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Fauci Praises Rapid Response Toward Vaccine; U.S. States Reopening Despite Fears Of More Infections; U.K. Reopening Nonessential Retail On Jun 15; Virus Aggressively Spreads In Latin America; China Flexes Military Might Amid Coronavirus Pandemic; Trump Criticized For His Response To Floyd's Death; Young Americans Share What It's Like To Grow Up Black. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired June 10, 2020 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Dr. Raj, it's good to see you.

DR. RAJ KALSI, EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN: It's good to see to you. Thanks for having me on.

VAUSE: Well let's start off with Dr. Anthony Fauci. He is the leading expert on infectious diseases. He has (INAUDIBLE) I can understand this guy at all and a warning that we are a long way from the end of the outbreak. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Now we have something that indeed turned out the be my worst nightmare, something that's highly transmissible in a period if you just think about it, in a period of four months it has devastated the world. And it isn't over yet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: You know, he went on, and you know it was a fairly stark warning and yet what we're looking at in the United States right now just seems the vast majority of people are ignoring what he's saying.

KALSI: You know, it's interesting. I make the analog to doctors everywhere and Dr. Fauci the responsibility and the burden that we bear when we're making recommendations to a patient or to many patients in general is that we have to always paint what could be the gravest picture. That is the burden we have, that's our responsibility. I look at Dr. Fauci that's kind of the general of all doctors right now in primary medical problem in the world.

So I look to him as kind of -- He's doing what I would do. He is painting the most grim picture and he is starkly warning people who are not subscribing to social distancing and protective masks and that sort of thing and I'm telling you, look, I'm telling you that this could be the worst-case scenario. Make your own decision with that understanding in mind. And so long as I think that he knows that people have the most facts, I think he feels like he's doing his job correctly.

VAUSE: Fauci was also optimistic though about a vaccine. He said billions of doses of a vaccine will be produced, enough for the whole world, he said fairly soon, too -- I thought he talked timetable. You know, we've been in the group of this pandemic for a few months now. This country can't produce enough toilet paper. You know, a vaccine is going to be a little more complicated than the stuff of bathroom tissue. So that's something I find hard to believe at this point.

KALSI: You know, it's interesting, this whole thing with the vaccines and how American industry works, it's just lost on all of us. You know, you can produce 20,000 Teslas a day, or whatever the stat is, but we just cannot produce enough toilet paper or masks or N-95 masks for people like myself and my colleagues, my nurses, docs and healthcare workers. I just don't know.

We're too low on totem pole to really know how those decisions get made in the conference rooms. With that being said, the whole thing with the vaccine it's a bit strange on the too and I'll tell you why. Because if this corona, this novel coronavirus that produces COVID-19 illness, if it's like the four milder coronavirus we've seen for years it'll fade out and it will come back in cycles and a vaccine may be pertinent.

If it turns out to be something like SARS 1 or MERS, then a vaccine won't be important at all, and really retrospectively we'll be able to make that determination in 2021 when we look back and see if it reared its head again.

VAUSE: Because SARS was so aggressive that eventually it killed itself. It killed the whole so quickly it could transmit. But looking at the latest research, which is coming about, you know, how to and how not to lift a lockdown. And apparently, ripping the band aid off, that approach runs a big risk of a surge in infections. The latest research suggests the optimal strategy would be to release about half of the population two to four weeks after the end of infection peak. While keeping as much social distancing as possible.

Then wait another three to four months to let a possible second peak pass before releasing the second group. Researchers added the need for widespread testing to monitor infection rates. At the end of the day though here in the U.S., that horse has bolted, right. That's all over and done with. This will be good to know for the next lockdown.

KALSI: Well I mean, you're absolutely right. Look at the protests. The protests are a singular piece of evidence and just everything that flies in the face of that strategy. America cannot be harnessed. It just cannot be harnessed. It cannot be tamed. And this untimely event for Mr. Floyd has really pushed the envelope for any kind of distancing.

And I think this is a merger and intersection of quarantine fatigue and people just tired of breaking away from their normal day-to-day and what America stands for and how social we are. In addition to the outrage over these, over these senseless deaths under the hands of authorities. [04:05:00]

So I think that this absolutely flies in the face of those recommendations. And then finally if we did follow those recommendations, who would be released first. And that would be a huge point of social contention.

VAUSE: Yes, it is a difficult question and one which this country has not dealt with well at all. Dr. Raj Kalsi, thank you so much. Good to see you.

KALSI: Thank you. Thanks for having me back.

VAUSE: Well a nonessential retail sector in England just five days away from opening for business. Also English pubs and restaurants could reopen as early as next month. Here's the U.K. Secretary of State for business.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALOK SHARMA, BRITISH BUSINESS SECRETARY: I know there's been a lot of speculation about when we might be able to reopen these parts of the economy. And I completely understand why we're all so keen to get them back up and running and I absolutely share that enthusiasm. But we continue to follow the road map which sets out our ambition to reopen these sectors from the 4th of July at the earliest. In the meantime, we will continue to protect likelihoods and support businesses so that they are ready to bounce back and play their part in the economic recovery.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CNN's Scott McLean live in London this hour. So Scott, we're looking at the restriction of easing -- raising these restrictions, I should say, it's late here. It's on a four-track process. We have England on its own timetable, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also doing their own thing. So what are we looking at?

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sure, so this latest easing of restrictions really applies to England, not as you mentioned Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, they're all on slightly different timelines. But the bulk of the cases are here in England. So it's important to point out that the U.K. recorded almost 1,400 new confirmed coronavirus cases and almost 300 new deaths in just the last 24 hours.

Yet as you mentioned it has also announced these eases of restrictions. So non-essential retail outlets. Think clothing stores or electronic shops, they're going to be allowed to start reopening on Monday provided that they follow social distancing guidelines and sanitation requirements as well. Also zoos, outdoor attractions, drive-in theaters, things like that will be allowed to reopen with restrictions.

As you heard from the Business Secretary though, the goal here is to make sure that's there's not a second spike in infections which is why barbershops, pubs, restaurants are going to be opening until next month he at the earliest. But the reality is that the U.K. has taken a much different approach to these eases of restrictions than other similarly hard-hit countries, especially in Europe.

Take Spain, for example. When it was at a similar stage when it had similar number of deaths and infections about a month ago it was much more cautiously reopening, John. It was only starting to reopen little by little in some remote islands which had very few cases at this stage. Similarly Italy when it was at a similar stage the end of April beginning of May, it was also much more cautious even requiring people to wear masks in public space.

In the U.K. here they're only requiring masks starting on Monday on public transportation. The enforcement of this has also been lax in comparison. Case in point starting on Monday a few days ago they started requiring incoming travelers to quarantine for 14 days. But the enforcement mechanism of that was not an in-person spot check -- will not be an in-person spot check unless they have evidence that there's a violation. Generally it will only be a phone call, John, to make sure that people are complying with that mandatory quarantine.

VAUSE: Yes, interesting times there in London. And England also had their zoos and the safari parks also opening up after some lobbying from the Prime Minister's father. That'll least give the kids something to do. Scott, thank you. Scott McLean live in London.

Well the coronavirus Brazil, Chile and Peru facing the brunt of the infections. Mexico cases are continuing to spike as well. However the W.H.O. is now saying that country is nearing its peak. CNN's Shasta Darlington reporting in from the region.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN REPORTER: The Americas are now home to nearly half of all COVID-19 cases with more than 3.3 million infections according to the Pan American Health Organization. Data shows a surging of the virus in countries that had not been heavily affected before like Panama and Costa Rica. They said it continues to spread aggressively in Peru, Chile and Brazil. On Tuesday coronavirus infections and deaths in Brazil shot up more than 32,000 new cases and 1,200 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro lashed out at the W.H.O. in a tweet after one of its officials suggested that the spread of COVID-19 by asymptomatic people was rare. Millions were locked up at home, lost their jobs he tweeted. He also threatened to cut funds to the W.H.O., just like President Trump did.

Shasta Darlington, CNN, Sao Paulo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[04:10:00]

VAUSE: Follow the latest developments of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States and around the world. Anderson Cooper and Dr. Sanjay Gupta host a CNN Global Town Hall, Coronavirus Facts and Fears, 8:00 p.m. Thursday in New York and 8:00 a.m. Friday in Hong Kong. You'll see it only here on CNN.

Well coming up China flexing some military might. President Xi Jinping using the coronavirus pandemic to his advantage. That's just ahead.

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VAUSE: Seems China has decided that with much of the world in the grips of a pandemic which began on its soil now is a good time for a little military expansion. CNN's David Culver explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Touting what it is calling a success and containing the novel coronavirus outbreak, China is now shifting its focus to military preparedness, making what some U.S. military experts perceived to be power moves on multiple fronts.

JOHN KIRBY, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: The American military in the Pacific is approaching this as a very significant, growing security threat to our interests in the region. And with good reason.

CULVER: A Chinese military expert is even warning that a direct conflict is possible between China and the U.S.

WU SHICUN, CHINESE MILITARY ANALYST: The two sides, if not managed well, there could be accidental fire. Such confrontation might lead to spiraling tension or lead to the age of a full-fledged confrontation.

CULVER: China is flexing its military muscle, trialing its new aircraft carrier at sea a few weeks ago and last year, parading some of its latest missile technology through Beijing. President Xi Jinping addressed China's National People's Congress last month, saying China should comprehensively strengthen the training of troops and combat preparedness.

[04:15:04]

In recent weeks, Chinese troops were sent to China's border with India, the two countries disputing territorial claims. Government- controlled media releasing these images of China's military in action.

And last year, Chinese paramilitary troops mobilizing to the border with Hong Kong, a not-so-veiled threat against the city months after pro-democracy protests, which led to Beijing imposing new national security laws for the semi-autonomous territory.

But among the areas most concerning for the U.S. and its allies, the South China Sea. China claims these waters as sovereign territory within a designated boundary, which an international tribunal has dismissed as without legal basis. Nevertheless, China has built up its naval presence here. It's constructed islands where recent satellite images appear to show more permanent military bases. Some Southeast Asian nations have alleged China has even harassed foreign vessels carrying out oil exploration and fishing.

(on camera): What's happened out there in recent months is most alarming to the U.S., its allies in other Asian countries. They see it as China using this moment when other countries are distracted with their own coronavirus outbreaks to become increasingly aggressive.

(voice-over): To counter the Chinese claims, the U.S. Navy has conducted multiple freedom of navigation exercises in the sea in recent months, as well as sailing through the Taiwan Strait. Wu Shicun says those exercises show it is the U.S. provoking China.

SHICUN: The United States is a troublemaker to the South China Sea.

CULVER: Wu suggests that, while China has no desire for conflict, the Chinese will protect its sovereignty at all costs.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you very much.

CULVER: -- especially as President Donald Trump tries to win reelection.

SHICUN: The Trump administration would use the South China Sea issue to convince the U.S. people, the United States has a hardline stance towards China.

TRUMP: China has also unlawfully claimed territory in the Pacific Ocean, threatening freedom of navigation and international trade.

CULVER: Experts are now calling for a channel for negotiations to ease the tensions between the two sides, but that seems increasingly unlikely.

KIRBY: The U.S.-China relationship is without question, the most critical, the most important bilateral relationship that we have in the world, and right now it's broken.

CULVER: A complete severing could set the two world powers on a collision course at sea.

David Culver, CNN, Hainan Island, China.

(END VIDEOTAPE).

VAUSE: What's it like to live in fear of the police? How does it feel to know a traffic stop could be a death sentence? When we come back, growing up black. Young African-Americans are speaking out.

[04:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROOKE WILLIAMS, GEORGE FLOYD'S NIECE: Why must this system be corrupt and broken? Laws were already put in place for the African American system to fail. These laws need to be changed. No more hate crimes, please. Someone said, make America great again, but when has America ever been great?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: In the past two weeks as every state in the U.S. saw protests and outrage over the killing of George Floyd the only comment from President Trump was to call his death a grave tragedy. He was notably absent from Tuesday's funeral service, made no comment about it on Tuesday. The President has said little about uniting the nation or calling for calm. No attempt to appease the nation in crisis. All of that has led to a lot of criticism of the President and his apparent silence.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SPIKE LEE, FILM DIRECTOR: I don't expect this guy in the White House to say anything to heal the nation. He's incapable of doing this. I don't know why we're wasting time expecting him to do something that's not in his heart, that's not in his spirit. And there's a very short phrase, deeds not words. You could talk all you want, but what your deeds show who you are. And I don't know why we're still having some discussion about what type of person this guy is.

CHARLES BARKLEY, FORMER PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER: He's just a divider. He's not even came out and said, you know what, what they did to Mr. Floyd was wrong. That's all he had to do. He goes off on these tangents about Antifa and the protesters and the rioters. He's never come out with human decency and said hey we can't have a man killed on national television right before our eyes.

CORNELL WEST, PHILOSOPHER: I always want to connect the police power and police crimes with the Wall Street power and the Wall Street crimes. We live in a culture where people feel as if they can do and say anything and get away with it with no accountability, no answerability, no responsibility. We saw on Wall Street in terms of all that insider trading, market manipulation and fraudulent activity and predatory lending. How many went to jail? Zero. Trump, say anything, do anything, they can get away with it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Many young Americans have been sharing their own experiences with CNN when it comes to racism. Here's how they describe what it's like growing up black in America.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAYDEN COLLINS: Growing up black in America is painful and oppressive. Every day I feel as though things just are not changing. I constantly see people who look like me being murdered solely for the fact that they have melon in their skin. And that's just crazy.

NALIA GOMEZ: I wish my black life mattered. I'm exhausted that I'm constantly fighting to prove my worth.

ZAKAI BECK: I'm scared. Because not only do I have to worry about a global pandemic, now I have to worry whether I be able to return home from a job. You know. At first it was gangs. And that kind of died down. [04:25:00]

But now the biggest gang is the police.

MATTHEW CAMPBELL: Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd. I have this constant fear that one day my name will be added to that list.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Growing up black in America is to be exhausted, outraged and constantly defending my identity and my purpose.

PARIS ROBINSON: It means having to explain uncomfortable content and experiences of myself to white people in my predominantly white school.

CAYLA LAMAR: And I'm grateful to live through this history because I know that things can only go up from here.

ISABELLA CAVIENSS: And I realized that my hair and my skin complexion make me who I am. That's what makes me beautiful. I refuse to let anybody define who I am. Being black in America means empowering yourself. Regardless of how much is being thrown at you. You always have to be brave because you have to know we have a community standing behind you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Growing up black in America is being aware that even in our times of bewilderment and adversity that we dig deep down and find our strength and resiliency for those things are rooted in the pain, the cries and the prayers of our ancestors. We are their wildest dreams.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm John Vause. "EARLY START" with Christine Romans and Laura Jarrett is up next after a short break.

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