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U.S. Lawmakers Search for Answers to Stop Spike in COVID-19 Cases; The World Waits for the First COVID Vaccine; City Mayors Says No to Federal Authorities. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired July 21, 2020 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00]
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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and from all around the world. You are watching CNN Newsroom. And I'm Rosemary Church.
Just ahead, from testing delays to stimulus relief setbacks, U.S. officials attempt to grasp control of a surge in coronavirus pandemic.
Plus, this. Protesters in Portland rally against crackdowns in their city after federal forces sent by the U.S. government escalate the situation there.
President Trump says that mask wearing is patriotic. But his conflicting messaging of wearing one has local officials at odds with one another.
Good to have you with us.
Well coronavirus cases are climbing in at least 31 U.S. states. That is according to Johns Hopkins University. The total death toll has topped 140,000 people. And at least 27 states are pausing or rolling back their reopening plans.
To make matters worse, a top U.S. laboratory says that COVID-19 test results are lagging by up to two weeks as it struggles to keep up with the high demand. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning the situation could deteriorate further in the coming weeks. It's projecting more than 150,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. by August 8th.
And here is the CDC's former director speaking to CNN.
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TOM FRIEDEN, FORMER DIRECTOR, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: We don't see a clear national strategy. We don't see a game plan. We don't see organization. It's not clear who is actually in charge. I understand that the vice president is chairing the task force. You've got HHS, you have FEMA in, you have a White House coronavirus coordinator. We don't see an organized response. And that's the first thing to do. We also don't see standard
indicators that we would know how each state, each community is doing. And without that, we are flying blind.
What we are seeing now is the predictable reaction of the virus to people not stopping it. This virus does not go away on its own. It only goes away if we stop it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: And Republicans are now pushing back on a White House proposal to deny additional money for testing and tracing in the next stimulus package.
CNN's Jason Carroll has more on how states across the country are managing the crisis.
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Tonight, hospitals in Florida are reeling from the pandemic as the state continuously reports more than 10,000 new cases per day.
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CARLOS MIGOYA, PRESIDENT & CEO, JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM: This is scary. Now every day is over 10,000. It's almost like the norm.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Nearly 9400 people are hospitalized across the state. And in Miami-Dade County, intensive care units overtaxed at 130 percent capacity.
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GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL): We are building 100 new ICU beds. But unfortunately, they will not be around until the end of the year. So, we need every day, it's a matter of a challenge of --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who refuses to mandate masks coming face to face with the frustration this afternoon.
Los Angeles County also surpassed its record for daily hospitalization records four times in the past week.
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GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): It's our decision that will determine how quickly our children go back to school. It is our decisions that will determine what kind of activities we get to once again enjoy with our friends and family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[03:05:00] CARROLL: Other states like Arizona and Texas seeing rising numbers as well. Arizona's seven-day average positivity rate is the highest in the country at 24.4 percent. Even reaching an astounding 39 percent on Saturday.
Eighty-seven doctors signed a letter to Governor Doug Ducey urging him not to reopen schools until at least October. Nationwide, the CDC is now forecasting the total U.S. death toll from the virus will be more than 150,000 Americans by August 8th.
The assistant secretary for health, a top official on the White House's task force, says that nation's sunbelt is in the midst of the surge.
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BRETT GIROIR, U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: There is no question that we are having a surge right now. We are approaching this with an extreme seriousness. So, it really is all hands-on deck. This is serious but we know how to stop this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Health officials say wearing a mask is still a key way to help stop the spread of the virus. And yet, it continues to be met with resistance.
Georgia's governor, Brian Kemp, has resisted calls for a statewide mask mandate and sued to block Atlanta's face covering ordinance. He is seeking an emergency injunction to restrain Atlanta mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, from making statements to the press.
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FRANCIS COLLINS, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: It is bizarre that we have turned mask wearing into something political. Imagine you are an alien coming to the planet earth, and looking around, looking at the scientific data, going from various place to place, and looking to see who's wearing masks. You would be totally astounded, puzzled, amazed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Few signs of mask or social distancing in Queens, New York over the weekend where police had to break up a crowded street party. New York's governor again reminded people to wear masks and practice social distancing.
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GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): Bad operators in terms of restaurants and bars, they are going to make it bad for everyone. Because -- and for themselves. We will have to roll back the bar and restaurant opening.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CARROLL: So many concerns across the country about sending children
back to school should be in person, should it be online? Missouri's governor weighing in on the debate basically downplaying the risk that might be involved. Saying that kids have to get back to school, and if they get it, meaning COVID-19, he said that they'll get over it.
Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.
CHURCH: In the United Kingdom, there is some good news in the search for a vaccine. The preliminary results of a trial developed by the University of Oxford suggests that it's safe and induces an immune response. Human trials from two other vaccine makers have produced similar outcomes.
Anna Stewart has the details now from Oxford.
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: Promising results, the vaccine being developed here by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca. This was phase one and two of human trials. There are over 1,000 people on the study. It showed a strong immune response in terms of antibodies and T-cells. There were some side effects.
That's not uncommon actually and we've seen that in other phase one results from other candidate vaccines. What is so promising about this one is that it's one of just three that has already entered phase three of human trials.
AstraZeneca, which has partnered with the University of Oxford, says that it could produce the first vaccine as early as September. And it plans to make hundreds of millions of doses by the end of the year if successful. Two billion doses by end of next year.
They've already reached an agreement with the E.U., the U.K., the U.S., India, and developing nations through SEPI (Ph) and GABI (Ph) to ensure that this vaccine is distributed all around the world.
Anna Stewart, CNN, Oxford.
CHURCH: And the World Health Organization has welcomed the early results of the trial but stresses there is a long way to go. The director general also says that we have the tools to subdue the virus before a vaccine hits the market.
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TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: With strong leadership, community engagement, a comprehensive strategy to suppress transmission and to save lives, COVID-19 can be stopped. We do not have to wait for a vaccine. We have to save lives now.
Make no mistake, we must continue to accelerate vaccine research. But while doing more with the tools that we have at hand.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHURCH: And joining me now is Dr. Peter Drobac, he is an infectious disease and global health expert at the University of Oxford but he's not affiliated with its vaccine trial. Thank you so much for being with us.
PETER DROBAC, GLOBAL HEALTH EXPERT, OXFORD SAID BUSINESS SCHOOL: Thanks, Rosemary.
CHURCH: So, this new study reveals the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine is safe and induces immune responses provoking an antibody response within 28 days, and a T-cell response within 14 days. How encouraged are you by this progress?
[03:10:04]
DROBAC: Well, these were extremely promising results and everything we would want to see out of a study like this we did see. One of the things that's import about the immune response. We've been talking a lot during this pandemic about antibodies, but antibodies are just sort of one half of the immune system. The other half, which you mentioned, T-cells.
And sot the fact that this vaccine stimulated a response in both parts of the immune system is really encouraging. It's a sign that it should give the immune system more of a memory, and one of the things that we hope is that the effect of the vaccine will be durable, meaning that the effect will last for a long time.
CHURCH: Right, and Oxford University's partner, AstraZeneca says it might be able to produce a vaccine as early as September for emergency use. Do you think that's a realistic timeline? And what about the general public in the U.K. and elsewhere around the world? How long might it take to produce and to distribute, dosages for all of those willing and able to take it?
DROBAC: Well, I'm most cautious of making predictions about the future. And you know, it does happen that even at late stages of trials that promising treatments and vaccines do fail. This is not a guarantee of success. A major phase three trial is already underway where tens of thousands of participants in several countries including Brazil and South Africa are already being enrolled. And that's going to be the next step to demonstrate whether this vaccine is actually effective in preventing or mitigating the disease.
We hope the results are going to come towards the end of this year. And it is important these partnerships with AstraZeneca to premanufacture doses at scale so we could get them out as quickly as possible.
You know, the reality is that we need to have a strategy to make sure that when we find an effective vaccine, it's going to get to the people who need it most first. That's going to be health workers and other key workers, and then medically vulnerable folks, not just in the U.K. and Americans but around the world.
CHURCH: Understood. And of course, one big concern here in the United States is public trust in any potential vaccine. And polls suggest that about half of the U.S. population won't take a COVID-19 vaccine. So how do you convince those people it's safe? Because building herd immunity is dependent on most of that population taking the vaccine.
DROBAC: Well, that's exactly right. And this is also something that we should be working towards and planning for now. We are working with unprecedented speed, the scientific community, on this vaccine effort but without trying to cut corners around safety. But that kind of safety monitoring it's going to be important.
I think good, clear scientific communication about the benefits and the risks of vaccines as these things progress is going to be important. And then political leadership. We've already seen some very dangerous examples about politicizing important public goods like mask wearing. We have to do everything that we can with this vaccine effort to avoid getting caught up in that same trial.
CHURCH: Yes. It seems masks are really what we need to be using until these vaccines are made available. But as you point out, there is some reluctance as a result of that politicization of mask wearing.
But I did want to move to the testing front. Because, again, here in the United States people are waiting four to eight days for test results to come back. And in some instances, up to three weeks. So, some of them have actually gone over COVID-19 by the time they get the results.
So, where else in the world are there delays like that? And how surprised are you that the world's superpower is unable to provide its population with faster test results?
DROBAC: It's really a staggering failure. And of course, this is coming after months and months of this. You would think we have had -- having had all the time to prepare all the sacrifices the American people had made, sheltering in place over months that we would be in a better place.
The reality is that the systems are really being overwhelmed. Because I think a lot of places weren't preparing for the surge in cases that we've seen in recent weeks. And so, we're doing more test in the U.S. than ever before but it's coming nowhere close to meeting the demand.
You're absolutely right that a test that you have to wait 4, 5, 8, 12 days for the results is effectively useless. Because the goal of testing of course is to let folks know that there are positive so that they can be isolated, remove from circulation, including protecting their own family and household members. When you can't do it, you risk continuing this spread.
CHURCH: And there are faster tests. Why wouldn't people have access to those now?
DROBAC: Yes, it's complicated. One of the problems of course is that we've had a patchwork response in the U.S. because of the abdication of federal leadership and coordination states, and localities are largely having to go it alone and competing for scarce resources. And it makes it very difficult to get what we need.
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CHURCH: Dr. Peter Drobac, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate it.
DROBAC: Thanks for having me.
CHURCH: And as we just mentioned, Americans could be waiting for two weeks before they get their coronavirus test results. The delay is frustrating many small business owners who are trying to keep their doors open during this pandemic.
CNN's Brian Todd has our report.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: From the start of the pandemic, Sara Polon was worried about her 30 employees. The founder and owner of Super Girl, a successful plant-based soup company in the Washington area hired a private doctor to test her employees every week. For a while, it worked well she said. Then.
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SARA POLON, FOUNDER & OWNER, SUPERGIRL: The test results are taking longer, and longer. And so, it got to the point where I was getting results after the CDC recommended isolation period for asymptomatic carriers. So, I was spending all this money, I'm doing everything possible to keep my team and my customers safe. And I can't.
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TODD: Medical experts say people who get tested, who think they might have coronavirus, should self-quarantine while they wait for their results but Polon said she cannot shut down her business while her employees wait.
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POLON: If I shut down, waiting for those test results for 13 days, I'll go out of business. It's hard to put into words the amount of stress. It's on us. The small business owners.
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TODD: Polon's frustrations are reflected across America. During a coronavirus test crisis that has reached alarming levels. It's not just that patients are waiting a long time to get tested, sometimes compromising their health in the process, like waiting in long lines in the Arizona heat.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are people waiting in line to get tested and are painting, literally, while waiting to get a test.
(END VIDEO CLIP) TODD: But America's top health officials as well as the companies
which run diagnostic labs are also acknowledging that as the demand for tests grows during the spike in cases, the wait times for getting test results back are getting longer and longer.
CNN has reported that results can take from a couple of days to as long as three weeks to get back.
FRANCIS COLLINS, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: You sent it off to a central laboratory, there is a time there in order to do the delivery of the sample. Then they have to do the testing. They're kind of backed up. It takes a while to come back.
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TODD: The problem, experts say, is that people can spread the infection to others while they are waiting for their test results.
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ROCHELLE WALENSKY, INFECTIOUS DISEASE PHYSICIAN, MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL: We generally know that people who transmit do so in their first two or three days before symptoms. And then two or three days after symptoms. So, if you are getting test results six days after you have symptoms, you've already transmitted it to all the people you're otherwise going to.
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TODD: Experts are also worried about the ramifications of delayed test results. It delays contact tracing, and it means the entire system could be clogged.
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WALENSKY: There are so many components to the test. You need the personnel to do it. You need the PPE to do it. You need the swabs, you need the re-agents. You need people on the lab. And it's not entirely clear where in the whole system, if not everywhere in the system there are delays.
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TODD: Dr. Rochelle Walensky also says it breaks her heart to see that getting test results back quickly also often depends on how much money or power you have access to.
Anyone close to President Trump can get tested and get results back almost instantly, the same for professional athletes whose leagues can arrange for tests and results very quickly while people in the most vulnerable communities often have to wait for weeks.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
CHURCH: Still ahead, a battle brewing between President Trump and the mayors of some major U.S. cities. The debate over federal forces may have begun in Portland, but it's now spreading nationwide.
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CHURCH: In cities across the United States mayors are facing off with the president himself. Donald Trump has sent federal forces to deal with demonstrators in Portland, Oregon. He is now planning deployments in other cities. But local officials object, saying the administration is only making things worse.
Josh Campbell has the details.
JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: As protests continue here in the city of Portland for well over 50 days, a war of words is shaping up in Washington, D.C. from officials at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
In a string of tweets on Monday, acting Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli re-tweeted videos and images pf Portland, dubbing, the unfolding situation here is terrorism. Attempting to project a message of instability.
Cuccinelli telling the Washington Examiner that violent anarchists are engaging in both violence to the point of terrorism on occasion and have assaulted federal property and officers. His boss, acting Homeland Security Chief Chad Wolf told Fox News that the department will continue to intervene as it sees fit.
Now it's worth pointing out that as DHS officials attempted to describe what's taking place here in Portland as widespread chaos, the epicenter of these protests is largely relegated to one city block outside of a federal courthouse where we've seen protests night after night, most of them are peaceful.
There have been instances of rioters clashing with federal officers who will come out of that building, launch projectiles into the crowd, tear gas and the like to try to push them back.
But again, the main focus of protesters is one small area downtown not widely throughout the city. Now finally, DHS officials are not alone in their harsh rhetoric for what's taking place here in Portland.
President Donald Trump also weighing in, saying that his administration is now looking at not only sending additional federal resources here to the city of Portland, but also to other cities, primarily those that are run by Democrats.
Trump saying that he is looking into sending resources to New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, as well as Oakland, California, although it's worth noting that none of those cities have seen any indication of widespread destruction.
Josh Campbell, CNN, Portland.
CHURCH: It's not just talk from President Trump. Law enforcement officials tell CNN the administration plans to send federal agents to Chicago this week. But Chicago's mayor is pushing back hard.
[03:25:02]
Lori Lightfoot tweeted, Mr. President or not, I don't care one bit what your name is, I will not allow troops in Chicago, and I will do everything in my power to stop you.
Lightfoot isn't alone, take a look at this map, the mayors of all five cities shown here have signed a letter to Attorney General William Barr and the head of homeland security. They want to halt plans to send federal forces to U.S. cities. And for those already present, to be withdrawn.
Well, it is nearly universally agreed, that wearing a mask can help save lives from the coronavirus. So why is Georgia's governor suing the mayor of his capital city. The state's political fight over masks is heading to court. More on that when we come back.
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CHURCH: Welcome back.
Well, U.S. President Donald Trump appears to be making an about face when it comes to wearing a mask to stop the spread of the coronavirus. He sent this tweet out on Monday with a picture of himself covering his face with an official White House mask.
After months of either refusing or appearing lukewarm to the idea of wearing a mask to save lives the president now says it is patriotic to wear one.
CNN's Jim Acosta reports this turnaround is part of a larger effort by the Trump campaign to win over votes.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: With more than 140, 000 deaths from the coronavirus in the U.S. and counting, President Trump is offering up a new proposal to show he is dealing with the pandemic, resurrecting the briefing room news conferences on the administration's response to COVID-19.
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[03:30:06]
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I'll do it at five o'clock, like we were doing. We had a good slot and a lot of people will be watching, and that's a good thing.
ACOSTA: As Mr. Trump made the announcement, the former reality TV host turned president appeared to be more focus on the ratings for the briefings and the surging number of cases across the country.
TRUMP: Well, we had very successful briefings. I was doing them and we had a lot of people watching, record numbers watching in the history of cable television, television has never been anything like it. ACOSTA: The briefings were sometimes useful when they feature the
expertise of health experts like Doctors Deborah Birx and Anthony Fauci, but Mr. Trump's suspended the news conferences back in April shortly after he suggested people could inject themselves with disinfectant to kill the virus.
TRUMP: And then I see the disinfectant? It knocks it out in a minute.
ACOSTA: The president is still misleading the public about the virus, insisting he was right when he predicted COVID-19 would miraculously vanish.
TRUMP: It's going to disappear one day. It's like a miracle. It will disappear.
ACOSTA: Mr. Trump defended that comment on Fox.
TRUMP: I'll be right, eventually. I will be right, eventually. You know, I said, it's going to disappear. I'll say it again. It's going to disappear. And I'll be right. I don't think so.
ACOSTA: And his lukewarm support for wearing masks still runs counter to what the experts are telling Americans.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm begging you, please understand, that we are not trying to take away your freedom when we say wear a face covering.
ACOSTA: The president still faces tough questions over his handling of the pandemic, like why the White House is seeking to block new funding for testing for the virus, as stance that irks some in his own party and surprised administration health officials.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The opening bid from the White House was a bit surprising, certainly for many of us. We were certainly hoping to see more in the way of support.
ACOSTA: A new ABC Washington Post poll finds Mr. Trump far behind former Vice President Joe Biden. So, the president and his team are turning to former aides Cory Lewandowsky and Steve Bannon for advice.
TRUMP: We have Cory, and we have all the people. And actually, Steve Bannon has been much better not being involved. He says the greatest president ever, I mean, he's saying things that -- I said let's keep Steve out there, he's doing a good job.
ACOSTA: Bannon's message to Mr. Trump? Pay more attention to the pandemic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My recommendation would be every day start to have the top people around you, Dr. Fauci, Dr. Birx, the vice president, Dr. Redfield at the CDC, Chief of Staff Meadows, have them in the oval. Get briefed every day on an action plan.
ACOSTA: The president's interview on Fox concerned even some of his own aides. With one adviser telling CNN it was embarrassing. He's total lack of preparation is catching up. One awkward moment came when Mr. Trump brag about passing his cognitive assessment test.
TRUMP: Well, I'll tell you what. Let's take a test. Let's take a test right now. Let's go down, Joe and I will take a test. Let him take the same --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I took the test to when I heard that you passed it.
TRUMP: You had? How did you do?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not the hardest test.
TRUMP: No. but the last --
(CROSSTALK)
You see, that's all misrepresentation.
ACOSTA: As for the president he posted an unusual tweet, at least for him, all of the sudden the president is now encouraging mask use. Something his advisers have been urging him to do for weeks. It is a quite a reversal for the president who once wants mock Joe Biden for wearing a mask back in May. Jim Acosta, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Well, as of Monday, at least 39 states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, all have some form of mask requirement in place. But here in Georgia, the state's Governor is trying to block the mayor of Atlanta, from requiring masks. Brian Kemp is suing Keisha Lance Bottoms over her (inaudible) restriction which go further than the states. A court hearing is expected in the coming hours.
Now, Atlanta is not alone in Georgia with mask requirement, other cities like Savannah, has taken the same steps. The mayor there has teamed up with New York's Governor, to get personal protective equipment for Savannah. And Cuomo encourage everyone to wear a mask to save lives.
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GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): Somehow the mask became a political statement. The mask is not a political state. The mask says, I understand science. And medicine. And I am going to listen to doctors, and professionals. That's all the mask says. And the mask will save lives. Why would you not wear the mask? And why wouldn't you? Two years from now, when we look at the numbers and it says 40,000 more people died, because they didn't wear a mask. How do you possibly explain that?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Joining me now, is the honorable Van R. Johnson, mayor of Savannah Georgia. So good to have you with us, sir.
MAYOR VAN JOHNSON (D-SAVANNAH, GA): Thank you, Rosemary, for the opportunity.
CHURCH: And Mister Mayor as we just heard, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo met with you Monday, bringing with him much needed PPE for your health workers. Along with a very strong message to wear masks. How desperately did you need that PPE, and what are the biggest challenges your city is facing right now, in the midst of surging numbers.
[03:35:10]
JOHNSON: Well, we were so excited to have Governor Cuomo and his talented team of professionals visiting us in Savannah today. When you want to win, you follow winners. And certainly Governor Cuomo, in the state of New York has shown the nation how to stare coronavirus down and to beat it successfully.
So, we are very interested in what they had to say, and to that end they brought thousands upon thousands of pieces of PPE, gloves, masks, face shields, for a community that still does need it. For us this was a wonderful opportunity to exchange ideas, to be able to discuss what is happening in Savannah, and to get the advice of the sage advice of the good people in New York State, about how to better focus our efforts.
CHURCH: And Mister Mayor you went ahead and mandated the wearing of masks for the city of Savannah, what impact do you think that has had so far in your numbers? Because, of course, we know that other cities and states that did the same, mandated masks are starting to see improvements?
JOHNSON: Right. On July the 1st, the city of Savannah, was the first city in Georgia, to actually mandate the wearing of masks. And what (inaudible) -- as you know, I kind of thwarted when the government came up with his emergency order that restricted the city's ability, to be able to order masks within their jurisdictions.
At that point people became very confused, because at one end you had the state saying one thing, and the city is saying something different. It's like a child, mom is saying one thing and daddy is saying different, who do you follow and it left people very, very confused? And I think it might have thwarted some of our progress that we had been making thus far.
CHURCH: Yes. I wanted to ask about that, because you announced that mask mandate, but when Atlanta's mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms did the same, Georgia's Governor Brian Kemp hit back, overwriting her mandate, even suing her, and is trying to prevent the mayor from issuing a press releases, and with stricter rules in his own. What do you think he went after Atlanta's mayor and not you? And why would he do this? When he has said himself that wearing a mask is the right thing to do.
JOHNSON: I do not have the slightest idea, Rosemary. Governor Kemp has flown around the state, emphasizing the importance of masks. Savannah was the first city, I think Atlanta might had been the fourth. And of course, he has now filed suit against the city of Atlanta against Mayor Bottoms personally, and against the members of the city council. This is a time when the state of Georgia should be unilaterally
focused on beating COVID-19. Not on politics, not on personalities, not on principles we should be fighting COVID-19 together. Yet we have a state that is cannibalizing on itself. This is not the look that we should have for the rest of the nation, nor is this the most effective way to fight this terrible virus.
CHURCH: And Mr. Mayor, let's just listen to what Mayor Lance Bottoms had to say about this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS (D-Atlanta): And the city of Atlanta alone, over 49 percent of the new positive cases are in the city. Our ICU capacity, is somewhere around 12 percent. And so the notion that this Governor, in the midst of this pandemic, and the resources that need to be given to fighting this pandemic is attempting to silence me, as he really speaks to just the misguided leadership that we have in the state right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Mister Mayor, what is your response to those comments? Do you think Governor Kemp, might back off Atlanta's mayor, now that President Trump has tweeted out a photo of himself wearing a mask? He's not telling his base directly to wear them, but he is suggesting that to do so would be patriotic. Could this change the Governor's mind?
JOHNSON: Well it would be kind of easy to do's, that our Governor takes some of his cues from Washington. But I really wish he would just back off of this. Mayor Bottoms, has proven herself to be a phenomenal leader, not only in our state but of our capital city. She is someone who has been affective personally by COVID-19, herself, her husband, and her son and the fact is again, this is not the type of thing that she should be dealing with.
We just want to do, like 30 other states have done, where you have a mask mandate. And it's been showing that states that have had masks mandates, have been able to successfully slow the spread of COVID-19. So, I mean, if the scientists saying that we should do that, I don't know why we're not doing it.
[03:40:09]
CHURCH: Let's see if they follow the science. Mayor Van R. Johnson, thank you so much for joining us. I appreciate. It
JOHNSON: Thank you, Rosemary. I appreciate the opportunity.
CHURCH: Well E.U. leaders, have agreed on a plan to help pull their countries out of a recession, brought on by the coronavirus, while the White House is at odds with key Republicans, over America's next stimulus deal. A live report on both stories next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHURCH: European Union leaders have agreed on a massive aid package
to stimulate their economies hit hard by the pandemic. After five days of talks, leaders agreed on a budget of more than $2 trillion, which includes nearly $860 billion in grants and loans.
In the U.S. Senate Republicans are apparently at odds with the Trump administration over key elements that they want in the next stimulus deal. That includes funding for COVID-19 tests and a payroll tax cut.
CNN's John Defterios is here to discuss both of these issues. Good to see you, John. Let's start with the European Union, it's calling this a historic deal, but wasn't their credibility on the line to get something done here?
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: I think so, Rosemary. Failure was not an option in this case and that is why they worked to the wee hours of the morning. They signed this just past 5:00 a.m., Central European Time. So, they needed to walk away with the deal, and it did take compromise on the total $2 trillion package here.
There was a huge debate about grants and loans and the mix of that. It was two to one grants and loans when they started nearly five days ago, but at the end of the day they almost did a 50/50 split. So, there is a relief that this is going forward, the wealthier northern state said also if we're going to be giving these grants to the different states, they have to sign certain governance issues here. To make sure it spent wisely.
[03:45:08]
If they break the rules, will there be fines in place. This is the finer details of it all. But it was also very important, Rosemary, because of Brexit in 2021 with the U.K. leaving the European Union, they have to show unity and you see this relief in the stock markets with the majors. Germany, Italy, Spain, France, all up better than 1 percent, even in some cases 1.6 percent, as this logjam was broken.
CHURCH: And John, even some Republicans in the United States question why the White House is blocking funding for COVID-19 testing. So, how do they expect to get Democrats on board, and how long will it likely take to agree to this next stimulus deal?
DEFTERIOS: Well you raised the Democrats, they have a package of $3 trillion, the Republican packages now is $1 trillion. So, you have that gap. But the central theme here for the next 24 to 48 hours, is the difference within the Republican Party. We have senior Senators, all Republican pushing back against the White House. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Senator Mitch McConnell is the majority leader, Lindsey Graham, the latter two are up for election.
They are saying, look, tying the funding to education and forcing students to go doesn't work for us. There is also the issue of COVID- 19 testing that you are talking about, that the president doesn't want to fund it. And finally he's been pushing President Trump at payroll tax cut, which is being perceived as a corporate handout. So those Republican Senators are saying this is not a package that we
can back at this stage. And the deadline, Rosemary, is literally the end of the month. Because some of this unemployment benefits, the sweeteners here, the actual $600 will expire at the end of the month. So, this could backfire horribly on the Republican Party, if they can't get this deal done and compromised with the White House.
CHURCH: We'll watch to see what happens, there John Defterios joining us live from Abu Dhabi, many thanks.
Israel is moving forward with a massive government handout worth around $1.7 billion in coronavirus relief. But it is causing controversy. Critics say the money should only go to those who need it. The country has seen, growing protests over its handling of the virus, as it deals with a second wave of infection. Oren Liebermann, joins me live from Jerusalem. Good to see you, Oren. So what is the latest on reaction to Israel's relief program?
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OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORESPONDENT: Rosemary, this six billion check, $1.75 billion handout package, already went through a round of changes after it came under widespread criticism. Especially from many of Israel's top economic experts. Initially Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted the money to go to every Israeli adult. But in this, later iteration, which was updated just this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it would only go to those who are in the greatest need. Which is to say those who earned above a certain amount of money, civil servants who makes more than a certain amount of money will not be part of this package.
As they try to get it those who are in dire financial straits. They added that those who are especially in need, that is the disabled, those on welfare, unemployed above the age of 67, they will get an extra handout on top of that. Now, this still needs to go through Knesset approval, so it's very possible, but perhaps even likely that there will be more iterations and more changes as this advances. As Netanyahu and the government tried to kick start the economy somehow with unemployment over 21 percent.
Meanwhile there is some big questions about what are the regulations, the restrictions right now. Over the weekend that is on Friday morning, Netanyahu put forward emergency restrictions for example, closures on malls, museums, stores, as well as restaurants. But specifically on restaurants, because that's where this confusion has been the most obvious. Those restrictions were removed very quickly, because of complaints from restaurants.
Now there is uncertainty over what the Knesset will allow from restrictions and that's what everyone is waiting to see right now. But all of that is part of this confusion about what's the current policy? What are the restrictions? What are the limitations? Who do they apply to? When do they go in place? That is what the Israeli public is wondering now about what is Israel's current plan for the coronavirus.
(END VIDEOTAPE) CHURCH: All right. Oren Liebermann, many thanks joining us live from
Jerusalem. And this is CNN Newsroom, a major new COVID outbreak in Spain, in the heart of summer holiday season, we will have a report from Barcelona. Back in just a moment.
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[03:50:00]
CHURCH: In France, officials reported at least 400 active coronavirus clusters across the country. And masks are now mandated, in more indoor spaces, like shops, banks and malls. Officials fear the French rate of infection will likely increase after months of decline. Those caught not wearing masks, could be fined about $150.
In Spain reopened last month after a three-month lockdown, cases were on the decline. But since Friday, more than 4,500 new cases have been reported. Health officials there are fearing another surge, are now asking people to stay home. Atika Shubert reports on what's happening in Barcelona.
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ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This summer Spain hoped its beaches would be the safest holiday destination in Europe. Now at the height of the holiday season, some three million residence are being urged to stay home. The urban major outbreak on the streets of Barcelona and in surrounding areas. Over the weekend almost 3,000 new infections were detected in the Catalonia region. Now, according to one epidemiologists we spoke to, 75 percent of those cannot be traced back to any known cases of COVID-19. That suggests, uncontrolled community transmission.
How did Barcelona become the epicenter of the new outbreak? Critical lack of staff to trace and isolate COVID cases, says epidemiologist Helena Legido-Quigley.
HELENA LEGIDO-QUIGLEY, EPIDEMIOLOGIST: We have had three months to prepare and we have not done it. It's a good investment. It invest on those people (inaudible) salary, it's much cheaper than having to lock down the whole city, which might happen in the near future.
[03:55:05]
SHUBERT: By her estimate, Catalonia needs a minimum of 2,000 contact tracers. The government admitted to us it currently has less than half of that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We should have double, Atika. We are trying to do so, but you should bear in mind that we weren't we are preparing ourselves for an outbreak at the end of October, September. We fought, but we have been told by experts, that the high temperatures will slow down, will calm the virus.
SHUBERT: No such luck for Barcelona, even though the government is urging people to stay home, it is not mandatory. Which is why the beaches are full, and cafes and shops are still open at 50 percent capacity. Residents are confused.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It wasn't clear and also that people can go outside of Barcelona, but their recommendations is to stay at home, but you can go to the beach, but you have to wear a mask, if you are in (inaudible) you have to wear it.
SHUBERT: Meanwhile tourists continue to stream in, though few seemed worried by news of the outbreak.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You catch it in the air in the U.K. You just be careful, you keep on the symptoms and the face mask.
SHUBERT: Barcelona experience is a warning to other cities to get their monitoring systems up to speed now or face another lockdown. Atika Shubert, Barcelona Spain.
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CHURCH: Well, Anthony Fauci isn't just America's top infectious disease expert, he is also a super fan of the Washington Nationals baseball team. So, he was very happy, to accept when the Nats invited him to throw out the first pitch Thursday, on opening night of the season. The ceremonial honor, is to be carried out by presidents, but Donald Trump has never done it. Opening day was supposed to be March 26, but was delayed because of the pandemic. And thank you so much for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church. I'll be back with another hour of CNN Newsroom in just a moment. Do sick around.
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