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Medical Association Releases New Mask Guidelines; Governor Phil Murphy to Allow Schools to Open Remotely; Interview with Author Sophia Nelson. Aired 2-2:30p ET

Aired August 12, 2020 - 14:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:00:41]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: It is the top of the hour, I'm Brianna Keilar.

And right now, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is preparing for his first appearance with his 2020 running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, as she makes history, becoming the first woman of color on a major party presidential ticket.

Here is how she responded to Biden's big question.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You ready to go to work?

SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA): Oh my God. I am so ready to go to work.

BIDEN: First of all, is the answer yes?

HARRIS: The answer is absolutely yes, Joe.

(LAUGHTER)

And I am ready to work. I am ready to do this with you, for you. I'm just -- I'm just deeply honored, and I'm very excited.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: All right, we are going to bring that to you live, when they appear.

But now, to the pandemic. There's a hopeful sign in the coronavirus trends that we've been watching, but let me put this in perspective.

For three consecutive days now, the U.S. has recorded fewer than 50,000 new infections. When comparing new cases this week versus last week, the data shows new cases are trending down. The average number of new infection, down by 11 percent.

But the U.S. is averaging around 1,000 coronavirus deaths per day over the last seven days. In fact, yesterday was the 16th consecutive day that the U.S. averaged more than a thousand deaths per day. But it's not just a number, that is a life lost. That is a family, many people for each person, devastated. And we have to wonder if it could have been prevented.

Just yesterday, Florida and Georgia reported their highest single-day death tolls since the start of the pandemic. Thirty-three states have imposed mask mandates, but both Georgia and Florida governors are still refusing to do so.

So what is the best type of mask and when should you be wearing it? The Association of American Medical Colleges today is releasing a set of simple, straightforward guidelines to answer some of the most common questions.

The group's executive director says this, quote, "The quicker we make face coverings our new normal, the faster we can gain control over COVID-19."

CNN's Elizabeth Cohen is with us now to break all of this down. Tell us what we're learning from this new mask guidance and, you know, why, several months in, this was necessary?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Brianna, it's necessary because some people still aren't wearing masks, right? And people do have basic questions, and it's great that this group did it because these are the daily -- literally hour by hour questions that Americans have, even though the answers do seem obvious.

So let's go over them. First of all, the mask should cover your nose and your mouth. I know that sounds so obvious, but I will tell you, I've seen many people with masks that don't cover their nose or that are worn around their chin, a mask covering your chin does not work, you don't breathe through your chin.

Also, minimum gaps -- you know, that should be a pretty tight-fitting mask, or as tight-fitting as you can get it. Also, if you're going to wear a cloth mask, use two or, even better, three layers. A bandana- style mask is better than nothing, and also these recommendations cover indoor and outdoor spaces.

But really, a mask is only as good as how you wear it. It has to cover your nose and your mouth, and sort of pulling it down to talk to someone is not going to cut it.

KEILAR: And there's this new modeling study that shows that statewide physical distancing policies work. Tell us what researchers found here.

COHEN: Yes, this is really so interesting. It shows us that all this hard work we're doing really made a difference. This is by scholars at Harvard and University College London.

And so, Brianna, what they found is that if there had been no social distancing rules -- none at all -- 80 percent of this country, 80 percent of the United States would be effective (ph). So to put this another way, within three weeks of instituting social distancing policies, we reduced cases by 600,000 cases.

Now, I can hear some people saying, well, who cares? So you get COVID, no big deal, most people are fine, why do we even need to reduce cases?

And here is your answer. These social distancing policies reduced the death rate by two percent per day because of these policies. In other words, this death rate went down two percent per day, so those are deaths that went down because we managed to keep six feet apart.

KEILAR: Wow. It is -- when you put it into perspective, you can really see the difference it made. Elizabeth Cohen, thank you so much.

COHEN: Thanks.

[14:05:00]

KEILAR: And new this afternoon, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, signing an executive order to allow schools and universities in his state to reopen for in-person instruction for the upcoming academic year.

All of this is happening as more than 400 teachers are refusing to return to their classrooms for in-person instruction in one district in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The teachers are citing health risks connected to the coronavirus pandemic, and their resistance is now forcing their school system to go virtual for the start of the fall term.

I want to bring in CNN's Bianna Golodryga to talk about this. Tell us, Bianna, what the superintendent is saying about all this.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN SENIOR GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well, the superintendent, Brianna, of Elizabeth is saying that they just can't get these schools reopened because they don't have the staffing. As you mentioned, some 400 teachers have said that they have specific considerations that they have to factor in, and thus they won't be able to return to school.

You've seen this happening across the country. Any state governor can say with an executive order, we're going to reopen. But without teachers, there's no reason for students to be going back to the classroom.

So what we saw today from Governor Murphy was basically meeting the teachers halfway, saying that yes, we've made a big step forward, we can reopen schools for in-person universities, that's all public and private schools in the state as well as colleges and universities. And those that cannot open must submit reasons as to why, why they can't meet safety and health guidelines.

But as we've seen already over the past few days, there has been a lot of pressure from the teachers' union and the governor has been aware of that. We saw that superintendent from Elizabeth. We've also seen superintendents from Jersey City say that they are concerned that they just don't have the capability or the staffing to reopen their schools.

You saw the mayor of Jersey City saying -- in Newark, excuse me -- say that he would recommend that those in his city not return their students back for in-person instruction just because of what the city and what the state had gone through. Remember, they were one of the hardest hit states early on, when the pandemic first struck in the spring. They've come a long way, their state infection rate is now under one percent.

Now, compare that to states like Georgia, where we're at an infection rate of some 11 percent, and they are reopening schools and you're seeing the consequences of that.

But this is a big step forward for the state. And from the governor's standpoint, he's saying, I'm meeting you halfway, you don't have to reopen or at least offer in-person instruction, as he had originally mandated earlier this summer. But he said you have to submit an explanation as to why.

KEILAR: All right, Bianna, thank you for sharing that with us and walking us through it.

It is a question that so many parents have: Should I send my kids back to school for in-person learning? CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a father of three, and he recently made this decision himself.

Sanjay, it's so interesting to hear this from your perspective as a parent and a physician. You wrote an op-ed for CNN on why you're not sending your kids back to school next week. I know that you walked through this with an eye to science, so tell us about how you came to this decision.

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, it's a scientific decision, a public health decision but not an easy one, I think, as you're alluding to, Brianna, as a parent. I mean, my kids very much want to go back to school. They miss their friends, they miss the social structure. They want to be immersed in humanity. And I've realized, I think, over the last few months, how important that is. I don't think any of us should dismiss that.

But, you know, even as Bianna was just talking about, you know, you have to look at the community around you. So where we live for example, we know that the rate of viral spread has been increasing. We know that the positivity rate is higher than 10 percent, it's around 11, close to 12 percent, which means that we're still not doing enough testing. Those are big issues in and of themselves.

On top of that, as I started to really look at the data around kids, I mean, this has been sort of a question mark throughout the summer, right? We know that kids are less likely to get sick. That's been true since the early data that we looked out of Wuhan, and it has remained true. So that's good.

But the question has been, how much can they still spread the virus and add to the trajectory of this pandemic? And as you start to really look at all the data, it's becoming increasingly clear to me that they can spread quite a bit. I mean, the latest data out of South Korea shows kids 10 and older spread just like adults.

And frankly, I think kids younger than that, the jury is out because they've largely been at home since March. But as they're starting to come out and about more, the numbers go up and it's likely young kids are contributing to that.

But look at this map now. You know, you can see where Georgia is, it's dark green there on the map. And we've had a 90 percent increase of new cases in the last four weeks among children. So we've had almost a doubling throughout this entire pandemic of children, just over the last month.

So again, I don't mean to say that this is an easy decision. It's a tough decision as a parent. I was just talking to one of my kids who is still sort of, you know, taking me to task over this. But it's the right decision, I think, for us at this time.

[14:10:05]

KEILAR: I am just imagining the incoming you're getting at home with your kids. But you talk about the diligence that you took in making this decision. You visited your kids' school to check out the school safety precautions. Tell us what you found.

GUPTA: Yes. You know, we took the CDC recommendations and then tried to layer it on top of what is happening at our kids' school. And you know, keep in mind, again, in Georgia, there is no statewide mask ordinance, unlike the case in some of the people you're talking to from other states.

So our school did take the extra step of saying we are going to have a must-mask sort of policy. So that was a good thing. They have hand hygiene stations all over the place, they have you know, this physical distancing set up in a way that I think is possible.

It's going to be very challenging in hallways, on buses, in classrooms to maintain six feet. Can be very challenging, just getting enough square footage. But they're being creative with cafeterias and gyms and even doing outdoor classes when possible. It's going to be a challenge, even with all that in place. But they are trying their best. It's a herculean effort, I think, to try and make this happen.

Another thing our school did, which I realize is a luxury and a lot of school districts aren't doing this, is what's called assurance testing, testing not because people are ill or not even because you're trying to do surveillance, but just giving people assurance that they themselves are not carrying the virus and that the people who they're going to come in contact with in school are likely not carrying the virus either. It's not perfect because you can get false negative tests and you can also test negative today and possibly positive tomorrow, but it does add another layer of protection.

So the school itself's doing a good job. The real issue -- and I think, you know, this is one of those things I think everybody has to sort of become an amateur epidemiologist -- figure out what's going on in your own community. The numbers are going up, and testing is not adequate? I think it's a tough time to send kids back to school.

KEILAR: Yes, it's a very good point. People are in different situations. You are obviously in Atlanta, and there's a lot of people in situations that you are in. Sanjay, thank you so much. Appreciate it.

Just in, the president says that he's added a coronavirus advisor, and it's someone who echoes his unscientific claims.

Plus, "Fox News" throws everything but the kitchen sink at Kamala Harris, calling her everything from a radical to a leftist.

And moments from now, Joe Biden and Harris will appear together for the first time since she was named his running mate.

This is CNN's special live coverage.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:17:04]

KEILAR: We are less than two hours away from an historic event that you can see here, live. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, appearing for the first time with his running mate, Senator Kamala Harris. Senator Harris is making history as the first woman of color on a major party presidential ticket.

But that is not all. Harris is also the first nominee on the Democratic ticket from any state west of the Rocky Mountains. This is the first time in American history that a candidate is choosing a female vice president when they weren't trailing in the polls. It is the sixth straight Democratic ticket where both candidates served in the Senate, but the first time ever that both Democratic nominees have served on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

It's also the first time in 36 years that the Democratic ticket has not included a candidate with an Ivy League education. And the third election in a row where neither party's ticket included a nominee with military service.

What won't be the first time for Kamala Harris is the criticism, the scrutiny and even name-calling. I want to bring in Sophia Nelson, she is a lifelong Republican until recently. She is also a "Daily Beast" senior columnist, and author of the book, "Black Woman Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama."

Sophia, thank you for being with us. In your latest op-ed in "The Beast," you write, "When all is said and done, Joe Biden's selection of Kamala Harris as his running mate is more than historic, it is an act of deep faith in America. It is heroic." Explain that to us.

SOPHIA NELSON, AUTHOR, BLACK WOMAN REDEFINED: Well, I mean, look at it like this, he could have easily taken what I consider the more easy path, make Governor Whitmer of Michigan or someone that was going to bring him something on the ticket.

Instead, he chose an African-American woman who was his rival in the primary, and who was pretty tough on him, as we all recall, during one of the debates. And he chose someone that he had to know -- Joe Biden was vice president to Barack Obama, he was vice president to the first black president. So he understands, as a white man in America, a lot about race, the nuances of race, the moment that we're in.

Remember, Brianna, when Biden opened his campaign, what did he talk about? "We hold these truths to be self-evident." He used Charlottesville as a backdrop. So choosing Kamala Harris in a moment like this, where we're deeply divided as a country, where we have a president who routinely stokes racial tension and division, is, in many schools of thought, risky.

But it was heroic in my book because what he did was, he drew the line and he said to African-American women, you've been loyal to us, I'm going to be loyal to you. You've saved this party time and time again as African-American women, and I'm going to give you a spot on the ticket, the number-two spot, the heartbeat away from the presidency spot before I'm even going to give that opportunity to a woman not of color. That is historic, and it's heroic, it's brave.

[14:20:06]

KEILAR: And what is her objective here? What is the way that she's going to help Joe Biden and what are her challenges going to be?

NELSON: Well, I think you saw it yesterday. I've never seen -- and I'm old enough to remember when Geraldine Ferraro was nominated, I was in high school, so I'm dating myself. But I've never seen the other side do what I saw President Trump do yesterday. He viciously attacked her, right? He called her names, he said she was not angry, but he said that she was pretty much mean and she was nasty -- his favorite word.

So they came after her out of the gate. Tucker Carlson was vile last night, I'm not even going to get into the things that he said about her. So clearly, they're going to play to racial stereotypes and tropes, not just about women but about black women. We're angry all the time, we're not team players, we're scary, you need to be afraid of us.

So that's the downside of what they're going to do. On the plus side however, Joe Biden couldn't have picked a more qualified, more articulate, more amazing woman who will stand her ground, who's not afraid to say what she needs to say.

She knows how to throw a punch, and she's going to do it a couple times, I suspect, throughout this process, but do it with grace and class. She's going to be great in the debates with Vice President Pence, and she's also going to energize Alpha Kappa Alpha women like myself, and black women throughout this country, and white women, moderate and independent women who do not see her as scary.

She's an asset, she's qualified, she was a top cop in California. It's going to be hard for them to paint her as some lunatic fringe person like they're trying to do.

KEILAR: Sophia, thank you so much for being with us. Sophia Nelson, we appreciate it.

NELSON: Thank you.

KEILAR: Did the president just add an advisor to counter Dr. Fauci and the way he follows science? The announcement of someone new to the task force who echoes the president's unscientific claims.

Plus, a legendary football coach supports the return of college football, even as he likens the risk that players will take to those of the troops who invaded Normandy.

And the Republican Party just took a new step toward a group of conspiracy theorists with the victory of a Georgia Republican.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:27:04]

KEILAR: The most prestigious golf tournament in the country will take place without fans on-site this year. Augusta National Golf Club, announcing today that the 2020 Masters will happen in November, but that fans are not allowed to attend. CNN's Andy Scholes has more.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Brianna, like last week's PGA championship and next month's U.S. Open, this year's Masters will take place without fans. Steve Ridley, the chairman of Augusta National, saying in a statement, "Potential risks of welcoming patrons and guests to our grounds in November are simply too significant to overcome."

Tournament's going to take place November 12th through the 15th, first time in its 86-year history it's happening outside the months of March and April. Tickets for this year will be good for the 2021 tournament.

Now, in the meantime, you can add the Washington Football Team to the list of NFL teams that will not have fans this season. The team did say they would re-evaluate if the pandemic were to improve over the course of the season.

The NFL currently does not have any blanket policy when it comes to allowing fans, leaving it up to the individual teams -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Andy, thank you.

Just in, another week, another bit of success for the NBA bubble. The league says of the 342 players tested for COVID on the campus since last week, zero have been positive. And that means zero positive tests in the first month of the experiment. The playoffs begin on Monday.

Under President Trump, 164,000 Americans have died from coronavirus, tens of millions of jobs have been lost and the United States is currently number one in the world -- not for strength or leadership in this pandemic, but for how out of control the virus is. Today, though, we're learning more about the president's new medical

advisor, Dr. Scott Atlas, whose public stance on the pandemic echoes Trump's unscientific claims. He was introduced for the first time at Monday's White House briefing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is Scott Atlas -- do you know that, right? -- Scott is a very famous man who's also very highly respected, Stanford. And he's working with us, and will be working with us on the coronavirus. And he has many great ideas, and he thinks what we've done is really good and now we'll take it to a new level. And so it's great to have Scott working along with us and we appreciate it very much, Scott, thank you very much.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: CNN's Kaitlan Collins is joining us now. And, Kaitlan, Atlas is joining Trump's team at a time when the president finds himself increasingly at odds with medical experts in his own administration. Tell us more about this.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. He's just now formally joining, but he's actually been informally advising the president for weeks, after he first caught a glimpse of him on "Fox News," where he's appeared pretty regularly since the month of May.

And you heard the president there listing off his credentials. He's a doctor of course, he's a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. But, Brianna, what might be the most important to the president is that he is one of the medical experts who has a very close public stance with what the president thinks about COVID-19 on reopening schools, national lockdown, college athletes playing football this fall.

[14:30:08]