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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
CDC Director: "I'm Scared" Americans Will Let Their Guard Down; Biden Set To Roll Out Sweeping Infrastructure And Jobs Package; Giant Container Ship Freed In Suez Canal. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired March 30, 2021 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[05:31:05]
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, good morning, everyone. This is EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Laura Jarrett. It's 30 minutes past the hour here in New York.
And we begin this half-hour with top health officials joining President Biden, urging an increasingly impatient United States public to stay on guard against COVID.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm reiterating my call for every governor, mayor, and local leader to maintain and reinstate the mask mandate. Please, this is not politics. Reinstate the mandate if you let it down.
REPORTER: Mr. President, do you believe that some states should pause their reopening efforts?
BIDEN: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: All right, daily case counts inching back up, hospitalizations have stopped falling, and now, younger people are replacing seniors in some ICUs.
Today, the director of the CDC will warn governors now is the time to stay vigilant. Dr. Rochelle Walensky fears what happens if reopenings expand and masks are thrown out the window.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, DIRECTOR, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: I'm going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom. We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are, and so much reason for hope -- but right now, I'm scared. (END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: The CDC director is saying she is scared.
President Biden says within three weeks, 90 percent of U.S. adults will live within five miles of his vaccination site. And part of the reason he's so confident is the number of local pharmacies participating in the federal vaccination program is expected to more than double to 40,000. Right now, more than 36 percent of adults in the U.S. have had at least one dose of the vaccine.
ROMANS: All right.
The CDC has extended its ban on evictions for renters, once again -- this time, until June 30th.
Arkansas now the only state in the country with no set date for vaccinating everyone 16 and older. While in New York, people in their 30s and 40s are preparing to keep hitting the refresh button for appointments this morning.
CNN has the pandemic covered from coast-to-coast.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Alexandra Field in New York City.
President Joe Biden is saying that within the next three weeks, 90 percent of American adults will be eligible to receive a vaccine. And New York State is the latest to announce their plans to expand eligibility. Anyone age 30 and up is eligible to receive the vaccine starting today. The number goes down to anyone age 16 and up starting April sixth. That is well ahead of President Biden's initial deadline for states of May first.
ADRIENNE BROADDUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Adrienne Broaddus.
And in Chicago, vaccines continue to roll out. On Monday, the city's mayor, Lori Lightfoot, announced people 16 and older with underlying medical conditions and all essential workers are now able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. She says that's about 84 percent of adults in Chicago.
This announcement came on the same day the mayor made another announcement via Twitter. She said, in part, we're heading in the wrong direction when it comes to "COVID cases. The pandemic is not over.
Also on Monday, officials with the public health department in Illinois reported more than 1,700 new COVID cases.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Miguel Marquez in Detroit, Michigan, a state that is seeing a huge increase in the number of coronavirus cases. Officials here trying to deal with it in a couple of different ways.
One, they've launched a COVID dashboard for businesses that break coronavirus rules, so that not only the businesses, but the employees, the government, and the public knows which businesses are not following coronavirus guidelines.
It's also trying to increase testing across the board. Testing has fallen here by about half over the last couple of months. They hope more testing will tell them exactly where the virus is so they can try to control it.
[05:35:02]
PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION AND TRANSPORTATION CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Pete Muntean at Reagan International Airport.
Air travel just set a new record of the pandemic. The TSA says it screened 1.57 million people at airports across the country. That means 9 1/2 million people have flown in the last week.
This new number more than eight times greater than the number on the same day in 2020 when air travel was at its most depressed. That means that airlines are thinking that a recovery is starting. This new number also 62 percent of what numbers were like on the same day in 2019.
United Airlines says it's adding more flights. It says it will fly about 50 percent of its schedule by Memorial Day. But health officials are wondering if this is too much travel too soon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right.
COVID cases in American children are up slightly for the second week in a row after two months of steady declines. Remember, even if children are asymptomatic they can pass the virus on to more vulnerable people.
More than 64,000 new child COVID cases were identified through testing in the U.S. last week. Children now make up 13 percent of all cases. More than 3.4 million kids in this country have tested positive for COVID.
JARRETT: How about bonus checks for vaccines? It turns out Americans hesitant about COVID vaccines are more likely to get a shot if there's a little bit of an incentive.
According to new research from the Kaiser Family Foundation, one- quarter of employed Americans say they would be more likely to get a COVID vaccine if it was offered at work. And one in five say a $50.00 reward from their employers would make them more likely to get vaccinated. That number rose to 22 percent of people if the offer was raised to $200.
Well, the Biden administration launching a new task force to ensure scientific decisions are free from improper political influence. The White House says the president prioritizes supporting scientists and researchers as they do their work.
That's, of course, a stark contrast to the previous administration. Several top health officials under former President Trump told CNN in a special report they faced political pressure while doing their jobs during the pandemic and so many deaths could have been avoided.
ROMANS: And after they spoke out, the former president lashed out at Drs. Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx. Essentially, the president telling on himself. Trump said he almost always overturned their recommendations. Those recommendations, of course, were meant to slow a pandemic that has now killed 550,000 Americans. One wonders why bragging about not taking their advice is somehow a good thing.
President Biden rolls out his sweeping jobs and infrastructure package tomorrow and he's doing it in the same city where he launched his campaign.
Jasmine Wright is back with us live at the White House this morning. Good morning, Jasmine.
And these are big, bold, extensive plans -- roads, bridges, railways, 5G, clean energy. Then the investment in working families. Two different parts of this. The first part will be infrastructure.
JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: That's right. And as you said, President Biden is looking to go big on this package and it fulfills a campaign pledge made by him to pass a sweeping infrastructure and sweeping jobs plan. But also, it shows an interest on the part of the White House to put forth potentially transformative policies when it comes to the social net. Things like childcare, caregiving, education, trying to transform American life and also potentially the entire economy.
Now listen, we know that this is expected to cost about $3 trillion to $4 trillion, and first up is going to be that infrastructure portion. That means railroads, as you said, bridges, roads. And next is that in April, it is the more social part of this package -- Christine.
ROMANS: OK. So the more social part of his package -- childcare, paid family leave, all of that -- that will be part two next month.
WRIGHT: Yes.
ROMANS: That's sort of the caring side of the economy. So you've got the hard investments and then you've got this investment in equality, which has been a real priority for this administration.
WRIGHT: That's exactly right. And look, anything that happens right now in this Congress because of those slim majorities in both chambers -- those slim Democratic majorities in both chambers -- we know it takes a while -- it's not easy. So this is expected to be a months- long effort on the part of President Biden and the Democrats trying to see where they have votes on both sides and what they can get passed. And we also know that it's going to test President Biden's pledge to
do things in a bipartisan fashion, Christine. Last month he passed -- or this month, rather -- it's still March -- he passed that American Rescue Plan with no Republican votes. The question is is he going to do it again down the line for this bill. We just don't know that yet but that is something that we will be watching.
And also, it's going to test America's appetite to raise the taxes on the wealthy -- one of the ways --
ROMANS: Yes.
WRIGHT: -- that President Biden will say that these things have to get paid for. And that's one of the things that he is expected to say how he can pay for it.
[05:40:00]
So really, all the fun of what is going to happen over the next few months. And infrastructure starts on Wednesday --
ROMANS: Yes.
WRIGHT: -- in Pittsburgh, as you said, where it started for President Biden -- Christine.
ROMANS: One wonders how they frame it, you know -- either 35 percent corporate tax rate. And the Trump administration went down to 21. You're hearing 28 is now on the table. Do they compromise at 25? And everyone still has lower taxes than they did previously in 2017.
It all depends on how they frame it, so we'll learn more about that this week.
Jasmine, nice to see you. Thank you.
JARRETT: All right.
The Ever Given now floating free after that giant container ship blocked the Suez Canal for nearly a week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
Cheers from tugboat crew who helped free the Ever Given.
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JARRETT: Those cheers from a tugboat crew who helped free the giant ship.
Hundreds of other vessels that have been stranded at the canal since last Tuesday are preparing to restart their journeys. But the next trip for the newly-freed vessel is a short one.
Ben Wedeman live from Great Bitter Lake in Egypt where the Ever Given is heading. So, Ben, how did this get freed finally and what happens next?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Laura, really, it was a combination of really hard work by dredging crews and by tugboats that finally moved it, but also with a bit of help from Mother Nature. The effort was timed to coincide with the high tides and what's also known as the super moon, which only happens four times a year when the full moon is closest in its elliptical orbit to the earth.
So if they hadn't been able to move the ship, at that point it would have been a whole different and much more expensive and complicated ballgame.
But it's over. The Evergreen is somewhere behind me in the Great Bitter Lake. It has been inspected. And also, an investigation is underway involving Egyptian authorities and other parties as well to try to find out what happened that caused this massive crisis to world trade.
But the Suez Canal is now back in business. We have been watching as some very large ships have been passing by. There is a backlog.
According to the Suez Canal Authority, 437 ships are waiting to pass through the Suez Canal. However, they're making changes to make sure this can happen as quickly as possible. Normally, the canal is open for about 12 hours a day; now, 24 hours a day. The plan -- it was expected that by 9:00 a.m. local time today that as many as 112 ships would have passed through the canal already.
And we've also seen that some of the ships that were being diverted around Africa have been told to turn around, come back, and go through the Suez Canal because it's open again -- Laura.
JARRETT: All right, Ben. So great to have you there for us. Really appreciate it -- thanks.
ROMANS: All right.
So the Ever Given is freed but the backlog is coming to a gas station or big-box store near you. Think higher prices for gas and shortages of toilet paper and instant coffee. It'll take months to straighten out the disrupted supply chains once these ships are to move. About 12 percent of global trade passes through the Suez.
Maersk, the world's largest container shipping company, said it had 29 vessels waiting to get into the canal. It redirected more than a dozen vessels. That adds days and dollars. Maersk told customers it'll take six or more days to clear the backlog.
Containers full of oil, and car parts, and TVs, and instant coffee -- even livestock -- all of them clogged and delayed here. Global trade had already been disrupted because of the pandemic, making it more expensive to ship goods and causing shortages around the world.
We'll be right back.
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JARRETT: Welcome back.
The number of migrant children in border facilities without their parents now at the highest point since the government began releasing the data. As of Sunday, there were almost 5,800 children in the custody of Customs and Border Protection. And the Biden administration continues to struggle moving these kids out of these jail-like conditions into more appropriate shelters but simply doesn't have the space right now.
ROMANS: The administration also grappling with the increase of migrant families and adults arriving at the border, most of whom are being turned away. CNN has also learned border patrol officers are releasing hundreds of migrants at bus stations in Texas' Rio Grande Valley.
The White House will update Democratic House lawmakers on the situation at the border today.
JARRETT: The children of three late civil rights icons condemning the new rollback of voting rights in Georgia.
Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr.; Al Vivian, son of Rev. C.T. Vivian; and John Miles Lewis, son of Congressman John Lewis say corporate leaders and lawmakers failed to live up to their racial equity commitments and they disrespected their fathers' tireless work.
ROMANS: In a joint letter they write, "Rather than sowing seeds to provide democracy the greatest chance to grow today and prevail tomorrow, legislators are attempting to transport us back to the shameful period of American history when mass voter suppression for communities of color was the law of the land."
The assault on voting rights has led to call for big sporting events and Hollywood productions to be moved out of Georgia.
JARRETT: Staying in Georgia, a police officer there says he was thinking about the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol while he was arresting State Rep. Park Cannon for knocking on the governor's door.
"The Atlanta Journal-Constitution" reports that Lt. J.D. Langford wrote in his incident report he was worried other protesters would have been, quote, "emboldened" to follow Cannon's lead if he didn't arrest her.
The Atlanta Democrat faces two felony charges for refusing to stock knowing on Gov. Brian Kemp's office as he was signing the new voting restrictions into law.
[05:50:05]
ROMANS: All right. Family and friends of the entire Boulder, Colorado community will say farewell today to the police officer killed in last week's supermarket massacre.
CNN's Shimon Prokupecz has more for us this morning from Boulder.
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SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Christine and Laura, many of the city buildings will be closed today here in Boulder and the city employees given the day off in honor of hero officer Eric Talley.
The father of seven will be remembered at a memorial service here later today. Many are expected to attend. Many people are expected to line the street. There will also be a procession in honor of him.
Police have said that he was a hero here. That he formed a team pretty quickly, once he got here, that went in and stopped the gunman, potentially saving many, many lives.
Now, the investigation is still continuing. Police still don't have a motive. And, of course, the suspect in this case is expected to face additional charges -- Christine, Laura.
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ROMANS: All right.
Vigilant community members have been instrumental in preventing many potential school shootings. That's according to a report by the U.S. Secret Service. It cites dozens of cases between 2006 and 2018 in which current or former students planning school attacks were stopped by others before they could harm anyone.
Almost two-thirds of would-be attackers displayed emotional or psychological symptoms.
JARRETT: Federal prosecutors have filed sex trafficking charges against Jeffrey Epstein's alleged co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. The Feds say Maxwell recruited and groomed a 14-year-old girl to engage in sex acts with Epstein as recently as 2004. These new charges were filed Monday in a superseding indictment against her.
Maxwell was previously charged by New York prosecutors with conspiracy and enticing minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts.
Well, North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis announcing he has prostate cancer. Tillis says he will undergo surgery next week and doctors expect him to make a full recovery.
He says he had no symptoms and stressed the importance of getting routine cancer screenings. A really important warning there, especially during this pandemic.
ROMANS: All right, stock markets are higher around the world right now. On Wall Street, stock index futures also mixed here -- Nasdaq down, Dow futures up.
Look, last week's big story was the supertanker stuck in the Suez, now freed. Oil prices falling again. But wait, this week's wildcard, an imploding fund. Banks liquidating huge positions.
Now, the Dow managed a record high but we're watching this big story. Major global banks warned of billions in losses after the hedge fund Archegos Capital was forced to sell several media stocks. Credit Suisse fell 11 percent while Nomura lost 14 percent.
All right. Volkswagen or Volts-Wagen? The German automaker may or may not be changing its name as it invests in electric cars. So on Monday, Volkswagen posted this unfinished press release with plans to change its name. The release was taken down but it raised questions over whether it's a real change or it's an early April fool's joke or a plan that will be coming soon.
Volkswagen has started taking reservations for its new electric SUV, the ID.4. It also announced a major investment in battery manufacturing to make its electric cars more affordable.
JARRETT: Well, finally this morning, after spending nearly a year in the hospital fighting for his life with COVID-19, a healthcare worker who lost his ability to stand gets back on his feet again. Peter Woullard was working at a Louisiana hospital when he tested positive. He went from an active lifestyle to months in the ICU, a rehab facility, and then home in a wheelchair.
But earlier this month, Peter took his first steps in physical therapy. He says even just standing for a few seconds was really motivating.
Another reminder of just how much --
ROMANS: Yes.
JARRETT: -- we cannot drop our guard right now, people.
ROMANS: I know. Mask up, don't let your guard down. Best of luck to him and for all of those out there -- the long-haulers, especially, who've been just --
JARRETT: Yes.
ROMANS: -- for the last year with this.
Thanks for joining us, everybody. I'm Christine Romans.
JARRETT: I'm Laura Jarrett. "NEW DAY" is next.
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[05:58:50]
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: New COVID-19 cases start climbing in more than half the states.
WALENSKY: Right now, I'm scared. I know what it's like as a physician to be the last person to touch someone else's loved one because their loved one couldn't be there.
OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Opening statements in a trial many see as a major step toward justice for George Floyd.
JERRY BLACKWELL, PROSECUTOR: Mr. Derek Chauvin betrayed his badge when he used excessive and unreasonable force.
ERIC NELSON, DEREK CHAUVIN'S ATTORNEY: Derek Chauvin did exactly what he had been trained to do. The use of force is not attractive but it is a necessary component of policing.
PHILONISE FLOYD, BROTHER OF GEORGE FLOYD: They can't sweep this under the rug. This is a starting point. This is not a finishing point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and all around the world. This is NEW DAY. It is Tuesday, March 30th, 6:00 here in New York.
John Berman is off. John Avlon is with me. Great to have you here.
JOHN AVLON, CNN ANCHOR: Good to see you. Good morning.
CAMEROTA: So this morning, President Biden and the head of the CDC are so concerned about the next phase of the pandemic that they are begging Americans to keep taking precautions for just a little while longer. The warning comes as the U.S. surpasses 550,000 deaths.
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WALENSKY: Now is one of those times when I have to share the truth and I have to hope and trust you'll listen.
