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The Lead with Jake Tapper

CDC Cuts Distance Needed in Schools to 3 Feet From 6 Feet; Biden to Speak After Meeting with Asian American Leaders in Atlanta; Biden Meets Goal of 100M Shots in 100 Days Today (Day 58). Aired 4- 4:30p ET

Aired March 19, 2021 - 16:00   ET

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

[16:00:05]

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thank you so much for being with me.

Let's go to Washington.

The LEAD WITH JAKE TAPPER starts right now.

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JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Welcome to THE LEAD. I'm Jake Tapper.

In this hour, President Biden will speak in Atlanta after meeting with Asian-American community leaders in the aftermath of the horrific shootings there, which left eight people dead, including six women of Asian descent.

Earlier this afternoon, President Biden also visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and touted an accomplishment for his administration, meeting his goal for vaccinations earlier than within the 100 days he promised. Today marks 100 million shots in arms in the U.S. within 58 days, not 100.

And today, news of the big change with the CDC that could help get kids back into the classroom for in-person classes. The CDC is now advising three feet of distancing instead of the previous feet for most students as long as masks and other measures are in place and depending upon community rates.

Joining me in moments, Andy Slavitt, who leads the White House COVID response team.

But, first, there is still fear that new variants of the virus could threaten the nation's progress against the pandemic so far. Yet, many states regardless are relaxing restrictions as CNN's Alexandra Field reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, CDC DIRECTOR: Schools should be the last place to close and the first places to open.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A big shift today in the plan to put more kids in the classroom.

WALENSKY: K through 12 schools that implement, strong, layered prevention strategies can operate safely.

FIELD: The CDC updating guidelines for schools to safely reopen. If everyone is masked, just three feet of space between students, down from six.

DR. ASHISH JHA, DEAN, BROWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: The bottom line is that there was never very good evidence for doing it at 6 feet, not if kids are masked up.

FIELD: It's not clear how quickly schools will implement changes after the president of one of the largest unions responded by saying they would, quote, reserve judgment.

The push to re-open the majority of the schools accelerating as new COVID-19 cases hold steady. The country stuck at an undeniably high average, fewer than 55,000 new cases daily.

Still, Alabama is one of the states moving ahead with plans to eliminate a mask mandate.

DR SCOTT HARRIS, ALABAMA STATE HEALTH OFFICE: The actual legal consideration of making it a mandate or not, you know, it's not up to me. But we believe evidence supports their use.

FIELD: Masks are no longer mandate in the Texas. Police there say a restaurant manager there was stabbed several times after telling someone to put him on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The suspect ran up behind him, tackled him, stabbed him multiple times.

FIELD: In the Northeast, New York is easing indoor capacity dining limits today. New Jersey is expanding capacity for restaurants and a slew of over businesses too.

Connecticut now lifting all capacity restrictions on restaurants and many businesses.

As restrictions lift, the pace of vaccinations is rising.

WALENSKY: Today, day 58, we hit our goal of 100 million vaccinations in arms.

FIELD: President Joe Biden beating by weeks his goal of 100 million shots in 100 days but there's a new set of challenges.

DR. DAVID KESSLER, CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE: I believe that we're going to be shifting from a supply issue to a demand issue, pretty soon.

FIELD: A new survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation and "Washington Post" shows nearly 4 in 10 unvaccinated workers say they won't get a shot or that they're undecided. More states are on track to expand eligibility to all adults in the next few weeks, including Nevada, Illinois, Missouri and Rhode Island.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FIELD: And, Jake, as we continue to talk about the expansion of access to these vaccines and more and more people getting out to enjoy the easing of restrictions, Dr. Fauci is warning that we aren't likely to get to herd immunity until children are also being vaccinated. And, Jake, as we discussed before, we likely won't see older children vaccinated until this fall, younger children even after that -- Jake.

TAPPER: All right. Alexandra Field, thanks so much.

Joining us now to discuss, Andy Slavitt. He's the senior White House adviser for the COVID response team.

Andy, thanks for joining us.

Let's start with this news about schools. Now, the CDC is recommending only three feet of distance is needed instead of six feet. President Biden earlier this month directed all states to make vaccinating teachers a priority.

At this point, as long as schools take the virus seriously, require masking, have improved ventilation, et cetera, is there a reason for schools to not have in-person instruction?

ANDY SLAVITT, WHITE HOUSE SENIOR ADVISER TO COVID RESPONSE: Well, it's good to be with you, Jake.

I think you're right. I think the barriers are coming down pretty rapidly for in-person instruction. And, you know, it started a few weeks ago with the CDC releasing a road map to help schools put in place the things they need to put in place.

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But they also aggressively studied the obstacles, and one of the obstacles was, very hard to have everybody back in school if you got to space six feet apart. So, they did the science, they read the science. And they said that's no longer necessary.

I think that's very good news, and as more teachers get vaccinated, there really is a way for schools to get people back in classrooms.

Now, people still have to wear masks. You know, it's not all systems go. There's still some guidelines around cafeterias and so forth. But, yeah, I think that's a pretty positive move.

TAPPER: And so far, teachers union, I have to say, are skeptical about this announcement from the CDC. The head of the nation's largest teacher union, the National Education Association, said, quote: We are concerned that the CDC has changed one of the basic rules for how to ensure school safety without demonstrating certainty that the change is justified by the science. This is not time to let down our guard, unquote.

Does the science justify this change to three feet? And if so, why does the largest teachers union not know that?

SLAVITT: Well, people have -- you know, people I think when there are changes they sometimes feel abrupt to people. The CDC has been studying this for a while. I don't think people generally accuse the CDC of being hasty in their decisions.

The one thing I hope people know is that the CDC is acting completely independently and by the science. And sometimes, what comes out of them is very inconvenient and people are annoyed by it. And sometimes, what comes out of them is quite positive.

But whatever it is, it has to be the work done by the scientists. And scientists released several papers today that they reviewed, they talked about it. And they feel good about this or they wouldn't put this out there.

TAPPER: President Biden promised to have the majority of K through 8 schools open for in-person learning five days a week by the end of April. Does it look like the science is there for that goal to be fulfilled?

SLAVITT: I think the science is there. Obviously, these are local decisions and we're doing everything we can to make sure that all the conditions are right to open schools safely. When we first started on this right after inauguration, things didn't look as good, but I think people have been working very, very hard on this. I think we're very strongly in that direction.

I think the CDC has said there are -- no matter what the circumstances are, there are a way for schools to be open, and today's change, really, in effect says in the same size space, you can have twice as many kids. So, it makes it a lot easier.

TAPPER: We know that the president said that there's going to be enough vaccine supply, supply for all American adults by the end of May. That is, of course, different than saying the shots will be in the arms.

When will the time be that all adults will be able to get access to that supply, be able to get a shot?

SLAVITT: Well, step one is enough vaccines, enough vaccination sites and enough vaccinators. I think we're -- I think we're -- we've done a good job with that.

The next two challenges, you point out both of them. One is how quickly can those vaccines get into people's arms. And when we got here, less than half of the vaccines that had been distributed were making their way into people's arms.

Today, that's more like 80 percent, so everyone is doing a much better job. States -- people are staying open later. Federal vaccination sites, all those are really contributing to that.

And then the third thing, which you also mentioned, is, okay, vaccines are great, but they have to be in someone's arm -- TAPPER: Right.

SLAVITT: -- and someone has to want them to have the vaccine in their arm.

So, at some point, we're going to get to a set of people who are kind on the fence about whether they want the vaccine or not. I think more and more people will get off the fence and take the vaccine as they see the great evidence that exists, but that's going to be a lot of local conversations. And I suspect that will probably be the last factor, is they will have the vaccines, will have the places to go, but we're really going to have to have these local dialogues with people to help them understand and answer their questions about the vaccines.

TAPPER: Really, you think it needs to be local? Because, I mean, my understanding based on polling is the biggest resisters of the vaccine, at least statistically according to polls I've seen, are Trump supporters. Would it not then be beneficial to have Donald Trump to do a PSA, to have Sean Hannity or Tucker Carlson or any of the people who are very popular in the MAGA community come out and talk about how positive the vaccines are?

SLAVITT: I think all that stuff helps marginally. And I've done conservative radio programs. Hugh Hewitt has been quite helpful.

But the truth is, when people say -- particularly conservatives -- is that they don't want an authority to try to convince them to take the vaccine. What they want is not that different from what other folks want, which is, they've got a series of questions, and they don't want to feel like they're being manipulated. They want to feel like they're getting straight answers to those questions.

And that's -- I think that's -- when asked, where does that come from for you? Oftentimes it's their local doctor, it's their local pharmacist. Sometimes it's the clergy, sometimes it's someone in their life that they trust.

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So, making sure we -- you know, that vaccines tell a great story, so just getting that information out the people is important.

And also you've got to fight disinformation because, you know, people pick up rumors on social media that aren't true for people who are needle-phobic, they have these 10-inch needles, nothing like to needles who folks get vaccinated get. And we have to make sure we do a good job combating that as well, because that can be damaging.

TAPPER: Right now, the U.S. is averaging to 2.5 million shots a day approximately. What do you want that number to be?

SLAVITT: Well, it -- I don't meantime to sound flip, but there's not a number that's high enough to get people vaccinated fast enough. So, you know, we set this goal of 100 million in 100 days, but that was the floor for us. We've seen a high of 3.2 million in a day. For the flu during pandemic season, we can do about 3 million a day.

You know, we're challenging yourselves, obviously, to beat that. I'm not predicting that we will, but I'm saying we can make it go up from here. Even if we hold it steady from here, 2.5 million, we're in pretty good shape, but I don't think we're going to rest on that. I think we're going try to beat it.

TAPPER: All right. Andy Slavitt, thank you so much. Appreciate your time. Come back. Come on the show a lot more. We love -- we love talking about this issue.

SLAVITT: Of course. Thank you, anytime.

TAPPER: And tomorrow night, join CNN's Miguel Marquez for a lot at the stories of loss and survival experienced during this horrific pandemic. The CNN special report, "The Human Cost of COVID" airs tomorrow at 9:00 p.m.

Coming up, it was supposed to be a trip to support the -- but because of the spa murders, President Biden and Vice President Harris are meeting with members of the Asian American community right now.

Then, a CNN investigation into a crisis you might not know about. We're going to talk to the women whose bodies are being use in the a war.

Stay with us.

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TAPPER: In our politics lead, at any moment we're expecting President Biden to speak live from Atlanta. He's there with Vice President Kamala Harris meeting with members of the Asian-American community who are still understandably reeling from this week's deadly spa shootings. The trip to Georgia was originally planned for the president to tout his $1.9 trillion relief bill, which is now law, and stimulus checks are being distributed.

But the horrific shooting has made Biden's mission on the ground in Georgia a much more solemn one. He's attempting to serve as consoler in chief as CNN's Jeff Zeleny reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSEPH R. BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Biden visiting Atlanta today, condemning rising acts of hatred and violence against Asian-Americans. At this hour, the president and Vice President Kamala Harris meeting with community leaders in the wake of a rampage here this week that killed eight people, including six Asian women.

Today, Biden urging Congress to pass the COVID 19 Hate Crimes Act, which would accelerate the federal government's response to hate crimes exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

The president and vice president also visiting CDC headquarters in Atlanta.

WALENSKY: Your support for CDC is so important.

ZELENY: Receiving a briefing from officials on a day when the administration hailed the milestone of hitting 100 million coronavirus shots, with a promise to reach 200 million doses in arms by his 100th day in office at the end of April.

BIDEN: We owe you a giant debt of gratitude and will for a long, long, long time. Because I hope this is the beginning of the end of not paying attention.

ZELENY: Earlier in the day as we left Washington on a windy morning, Biden struggled to find his footing as he climbed the stairs of Air Force One, prompting a White House spokeswoman to say he's 100 percent fine.

Arriving in Atlanta, he held the handrail and left the plane with ease.

For Biden and Harris, there is no state like Georgia, which went blue last fall for first time in a presidential race since 1992. The state also delivered two new Democratic senators, ending Republican control of the Senate. It paved way for their agenda and passage of the American Rescue Plan.

The White House picked Georgia as an early stop on the "Help is Here Tour", but a rally was canceled after the deadly shootings.

Asian American leaders meeting with Biden today are imploring the White House for help.

BEE NGUYEN (D), GEORGIA STATE REPRESENTATIVE: I think they ought to investigate it as a hate crime and ought to listen to the Asian people living in Georgia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZELENY (on camera): Now, State Representative Bee Nguyen who you saw right there is among the community leaders who are meeting with President Biden and Vice President Harris right now, Jake, on the campus of Emory University, right behind me here.

Now, the vice president I'm told is going to deliver remarks in a short time, followed by President Biden. And a White House official tells me they're going forcefully condemn the violence against Asian- Americans, Jake. The question, though, will they describe this as a hate crime? That's what so many people here are wondering -- Jake.

TAPPER: All right. Jeff Zeleny, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

In our national lead, we're learning more about the victims in the Atlanta area spa shootings. Today, officials finally released the names of all eight victims. The husband of one of the female victims saying the most valuable thing in his life was taken from him.

The major question of what led the shooter to commit these heinous acts remain undetermined by law enforcement as of now. FBI Director Christopher Wray said he does not think race played a role. Others are not as convinced, as CNN's Amara Walker reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMARA WALKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As a community comes together to grieve, CNN is learning more about the lives that were violently taken on Tuesday. All four killed at the two spas in Atlanta were Asian women.

Seventy-four-year-old Soon C. Park, 69-year-old Suncha Kim, 63-year- old Yong E. Yue, 51-year-old Hyun Jung Grant. Her son, Rand Park set up this GoFundMe page and writes that Grant was a single mother who dedicated her whole life to provide for my brother and I. Losing her has put a new lens in my eyes on the amount of hate that exists in our world, he wrote.

[16:20:05]

At Young's Asian Massage in Cherokee County, the victims have been identified as Xiaojie Tan, 49. A friend tells CNN, Tan, owner of Young's Asian Massage was loving and unselfish. They would call each other family.

Daoyou FEng, 44, Paul Andre Michels, 54, and 33-year-old Delaina Ashley Yaun.

Her family tells CNN affiliate WGCL that this mother of two and her husband went to the spa on a date when she was attacked.

CONSTANCE SEATS, DELAINA YAUN'S AUNT: This is so heartbreaking. He took a mother, a wife, a daughter, and a sister for no reason. This family is broken because of this man. It is so hard on everybody today because of this man taking this innocent angel from us. He took an angel from earth, who would do anything for anybody.

WALKER: Thirty-year-old Elcias Hernandez Ortiz was shot in the head, according to his wife who started a GoFundMe page, but he survived. His wife tells CNN he called her on the phone and said, I have been shot. Please come. I need you.

As President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris meet with leaders from Atlanta's Asian-American community, local authorities say they're looking at everything to determine whether or not the three spa shooting in the Atlanta area were racially motivated.

FBI Director Christopher Wray told NPR Thursday that he doesn't believe race played a role.

CHRISTOPHER WRAY, FBI DIRECTOR: And while the motive remains still under investigation, at the moment, it does not appear that the motive was racially motivated. WALKER: The FBI is currently playing a limited role in the

investigation into the killing spree, where six out of the eight victims were Asian women. Director Wray's comments upsetting leaders in the Asian American community.

CAM ASHLING, CHAIR OF ASIAN AMERICAN ACTION FUND, GEORGIA CHAPTER: It's infuriating, you know, because everybody who's looking at this is looking at it and they smell and see that it's a hate crime.

DR. MICHELLE AU (D), GEORGIA STATE SENATOR: I'm going to point out two things. One is that in the state of Georgia, 4 percent of the population is Asian American. However, of the victims of this crime, of these victims, 75 percent of them were Asian-American.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALKER (on camera): Now, Jake, you just heard there from Georgia State Senator Michelle Au who is also in the meeting with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. I also spoke with a state representative that tells me they together will be pushing for the White House to call for shootings to be investigated as hate crimes but they'll also be pushing for policy initiatives to encourage Asians to report crimes against them. Experts say they're severely underreported because of barriers like language access and fear over their immigration status, and the general feeling that Asian crimes are not taken seriously. We just look at the statistics of 150 percent increase in hate instances against Asians, that doesn't capture the full picture -- Jake.

TAPPER: All right. Amara Walker with that important report. Thank you so much.

Coming up, a CNN investigation in a country where rape is being used as a weapon of war. We're going to hear from one of the survivors.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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TAPPER: Our world lead now. A brand new CNN investigation revealing the heartbreaking and extremely disturbing reality for women in Ethiopia, where an escalating conflict in the Tigray region caused thousands of deaths and others to flee their homes.

The Biden administration brought the humanitarian crisis in the Africa nation to the forefront this week, announcing the administration was sending more than $50 million of aid to the region and dispatching close Biden ally, Senator Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware, to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to meet with the country's prime minster and address what Secretary of State Blinken has labeled an ethnic cleansing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ANTONY BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE: The challenge in Ethiopia is very significant, and it's one that we're very focused on, particularly the situation in Tigray, where we are seeing very credible reports of human rights abuses and atrocities that are ongoing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Now, CNN has learned that soldiers in the Tigray region are using rape as a weapon of war, and we want to warn you, some of what you're about to see and hear is graphic.

CNN's Nima Elbagir joins me live now from the Sudan-Ethiopia border.

Nima, we hear of the descriptions of the humanitarian crisis and ethnic cleansing. Who's responsible for these alleged crimes?

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we're hearing from the women we have been speaking to, Jake, is really that they feel like no man in uniform is safe for them. A combination of ethnic Amhara militias from the Amhara ethnic group, allied with the government, soldiers from neighboring Eritrea, soldiers from the Fano Amhara ethnic militia, even here in Hamdayed (ph). Just a couple of months ago, this was a safe haven. There are so many refugees were able to cross here.

Now they're describing to us a toxic mix of all of those forces, the ethnic militia, the Fano militia, the Eritrean soldiers blocking them from across the river from where we're standing here from coming to safety. Even here in Hamdayed (ph), they feel the shadow, Jake, they feel that fear.

TAPPER: You were able to speak with a doctor who's treating some of the women who have been attacked and even some of the victims.

ELBAGIR: We went to a clinic where Dr. Tedros Tefera, this extraordinary surgeon at home in Tigray, here, he's taken over the running of the clinic.

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