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U.S. on Track to Hit 4 Million Cases Today as Virus Surges; Georgia Passes 150,000 Confirmed Cases, Reports 81 New Deaths; Trump to Hold Another White House Briefing Today. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired July 23, 2020 - 10:00   ET

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

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[10:00:00]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN NEWSROOM: A very good Thursday morning to you. I'm Jim Sciutto.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN NEWSROOM: And I'm Poppy Harlow.

We are on the verge of 4 million coronavirus cases in the United States, and a top infectious disease expert tells us just last hour that this virus is here to stay. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT: We will never eradicate this virus. It's just like HIV. Once it came into the world, started to spread around the world, we can do a lot to control it. This is here for the rest of all of humankind. This is a virus we're not going to get rid of.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Sobering, no question. Of course, a vaccine will make a difference.

The nation has recorded more than 1,000 deaths in a day for the second straight day, and the virus is spreading so quickly, we've seen more cases the past two weeks than we did in all of June. That's a thing, the infection rate accelerating.

Let's go first to CNN's Stephanie Elam. She is in Los Angeles. Officials there scrambling for enough PPE for healthcare workers. And it's really Southern California around L.A. where this is concentrated now. I mean, alarming to hear we're back in that situation where healthcare workers can't get protected.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. And we're hearing from the governor as well, Jim and Poppy, that they are amassing more PPE, making sure that they have the masks that these health workers are going to need to keep them safe so that they can keep working, this as the state has announced more than 12,800 cases all in one day. That's a new record here for California, the positivity rate at 7.4 percent over 14 days, so down slightly, but still very close to that 8 percent threshold that they are trying to avoid here in California.

Overall though, you're right, Los Angeles County is the heart of this outbreak here in the state, and the numbers here, 64 deaths were reported yesterday, that's the third highest number that we've seen here. The hospitalizations, it's the fourth day in a row above 2,200, although it did tick down a little bit. All of this though showing that the moves that the mayor has made to shut down some businesses a little bit over a week ago, I believe, has been making a difference.

Take a listen to what Mayor Eric Garcetti had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI (D-LOS ANGELES, CA): The COVID threat level tonight remains at orange. We are not moving to red we are not closing any additional businesses or activities.

Between the closures two weeks ago and the renewed vigilance that I'm certainly feeling across the city, we'll know in the next week or so, together, guided by our county health department by the data where we are and where we're moving.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAM: And so we had heard the mayor say that we might go back into another stay-at-home order if we didn't get these numbers to stabilize. We've stabilized here at about 10 percent as far as positivity rate. That's obviously too high, but at least it has stopped growing and that's what they want to continue to see here in L.A. County. So that's why they are asking people to remain vigilant. Poppy and Jim?

HARLOW: Stephanie, it's so important that they do. Thanks for reporting on this.

At least 51 hospitals in the State of Florida are now asking for help, just having enough nurses to meet their demand for the rise in cases. Rosa Flores joins us in Miami with the latest. Good morning, Rosa.

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Poppy, good morning, you're absolutely right. We've learned that 51 hospitals in 12 counties across the State of Florida are asking the state for more than it 2,400 nurses. There's just a need for nurses right now. And where is the most need, right here where I am in Miami-Dade County. This is the county that has asked for more than 720 nurses.

Here is the reality. ICUs here are operating at 130 percent capacity. Yes, the county says that they have beds to convert ICU beds, but at the end of the day, you need human beings, medical professionals to provide that ICU care.

Now, City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez announcing today that the mask mandate in the City of Miami is working, so much so officials are upping enforcement and the fines as well.

[10:05:09] Now, the first and second offense will cost you $100 each. The third offense will land you in jail. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR FRANCIS SUAREZ (R-MIAMI, FL): We're increasing the penalties because we want to make sure that people follow the rules. What we're seeing is some early evidence that the mask in public rule is working, and we want to make sure that it's being adopted universally in our population.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FLORES: Now, Suarez just announced that the city has issued 115 tickets this week, and, Jim, here's the -- what they are fighting against here in Miami-Dade County. Miami-Dade County accounts for 24 percent of the now nearly 380,000 cases in this state, and the positivity rate, the 14-day average, is still 20 percent. Jim?

SCIUTTO: That's remarkably high, so far above the threshold for a serious outbreak. Rosa Flores, thanks very much.

Texas as well recording the highest single-day number of deaths and hospitalizations yesterday. That's the key, not just infections but people getting truly sick and some dying.

HARLOW: That's right. One of the hardest hit areas in this pandemic is Hidalgo County. We have this graphic. Just look at this. It can show you the spike up even just recently. Look at what has happened there.

With us now, the key doctor leading the charge there, Dr. Ivan Melendez from Hidalgo County Health Authority, also a surgeon and, of course, you served in Iraq as a surgeon as well. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for this country.

The magnitude of this crisis is playing out in full effect where you are. And you said at this point you are praying anyone who is listening will send you guys the USNS Mercy to the Gulf.

DR. IVAN MELENDEZ, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS HEALTH AUTHORITY: Good morning. Thank you for having me. I was asked of my wish list if I found a genie on the ocean, what would our wishes be? Of course, 1,000 acute-care beds would certainly alleviate a great deal of our problems.

As you know, we had record deaths the day before yesterday of almost 50, 49. Yesterday, we had 33. This morning, we're, what, 8:30 and 9:00 in the morning Central Time, we're already ready to report another 30 deaths, and it's already 9:00 in the morning.

So our numbers continue to escalate. It was interesting your previous guest, the infectious disease specialist said that there would be around, for many years, and, of course, all pandemics last for many years. 300, 400 years, the black plague, still present today. The Floridian folks that are asking for nurses, and yet we have a lot of Floridian nurses helping us here.

And all the problems that are being seen around the country, California at an 8 percent death rate while we're at 8 percent positivity rate while we're at 20 percent, so all the problems you're reporting on and bless your soul for doing that around the country, we're greatly accentuated here. And so our problems are like everyone's in the country except at an exponentially larger number.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

MELENDEZ: So we hope that we become a beacon of hope and not just daily stories of tragedy.

SCIUTTO: Yes. Well, listen, it's reminiscent of New York City. It was one of the worst in the world, right, but managed to get a handle on it and it's changed dramatically since then.

I do want to ask you about freedom that communities like yours has. The Texas governor, he is not allowing local officials to enforce stay-at-home orders. He is also not allowing local officials to fine people for not wearing masks.

I wonder in a place like Hidalgo County just experienced such an outbreak, how does that ban on taking such steps hamper your ability to get this under control?

MELENDEZ: A very good point. I get asked that daily. And I'm not being a politician, it's very difficult for me to comment, especially when hours later I'm meeting with our governor requesting for resources. You just reported that in some areas of the country, people are getting fined large numbers, even the threat of incarceration for not wearing masks. In our part of the world, we're still not at a mandatory stay-at-home scenario. So you have different, I think, approaches around the country.

For us, indeed, we're graciously grateful for the other 50 resources that the governor has made available for us. As a public health officer, as a physician, I live in a vacuum. My vacuum is medicine. My vacuum is public health.

[10:10:01]

Where I live, even though we only have 1.3 million people in the three-hour area, we have 14 million people so, of course, it's a public health, just tremendous potential problem with storms brewing in so many people.

So as I live in a vacuum in a perfect world, such as more authoritarian governments, of course, our recommendation has been to stay at home and to shelter. The only thing that controlled the black plague in the 1300s was stay at home, people were quarantined.

And so my response to that though is that there is a lot of information that we don't have that the governor has. There's a lot of information that he has to process through that we don't know. So we respect his leadership and we respect his opinion. That doesn't mean that we agree with some of the policies.

So we still advocate strongly for sheltering at home, and we just hope by our persistence and our tenacity that we're able to somehow balance the most difficult issues that he has with what our scientists and the public health officials are recommending.

SCIUTTO: Yes. It's funny, you mentioned the word, quarantine, and the black plague. That's where the word comes from, quarantine from the 40 days they required visitors to stop and wait before they came into the city, so, you know, history seems a million years ago but still relevant today. Thanks so much, Doctor.

MELENDEZ: Thank you. I appreciate it.

HARLOW: Thank you, Doctor. we're very grateful.

So, new in the last hour, we have learned that the number of confirmed COVID cases in Georgia has surpassed 150,000. The state is also reporting 81 new deaths just yesterday alone.

SCIUTTO: And yet the mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms, says that she did have a good conversation with the Georgia governor, Brian Kemp on Wednesday despite the fact that Kemp is suing her and members of the city council because they tried to mandate masks to hem in the outbreak.

Nick Valencia joins us now live from Atlanta.

So, Nick, Georgia, of course, one of the first states to reopen. Infections are surging there now. Are the mayor and the governor, are they going to sort of make amends here so that they can get on top of this?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there was some optimism yesterday, the mayor saying she had a very good conversation with the governor. We spent days pouring over the data here in Georgia, and it just really doesn't look good, Jim and Poppy, from hospitalizations to new daily cases. And, you know, these numbers here continue to rise, showing no sign of decreasing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VALENCIA: If Georgians still had any doubt about the worsening pandemic in the state, recent COVID-19 numbers are reason to worry. New daily cases have doubled and hospitalizations tripled in the last month alone.

DR. KATHLEEN TOOMEY, GEORGIA PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER: We are seeing an increase in COVID in communities throughout the state.

VALENCIA: Georgia is shattering single-day records with around 3,000 new cases reported almost every day in the last week, but the state's leaders have turned to bickering and finger pointing amid the growing crisis.

GOV. BRIAN KEMP (R-GA): If you look at when it started, I think there's several reasons for that. Number one was the demonstrations. Number two, because of the demonstrations, that sent a message to people that, hey, it's all right to get out again.

MAYOR VAN JOHNSON (D-SAVANNAH, GA): I think the problem is here is that Georgia has been acting somewhat psychotic.

VALENCIA: In April, when state health officials believed numbers had plateaued and Georgia became one of the first states to reopen, public health experts warned the consequences could be dire. On May 21st, nearly one month after reopening the state, Governor Brian Kemp was cautiously optimistic.

KEMP: I'm proud of what we accomplished over the last several years, but we cannot rest on our laurels.

VALENCIA: In the two months since that press conference, things have only gotten worse.

DR. THOMAS TSAI, HARVARD T.H. CHAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: So it's this perfect storm of factors of undertesting, early reopening and lack of enforcement of masking and physical distancing policies has really compounded the pandemic that's playing out in Georgia.

VALENCIA: Harvard Professor Dr. Thomas Tsai says, the way in which Georgia health officials interpreted data may have given a false sense of confidence, poorly informing policy decisions, like reopening earlier than recommended.

Georgia's health department backdated its numbers of new COVID cases to onset of symptoms. The Georgia Department of Health defended the practice to CNN calling it the traditional way to look at data during an outbreak, adding that Georgia has been reporting this data at same way since the beginning of the pandemic. While it says less about when infections are occurring, presenting data by date of report is important to have the most current understanding of the case burden we are facing each day.

But Harvard researchers say backdating the cases created unforced errors and painted a rosier picture than reality.

TSAI: So, essentially, results potentially in a decline of cases in every single week because positive cases keep getting backdated to when the symptoms first begin.

[10:15:03]

VALENCIA: CNN asked Governor Kemp to respond to any questions about potential mistakes made in the early decision-making. Kemp has declined an interview. But as for how things stand now, Kemp's office admits that current graphs don't look complementary. They asked for any other questions we had to be directed towards the state health department.

Tuesday night, Governor Kemp launched a new campaign encouraging Georgians to wear masks. But public health experts warned it may take more than that. TSAI: Well, you basically need to go back to flattening the curve and getting your arms around the pandemic, which includes wearing masks, following the best guidelines around physical distancing, and in cases where the pandemic is getting out of control, a local shutdown.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VALENCIA: One of the only bright spots in the data is the mortality rate, which remains steady. Optimists might even tell you it's showing a slight decrease. But more and more every day, Jim and Poppy, Georgia seems to be a cautionary tale of what not to do during this pandemic.

HARLOW: I remember sitting here and so many questions about are they opening too soon? What's going to happen? What is the result going to be? And now, we're all just wishing everyone there well. Nick, thank you very, very much.

VALENCIA: You bet.

HARLOW: Experts say testing is the key to stopping the growth and the spread of this virus along, of course, with wearing masks, religiously. The president though calls testing overrated. We'll explain why.

SCIUTTO: And notably not overrated at the White House or for anyone who meets with the president.

Plus, the White House and Senate Republicans reached a tentative agreement on the next stimulus bill, but notably one key request from the president is out of that deal.

And the boys of summer are back finally, but will this be an opening day like no other? Yes, pretty much. Good to see them back though.

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SCIUTTO: President Trump will hold another news conference today. It remains to be seen if the health experts will be invited. They were not yesterday. This comes as the president continues to deliver information that is often contradictory to the facts, to the science and the advice of his own health experts, including on coronavirus testing. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I personally think it's overrated but I am totally willing to keep doing it.

It makes us look bad, but they say it's good. I don't mind looking bad if it's a good thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Okay. It's not overrated. As you point out, Jim, it happens all the time at the White House.

It comes as top members of the coronavirus task force are both privately and publicly expressing concerns about potential outbreaks in key metro areas. John Harwood joins us from Washington with more this morning.

Good morning, John.

JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Poppy.

You know, there's every reason to think that at 5:00, as the White House has said the president will come out and brief. If he doesn't have public health experts with him, he's not going to advance the cause of pushing the American people towards the proper things to do about this coronavirus.

Yesterday in the briefing, he repeated information, and I think Jim alluded this to a moment ago, that simply wasn't true about saying that schoolchildren don't infect others, bring the virus home and infect members of their family. In fact, there's a new study from South Korea just in the last few days showing that young people from 10 to 19 infects others at the same rate that adults do.

His comments on testing on Fox was in the same category, saying that testing is overrated, confessing that he doesn't like it because it makes us look bad, which in Donald Trump's mind, means makes him look bad. The problem, of course, is that we need expanded testing in order to diagnose the extent of the outbreak and figure out the proper response to it.

The president yesterday was saying when he was asked by our colleague, Kaitlan Collins, why do you not have public health experts, he says, well, they briefed me, they give me the information and I pass the information on to average Americans.

But what we've seen, of course, is the president is not conveying factual information to Americans. And that's one of the reasons why he is in such a deep political hole in terms of how people his handling of coronavirus and his standing vis-a-vis Joe Biden.

SCIUTTO: John Harwood, thank you for breaking it down.

Joining us now to discuss the larger health issues, Dr. Wen, she's emergency room physician and former Baltimore City Health Commissioner. Dr. Wen, always good to have you on.

Listen, you look at the progress of this outbreak here in this country and the numbers show, and that's what we focus on, the data, that it's accelerating. It took the country 99 days to reach a million cases, 43 to reach 2 million, 28 to reach 3 million, and now, just a couple of weeks to reach 4 million. That's an accelerating outbreak, it is not? What does that mean has to happen now?

DR. LEANA WEN, EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN: Well, right now, in the time that it's going to take us to have this conversation, at least two Americans will die from COVID-19. And we are not even seeing the peak of this pandemic yet here in the U.S. because of this nature of exponential spread.

And at this point, it really is time -- and I know that this is very hard for us to hear, but it is time for us to re-implement these shelter-in-place lockdowns at least in parts of the country that are undergoing this explosive spread.

[10:25:08]

I mean, there's just no way that testing, contact tracing and isolation is going to work in these places to rein in at the rate that we are going.

And so I know that we've done this before but we have to do it again because there is otherwise no alternative to stopping us from overwhelming healthcare systems in these places.

HARLOW: Dr. Wen, we heard Dr. Fauci say yesterday that, quote, I don't really see us eradicating it. And when we asked Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota, who so well versed on this, just like you, last hour, he said this isn't going away, right?

And so I guess I'm wondering from you what is the best case scenario for the globe once we have not only an effective, you know, phase one vaccine but a second stage vaccine that is generally more effective in more people? What's the best case?

WEN: The best case is that we're able to contain this infection. And, actually, we did have a chance, I would say, earlier on in the pandemic to be able to eradicate it if, very early on, we were able to stop this explosive spread that's now happening, not just in the U.S. but in many parts of the country.

We did have a chance to contain it and eradicate it just as we have other contagions that had this kind of pandemic potential. But at this point, it's so widespread that I think the best that we can hope for is a vaccine that will get us to the point at least of not having this rapid spread from person to person, that we can live with this disease the same way that we live with the seasonal flu and many other illnesses.

SCIUTTO: Yes, that's a good point because being around forever is really the pattern for a coronavirus. It's getting it under control.

I want to put those two maps up again that show states around the country, the ones that are going in the wrong direction on number of infections, if we can show that one first, and that shows that, virtually, every state in the country, I believe, is doing that. And then compare that to a handful that are going in the right direction, compare that to deaths where the picture is a little less bleak. The green states are the ones with declining number of deaths.

I wonder in that data, Dr. Wen, does that -- is there a silver lining there? Are we getting better at treating people who have become ill, or is it about who is getting infected?

WEN: Yes. I mean, I do think that we have learned a lot in the several months of dealing with this pandemic. We have better treatments. We also have better protocols in hospitals for protecting healthcare workers, for protecting other patients. So I do think that we are getting better about at this. But I also worry that the mortality map is going to get worse unless we take really dramatic actions now.

And I also look at the rise in cases in so many states and I'm really worried because I think if we have any chance of opening schools and getting our economy back, we need to be implementing these measures now. Because even if we implemented shutdowns, for example, now, it's going to take three to four weeks before we see the effect.

And so those maps are going to go in the wrong direction unless we can get much more dramatic, have universal mask-wearing, of course, as a start. Ramp up testing and tracing but also implement these restrictions on indoor gatherings.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

HARLOW: Yes. Well, that would take a national mask mandate, which, you know, at this point, I would not hold your breath for. Dr. Wen, thanks a lot.

WEN: Thank you.

HARLOW: Jim, you should be saying this. It's finally time to play ball. Are you excited?

SCIUTTO: I am. I just wish my team was better.

HARLOW: Major League Baseball taking another swing at opening. We'll have an update, next.

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