped those kids and that everyone's really taking it as a good thing. Everyone's happy. It's kind of warming everyone up for the holidays.

HILL: Yes. What -- what has it been like, Drew, for you to get all of this

outreach and all of these people trying to talk to you?

SCALICE: It's -- it's crazy. I got like phone calls, emails the day right after. This is -- there wasn't a break. I mean we've been up almost 24/7 just talking to people and it's amazing.

FOLEY: Yes.

HILL: Well, thank you for taking the time to talk to all of us. It's -- it's really good to see this, this morning. And appreciate you -- appreciate you doing what you did. Thanks, guys.

FOLEY: Thank you.

SCALICE: Of course.

BERMAN: A little bit of notoriety for all the right reasons, it's refreshing, right?

HILL: All the right reasons. Isn't it so great? I love it.

[08:55:00]

I really do. Such a good story.

BERMAN: Oh, no they were saying, before the break, it was just funny. People would see them and they're like, oh my God, like, the phone's ringing off the hook. We can't --

HILL: Yes.

BERMAN: You know, everyone's calling. Everyone's calling. Like, good. Good. These kids did something really, really good.

HILL: They did something great and it is so -- it is so nice to have the opportunity to share their story and to let them talk about it, too, and what a grateful family, too.

BERMAN: Yeah Boy Scouts, right?

HILL: Absolutely. Troop 47. Well done.

We are learning more about this new variant of the coronavirus that has several countries now banning travel from the United Kingdom. CNN's coverage continues next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:00:03]

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: All right, good Monday morning everyone. Hope you had a nice weekend. I'm Poppy Harlow. Jim has a well-deserved week off.