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Biden to Unveil New CDC Guidance on Wearing Masks Outdoors; DHS Launching Internal Probe into Domestic Extremism; Miami Private School not Allowing Vaccinated Teachers in Classrooms. Aired 11:30a-12p ET

Aired April 27, 2021 - 11:30   ET

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

DR. JOYE CARTER, FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST, SAN LUIS OBISPO SHERIFF'S OFFICE: The nature of the shots, where the entered, what damage was done.

[11:30:05]

And now having heard the findings, you want to see the report and you definitely want to see the original autopsy report. And as attorney stated, you want to know how many shots were fired, what that vehicle looked like, where they entered, was it the rear window, was it back of the car? How did this happen?

And as the family so stated emotionally, the black community is exhausted. And there should be a point where there is some de- escalation of the situation. And we're seeing differences between ethnic groups are taken down differently. And as a black person, you feel like I'll be targeted before I get my chance to say and claim my innocence.

This is happening too often. We're all weary at this point. We need to have the facts. We need to see the videos.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN AT THIS HOUR: Dr. Carter, when we know from this autopsy that it was a penetrating gunshot wound and essentially the base of the back of his neck, and that the bullet, according to what we're hearing from the attorneys, is lodged in his brain. It seems that there aren't really many -- there aren't multiple ways to interpret that. And I'm wondering from your perspective and your expertise, is this -- is the question less about the cause of death very clearly at this point and more about what happened leading up to that moment?

CARTER: I think the answer is both of those. You still need to know the nature of the gunshot wound exactly where it was, the distance of the gunshot wound. There are things you can see, such as gunshot wound residue or stippling, or even pseudo stippling from glass coming in, depending on where the gunshot wound went through, that went through a window, went through metal.

And, yes, the situation is always important. The circumstances of death actually form how this case is going to be handled. And what you're hearing also is a plea from the public, tell us something more transparency. We've got to do more as far as integrating the police mode of serve and protect with community policing so that our people in the community aren't having this fear of being killed.

BOLDUAN: Yes. Five bullet wounds to his body, penetrating bullet wounds, four to his right arm, they say, one fatal wound to the back of his neck. More information is very clearly needed to the point just for everyone out there who is watching, it is still not clear if they had a search warrant or an arrest warrant. It has been described two different ways by the sheriff in these taped videos that he is putting out. He has not been addressing reporters at press conferences. It's down to that kind of very broad detail that we still don't have clarity on. And today is an important moment in trying to learn more. Thank you both very much.

We're going to have much more to come on what is happening in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, throughout the day.

Coming up for us still, President Biden is getting ready to unveil new CDC guidance on wearing masks outdoors. What it means for getting back to normal.

We'll be right back.

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[11:35:00]

BOLDUAN: Happening very soon today, President Biden is expected to announce updated guidance for fully vaccinated people, specifically on wearing masks outside.

Joining me right now for more on this is Dr. Monica Gandhi, she's Professor of Medicine at UCSF and the Associate Division Chief of Infectious Diseases. Thank you for coming back, Doctor.

So they're announcing this new guidance really in the next hour. You were just on with me Friday saying that this guidance, when it comes to masking, it really does need to be updated. What do you think the parameters should be?

DR. MONICA GANDHI, PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE, UCSF: You know, if I were in charge of the world, I probably make it more in line with the WHO parameters, the World Health Organization, which is that outdoors are so much more safe, that I would say vaccinated or unvaccinated people don't have to mask outside unless the unvaccinated cannot distance about three feet. So in crowded settings, rallies, group stadiums, we should still be masking until we get our case rates lower than the 47,000 we have today. But it may not be as nuanced as that with the CDC.

BOLDUAN: And, Doctor, vaccinated versus unvaccinated is a question here, right? If President Biden and his team come out and the new guidance only applies to people who are vaccinated, not unvaccinated, what is your reaction?

GANDHI: You know, I think there are two reasons for updating the guidance. And so the latter what you just said belies kind of the outdoor transmission thing. So, okay, so there're two reasons. One is that outdoor transmission is so much lower. I think the best study on this is this contact tracing study from Wuhan that 1 in 1,700 infections at the most is outside. So there is that reason that outdoor transmission is lower.

And then in the second reason is this kind of wonderful time that we are at 42.5 percent of the Americans being first dose vaccinated and the -- luckily, the lowering cases as well. We have a seven-day average that is negative 18 percent down, this week versus last week. So it's really great to see all these high vaccination rates.

So there is sort of two reasons and you can separate them. But you're right, that the vaccination status and our increasing vaccination status is most likely reason they're updating now and likely the masking guidelines are going to be linked to your vaccination status.

[11:40:04]

But it doesn't -- we have to remember how much safer it is outdoors.

BOLDUAN: And for anyone, vaccinated or unvaccinated, that is your entire point. The infection rates outdoors, there is so much of a lower risk that you could loosen up masking guidelines for anyone is what you're saying if you can remain socially distanced. And that is, again, a key part about that.

The Health and Human Services secretary was out today and he said really that the message is clear when it comes to this. You're vaccinated and guess what, you get to return to a more normal lifestyle. If you're not vaccinated, you're still in danger. And you're still in danger as well, so get vaccinated.

And I'm curious as to what you think of kind of that messaging. Because I know that you have made the point that this is -- this also -- if you loosen up masking guidelines, it also may even make it easier to enforce other COVID-19 restrictions. Explain to me why.

GANDHI: Yes. I mean, I think, especially at this point in the pandemic in the U.S., the more that we loosen and it is tied to metrics that are clear, that give us positive motivation. We have done a lot of negative motivation in our COVID messaging up to this point. We're really lucky with the vaccines. And the positive motivation is look what happens when you get -- when you take a vaccine. You get to have a more normal life.

So I love that they're doing this. And that will be easier than to say, okay, we're going to indoor mask still until we get down from our 47,000 cases. And we get to a metric that we all agree on. Then we'll release the indoor masks. But it makes it easier, I think, for people to say, I have my mask on my sleeve and then I'll put it on inside. I think we're able to do that as Americans. We can be more nuanced about our behaviors.

BOLDUAN: I love that you have a rosier view of what the American people are capable of than I think many, and I love. We're capable of nuance, everyone, as you taught me on Friday.

GANDHI: We know when we're outside. That's what I keep on thinking.

BOLDUAN: We know the difference between outdoors and indoors.

GANDHI: We do.

BOLDUAN: Thank you, Doctor. We look for that guidance. President Biden will be announcing it in light (ph) remarks later this afternoon. We'll bring that you to live.

Coming up for us still, a new disturbing report on the anti-Semitic incidents occurring in the United States and more just this weekend. Police in New York still investigating attacks on four synagogues.

We'll be right back.

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[11:45:00]

BOLDUAN: Securing the nation from the many threats we face, that is the mission of the Department of Homeland Security. And now that mission has the agency looking within. DHS is announcing the launch of an internal review to address threats of domestic violence, violent extremism within the department, though officials have not identified any specific internal threats.

DHS has said that the domestic violent extremism is the most lethal and persistent terrorism-related threat to the United States. And in a message to staff, the secretary of Homeland Security said this in part, violent extremism has no place at DHS and we will work with urgency and focus to address it.

This morning, the Anti-Defamation League just released its annual report on anti-Semitic incidents in the United States, the ADL's most extensive report on anti-Semitism. In 2020, the U.S. saw the third highest number of attacks on Jewish people since the organization started tracking such incidents back in 1979. This includes over 2,000 incidents of harassment, vandalism and assault.

Unfortunately, you do not need to look further than just this past weekend to see another example. New York City Police are investigating attacks on four synagogues over the weekend that they believe may be connected. And they're still looking for that man.

Joining me now is a CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt. Jonathan , thank you for coming back on.

So what we're looking at in 2020 is another record year. What is most striking to you about this year's report?

JONATHAN GREENBLATT, CEO AND NATIONAL DIRECTOR, ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE: Well, thank you very much for having me on, Kate, and calling attention to it. We think it's an incredibly important story.

So what strikes me and we look at this data is in a year when our country was quarantined, when people were shut in their homes, when we shifted to telecommuting and remote learning, it is remarkable to think that we still had one of the highest years the ADL has ever reported an anti-Semitic incidents.

And while there is some good news for sure, the acts on colleges and universities were slightly down. The number of assaults decreased. There were no mass casualty events. It's stunning to still imagine that there was a 10 percent increase in harassment, a 40 percent spike in attacks on Jewish institutions. And we're still looking at the kind of record numbers people would have never once imagined possible in the United States of America.

[11:50:00]

It reminds us that hate is indeed an epidemic, and Jews are often in the center of that storm and it's going to take all of us working together to finally turn this tide.

BOLDUAN: Jonathan, the impact of the pandemic was something I exactly what I wanted to ask you. Because if this is -- what I was going to ask you is if this is what the numbers look like during a pandemic, had the pandemic not hit, I'm scared to think of what kind of records would have been broken.

GREENBLATT: Yes, it is certainly an alarming hypothetical. We were seeing, Kate, elevated numbers on colleges and universities in January and February before they shut down due to the pandemic, right? And we were coming off of 2019. Keep in mind that today itself is the two- year anniversary of the mass shooting in Poway, California, when a white supremacist went into a synagogue, murdered Lori Gilbert Kaye, tried to kill dozens and dozens of others, although he was only able to wound a few because his gun jammed. And, of course, we saw other mass casualties events at a Kosher Supermarket, in a Rabbi's home, all in 2019 alone. So, yes, I think the numbers would have been worse coming off that record high.

So, you know, look, while we're all focused, as we should be, on finding a vaccine for COVID-19 and implementing, you know, an inoculation drive across the country, this just reminds us that anti- Semitism is a kind of virus itself that mutates and adapts.

That's another surprising thing, how you watch intolerance actually innovate, Kate. Zoom bombing wasn't a word anyone had heard of a year ago, and yet we tracked 116 Zoom bombing incidents where Torah study groups, bar mitzvah ceremonies, prayer services were interrupted by extremists and infected with anti-Semitism.

BOLDUAN: Jonathan, really quick, big question is always what's going to make a difference. Is it leadership from the president on the federal level or do you think the most impact comes at the local level, local leaders?

GREENBLATT: That's a great question. I think we really need sort of a whole of society strategy. So, first and foremost, we need our leaders to lead. But that's not just the president of the United States. We need the president of the local school board, right? BOLDUAN: Right.

GREENBLATT: So let's just acknowledge that everyone has a role to step up and speak out.

And it's not just political figures. We need business leaders as well. I mean, you mentioned, you know, we're dealing with a series of vandalism against the synagogue in Riverdale. We're also seeing discussing anti-Jewish vitriol being spewed out on clubhouse. So we need business leaders to say this isn't okay and, of course, people in civil society.

So, people with authority need to speak out, Kate, and then all of us as individuals can do our part. And let's just say, you know, we need to recognize that anti-Semitism and hate is contagious. Anti-black racism, anti -- AAPI hate, I think all these different groups need to come together. When we work as one, that's how we can beat back the pressures of prejudice once and for all.

BOLDUAN: Jonathan, thank you very much for coming on.

GREENBLATT: Thank you for having me.

BOLDUAN: Coming up for us still, it is bizarre and it is dangerous, a school in Miami spreading lies about the COVID vaccines and pushing teachers to not get the shot.

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[11:55:00]

BOLDUAN: As teachers across the country begged to gain early access to vaccines to get protected and as school administrators fought to get more access to more vaccines in order to open schools safely, one private school in Miami is taking a bizarre and frankly dangerous opposite approach, telling teachers to not get vaccinated, and if they do get the shot, to stay away.

CNN's Leyla Santiago is joining me right now for more on this. Leyla, what is going on at this private school?

LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Kate, we've been watching today as students, teachers, faculty come in and out here at the Centner Academy. We haven't been able to talk to anybody because they've been escorted by security.

But, you know, some teachers have some pretty big decisions to make. And it's all pretty spelled out in a letter from the CEO and co- founder. Let's go ahead and look at a snippet of it so you can see what she writes in there.

She says if you want to get a vaccine before the school year ends, please let us know right away as we cannot allow recently vaccinated people to be near our students until more information is known. End quote. Now, that same letter, Kate, goes on to state a series of false claims, things that the FDA, the CDC, the World Health Organization have contradicted with their own evidence, false claims, like just being around vaccinated people is a risk. Again, I cannot say this enough, that is not true.

But the school is standing by its decision, and it's saying that they have had thoughtful decision-making, and a statement that they sent to CNN, and even said that this is a decision that comes with an abundance of caution.

But let's look at the bigger picture here, Kate, because one thing that stands out to me, just yesterday, I was at a vaccination site where the spokesperson there was hitting hard the message of vaccines are safe and they save lives. So, clearly, things like this, that kind of contribute to some of the misinformation that Florida is dealing with is part of the big picture for those who are trying to combat COVID.

[12:00:02]

BOLDUAN: A very sad example of the misinformation that is being spewed out there. Leyla, thank you very much for spotlighting it and bringing it to us, I appreciate it.