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States are seeing Rise in Coronavirus Cases; New COVID Cases Sparking Concerns; Russia Interfered in 2020 Campaign; AstraZeneca Vaccine Paused. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired March 17, 2021 - 06:30   ET

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

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[06:30:17]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, this is what scientists have been worried about. This morning, more than a dozen states are seeing a rise in the number of coronavirus cases. This comes as the CDC is asking people not to take part in St. Patrick's Day celebrations today.

CNN's Robyn Curnow live in Emerson, Georgia, outside a mass vaccination site which is opening today.

Robyn.

ROBYN CURNOW, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, hi. Good to see you, John.

So this is one of five new vaccination sites, mass vaccination sites that's opening up here in the state of Georgia. This, of course, as Georgia tries to ramp up its vaccination drive and to address the disparities in dosage supplies. It's been much more easier if you're in a rural area to get a vaccine than it is if you're in one of the metro areas, like Atlanta. And, of course, this comes as authorities across the country are warning people, if they're eligible, if they're vulnerable to take up the offer of coming and getting a vaccine at a place like this, particularly to prevent any future surges.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CURNOW (voice over): New fears that coronavirus is on the rise in key hot spots this morning, even as parts of the United States inched towards normal. Average new infections are increasing in more states than where they're falling, with Michigan seeing a jump of over 50 percent from last week.

But across the United States, travelers are on the move. And an average of 1.3 million of them passing through TSA checkpoints daily from Friday through Monday.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALES: Spring break!

CURNOW: With scenes like this on Florida's beaches, some local leaders and top spring break destinations fear tourists are bringing the coronavirus along with them.

MAYOR DAN GELBER (D), MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA: We have too many people coming who want to just let loose in ways that we -- are unacceptable and we have a pandemic including, I think, really sort of ground central for the variant.

CURNOW: And it's not just in vacation hot spots. After seeing packed bars in advance of St. Patrick's Day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are asking people to keep their celebrations at home or outdoors and socially distanced today.

DR. ASHISH JHA, DEAN, BROWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: There's a lot that we can do safely. The problem is that if we decide that it's over, the pandemic is over, and go back to normal, we're really asking for another wave.

CURNOW: This as more states plan to expand vaccine eligibility thanks to an increase in supply.

GOV. MIKE DEWINE (R-OH): On March 29th, eligibility will open up in Ohio for every Ohioan who is 16 years of age and older.

CURNOW: Wisconsin also allowing those over 16 with certain medical conditions starting March the 29th. Nearly 12 percent of the U.S. population is now fully vaccinated. But health experts warn the relaxing of pandemic restrictions and the highly contagious variant, first identified in the U.K., could cause another surge in coronavirus cases.

MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY: The next several weeks are going to be all about B117. And the race we have between vaccine and the variant and again, of course, loosening up, as we are right now, we are creating a perfect storm scenario for this virus to spread.

CURNOW: A reason why health experts say it's key to continue to follow health guidelines and get vaccinated when eligible.

DR. JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: If we need incentive to get vaccines into arms, here it is. All three of the vaccines that are approved in the United States are very effective against the U.K. B117 variant.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CURNOW: So, also, don't get complacent. That's also coming from health officials who say even if you've been vaccinated, you only really have full coverage, full protection about two weeks after your final dose, after that second jab. So folks need to still wear a mask, still social distance, even if they come and get a vaccine here today.

John, back to you.

BERMAN: Robyn Curnow, thank you very much for that.

So, cities on alert across the country. The Asian-American community taking new precautions. We have new developments coming in on the multiple shootings at three Atlanta massage parlors. Eight people dead, six of them reportedly Asian. As I said, we have new reporting coming up.

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[06:38:27]

BERMAN: This morning, 14 states now seeing an increase in new coronavirus cases when compared to last week. In Michigan, you can see the deep red there. Cases are up more than 50 percent. All the states in red there showing a rise in cases, the deep red, an increase of more than 50 percent.

Now, nationwide, the numbers are still trending down, but there are worries that this could be the first sign that the coronavirus variants are spreading.

Joining us now is William Haseltine, he is the president of Access Health International, a former professor of Harvard Medical School.

So, Professor, we see these 14 states with cases rising. We know in Ontario, in Canada, they're nervous that they are on the precipice of a new wave. They've just declared that they think that's happening because they're seeing a rise in hospital there.

What is it that you think we're seeing?

WILLIAM HASELTINE, :PRESIDENT, ACCESS HEALTH INTERNATIONAL: I think we're seeing a new wave. It's starting in the north. And actually we've seen it for quite a while. We've seen a steep drop after the Christmas and New Year's peak, but that plateaued. We didn't really continue that drop. And now we're seeing in many of our states upticks.

That's what you would expect as people relax in the midst of what is still a very dangerous pandemic. And I'm afraid it's not just St. Patrick's Day. It's going to be the spring break that could drive it across the country again, drive it up across the country. We don't have enough people vaccinated yet to make a real difference in infections.

And it's not just the virus you encountered last year. This is a new and more dangerous virus.

[06:40:01]

In New York City, where I'm speaking from, half of the new infections are a mixture of two variants, one from the U.K. and one home grown. The home grown looks actually worse than the U.K. So when you take those considerations together, this is no time to relax.

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: You mentioned that other variant here in New York, the one that was first identified here in New York. When you look at those variants, we know they're more transmissible. We know that specifically when it comes to the one that's identified in the U.K., there's concerns about more severe illness, perhaps leading to more deaths. But do we know that it is those variants at this point, is there enough sequencing happening of these new cases that we know it is the variants that are pushing this spread or this new wave, as you point out, that we may be in?

HASELTINE: I don't think it's entirely the variants. I think it's partially the variants. The variants are more transmissible. They do cause more serious danger. And when they get into the family, they don't infect one member, they infect usually the whole member -- the whole family, including very importantly children. These variants that we've been looking at have a much higher propensity for infecting children as well as adults. So this is pretty serious.

BERMAN: All right. Let's talk about AstraZeneca, which is the vaccine that, in many ways, is the dominant vaccine being used in Europe. Nation after nation has paused, suspended use of it, they say because of concerns over possible blood clots. They're going to review this and we may get a decision from the EU shortly about this.

What do you think's going to happen? How do you access these concerns, Professor?

HASELTINE: Well, from the data I've seen, I'm not particularly concerned. That doesn't mean there aren't things that I haven't seen. But from the data that we've seen so far that's publicly available, it looks like it's not going to be a serious problem. The WHO doesn't think it's a serious problem. The European regulators don't think it's a serious problem.

I remember when some of the vaccines were first being rolled out in the northern countries, there were also some concerns. Those dissipated over time. They didn't turn out to be related to the vaccine. So I'm not so concerned about the safety issues with this vaccine.

HILL: Are you concerned about the other part of this, which is this pause leading to more vaccine hesitancy?

HASELTINE: I am very definitely concerned about that. There's a lot of misinformation about these vaccines. From what we have learned with many millions of Americans and people around the world now being vaccinated, these are not only extraordinarily effective, it's preventing infection at least for some time, but they are extremely safe. They're about the safest vaccines that I think we've ever had. So I don't think that's going to be a continued problem.

The fear is a problem and I think this could exasperate it. I hope it doesn't. But it's always disorienting for people who are hoping to get vaccines and then having the government pull it back. It's a -- it's an unfortunate situation, especially in Europe right now when you see from the north to the south, from the east very rapidly rising epidemics.

BERMAN: This has been a somewhat grim conversation when we're talking about a rise in cases and a possible new wave, but you are also very hopeful. You look to the next few months and see us -- or next year and see us in a very good or a promising place, Professor, in terms of the pandemic.

HASELTINE: Right.

BERMAN: Why?

HASELTINE: Right. I actually, in the long term, I couldn't be more optimistic than I am right now about this pandemic. American scientists finally coming to the rescue. We have a second generation of vaccines which work really differently. They're stronger. They're broader. And they probably will last longer than the current generation. That's good. There are new drugs coming along that cannot only treat you if you're diagnosed early, but can, if you have an infection in your family or in your business or your school can actually probably prevent you from become infected. So in addition to the vaccines, you have a backup and you have something that happens if you get sick. So there are new drugs, new vaccines.

And I have to say, American science is really powerful and it's now fully engaged. All I can hope is that our government continues the massive effort that we've had with the warped speed to make sure that these new and very promising treatments get to us as soon as possible.

BERMAN: More than 2 million vaccines a day being administered and that number is rising, which is terrific news.

Professor Haseltine, thanks so much for being with us this morning.

HASELTINE: You're welcome. Thank you.

BERMAN: So, U.S. intelligence officials report the Russians interfered in the 2020 election in a bid to damage the campaign of Joe Biden. How they did it and who helped them here, next.

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[06:48:45]

HILL: Developing this morning, the U.S. intelligence community releasing a landmark report detailing Russian efforts to undermine the 2020 election, including Russian President Vladimir Putin authorizing efforts to damage President Biden's 2020 candidacy by engaging in a massive disinformation campaign embraced by President Trump's allies.

CNN's Alex Marquardt joining us now from Washington with these new details.

Alex, good morning.

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Erica.

This is perhaps the most comprehensive look that we've had so far at the 2020 election by the U.S. intelligence community. And it says, perhaps most importantly, that President Vladimir Putin of Russia was in charge of orchestrating yet again a massive influence campaign, this time to denigrate Joe Biden in support of President Trump. And he did it in part using proxies so people who had direct access to the Trump orbit.

I want to read you one of the key findings of this report.

The U.S. intelligence community found that Russian President Putin authorized, and a range of Russian government organizations conducted, influence operations aimed at denigrating President Biden's candidacy and the Democratic Party, supporting former President Trump, undermining public confidence in the electoral process and exasperating sociopolitical divisions in the U.S.

[06:50:03]

Now, according to the report, Putin was also trying to create this false narrative, which we have heard from Trump and his allies, that for a long time Joe Biden and his family had corrupt dealings with Ukraine. And the Russians pushed this by having that contact and exchanging information with people linked to the Trump administration. This report says that in black and white.

I want to read a little bit more.

A key element of Moscow's strategy this election cycle was its use of proxies linked to Russian intelligence to push influence narratives, including misleading or unsubstantiated allegations against President Biden to U.S. media organizations, U.S. officials and prominent U.S. individuals, including some close to President Trump and his administration.

Now, they don't name the people who are close to President Trump, but they do name Andrii Derkach, who is a Ukrainian lawmaker, sanctioned by the U.S. because of his close tied to Russian intelligence. This report goes farther saying that Andrii Derkach was under the direct purview of President Vladimir Putin. And Derkach, as you can see right there, we know had direct contact with the president's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.

Now, Erica, this report goes on to talk about what China did and you'll remember that Trump and his top officials said that China was the biggest threat to this election and that they were doing as much or more than Russia to influence this election. In the end, according to U.S. intelligence, China actually didn't do anything in terms of influence operations. They decided to sit this one out, deciding that it simply wasn't in their interest to get caught meddling. So that also goes against the Trump narrative.

And then, finally, the report finds that when it comes to foreign interference, the focus was almost entirely on trying to influence the voters, that no country actually attempted to attack the voting infrastructure and the votes themselves. They didn't even try. Instead, the focus was on influencing and sowing divisions among American voters.

Erica.

HILL: Wow. A lot in there, that is for sure. Yes, most comprehensive, clearly. Alex, thank you.

Much of Europe has now suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and that's making an already rocky vaccine rollout across the pond much worse. So what's causing all the trouble? That's next.

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[06:56:45]

BERMAN: This morning, more than 33 percent of the U.S. population is either fully or partially vaccinated. That number far outpaces France and Italy, where cases are rising. And what makes matters worse over there, the AstraZeneca vaccine is now on hold across much of Europe.

CNN's Melissa Bell with the latest.

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MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): These were some of the last Italians to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine. Then, suddenly, Italy announced that it was stopping its rollout over fears of blood clots in some vaccine recipients.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I was already unsure about it because Germany had stopped it this morning. AstraZeneca, I won't do it.

BELL: On Thursday, the European Medicines Agency is expected to deliver its final verdict on the safety of the vaccines. On Tuesday, it dropped a hint on its thinking.

EMER COOKE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EMA: We are looking at adverse events associated with all vaccines. At the moment, it looks like there are similar numbers coming in across the world.

BELL: But if the investigation is being coordinated at EU level, the suspensions have been anything but. Over the last week, one by one, amid a third COVID wave and against the EMAs advice, many European countries have broken rank, stopping the AstraZeneca rollout unilaterally, even as countries like the United Kingdom, Thailand and Australia have continued it.

STELLA KYRIAKIDES, EU HEALTH COMMISSIONER: A number of member states have, as a precautionary measure, therefore decided to suspend vaccinations, which is fully in their right to do so as vaccinations are a member state's competence.

BELL: Until the pandemic, all health matters were decided at member state level. In fact, the EU's deal with AstraZeneca for 400 million doses in July, which was signed three months after the U.K. secured its doses, was the first attempt at EU coordination on public health. And it hasn't gone well since. With a row over delays, an export ban and ultimately an apology from the European Commission president.

URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN COMMISSION (through translator): We were late in granting authorization. We were too optimistic about mass production and maybe we also took for granted that the orders would actually arrive on trim. We must ask ourselves why and what lessons we can draw from it.

BELL: But what if the lessons of the pandemic are more for Europe than for AstraZeneca? So far, some 36 percent of the U.K.'s population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, at least 21 percent in the United States, but only around 8 percent in Spain, Germany, France and Italy.

BELL (on camera): What the pandemic provided Brussels with it believed was an opportunity to unite Europe around its political leadership. What the last few months have in fact shown is the decisions ended up being made by member states when it came to their own borders to vaccine procurement and to vaccine approval showing that, in fact, the political consensus simply wasn't there and the weight of Brussels bureaucracy too much.

DR. MARC VAN RANST, VIROLOGIST: I don't think they're doing the right thing. Once large and influential countries pauses this vaccination, other countries tend to become overcautious and they often seem to lack then the courage to do the evidence-based thing rather than the emotion-based thing.

[07:00:02]

BELL (voice over): Whatever the European Medicines Agency decides on Thursday, some say that the damage is already done. Not only to Europe's.