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The Coronavirus Pandemic Is Already Set To Leave A Devastating Mark On 2021; The White House Task Force Is Acknowledging Nationwide Delays In The Vaccine Rollout; Another 787,000 Americans Filed First Time Claims For Unemployment Benefits Last Week; Dr. Fauci Has Expressed Optimism That Americans Could Return To Some Sense Of Normal Life In 2021. Aired 9-9:30a ET

Aired December 31, 2020 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:00]

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BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, I'm Bianna Golodryga in for Jim and Poppy. Good-bye 2020 and good riddance. But this pandemic is already set to leave a devastating mark on 2021. Today, a New Year's Eve like no other; scaled down celebrations around the world as virus cases continue to surge. A live look at New York's Time Square; less than 15 hours from now the ball will drop to almost completely empty streets. Tonight it's by invitation only and only a few hundred people will gather including frontline workers.

It's a critical time as officials warn people against celebrating in high-risk groups. The country, again, breaking records for COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations. The CDC now projecting another 80,000 Americans could die in the next three weeks alone. But as those numbers spike vaccinations lag. The White House task force admitting that the nation's vaccine rollout is moving way slower than promised.

Let's begin with "CNN's" Paul Vercammen in Los Angeles with more. And, Paul, I know officials there are bracing for that post holiday surge, as well.

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well they're petrified by the prospect right now, Bianna. And let's look at this in the context of these national numbers; they are horrific. More than 300,740 deaths; you see that in the U.S. Also the CDC is forecasting that we could get up to, and I want to correct it that was 3,000 deaths, 424,000 deaths by January 23; that's 80,000 more U.S. residents.

In L.A. County, right now, a person is dying every 10 minutes; more than 10,000 deaths in L.A. County. Also more than 125,000 people hospitalized nationwide; 20,000 of them in California and 4,400 of those people are in ICUs. And when you're on the ground talking to doctors and nurses they are just asking why would anybody want to go out on New Year's Eve and co-mingle their households with others and put everyone's lives at risk. Back to you, Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, a few places are harder hit than Southern California. Paul Vercammen, thank you, so much. And officials there in Southern California say that they found a new case of that highly contagious strain of coronavirus first discovered in the U.K. It comes as a second suspected case is being monitored in Colorado.

"CNN's" Stephanie Elam is in Colorado with more. Stephanie, what more have we learned?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, well, Bianna, let's start with that San Diego case since it's the one that we've learned about the most recently. And we know it's a 30-year old man who is quarantining now. We know that he really did not have a lot of social interaction during that potentially contagious period according to county health officials. They're saying he has two household members and on Tuesday one of those members has started to show symptoms.

However, because he hasn't had a lot of interaction, no social interaction, no work interaction they're doing the contact tracing here but they're feeling better about it not spreading as far from this one individual. However, the fact that he has this variant does show that there is community spread. In fact, take a listen to what Dr. Anthony Fauci said about this prevalence and the fact that we're now finding this variant here in the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR OF NIH: You're going to be hearing about reports from other states and more cases in the states that have already reported. And unfortunately that's just the reality of the way these viruses spread.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAM: Now we know that just the day before that we got that first confirmation of this U.K. variant being found here in Colorado. Found here in Semilla (ph), Colorado; which is in a rural county here outside of Denver. And what we know about that is that there's one man who's in his 20's who is a member of the Colorado National Guard and we know that there's one suspected case of the variant of a man who is also in the Colorado National Guard. And both of them were here at this assisted living facility helping out after a COVID outbreak where about 100 percent, this is what we're understanding from the state yesterday, of the residents here were sick with COVID so they needed more hands on-deck.

We know the state has been here testing the residents and also testing the people that work here to see if they have this variant. But here is the big point from this, Bianna, when you're looking at these people who do not have international travel profiles. Obviously that means that this variant is here in the states and while we're just finding out about where it is, it's likely spreading more in other parts of the country as well. And this is a reason why we should not be mixing and should be staying home as much as possible. Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: Absolutely. We just haven't been testing for this new variant throughout the states here over that past few months.

[09:05:00]

GOLODRYGA: Stephanie Elam, thank you, so much. Well let's get to "CNN's" Kristen Holmes for more on the White House task force acknowledging nationwide delays in the vaccine rollout. Kristen, what more did we learn from that news conference yesterday.

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bianna, this is very different messaging than what we've heard for the last several weeks. Instead of just blaming this potential lag in reporting; you're really hearing these government health officials taking responsibility. Acknowledging that this is not where they wanted to be and saying they wanted to do better. Brett Giroir telling Jake Tapper that they want to do better moving forward. So let's take a look at where the numbers currently stand.

Remember the goal was to have 20 million doses by today. We are nowhere near that; 2.794 million vaccine doses have been put into arms. Again, nowhere near that 20 million doses. Twelve million plus have been distributed. We do know that there's about 20 million doses that have been allocated to states but states aren't going to see that for some time. They have to order them; they have to be shipped out. We know all about that long process.

Now what we're seeing happen is these health officials turning to the states to try and find out what exactly is happening once those vaccines are dropped off. Take a listen to Dr. Fauci said today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. FAUCI: I mean we would have liked to have seen it run smoothly and have 20 million doses into people today by the end of the 2020, which was the projection. Obviously it didn't happen and that's disappointing. But there really has to be a lot more effort in the sense of resources for the locals; namely the states, the cities, the counties, the places where the vaccine is actually going into the arms of individuals.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: And that's what we're hearing from the state officials too. Remember we've talked a lot about the process here; this vaccine being different from any other vaccine. And these state officials say they really just need that help even if it's just helping them with the storage or the transport. They need that help in order to get these vaccines into arms.

And one thing I want to point out here is Giroir also told Jake Tapper that they are hoping to distribute another 30 million vaccines in January and potentially even 50 million vaccines in February. That is something we hoping is not another over promise. We'll be watching though and holding them accountable. Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, though it wasn't reassuring to heard Admiral Giroir say that he really couldn't explain why this holdup was taking place; so clearly a lot more investigative work that they have to do on their end. Kristen Holmes, thank you as always. Well the New Year just hours away. Tonight's celebration in New York will look very different. Absolutely no spectators will be allowed in Times Square to watch the ball drop. "CNN's" Brynn Gingras is live in New York with more. Brynn, it's been unusual to see an empty Times Square throughout this pandemic. I have to be honest with you. And now officials hope that that continues tonight, as well.

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Bianna, you literally just took the words out of my mouth, right. Because we've seen the images of Time Square, you probably likely have been here like I have, where it's empty. Well listen behind me, I'm going to get out of the way so you can see; you can see there are production trucks. This is like the most action that we've seen in Times Square in quite a while. This is what New Year's Eve typically does look like. But let's not be mistaken.

Like you just said; it's a very different New Year's Eve ball drop situation here because there will not be any revelers. Usually at this time, Bianna, we would see on the outside streets of Times Square people lined up, some wearing their diapers because they're going to sit in Times Square all day long waiting for that ball drop. And they are just waiting to get into the pens to celebrate. Well that's not happening.

In fact, NYPD is saying just stay away; don't even come close to here. Now it is raining right now so we're not seeing those crowds for that matter anyway. But that's what the situation is. Still the show must go on, right. The ball is still going to drop; we are still going to welcome 2021, thank goodness. It's just going to be in a different fashion. We know that there's a lot of big name celebrities that are going to be inside Times Square later today. They all had to go - undergo a COVID test to make sure they were safe. There are still pens, again no revelers, they're smaller in size, they're socially distanced and they are only reserved for people who are frontline workers; the heroes of 2020, if you will, and their families.

And of course, NYPD as they have every year protected this area from anything, any possibility or any threat. There are no threats against this. But they're actually operating with 80 percent less force because there aren't going to be any revelers. And a lot of their job, Bianna, is really going to make sure people don't come by here, to keep them away. So that's the message as we welcome 2021finally, can't wait for midnight. Just welcome it at home, watch is live stream, the ball is still going to drop at midnight. Bianna.

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GOLODRYGA: Yes, well if anybody is going to celebrate the end of 2020 is should be those frontline workers. What a hellish year it has been for them especially. Brynn Gingras, thank you so much.

And "CNN's" New Year's Eve coverage live from Times Square with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen kicks off at 8 o'clock eastern. Some of their special guests include Mariah Carey, Patti LaBelle, Dion Warwick, and Carole Baskin of "Tiger King" fame. And just in this morning another 787,000 Americans filed first time claims for jobless benefits last week. This one day after Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell says the Senate quote "Won't be bullied into passing a bill to increase stimulus checks to $2,000." So where does the measure go from here.

And the president is cutting his Florida vacation short and tightening his grip on the republican party. This just days away from the GOP attempt to challenge President Elect Biden's win. Republican Senator, Ben Sasse call the move dangerous.

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[09:15:00]

GOLODRYGA: Another 787,000 Americans filed first time claims for unemployment benefits last week. "CNN's" Chief Business Correspondent, Christine Romans joins me now for more on this. Christine, first time claims dropped slightly from last week. What are you reading into these numbers?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You know it was a holiday week and there was a lot of uncertainty about whether there would be more relief, if Congress would be able to get more relief to people. These numbers fell a little bit but this is still a really big number. For 41 weeks now, Bianna, anyone of these numbers would have blown away the pre-pandemic record. So we're settling into this terrifying normal of layoffs over and over, every single week; almost 800,000 families.

You add in the pandemic unemployment assistance programs and it's over 1 million people filed for the first time for unemployment benefits. When we look at continuing claims; really important here, it feel a little bit but that's still 5.2 million people. And overall 19.5 million people, Bianna, are receiving some sort of jobless benefit. Think of that split screen, this year the S&P 500 will have advanced 15.5 percent and we have 19.5 million people who are getting some sort of unemployment benefits. It's just remarkable.

That's the layoff side of the story. When you look at the job hiring side; I'm a little concerned about how this recovery has stalled. We're going to get another jobs report next week, Bianna, but you can see there very clearly that these months of gains are petering out here. Really underscores, I think, how important it was for Congress to pass that relief also underscores more work that may have to be done next year. We're really looking for these vaccines to really be an important - an important part, a building block in a recovery in the jobs market maybe in the middle of next summer.

But until then, you've got a lot of families who do not have gainful employment at the moment and it is - it is a problem.

GOLODRYGA: Yes and it clearly doesn't look like that V shape recovery that many in this -

(CROSSTALK) ROMANS: No it doesn't.

GOLODRYGA: -- administration had been forecasting. Christine Romans, thank you. Happy New Year to you.

ROMANS: You too.

GOLODRYGA: And joining me now is Michigan Congresswoman, Debbie Dingell. She also serves as Senior Whip and Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. Congresswoman, thanks so much for joining us. So there you just heard it; another 787,000 Americans are now collecting jobless benefits as we head into the new year. How concerned are you about the state of the economy and the job market?

REP. DEBBIE DINGELL (D-MI): I'm very concerned about the state of the economy, I'm concerned about the job market (inaudible), I'm really concerned about is the individuals that are really scared. Yesterday I got a letter from one of my constituents about one of his friends who tried to commit suicide because he had been trying to get help and nobody could help him. He had run out of unemployment insurance, he didn't know how he was going to pay his mortgage or rent, he didn't think he had anything to live for.

And I'm just getting too many of those stories on a day-to-day basis. We have got to help each other out. And these next few months are going to be as tough as the ones that we've seen. We have got to do something to help people.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, the mental anguish is just imaginable and the stress put on so many millions of families. Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell has rejected a bill to increase direct stimulus payments to $2,000; all but closing the door on any pathway to pass the measure to put more money in pockets of Americans who really need this money before the end of this Congress.

Listen to what he said about the measure on the Senate floor yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, KY. (R): The Senate is not going to split apart the three issues that President Trump linked together just because democrats are afraid to address two of them. The Senate's not going to be bullied into rushing out more borrowed money into the hands of democrat rich friends who don't need the help.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: So, Congresswoman, there is a debate among economist, I know, about whether targeting that money directly to those who are unemployed would be a more effective plan. But having said that, McConnell has completely negated the fact that the president, himself, is demanding the $2,000 checks; so what do you make of his approach here blaming democrats and your rich friends, as he says?

REP. DINGELL: You know I'm going to talk - I believe in respecting everybody but I think that there are a few senators that need to get out of the Senate floor and come see real America. They live in this (inaudible) world and have no idea about how people are really living. And his callousness - first of all we're not doing anything for our rich friends. We are working hard for the people that we represent.

And I'm telling - he says this isn't going to help people that need help, I'm going to tell him there are a lot of people that need more help. I have people that work at the University of Michigan that have been lab technicians, that have no job and they don't even qualify for these payments. They're hurting as much as anybody else. I have two household families who can't find childcare so the mother can't work, they are not eligible right now and they're worried about whether they can even stay in their home.

[09:20:00]

REP. DINGELL: I say Senator Mitch McConnell get off the rarified world of the Senate floor and start talking (ph). Just talk directly to some of the constituents in your state and know how people are counting on us for help. They don't look at us as democrats, republicans; there are Americans hurting and they need help.

GOLODRYGA: Look, I've said numerous times it's just shameful when you see these lines, these car lines going for miles at food banks across the country, the richest country in the world and so many Americans are food insecure. But we know Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer and other democrats have dismissed Senator McConnell's concerns about the proposal for the $2,000 direct stimulus checks. Adding too much money to the budget deficit by sighting (ph) the $2 trillion tax cut that republicans have passed under President Trump.

Putting that aside, how concerned are you about the deficit?

REP. DINGELL: Here's - the republican chair (ph) of the Fed has said we must invest in our economy now. That investing in the economy, putting money into the economy is singly the most important thing that we can do. When we do that - when we begin to build back the economy; people are going to be back at work, they're going to be paying taxes so there will be more revenue coming in.

There are other economist who said the deficit may not even matter now. Right now there are people that are hurting, we have - I don't just blow if off, but I believe right now that we've got to worry about all of our Americans. We've got to worry about humanity issues and about whether people have a roof over their head, that they can eat, they can got to the doctor. I think those are simple basic needs. We have a moral responsibility to (inaudible).

GOLODRYGA: And meantime President Elect Joe Biden reiterated his support, as you know, for the increased stimulus payments after Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell rejected the bill. But Biden has repeatedly said that this is just a down payment and that he continues to press for more money after the inauguration. How feasible is that, do you think, that you could pass another significant measure within just a matter of weeks? REP. DINGELL: We're going to have to do it. There's just too much need out there. (Inaudible) there is anybody, I don't care if you're democrat or republican, state and local governments are desperate for aid. Just go to very basic things like we need to distribute that vaccine as fast as we can if we are going to get this country back to normal. We can't rebuild our economy until we ensure that we are delivering vaccines to every American. State and local governments need help. That's got to be just one of the things that we have to do.

There are people that are hungry; we need to be putting more money into those programs. President Biden who was - President Elect Joe Biden was very clear that we had to start now, we couldn't wait until January 20 but there would be many more things that we have to do. And we've got to look at it objectively. He's got a COVID task force that's going to look at the things that we need to do. But I mean you can not get back to normal until we attack and destroy this COVID virus.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, clearly this incoming administration has a lot on their plate and a very lofty objective; vaccinating 100 million Americans in 100 days. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, thank you, so much for joining us. Happy New Year to you. We're all wishing for a better 2021.

REP. DINGELL: And good riddance 2020.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, good riddance, indeed.

REP. DINGELL: Thank you.

GOLODRYGA: Thank you.

REP. DINGELL: Happy New Year.

GOLODRYGA: You too. Will a return to normalcy by early fall? Dr. Fauci says it could happen but we need to pick up the pace of vaccinations first. We'll discuss more coming up.

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[09:25:00]

GOLODRYGA: Dr. Fauci says health officials are looking into the idea of using coronavirus vaccines set aside for second doses to vaccinate more people with a first shot.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. FAUCI: I mean that's under consideration. I still think if done properly you can do a single dose, reserve doses for the second and still get the job done. But there's a lot of discussion about whether or not you want to spread out the initial vaccination by getting more people vaccinated on the first round.

(END VIDEO CLIP) GOLODRYGA: The risk here is that by not initially holding back doses more vaccines will be needed to produce and distribute by the time those required second doses are needed.

I'm joined now by Dr. Carlos del Rio, Executive Associate Dean of Emery University School of Medicine at Grady Health System. Dr. del Rio, thank you so much for joining us. So, in your opinion, is this a risk worth taking? I mean we're talking about a 95 percent efficacy rate but that only applies when both doses are administered, correct?

DR. CARLOS DEL RIO, EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE DEAN OF EMERY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT GRADY HEALTH SYSTEM: That's correct, Bianna, but there is data at least with Pfizer and Moderna that even after one dose you get significant protection; not the 95 percent but you get over 60, 70 percent protection. The U.K. has decided to do that, to start spreading out their doses. I mean it's a possibility but my concern is that at this point and time we really have no data of what the impact would be and how - what happens after you delay the second dose.

So it's a little bit of a unknown territory and I think it's going to be a very difficult decision. But the reason it's being considered is because we have to do something to decrease hospitalizations and mortality. And the vaccine may be the only hope we have to do that.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, especially since this administration had promised that we'd have 20 million people vaccinated and we're just a little over 2 million by today. In the meantime, yesterday Dr. Fauci had also expressed optimism that Americans could return to some sense of normal life in 2021.

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GOLODRYGA: If vaccinations ramp up in the new year. Do you agree with his assessment?

DR. DEL RIO: Well the question is when.