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Parts of Europe Grappling with Uptick in Coronavirus Cases; Spain has Overtaken U.K. For Highest Number of Cases in Europe; Brazil reports 55,000 New Cases and Almost 1,200 Deaths; New Zealand Reports 14 New Cases, Warns of More; Lebanon Parliament to Meet for First Time since Explosion; Anti-Vaxxers Campaigning against Potential Vaccine; Brothers Start "Projects Smile" to Raise Patients' Spirits. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired August 13, 2020 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Well, parts of Europe are seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases and it's leading to fears of a second wave of outbreaks. Spain has the highest number of cases on the continent right now with more than 329,000. France just recorded its biggest jump in new daily cases since May. More than 2,500 cases were registered on Wednesday.

Greece recorded its highest daily increase of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. It reported 262 new cases on Wednesday. And Germany has been dealing with higher infection numbers for several weeks. Its government is urging citizens to strictly adhere to pandemic rules of social distancing, mask wearing and sanitizing.

Well, Al Goodman is tracking all of this troubling data from La Coruna, a coastal city in northwest Spain. Al, talk to us, first, about the situation there, specifically in Spain. Why we're seeing these new outbreaks. What's driving this?

AL GOODMAN, JOURNALIST: Hi, Rosemary. Well, six weeks after lifting a nationwide lockdown that had slowed down the coronavirus last spring, Spain, as you say, has the highest number of cases in Western Europe. It's 329,000 cases, higher even than in Britain. Although Britain still has many more deaths than Spain.

There are about 600 outbreaks all across Spain. And a top government health government official says it's still too early to talk about a second wave. But clearly, the daily numbers, around 1,500 new cases per day. That's way up from when the nationwide lockdown was lifted back in June. It was 200 cases per day.

So as we're seeing officials say and doctors are saying, we're seeing a new influx of patients into hospitals and more troubling, new influx -- an increase of patients into the ICUs even from just the beginning of this month.

Now, what's driving these outbreaks. Officials say three main categories. Young people are drinking parties in nightclubs and outdoors. Some of these nightclubs are being told to shut down or reduce their hours. Large family events like weddings. People aren't wearing masks which are required in most places of Spain in public. And also seasonal farm workers living and working in close quarters.

Also the response now, instead of a nationwide unified central government control of the virus, it's back to the 17 regional governments. For instance, here in northwest Spain the region is called Galicia. In the bars the regional government has said that they are going to prohibit smoking outdoors unless you can maintain six feet or two meters apart. Because experts are saying when people have their masks off to smoke, they're emitting -- if they've got coronavirus, if there asymptomatic, they're emitting a lot of dangerous coronavirus possibilities to people nearby. There are several other regions that are considering that.

So this hodgepodge approach right now, the 17 regions, that is certainly driving this and this national government is taking a look to see whether they may need to try to get some kind of unified response again. This was supposed to be the easy period here, the summer. Everybody wanted to get back out after the long lockdown. With the autumn, the traditional flu season being the problematic area. But Spain is finding -- and some other countries as well -- that the problem of coronavirus is back right in their face right much quicker than they thought -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: Absolutely. Al Goodman, good to see you wearing a mask. That is key. That is what we learned in all of this. Many thanks for your live report. Appreciate it.

Well, Brazil's health ministry recorded more than 55,000 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday. The country has the second highest number of cases in the world behind the U.S. and the number of daily cases is not going down. Shasta Darlington is in Sao Paulo.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In Brazil, the coronavirus has claimed new victims including the grandmother of the first lady, Michelle Bolsonaro, who died overnight after being hospitalized for weeks with COVID-19. Michelle Bolsonaro and the President Jair Bolsonaro were diagnosed with COVID-19 last month.

The President who has now recovered has consistently downplayed the severity of the virus. The governor of Brazil's Sao Paulo's state, Joao Doria, also announced on Wednesday that he tested positive for the virus. Making him Brazil's 11th governor to become infected. Meanwhile, Brazil reported 1,175 additional deaths and more than 55,000 new cases in a 24-hour period. Bringing the total number of infections to well over 3.1 million.

Shasta Darlington, CNN, Sao Paulo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[04:35:00] CHURCH: Well health officials in India said that country hit a single day high for new cases. Nearly 67,000 reported Thursday. India has the third most cases in the world behind the U.S. and Brazil and more than 47,000 deaths. Another Indian cabinet minister has also tested positive for the virus.

New Zealand has confirmed 14 new COVID-19 cases just a day after re- imposing restrictions in parts of the country. Many residents have rushed to stores to stock up on essentials. The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is warning New Zealanders to expect the new outbreak to get worse before things get better.

So Let's bring in Will Ripley who is tracking this disturbing new outbreak. But of course these numbers, we're only talking about 14 cases. For the rest of us across the globe, this seems like nothing.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: New Zealand has really set itself apart, Rosemary. They are very quick, very decisive and strong response to this pandemic and that's why they had 102 days without any reported locally transmitted cases of COVID-19. And that country's economy bounced back very nicely from the earlier lockdowns that a lot of people may have initially criticized as being harsh. But once the cases were eliminated and New Zealand declared itself virus free and people essentially were going about their normal lives. They enjoyed that for more than 100 days.

But this week that has come to an end. First it was four cases in one household. And now these additional cases are either tied to members of that household or to a refrigeration and transportation warehouse Americold which is actually a company that is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. But they specialize in transporting temperature- controlled items internationally. And in China refrigerated containers actually were proven to be kind of a breeding ground for the virus because it can live longer in colder temperatures.

And so, now they have to look at how these packages are being sanitized before they come into the country. They're going to have to test everybody that works in that company. And New Zealand basically had said that they thought something like this was inevitable. Because it is very difficult to keep a virus contained just by its very nature. People are people, loopholes happen. But now they're going to try to plug this one up. And they're trying to test as many people as they can to isolate all of the cases in the community, get them treatment and get them out of the general population so they can't spread it to others.

CHURCH: We can't help compare the way different governments. Different nations have responded to this. Will Ripley joining us live from Hong Kong, many thanks.

Well, Lebanon's Parliament is set to meet soon for the first time since the deadly blast that ripped through Beirut. Protests against the government in the following days, as well as accusations of corruption have prompted the resignation of the Prime Minister and government along with multiple members of Parliament. CNN's Sam Kiley joins us live from Beirut with more on this. Sam, what is the latest? SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, the

session in Parliament will need 65 half plus one MPs to form a quorum. It will also here we understand the resignation letters of the seven or eight members of Parliament who have said that they would resign. That figure keeps moving around somewhat as the different political parties and their membership work out what they're going to do next.

Because the new -- formation of a new government that resigned the other day will come as a result of the back room deals that have been done in the past. It sometimes often takes -- often take many months and there are not going to be general elections. Now there had been in anticipation that there might be a lot of protests against the meeting of this Parliament. Which is in the building behind me. Which is the Unesco Palace as it's known here.

And it's meeting there not in the Beirut Parliament, the Lebanese Parliament in central Beirut. Because they couldn't get there because of the protests that have been ongoing in particular since this explosion a week and a ago that killed 160 people with 20 missing. But it's all, frankly, somewhat winded, the atmosphere here. There isn't much of a demonstration of any kind against the meeting of this Parliament. That itself doesn't have a great deal of legislative power. Because it's not going to be going forward. It doesn't have much -- it hasn't been underpinned by recent election following the disaster, not even the promise of a coming election.

[04:40:00]

And in any case in the background now a caretaker government is going to go and try to form a new government which in the view of many might look like the old government. And like all the previous governments has been blamed for allowing this 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate to have been stored in the port, which is quite close to the center of a major capital city for six years -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: Yes, despite protesters calling for change. It doesn't look like they'll be much of that in the days and weeks ahead. Sam Kiley joining us live from Beirut. Many thanks.

You are watching CNN NEWSROOM.

Still to come, an unexpected obstacle to a possible coronavirus vaccine. An alarming number of Americans might refuse to take it. Back with that in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: The United States is pulling out all the stops to develop a safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19. But even if one becomes available, there is a disturbing number of Americans who say they won't get vaccinated and they are trying to convince others to do the same. For more, here's CNN's Elizabeth Cohen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MONCEF SLAOUI, HEAD OF OPERATION WARP SPEED: I think it will be a very effective vaccine. That's my prediction.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dr. Moncef Slaoui, head of Operation Warp Speed, the government's program to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, says the vaccine could be 90 percent effective or higher, and could be on the market as early as December for those at high risk. But what if people refuse to get it? A recent CNN poll found that one-third of Americans said they would not try to get vaccinated against the Coronavirus, even if the vaccine is widely available and low cost.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You don't need the vaccination.

COHEN: Some anti-vaccine advocates have been working hard, creating fear of a future Coronavirus vaccine.

[04:45:00]

And anti-vaccine lies are appearing online that the vaccine will leave an invisible digital trackable tattoo. That Dr. Anthony Fauci, a leader in the vaccine effort is actually Satan. That the vaccine is part of a CIA-Illuminati conspiracy to control the world, and it will turn you into this.

So now, former first daughter, Chelsea Clinton, is sounding the alarm.

COHEN (on camera): You know, polling has shown that many Americans say they won't get the COVID vaccine when it comes out. Does that worry you?

CHELSEA CLINTON, VACCINE ADVOCATE: Oh my gosh, it terrifies me.

COHEN (voice-over): Through the Clinton Foundation and through international speeches, Clinton has become a leading vaccine advocate.

(on camera): Have anti-vaxxers called you hateful names?

CLINTON: I've been, you know, called a murderer and a fear monger. I get quite a bit of hate.

COHEN (voice-over): Clinton knows personally how strongly anti-vaxxers feel. When she was pregnant with her first child, a woman approached her in a coffee shop.

CLINTON: She looked like it was like deep into my eyes and she just said like, please tell me you won't vaccinate your child. But please don't do that. And I was so taken aback, and I said, no, well of course I'm going to vaccinate my child. She said something along the lines of, their death or damage will be on your head.

COHEN: She says the government needs to act fast to combat this anti- vaccine sentiment.

(on camera): I mean, what do you think of the job that the CDC is doing in the area?

CLINTON: Well they're not doing a job. I mean, they're not doing a job. Nothing really is happening in our country on this front at a coordinated level, from our government. You know, from the CDC, who is one of the natural and the historic leader in these areas.

COHEN (voice-over): The CDC did not respond to requests from CNN for comment. Its parent agency, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says their public health information campaign will soon focus on vaccine safety, efficacy and hesitancy.

Clinton says this should have been done months ago, and the message needs to be loud and clear.

CLINTON: It isn't like, you know, I like iced coffee and my husband likes iced tea like this is not a debate about opinions. This is literally a debate about life and death.

COHEN: Elizabeth Cohen, CNN reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Well, two brothers in Arizona have made it their mission to remind COVID patients they are not alone. Coming up, I'll ask them why they are sharing messages of hope and how others are joining in.

[04:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Here's a great story for you. Two brothers from the U.S. state of Arizona are spreading a message of hope by making homemade cards with inspirational messages for coronavirus patients. Hurshneet and Pravneet Chadha started "Project Smile" by taking about 200 of the greeting cards to a local hospital. They got help from their parents who are both doctors and now other kids are joining in donating their cards to put smiles on the faces of COVID patients. The brothers say the positive feedback encourages them to create even more cards.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Joining me now are Hurshneet and Pravneet Chadha, the brothers behind Project Smile. Good to have you both with us.

HURSHNEET CHADHA, STARTED PROJECT SMILE: Thank you so much.

PRAVNEET CHADHA, STARTED PROJECT SMILE: Thank you so much.

CHURCH: And well done too. Now I want to find out from you what inspired you both do you start writing these cards to coronavirus patients to lift their spirits?

H. CHADHA: So basically what inspired us to start making this whole project thing was we once had a dinner table talk and we saw our parents consistently getting coronavirus patients around April and we were thinking of how we could like do our part in helping this global pandemic and helping to change the lives of patients. So we were thinking maybe making cards and just like putting happy inspirational thoughts inside would help patients recover faster and help them feel kind at home where their family members can't visit them in the hospital. We wanted to address the mental health issues as well.

CHURCH: That's a wonderful story, and of course worth mentioning both your parents are doctors. So, talk to us about the types of messages you are putting in these cards. We saw some images there but talk to us, you know, what makes you want to write a particular thing in a particular card. How do you work out what you are going to say?

P. CHADHA: We mostly think of what would make us happy in a situation as well. So we put ourselves in the patient's feet. So we write things that are inspiring, some very positive quotes, inspirational quotes, happy messages and many other things inside the cards to make the cards.

CHURCH: That's great. And how many cards have you already sent out, and how long do you think you are going to keep doing this?

P. CHADHA: We've sent out 1,350 cards. And we are thinking about doing this for as long as coronavirus is here.

CHURCH: That is amazing, and you mentioned that this was a school project. How does this feedback into school activities?

H. CHADHA: Well basically, our school and its staff, students, many of them have joined together to help our project. They've donating cards to us through our peel box that we've set up, and we have basically -- they have helped so much with the project. They have literally helped us. They've contributed hundreds of cards to us and help us give the -- make the difference in patients' lives, and it's made us feel really happy.

CHURCH: That's great. And you've also put together what you are calling kits for kids. What's that for, and what is in that kit?

[04:55:00]

H. CHADHA: So, basically, we have -- look, we these Project Smile kits -- here's one. We have these kits right here, and inside this kits, there's basically a letter from us that tells them ways to make cards and what to put in them. And why are we giving them these kits. We have basically some supplies that you can use to make these kits. Like, here's some stickers, crayons, we've got markers --

CHURCH: So this is basically to rally the troops and get some other kids on board to do exactly what you've been doing?

H. CHADHA: Yes, for sure. We are sending them to crisis center. So basically, these kids that don't have very much entertainment, and they just want to have some fun, we give this to them as something to do, just to enjoy like their time, make them feel happy, and it's a win-win.

CHURCH: It is a win-win. And thank you Hurshneet and Pravneet Chadha for everything you are doing here. I know that all of these patients have been appreciating these cards and we thank you for all that you've been doing.

H. CHADHA: And I thank you for giving us this opportunity to be on this amazing interview.

CHURCH: Wonderful. Thank you so much, boys, and good luck.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Aren't they just marvelous.

And finally, a story about resilience and family. A grandmother and her extended brood aren't letting the pandemic rain on her parade. Julia Lee Kelley celebrated her 100th birthday by watching family members and friends stage a drive by procession. She has 88 great grandkids as part of her six-generation family. The family had planned to rent out a building for a formal party. But of course the coronavirus forced them to get creative for their grandmother who's still very independent. She still cooks for herself, works in her garden and goes to church every Sunday. So here's to grandmothers all around the world who have spent the last few months alone. We're all thinking of you.

Thanks so much for your company. I'm Rosemary Church. "EARLY START" is up next. Have a great day.

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END