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Don Lemon Tonight
Coronavirus Cases in the United States Continue to Rise; The House is Voting on Coronavirus Relief Bill; President Trump Holds Coronavirus Press Conference and Declares National Emergency; JetBlue Bans Passenger Who Notified Crew After Landing that He had Tested Positive for Coronavirus; The Man Who Flew On JetBlue With Coronavirus Positive Passenger Speaks Out; NBA Stars Get Tests Amid Coronavirus Outbreak; At least 2,207 Coronavirus Cases In This Country, 49 People Have Died; President Trump Declares National Emergency To Combat Coronavirus. Aired 10-11p ET
Aired March 13, 2020 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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CHRIS CUOMO, CNN HOST: I want to keep it going but I got to end the show. Listen to them. "Canto della Verbena." It is Siena's town song while Siena sleeps. Interesting, Siena is the walled city. Now, they are even more walled than ever. But one voice after another, showing local pride while locked down in their own homes. You can find joy in the pain. Let's do that together.
Thank you for watching. "CNN Tonight" with D. Lemon, thinking about going from joy to pain, --
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CUOMO: -- starts right now.
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: I thought that was you leaving my house on a Sunday night.
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CUOMO: I wish I could sing like that.
LEMON: You know, I did the grocery store thing today, too, as well and I couldn't find the TP and Dr. Gupta --
CUOMO: I got it.
LEMON: Where did you find it? Where did you go?
CUOMO: I bought all of it.
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LEMON: I got the last big giant thing of Bounty, the big super rolls of Bounty. I'm sitting next to Dr. Gupta who is laughing at me -- SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's hoarding --
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LEMON: He's like it's not a GI issue, right? So why are people hoarding?
GUPTA: I'm confused by all the toilet paper.
CUOMO: I just did the whole closing on the psychological reasons behind it. I will tell you what. You want a little levity? So, I went out last weekend and I just happened to do --
LEMON: Yes.
CUOMO: -- a paper towel/TP run.
LEMON: Yes.
CUOMO: And Don knows my wife very well, Cristina, and I come back and of course what I bought wasn't up to her standards.
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CUOMO: So she is talking about how cheap the toilet paper was.
LEMON: You didn't get the two-ply or three-ply.
CUOMO: So it's going to be a rough weekend for your boy, literally, I figured.
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LEMON: All right, sir. We got to run. We need to get to Dr. Gupta. We got a lot to get to. All right, have a great and safe weekend, my friend. I will see you soon.
CUOMO: Be safe.
LEMON: Absolutely. You as well. This is "CNN Tonight." I am Don Lemon and here is our breaking news tonight. These are the numbers. At least 2,204 people across this country have tested positive for the coronavirus. Forty-nine have died.
And tonight, the House expected to vote on a coronavirus relief bill with White House support that would give some Americans paid emergency leave and free testing for the virus. That, as the president held a press conference in the Rose Garden this afternoon to declare a national emergency and said this about the government's coronavirus response.
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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've been working very hard on this. We've made tremendous progress. When you compare what we've done to other areas of the world, it's pretty incredible.
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LEMON: It's incredible, all right. It's incredible that the United States, as of this moment, still can't test everybody who should be tested. It's incredible that the president is refusing to take responsibility for a failure that's putting Americans at risk.
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KRISTEN WELKER, NBC NEWS WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Dr. Fauci said earlier this week that the lag in testing was, in fact, a failing. Do you take responsibility for that? And when can you guarantee that every single American who needs a test will be able to have a test? What's the date of that?
TRUMP: Yes. No, I don't take responsibility at all.
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LEMON: Mr. I alone can fix it. Meet Mr. I don't take responsibility at all.
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YAMICHE ALCINDOR, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, PBS NEWSHOUR: You said that you don't take responsibility. But you did disband the White House pandemic office and officials that were working in that office left this administration abruptly. So what responsibility do you take to that? Officials that worked in that office said that the White House lost valuable time because that office was disbanded. What do you make of that?
TRUMP: Well, I just think it's a nasty question because what we've done is -- and Tony had said numerous times that we saved thousands of lives because of the quick closing. And when you say me, I didn't do it. We have a group of people.
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LEMON: It wasn't me. We have people. The fact is the White House pandemic office was disbanded in 2018. And the president knew about it. Senator Sherrod Brown tweets he wrote to him, demanding answers, more than 600 days ago. President painting a pretty rosy picture today about the number of coronavirus cases in this country.
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TRUMP: So much progress has already been made, and frankly, the numbers because of steps that have been taken, are at a level that a lot of people are surprised, especially when you compare them with other places with far smaller populations.
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LEMON: So here are the facts again. Those numbers are going to start to go up when we finally start testing as many people as we should. Let us not forget, this president openly said that he wanted to keep the numbers low. Just one week ago, he said this about why he wanted to have people stay on board that coronavirus-infected cruise ship that was denied entry to San Francisco.
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TRUMP: I like the numbers being where they are. I don't need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn't our fault.
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LEMON: And speaking of testing, there are a lot of questions tonight about whether the president himself should be tested after being in close proximity with the Brazilian president's press secretary, who tested positive for the virus.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to know if you are in contact with the Brazilian President Bolsonaro after a member of his delegation who was with you Saturday was tested positive. And also, I want to ask another question if you let me. Senators Lindsey Graham and also Senator Scott -- Rick Scott are self-isolating. Are you planning to take any kind of precaution -- precautionary measure to protect you and also your staff was there with him?
TRUMP: No, we have no symptoms whatsoever.
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LEMON: OK. So if you've been paying attention to the experts, it's not a question of whether you have symptoms. And minutes later, the president who just said he wasn't taking any precautions, changed his tune.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The doctors said you might have it --
TRUMP: But I can tell you --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- even if you don't have symptoms. Are you being selfish by not getting tested?
TRUMP: Well, I didn't say I wasn't going to be tested.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you going to be?
TRUMP: Most likely, yes. Not for that reason but because I think I will do it anyway.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will you let us --
TRUMP: Fairly soon. We're working on that. We're working out a schedule.
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LEMON: And what do we hear today from the man the president picked to head up the coronavirus task force? Another dear leader moment.
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MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you, Mr. President. It is -- this day should be an inspiration to every American, because thanks to your leadership from early on, not only are we bringing a whole-of-government approach to confronting the coronavirus, we're bringing an all-of-America approach.
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LEMON: The sobering fact in all of this is that it may be too late for the testing to do us much good now that the virus is spreading. And remember the president's Oval Office address Wednesday night, the one that turned out to be riddled with errors? It looks like he did it again today.
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TRUMP: I want to thank Google. Google is helping to develop a website. It's going to be very quickly done, unlike websites of the past, to determine whether a test is warranted and to facilitate testing at a nearby, convenient location. We have many, many locations behind us, by the way.
We cover this country and large parts of the world. By the way, we're not going to be talking about the world right now. But we cover very, very strongly, our country, source in virtually every location. Google has 1,700 engineers working on this right now. They've made tremendous progress.
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LEMON: Except, according to Google, that's not what they're doing. They put out a statement tonight. So stand by. We're going to have that in just a moment. What they're saying about the president's claim.
In the meantime, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi taking to the podium tonight talking about the bill that they have come to an agreement on. Let's listen to the House speaker.
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REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): -- response to the coronavirus crisis. This followed our bill last week, last Wednesday. It was about the appropriations bill, $8.3 billion, putting families first. Between these two bills, we have an effective stimulus to the economy, injecting those resources as well as with this bill putting funds in the pockets of people who may be affected by the crisis. So here we are. We did what we said we were going to do. Put families first with paid sick leave, paid sick days, family and medical leave, unemployment insurance.
For the children, over 20 million children get their meals at school. They have food insecurity and this bill addresses that, as well as food for our seniors and others who depend on that, and again filling food banks as well. And we want an important court decision on all of that today.
And then the issues that relate to three things. Testing, testing, and testing. This is so important. And, again, between the appropriations bill and this legislation, we should see -- we've legislated -- we should see the executive branch execute this legislation.
So we're really very proud of that work. We could've passed our bill yesterday, just our own bill, which was a great bill, and is still a great bill because that's what we're passing today. But we thought it would be important to show the American people, assure the American people, that we are willing and able to work together to get a job done for them.
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PELOSI: So we thank Republicans, those who will be supporting the bill. We appreciate the president joining us with his tweet. But we are very excited about the prospect. And for the input in all of that, what we did last week, and in this bill and the rest, our freshmen class was very instrumental. They brought, from home, suggestions about how to meet the needs of people. And you're going to hear from them directly this evening. But some of them are with us. All of them are a valued resource.
I wish Chuck Schumer could be here because he's the one who started with $8.5 billion and again was so much a part of ingredients in this legislation. But I am also glad that our distinguished Democratic leader Steny Hoyer is -- and he worked very hard in all of this. I yield to him.
REP. STENY HOYER (D-MD): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Nobody worked harder than the speaker, the speaker, as all of you know, because you have been in the hallways walking around and what's happening this second. And I have been on the phone with the speaker a lot of times. We haven't counted. But she and Secretary Mnuchin obviously have worked very, very hard to come to this agreement.
Last week, we passed legislation to deal with the immediate health challenges called -- caused by the coronavirus. We passed legislation for research, for mitigation of illness, for many things that were the direct result of the illness itself or the virus itself.
Today -- tonight, we are going to be passing legislation, which deals with the related economic consequences to people.
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LEMON: Steny Hoyer and also House Speaker Nancy Pelosi coming out to the microphone there speaking about this bill that they said the president is in agreement with, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. She is saying that it is a good bill, paid sick leave, unemployment insurance, paid emergency leave, as well.
And as she has been stressing, testing, testing, testing. The House speaker say they could have passed it yesterday, but they got it today. Good enough for her. She is happy about that.
I want to bring in now CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, as well as our White House correspondent John Harwood. Gentlemen, thank you very much. I appreciate you joining us. It looks like a president struck a deal with the Democrats, John.
JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. That's one of the positive things that happened today. There were a couple of them. Despite the errors in the president's press conference that you alluded to, we'll discuss that some more later, he did convey a seriousness by declaring a national emergency, he did marshal resources of the private sector, and he made this deal with Nancy Pelosi.
I think it was a significant point the speaker mentioned. She could have passed the bill in the House without the agreement of the administration. But I think in a moment of crisis like this, when it's important to rally the nation, the fact that a Democratic speaker of the House and a Republican president and then, presumably, a republican-controlled Senate will pass it next week, that is a signal to Americans that all hands are on deck at this moment.
LEMON: Mm-hmm. Let's talk about what you just mentioned moments ago. The president is declaring a national emergency. Also, taking -- not taking responsibility for any of the failures. He also said that Google was helping to develop this website quickly to see if coronavirus testing is needed. We're learning that that is not exactly the case, is it?
HARWOOD: No, it's not the case. And this is what -- a recurring characteristic of the president. He can't resist exaggerating, saying things that aren't true, hyping the situation. He did it the other night in that nationally-televised speech, when he told Americans that health care companies were going to cover coronavirus treatments, when in fact, he was talking about a particular agreement to cover testing.
He did it tonight by say -- suggesting that Google is going to, in short order, nationally, create a website that would help triage patients, tell people whether they needed to get a test, and then where they could get a test.
In fact, Google put out a statement tonight, saying that this is something that they've been working on to pilot in the San Francisco bay area. They hope to begin that pilot next week and take it on a broader scale at some point in the future. But it's not going to happen quickly. There was a reference at the news conference. This Sunday night, we'll know when it's going to be available. No, we're not going to Sunday night when it's going to be available nationally. We'll know that sometime after they test pilot it in the San Francisco bay area.
LEMON: Dr. Gupta, a lot of people were glued to their television sets today watching this press conference with the president and leaders around the country, health leaders as well. And, you know, moments that caught people, that struck people, were these moments.
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LEMON: The president is shaking hands with these business leaders, patting people on the back, touching the microphones at least 31 times. Listen, except this one business leader said, I'm just going to do the elbow bump, which you have been preaching and health leaders around the country and the president as well saying wash your hands, keep your distance, social distancing. Is that a do as I say, not as I do? What is going on?
GUPTA: Yes. I mean, look, he's got to set an example obviously. It's challenging I think for everybody a little bit. But the shaking hands thing, I think, you got to do away with that because, you know, this is one of the ways you can transmit the virus.
And I know, as you talked about in the opening of your show, there is obviously some concern because he's been around people who have been diagnosed as positive with the coronavirus. So there is some concern about the president for his own possibly carrying the virus.
So that's one of the issues now. You know, if you are possibly carrying it, you're shaking hands, you're touching people on the back, I noticed everyone touched the mic, adjusted the mic after. So these are concerns. This is how we're going to have to change behavior, and we didn't see that obviously on display.
LEMON: I thought it was --
HARWOOD: Don, I have to make a confession.
LEMON: Go ahead, John.
HARWOOD: I -- I met Dr. Gupta for the first time a couple weeks ago in the White House booth, and I reached out my hand and shook his.
LEMON: That was a couple weeks ago, John.
HARWOOD: Exactly. That's my point. We are all learning as we go along. I would not shake his hands if I ran into him tonight.
LEMON: Yes.
HARWOOD: And that's -- that's how the society is involving -- is evolving, is mobilizing --
GUPTA: We're learning. HARWOOD: -- is turning the corner on how we deal with this.
LEMON: Well, here's my question for you then. Listen -- and the president, again, should set the example. The example should come from the top. And I was -- when he first said it, I said -- I actually texted my producer. We were on texting talking about what was happening at this -- at this press conference. And I said did he just shake that man hand? And then another one happened and then another one happened and then another one happened.
HARWOOD: I was shocked.
LEMON: I was shocked as well. And then he touched the microphone. I said what are they doing? I have not been doing that in my personal life and most people I know had not been doing that in their personal lives on the advice of the administration. My question is, is he going to be tested, John?
HARWOOD: I think he will. He indicated that under some repeated questioning on that subject. Look, we learned tonight that a second Brazilian official who was with the president at Mar-a-Lago has tested positive for the coronavirus. So he was at dinner in the company of two of these officials. One of whom, we have a picture of him next to him.
So when the president was pressed on whether it was selfish for him not to test, he wasn't asked about the handshakes but those occurred in front of the press today too, he said, well, I didn't say I wasn't going to be tested, I very likely will be tested soon.
White House has indicated he has not been tested so far. And the question is, you know, when he gets tested, are they going to tell us and when are they going to tell us results?
LEMON: Yes. I would like to know. I really would. Earlier in the week, I wasn't so sure, but considering all that's happened, I would really like to know now. Thank you, John. We appreciate it. Dr. Gupta is going to stick around.
A man flies from New York to Florida despite being tested for coronavirus then notifies the crew after landing that he tested positive. Next, we're going to talk to the passenger who was sitting in the same row with him.
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[22:20:00]
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LEMON: JetBlue officially banning a passenger who flew from New York to Palm Beach after not disclosing to anyone at the airline that he was awaiting results of a coronavirus test. It wasn't until the plane landed that the man told crew members he had the test -- he had tested positive. In a statement, JetBlue said Wednesday -- Wednesday's event put our crew member, customers, and federal and local officials in an unsettling situation that could have easily been avoided. And as such, this customer will not be permitted to fly on JetBlue in the future.
So joining me now is a passenger on that flight. His name is Scott Rodman. He was just a few feet away from the now-banned passenger. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is back with us as well. Scott, welcome to the program. Thank you so much for joining us. First of all, how are you feeling?
SCOTT RODMAN, FLEW WITH A MAN WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS ON PLANE: So far, so good. I have a lot of anxiety. Certainly, not what I was expecting when I got on the plane, that's for sure.
LEMON: But no symptoms -- any symptoms since that flight?
RODMAN: No symptoms, no. You know, I do have a little bit of a headache and an ache and a pain somewhere, but a lot of times, I feel like it's just my mental game playing with me.
LEMON: Yes. All right, we're glad for that. OK, so listen, after the man notified flight staff that he tested positive upon arrival, what happened next? Did flight attendants try to isolate the man? What happened?
RODMAN: They isolated him by taking him to the back galley. He had been wearing a face mask and gloves throughout the flight. His wife, who was sitting directly or one seat away from me, the middle seat happened to be empty. She was not wearing any sort of mask or anything.
They then after about -- we sat on the tarmac after landing for probably two and a half or three hours. They had moved him to the back. And about an hour after waiting, they moved her to the back. And at that point, she was -- a mask was put onto her, as well. And we were just sitting, awaiting instructions, a few minor announcements from the captain, but no real information to let anyone know what was going on.
LEMON: Wait a minute. I lost you there for a second. He was wearing -- you said he was wearing a mask the entire flight. He had one on when he got on the flight.
RODMAN: Yes.
LEMON: And they eventually put one on his wife, is that correct? I just want to make sure --
RODMAN: Correct.
LEMON: OK. Stand by, Scott. I want to bring Dr. Gupta in. So he was sitting -- you were sitting two seats away, right?
RODMAN: So I was -- I was at the window, the empty middle, his wife was the aisle, and then he was the aisle on the other side of the wall. [22:25:00]
LEMON: Two seats, OK, Dr. Gupta, from this man. He touched this wife's purse and the man's luggage. What are his chances of getting coronavirus?
RODMAN: Yes.
GUPTA: Scott touched -- you touched? OK. And you said he was wearing gloves. Is that right, Scott?
RODMAN: Correct.
GUPTA: OK. Well, look, it's -- it's hard to know. I mean, when you talk about respiratory viruses, what planes will typically do is they will have two rows in front and two rows in back where they'll identify those passengers and they're supposed to keep up with those passengers, check in to see if they're developing any symptoms.
So it sounds like he was across the aisle. But his wife, who is going to obviously be a person of under investigation, was sitting just one seat over from you, middle seat, and then you. So it's hard to know what your risk is.
He was wearing a mask. We don't recommend healthy people wear masks. He was sick. So a mask for someone who is sick is not a bad idea. And also, gloves. So I think, you know, I'm glad he was doing that. Obviously, Scott, I feel for you. This was a bad decision by this passenger to get on a plane while waiting a coronavirus test.
But I think your risk is probably low. Look, your risk is probably low generally anyways, but, you know, it looks like he did, at least, take some other precautions. So that's helpful. If I can ask a question, is the airline -- are they in touch with you? Are they monitoring you?
RODMAN: Well, once we -- they -- just as you said, Dr. Gupta, they took rows -- we were in row 17. They took rows 15 through 19 off the back of the plane. They brought us into what we were told is a very rarely used terminal at PBI. And when we got there, we met with the -- we were told by the head of the Palm Beach Health Department who instructed us that -- that we were at very low risk because he showed no symptoms. He didn't cough or sneeze.
LEMON: OK, Scott, let me play this and this will help with what you are saying because it recorded with the health department and health official from Palm Beach County who spoke to passengers once you are off the plain. This is some of what she said, and then we will continue with this conversation. Listen to this.
RODMAN: Sure.
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ALINA ALONSO, HEALTH DIRECTOR, PALM BEACH COUNTY: An individual on this flight got a text that he tested positive for the coronavirus. He has not been coughing or sneezing or anything on the plane. At this point, you're free to walk around and move around because, most likely, you're not going to have anything because there was no activity. The way you get this virus is somebody has to cough or sneeze on you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: So, Sanjay, this may help you with the question. They were told that they could walk away freely, yet Scott decided, you guys decided to self-quarantine at their parents' house in Florida. OK. So go on. Does that help answer your question, Dr. Gupta?
GUPTA: Yes. I mean, you know, they talk about this social distance area of being around six feet, two meters away or so, and it sounds like you were that far away from him, but maybe not that far away from his wife. We don't know if she tested positive but, obviously, she spent a lot of time with him.
So, you know, technically you would be considered second generation from this and what you should be doing is monitoring to see if you develop any symptoms. And luckily, Scott, statistically, the likelihood is low that you will. But, man, I imagine it caused you a lot of anxiety. I mean, it would me.
RODMAN: Yes, it certainly has. On top of it, after we were told this, my mother happens to be diabetic. And from listening and knowing --
LEMON: How old is your mom? How old are your parents?
RODMAN: I wanted to make sure so I privately went over to the doctor and asked her how I should handle the situation due to my mother's condition. And she told me that that's a personal decision I have to make. And I didn't particularly care for that answer and asked her for her professional opinion since that's what she was there to give. And she told me I should be fine in the house as long as I try and keep some distance, and if I develop any symptoms to get out right away.
LEMON: Scott, how old are your parents?
RODMAN: Obviously, that has been a major sense of anxiety.
LEMON: How old are your parents, Scott? I'm sure you're on Skype, so you may not be hearing me when I'm talking.
RODMAN: Oh, come on. If I give that information out, my mother will never talk to me again.
LEMON: Are they in the age range that folks should be concerned about? That is why I'm asking so that Dr. Gupta can answer the question.
RODMAN: Yes, yes, they are in the age range.
LEMON: So then is he doing the right thing?
GUPTA: Look, Scott, you are doing the right thing. You know, regardless, you know, it's an interesting point, Scott. I think this is a good example. I'm glad you are talking about your story because I was visiting my parents this weekend and I didn't have Scott's experience obviously on a plane.
But right now, we have to act, all of us. This is a different time in our country. We have to all act as if we could potentially be carrying this virus and especially when you are going to spend time with someone who is a vulnerable person, either because of their age or because of their medical history.
[22:30:00]
Scott, it sounds like your mom has -- because of her diabetes and obviously her age, she falls into that vulnerable category. Everything you do has to be as if maybe I'm carrying this virus. Which means, you know, you are washing your hands. If you are sick, you're not going to make that visit to your mom.
You know, these are things that we're going to have to change about our interactions with people for some time. But it's -- it's very -- it's a really good example, Scott, because despite the fact that you didn't get that advice, sounds like, from the medical staff. You knew enough, heard enough, learned enough, to do the right thing here. So I'm -- I'm happy. I'm proud of you.
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: Should he be wearing even if he's not sick -- should he be wearing a mask around his parents?
GUPTA: No, I don't think so. He's -- he doesn't -- he's not -- he doesn't have symptoms right now. So, we can't -- there's no reason to believe that he has a coronavirus. And people who are healthy do not need to wear masks. People who are sick wear the mask to prevent putting those respiratory droplets into the air.
LEMON: Scott, thank you. Scott Rodman. And we wish you well. Say hello to your parents. I don't mean to get you in trouble with your mom and dad. OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No worries. I appreciate it. Thank you guys so much for having me.
LEMON: Thank you. You be well. I appreciate it. Dr. Gupta, thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
GUPTA: Got it.
LEMON: I really appreciate it. Good information. I know you're a busy man.
GUPTA: We'll keep talking.
LEMON: You keep well too. All right. There is a nationwide shortage of coronavirus tests. So how are so many basketball players getting tested so quickly? We're digging into that next.
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[22:35:00] LEMON: The Trump administration wasn't prepared for the spread of the
coronavirus nationwide. There are not enough tests for the millions of Americans who want one. Except for celebrities and sports figures. Many of them have been tested. Here's CNN's Ed Lavandera.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fifteen minutes before the Oklahoma City thunder in Utah Jazz were set to start a Wednesday-night game, doctors in a state laboratory across town in Oklahoma City were learning that Utah player Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus. The race was on to stop the game and control the spread of the virus.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The game tonight has been postponed. You are also --
LAVANDERA: A team of health officials descended on the basketball arena and tested 58 people connected to the Utah Jazz organization. Before this night, the NBA and team physicians were reportedly told to have plans in place in case players started showing coronavirus symptoms. The team didn't leave the arena until well after midnight Thursday morning.
How did the team get 58 tests when there's been so much struggle to get testing done across the country? How does this one team get 58 tests in less than 24 hours?
GARY COX, OKLAHOMA HEALTH COMMISIONER: We didn't know exactly what the situation was once we got the one positive test. We didn't know, you know, what the extent of that was. So you, certainly, do want to concentrate on those that had close personal contact with a -- with a positive case.
LAVANDERA: Oklahoma Health Commissioner Gary Cox, says the state can carry out 100 test a day. So the testing of the Jazz team took up more than half the states daily resources.
The Oklahoma Health Commissioner tells CNN that the testing of the Utah Jazz basketball team was prioritized, because of the symptoms several players were showing but also because it was such a large group of people that had traveled extensively in the weeks before arriving here in Oklahoma City.
At the same time, a string of celebrities have received coronavirus testing. Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson were tested and diagnosed with coronavirus in Australia. Celine Dion says she was showing common colds symptoms and was tested after a series of shows in New York. The coronavirus test came back negative. And NBA legend Charles Barkley says he was tested Thursday.
CHARLES BARKLEY, FORMER NBA PLAYER: So I'm just kind of in limbo right now. I'm hoping -- I'm really hoping it was just a bug. But like I said, I was in New York early this week because that was a hotspot. And when I got to Atlanta, just wasn't feeling well.
LAVANDERA: But across the country, the lack of coronavirus testing has been a source of frustration and criticism. Kevin Henkins says he spent a week at Disney World with his family and started feeling sick on the drive home to Georgia.
KEVIN HENKINS, PATIENT: And so there's no test kits that anybody's aware of. There's no other alternative to go if somebody runs out of test kits. It's like a brick wall that you are hitting if you need to be tested for this.
LAVANDERA: The Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has said the U.S. testing system is failing.
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALERGY AND INFECTOUS DISEASE: It is not designed for the kind of mass distribution that we need now that we've seen in other countries.
LAVANDERA: What this week has proven is that even though the Trump administration has said, repeatedly, that anyone who wants a test can get one, that's not true. Ed Lavandera, Oklahoma City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Ed, thank you so much. CNN's Drew Griffin talked to some frustrated medical professionals about their efforts to get tests for their patients. Drew?
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Don, we have been hearing from doctors, nurses, patients, even hospital group of administrators, CEOs, telling us they are not able to get tests for suspected coronavirus patients, because of either a lack of test, confusing guidance from the CDC and their health departments. Or a problem with getting the test processed in labs.
Even this evening, Don, we are hearing from a doctor in Los Angeles. Extremely frustrated that his hospital has had so few testing kits, he has had to withdraw orders for some of his patients. Late this afternoon, the president finally responded. Saying he is cutting regulations. Bringing in partnerships with major companies to ramp up the testing. He's promising a half a million tests, available by early next week. What he's saying is it's going to be some kind of a drive- through testing that's now being done in New York and Colorado to hopefully end this crisis within a crisis. Which has been the lack of testing. Don.
LEMON: Drew, thank you so much.
Well, so many Americans can't get tested. NBA stars seem to get tested pretty easily. Why is that? A lot to talk about with Christine Brennan, next.
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[22:40:00]
LEMON: Lots of questions tonight about how 58 people connected to the Utah Jazz basketball team were able to get tested for coronavirus. While so many people are being turned away all over the country. Let's discuss with CNN sports analyst Christine Brennan. Hi, Christine. Thank you for joining us. 1 appreciate it.
CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: Thanks, Don, great to be with you. Thank you.
LEMON: We are hearing about so many people not being able to get access to a coronavirus test. Do you question how exactly, the tests are so readily available for a professional sports team?
BRENNAN: Don, I think it's natural for any of us to ask that question. What? You know, how is this possible?
LEMON: Right.
BRENNAN: We are hearing stories from around the country about people not being able to find tests, be tested, going to hospitals, whatever who might -- people who might really need it. And then all these athletes on all this people around one NBA team are able to do that, but I have done a little digging. And as best as I can tell, I think there is two big reasons why.
[22:45:08]
One, is the affiliation that a lot of these teams, NBA teams in this case, but even other sports teams, have with local health professionals. A hospital. Health center. Sometimes there's even sponsorship involved. So there is that connection there that's built in. It's been months and years in the making. And a lot of these teams, as Ed's piece said, have actually been in touch with these health professionals over the last week or two.
So, you know, I think that is a big part of it. And then my colleague Jeff (inaudible), at USA Today has just written a story where he is quoting a health official, Don, who is talking about this and talking about these -- these basketball players as super spreaders. And the players, the team officials, even members of the media, traveling from one city to the next. As we know these NBA teams were doing all last week and early this week. And they're spreading, super spreading, the virus or potentially could be spreading it. So, I believe those two things, working in concert, at least can start to help explain what's going on here.
LEMON: Yes. They are -- they're in contact with so many people. Thousands and thousands of people. Potentially, thousands and thousands of people. Major sporting events continuing to be postponed. Including, we were shocked when we saw -- I was watching the TV today and I was like the masters golf tournament, right? The Boston marathon. Major League Baseball delayed the start of their season for at least two weeks. Are these disruptions actually helping drive home the seriousness of this situation?
BRENNAN: Don, I think they are. I think that if we were kind of lulled asleep and daydreaming and thinking, hey, this isn't a big deal. And, for me, that watershed moment where, all of a sudden, it woke everybody up was Wednesday night about 9:30, 9:45 Eastern Time, when you look the at your phone or watching television, looking at your laptop, whatever it was and you saw the news that the NBA was suspending operations. Wow. That really was a shocker.
And I think that was -- if people weren't taking it seriously, if we're not getting great advice from the White House, all of a sudden, you're seeing that a league is literally shutting down. And then, of course, some of the other things you've mentioned. The NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments, gone. All these college seniors. Their senior spring seasons, gone. I think that really brought it home to people. And if we were not taking it seriously as a nation or uncertain how to look at it.
Sports became our north star. Sports became the bell weather in telling us these teams are so important in our cities. They give us such identity, sort of our pride. It's much more than just sports. It's part of our culture. And now, they're doing this? Well, then we better start paying attention and I give a lot of credit to sports leagues. May have stumbled along for a little bit, Don, getting there but they got there and they got there quickly and they made a major statement to the rest of the nation.
LEMON: As always, Christine, thank you so much. I appreciate it.
BRENNAN: Don, thank you.
LEMON: Coronavirus testing's been a big problem in this country but are there even bigger challenges ahead? What hospitals and patients need to be ready for? That's next.
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[22:50:00]
LEMON: President Trump today promising five million additional coronavirus tests within a month. But the sobering fact in all of this is that -- it may be too late for testing to do us much good. Now that the virus is spreading. Is it time for our leaders to focus on preparing for the crucial weeks ahead? Now to discuss is, Michael Leavitt, he was secretary of Health in Human Services under President George W. Bush. Thank you I appreciate you joining us. How are you doing sir?
MICHAEL LEAVITT, FOUNDER AND CHAIR, LEAVITT PARTNERS: Good, Don. Thank you.
LEMON: President Trump is claiming the private sector businesses will provide five million coronavirus tests within a month. But are we reaching the point where testing is going to become less important than things like having enough hospital beds and ventilator machines ready to go and so on?
LEAVITT: I feel confident that when this whole episode is revisited that there will be some changes in the way test kits are handled. But it is time that we begin to look at the next four to eight weeks. So, I think -- if things are as they appear. We are going to a couple of demanding months. And I know that the healthcare system is working hard to be ready to assist during that period. LEMON: Listen. Lets' not to say that the testing isn't extremely
important. Because everyone has been stressing testing, testing, testing. Why is the government investing and developing test to get to market, you know, in six to 12 weeks, instead of buying some of the tests available now in other countries?
LEAVITT: Well, I think what the government will say in the final analysis is we need to open this up to a lot of places that demonstrate that they have a credible test and we're seeing that with academic medical centers and commercial vendors. But as you point out, it's now time -- those will be important. There will be test -- I think available in the future. And they also need to create a network to be able to bring the information together and make credible decisions.
But the next four to eight weeks, we need to roll out lots of other preparations and may I say, I think the community of the United States, we have been doing some very impressive things as a people. All the things you enumerated earlier, they are going to help in the next couple of months. Because it's going to bend the curve, if you will. Or flatten the curve. The number of people who could hit the hospitals at the same time.
LEMON: Yes. Tom Bossard, who is the former Trump Homeland Security Adviser tweeted this out. He said in two weeks, we will regret wasting time and energy on travel restrictions and wish we focused more on hospital preparation and large scale community mitigation. What kind of hospitals should be happening? In your estimation?
[22:55:13]
LEAVITT: May I point just point out that hospitals obviously need to be prepared. And I think they will be. That every part of American life needs to have a plan. Families need to have a plan. Businesses need to have a plan. Schools, universities, churches, every aspect of American life. This is a very localized kind of emergency. Different than any other emergency we deal with. Because it's happening everywhere essentially at the same time.
And so in many ways we can't do as we would in the tornado or hurricane or an earthquake and have resources from one region go to another to assist. We're all be needed. So, this is the reason that this is not a time to panic. It's a time to prepare. There's time for us to be preparing and it will pay off. Both at the local levels -- in our families as well as in our local communities.
LEMON: It was interesting that you describe the current situation is like the fog of war. Where can federal and local authorities be doing to move past that uncertainty?
LEAVITT: There is an old saying in military planning that no battle plan survives contact with the enemy. There are lessons that are learned in every stage. The problem here is we have the so infrequently that every generation forgets the how complicated, how complex and how important planning is in this process. So, hopefully we'll learn quickly, we'll adapt and we'll improve and we'll get through this.
LEMON: Thank you, Michael. I appreciate your time. Have a good weekend.
LEAVITT: Thank you, you too.
LEMON: We'll be right back.
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