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Canada Crushing the Curve as U.S. Cases Soar; Being Black and Pregnant During a Pandemic and Racial Justice; Update on Coronavirus Responses Around the World; Washington Redskins Announce They'll Do Thorough Review of Team Name. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired July 03, 2020 - 14:30   ET

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

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[14:30:00]

JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: What the situation we're seeing in the United States and elsewhere highlights for us is that, even as our economy is reopening, we need to make sure we're continuing to remain vigilant, individually and collectively.

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Vigilance has been the watch word. Early and widespread testing, a free healthcare system still building surge capacity, longer shutdowns, slower reopenings, social distancing. And there is no controversy over wearing masks. Most see it as their duty.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wear it for myself and others. It protects them from me and me from them. It's just respectable to be respectable to other people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right from the top down, they're leading by example in terms of their use of masks.

NEWTON: British Columbia's top doctor acted as the country's early warning system, successfully managing the very first outbreaks and proving it could be done.

DR. BONNIE HENRY, PROVINCIAL HEALTH OFFICER FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA: A lot of it comes down to cohesiveness, being able to provide the information that people needed to do what we needed them to do.

And that has held up as we have gone into opening up things again. People still are adhering to the basics to try and ensure that we still keep each other safe.

NEWTON: Dr. Henry points to something else that was critical, keeping politics out of the response.

Here is a conservative leader praising the liberal deputy prime minister.

UNIDENTIFIED CANADIAN CONSERVATIVE LEADER: Chrystia Freeland, what can I say? She's an absolutely champion.

NEWTON: It would be like a Democratic governor calling Vice President Mike Pence their hero.

HENRY: In general, we were all coming together. We have the same basic information for people. And the politicians made the right decisions based on advice and that helped us.

NEWTON: Also critically important, the U.S./Canada border remains closed to all but essential travel. And anyone entering Canada right now must quarantine for 14 days. And the E.U. has deemed Canadians as safe for entry, unlike Americans.

And yet, here too, missteps have had tragic consequences. More than 8,500 people have died. The vast majority of the deaths linked to crowded and poorly staffed seniors homes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Seeing a lot of bad stuff happen, but I don't remember anything with this level of sadness.

NEWTON: Prime Minister Trudeau admits it has been a national shame. And in that contrition, Canadians see a willingness to recalibrate the country's response to the virus based on an unwavering deference to science.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: The science, Brooke, right? It all comes down to that.

And imagine in the United States you had 3,000 cases, which is equivalent of what Canada has per capita. With 3,000 cases throughout the country, you can contact trace that. You can keep people safe, isolate them.

The issue is Canada knew right from the get-go they needed to get numbers under control, and they've done that, and now they can get on with trying to reopen the economy -- Brooke?

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: As you said it, respecting the virus, respecting all of the things about the virus.

Paula Newton, thank you for the interesting juxtaposition here.

Coming up next, what it's like to be black and pregnant during a pandemic and a national uprising over racial justice. My next guest shares how both realities are colliding right now for her family.

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[14:37:24]

BOLDUAN: Stress, is at an all-time high for even the healthiest among us during the coronavirus pandemic. But for our next guest, that anxiety was taken to an entirely different level.

Maya McKenzie is due to give birth to her second child, a baby girl, in just four days. And in this emotional and honest essay, she talks about not just the worry of being pregnant during a pandemic but the fact that, quote, "being black and pregnant during a pandemic and an uprising is devastating."

And Maya is with me now.

Maya, thank you so much for being with me.

I know it's an any day situation for you. Just reading your piece, it was beautiful and very real. And so, let's just talk about the emotions.

How are you feeling today?

MAYA MCKENZIE, WROTE ESSAY ON BEING BLACK & PREGNANT DURING A PANDEMIC & UPRISING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE: I'm really, really anxious. And that's just been the predominant emotion I've had since March.

When you couple a virus that you can't see and -- and I live in Memphis, Tennessee, -- the south has not taken seriously from the beginning.

When you couple that with having to go to the hospital because you have to seek medical attention when you have a baby -- I know some people believe in home birth but I had a long labor with my first son, so I want to make sure nothing goes wrong.

When you couple that with going to the hospital, you're coupling that with being surrounded by sick people and then being asymptomatic. They could give you and your newborn or one-year-old a virus that could potentially kill you. So, obviously, that's super anxiety ridden times right now.

And then also --

(CROSSTALK)

MCKENZIE: Go ahead.

BOLDUAN: No, please. You go.

MCKENZIE: I'm sorry.

And then also I have to say living in Memphis, the police brutality is a daily issue here. I'm scared to even, if something were to happen, to call the police in my own home. It's just been stressful. I don't know.

BOLDUAN: I can't begin to imagine. It's this like triple whammy for you.

And when I was reading your piece, the line that really got me, you said, "No, this virus hasn't taken anyone from me but I have experienced a deep grief of lost joy."

Lost joy, Maya. Like what?

MCKENZIE: I mean, simple things like 40 photos, for instance. I mean, that's a relatively new thing people get done to see their newborn before they're here. That's not safe.

[14:40:09]

Being around my parents. We all live in town. I'm not able to bring my son to my parent's house right now because they have people living there that are essential workers and not taking the virus seriously. So, I can't put our family in harm's way for a hug.

Which is really hard because, you know, my parents are older. And they're not going to be able to hold my daughter. And it's like, will be this be a one, year, two-year, three-year thing. Will they die before they see her? Or will I die before they're able to see her?

BOLDUAN: Oh, Maya, no. I can only imagine how you can just spiral.

But let's -- I just want to stay on the you-staying-healthy track and your baby staying healthy.

As I was reading your piece -- and I think a lot of people may not realize this. It's one thing to not have your partner and significant other in the room giving birth, but you're worried you may not be able to immediately hold and kiss your little girl. Explain why that is.

MCKENZIE: OK. So, when I first decided to opt out of the hospital, it was the separation the CDC was suggesting if a mother tests positive.

For me, I'm like really big on attachment parenting, nursing. I'm still nursing my 19-month-old now. That golden hour, the first hour is just being trampled upon by the virus. And it makes no sense because, biologically. it's not better. The baby's getting antibodies through your breast milk.

But it's what is happening at hospitals here, and the hospital I planned on giving birth in. So --

(CROSSTALK)

MCKENZIE: Actually, at 20 weeks because -- I mean, I had to at least minimize the risk of that happening.

There's still a possibility I could hemorrhage, or she could come out with breathing problems and I will be transferred to Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

And I could still have these problems. Because for all I know, I could be asymptomatic. I've had Instacart come to the house. And then I'm going to have to deal with the possibility of separation anyway.

BOLDUAN: Here's hoping, looking on the upside, that you won't have to deal with that. But that is a reality.

I was talking to a nurse in a NICU. You think of all of the -- there are so many ways that -- at least you have a near-term baby because just imagine all these mothers not able to touch their babies for months.

MCKENZIE: Right.

BALDWIN: My last question is this for you, Maya. Any minute now, as we said, for you, and despite everything, these worries, which are entirely justified, what a blessing. What a blessing.

And so, what is the one, the one of I'm sure a million things, that you're looking so forward to once she's here?

MCKENZIE: I'm looking forward to settling down. At least the anxiety of the hospital subsiding. And just being able to enjoy her. Because it's been -- most of my pregnancy, I've been like a hermit, waiting on something to happen.

So, looking forward to bonding with both of my kids together. And it won't be outside. We won't be anywhere that we take cute little pictures. But iPhones are great. Social media is great. We'll have to figure out a new way to enjoy life, so.

BOLDUAN: Take some cute, healthy selfies --

MCKENZIE: Yes.

BALDWIN: -- from inside the comfort of your own home for the next little bit.

Maya McKenzie, sending blessings and love, and prayers that all things go as you hoped.

Thank you so much for sharing that.

MCKENZIE: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: Thank you.

And a quick reminder. My colleague, Don Lemon, is taking on the hard conversations about being black in American with his new CNN podcast, "SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION." You can find it on Apple podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

Right now, beaches in Florida are starting to fill up as the states records nearly -- records, excuse me, nearly 10,000 coronavirus cases in a single day.

But there are still some July Fourth traditions happening, despite the pandemic. One of them, the Annual Nathan's Hotdog-Eating Contest. Don't worry, that's still happening.

We're told there will be changes for COVID-19 safety. Tomorrow's contest will take place at a private location. There will be no spectators. Only five competitors will eat at a time instead of the customary 15 to allow for social distancing.

[14:44:58]

We'll be right back.

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BOLDUAN: Venezuela just announced that it will impose a total lockdown next week as cases there soar.

And in Australia, 300,000 people are now under strict lockdown after the Melbourne area reported dozens of new cases. Folks there are subject to I.D. checks. No international travels are allowed into Australia for the next two weeks. And anyone who arrives in the country must undergo a 14-day quarantine at a government-run facility.

So let's check in on the other headlines around the world with our international correspondents.

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[14:50:05]

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Patrick Oppmann, in Havana. Well, for the first time in over three months, businesses like restaurants, public transportation, even the beach have all begun to reopen.

You can feel life slowly returning to the city, even though people are still required to wear face masks, are still required to maintain social distancing.

Cuban officials say that Cubans have managed to flatten the curve of new cases. One problem though remains, the economy. Most of this island, including Havana, remains off limits to international tourists. There are not flights coming in and out of Havana, at least for the moment, and probably for the immediate future.

So while the city is reopening, it remains cut off from the outside world.

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN BRAZIL BUREAU CHIEF: I'm Shasta Darlington, in Sao Paulo. Brazil reported more than 48,000 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and is expected to surpass a total of 1.5 million infections today. Experts warn the country has not hit its peak and likely won't until mid-August.

Despite that, several cities are already reopening for business. In Rio de Janeiro, bars, restaurants and gyms are opening for the first time in over three months. And frankly, it's not a good look. Patrons without masks crammed together and spilling out on to the street.

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Scott McLean, in London, where restaurants and pubs will be reopening across England tomorrow. Last month, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was confident there would not be a second spike in cases as a result. Certainly, nothing that would overwhelm the health care system.

Today, though, he has a much more-blunt message to the British public and that's: Don't blow it. Don't undo the progress that the U.K. has already made against the coronavirus. Now there's some risk in going to the pub. Not only from the virus,

but the pubs will be taking down the names and contact information of pub-goers just in case there's an outbreak linked to that place, which may mean people having to quarantine for two weeks whether they have symptoms or not.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: All right. Thank you to everyone.

We are just two hours away now from President Trump leaving the White House for the July Fourth celebration at Mt. Rushmore. It's an event with no social distancing, no masks required.

Here's a look at what else to watch out for today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's a place where a man born on another planet meets a singer born to be a star, where a big bang meets a bada bing, meets a guy named Bing --

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Can I ask you a sarcastic comment?

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- and who meets a crew and meets a --

FRED FLINTSTONE CARTOON: Yabadabadoo.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It' where all HBO meets the greatest collection of movies, shows and new Max originals for everyone in the family. HBO Max, where HBO meets so much more.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Still to come here on CNN, Major League Baseball just announced it will cancel this year's all-star game.

And new developments today in the NFL. The Washington Redskins announcing they will do a thorough review of the team name.

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[14:57:53]

BOLDUAN: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he supports the Washington Redskins after the team announced it will undergo a thorough review of its name.

That decision was made as a result of the pressure the Redskins have been facing over the years from critics who say the name is racist. And now you have big-name corporate sponsors, like Fed-Ex, seeking a change as the nation's really grappling with racial tension.

CNN's sports correspondent, Carolyn Manno. is with me now. Carolyn, what exactly are they discussing?

CAROLYN MANNO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Happy holiday weekend to you, Brooke.

In a statement released by the team, they essentially said these conversations have been internal. But the fact they're happening at all is a revelation when you consider the fact that team owner, Dan Snyder, for years, has maintained his position that he does not want to change the moniker at all.

That is not what he was saying today. I want to show you a little bit of a statement released by the team a couple of hours ago, particularly what Snyder said.

He said, "This process allows the team to take into account not only the proud tradition and history of the franchise, but also input from our alumni, the organization, sponsors, the National Football League and local community is proud to represent on and off the field."

And as you mentioned, Brooke, Roger Goodell confirming his support of this latest step shortly after.

But the key here is the sponsorship dollars. Money talks. And this is coming just a couple of days after Ad Week reported that investment firms totaling $600 billion and more really voiced their concerns that some of these brands aligned with the Redskins are not on board with the inclusion and diversity issues they really care about.

And that is a very, very loud alarm for an owner like Dan Snyder, particularly with an uncertain financial climate in this pandemic.

BOLDUAN: I know. It's been a conversation for years. But, yes, time for some real discussions and potential changes.

Carolyn, thank you, and same to you, happy Fourth.

And to you all of you, don't you want to spend your Fourth with Dana Bash and Don Lemon? Good news. You can. They're going to be hosting this big show on CNN as we put on a fireworks show. You can tune in for all these performances. We've got Jewel, Barry Manilow, C.C. Winans, and so many more. So tune in. It all starts at 8:00 p.m. Eastern here on CNN.

[15:00:07]

Thank you for being with me. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Happy, healthy, safe Fourth of July to you.