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U.K. Records Highest Daily Rise In COVID-19 Cases. Logistical Issue Delays Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine in E.U. South Africa Imposes New Restriction As Cases Surge. Saudi Activist Sentenced To Nearly Six Years In Prison; Argentina's Senate To Debate Bill Legalizing Abortion; Nearly 40 Million Could Be Impacted By Winter Weather; New York City Prepares For New Year's Celebration; House Okayed for a Much Bigger Relief Bill; Joe Biden Slammed the Trump Administration; Russia Calling Alexei Navalny to Return Home; More Questions Still Unanswered in Nashville Bombing; U.S. Coronavirus Infections Remains High. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired December 29, 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]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): The U.S. House sets up a Capitol Hill showdown after voting to override a Trump veto and backing higher stimulus checks.

Incoming U.S. President Joe Biden slams the Trump administration, saying his team is not getting what it needs on national security.

And the U.K. hits a record high for COVID cases as it awaits the approval of another vaccine.

Hello, and a very warm welcome to our viewers in the United States and right around the world. I'm Isa Soares, and this is CNN Newsroom.

Hello, everyone. Happy Tuesday now.

The new round of stimulus checks is set to go out this week for millions of Americans. This after U.S. President Donald Trump took a break from playing golf at his club over the weekend, as you can see there, to sign the bipartisan relief bill from Congress. Mr. Trump was back on the golf course by Monday.

While he was practicing his swing, the Democrat-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed a measure to increase stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000. The House also voted to override the president's veto of a sweeping defense spending bill.

Now both the stimulus as well as the defense bills now head to the Republican-led Senate, and that's putting the party in a tough spot with the president.

CNN's Phil Mattingly explains now from Capitol Hill. PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, it was just two

votes on the House floor, but it was also two specific demonstrations of where Donald Trump sits right now in the Republican Party. Now you don't obviously want to read too much into a vote to override his veto of a major defense policy bill or a vote to sustain his request to increase direct payments in the COVID relief package from $600 to $2,000.

But it was hard not to pay attention to where Republicans in the House came down on those votes. On the stimulus checks, 130 Republicans voted against what the president wanted. On the National Defense Authorization Act, a bill that has been signed into law 59 consecutive years, passed by bipartisan Congress for 60 consecutive years, well, the vast majority of Republicans sticking with their original vote in favor of the bill, in other words, against President Trump.

So, what does it all mean? Well, it's not an easy question to necessarily understand, except for when it came to the defense policy bill, take a listen to what the top Republican on the House armed services committee said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MAC THORNBERRY (R-TX): I would only ask that as members vote, they put the best interests of the country first. There is no other consideration that should matter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY (on camera): There is no question that President Trump still demands loyalty, and the House Republicans in particular are willing to give it to him in spades. Just watch what's played out in the wake of the election.

However, with some issues, whether it's defense policy, and in this case economic policy as well, they do appear more willing to split from the president than they have been in the past. Now how is that going play out in the weeks ahead? Well, we're going get a test. Both of those measures are going to head over to the United States Senate. The Senate is expected to vote to override the president's veto as well, Republicans on board with Democrats on that one.

What happens with the $2,000 stimulus checks? Well, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hasn't weighed in yet, hasn't said specifically what he is going to do. That will be the next interesting test where Republicans sit given where their president is on a daily basis.

Phil Mattingly, CNN, Capitol Hill.

SOARES (on camera): Thanks, Phil Mattingly for that report.

Well the head of a Senate vote Bernie Sanders announced he hopes to force Republicans to vote on the stimulus check. Sanders says he will delay a vote on the defense spending bill, as you can see there. Something the Republicans very much want until Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell brings a vote on the $2,000 checks. Now one of the top Democrats in the House slammed Republicans over

their resistance to increase the stimulus checks. Adam Schiff tells CNN he believes McConnell does not want to call the measure up for a vote in the Senate. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): I expect sadly that he will fight it, try to avoid his members having to cast a vote on the substance of it. But, look, you've seen the food lines all over the country. People lined up for miles long, trying to get food for their family for the holidays, trying to keep a roof over their head, trying to keep their small businesses afloat. There is no question about the need out there.

And yet the same Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans that thought well, we have plenty of money for a $2.2 trillion tax cut for wealthy families or large corporations now seem to say we can't afford to help these families in need during the worst pandemic in a century.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[03:05:05]

SOARES (on camera): Well, joining me now with her perspective is Julie Norman, lecturer in politics at University College London. Julie, it was great to get you on the show.

If I may, let's start with the multibillion highly bipartisan defense bill. The House of Representatives, as you heard there, have made their choices heard, but now it goes to the Senate. And here I suspect that many Republicans may be forced to choose between their loyalty to the president and the legislation that sets the defense policy for the country. How do you see it playing out?

JULIE NORMAN, LECTURER IN POLITICS, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON: Well, Isa, this is a bill that has passed annually for the past 60 years. It's a very important bill for raising the salaries for service members, for funding overseas operations. It really is a very key bill for the military.

So, it's one that does put Republicans in a difficult position in terms of being forced to override Trump's veto. But at the same time, this is such a crucial issue not only for the Republican Party, but really for the country and for the military more broadly. And most Republicans will not want to be seen as voting against that measure.

SOARES: I think you're right. Because I remember hearing House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy basically indicating that many Republicans will not vote against -- actually vote against the president, although they supported the bill the first time around. But with, you know, three weeks left or so of the president's time in office. What pressure is he pushing on his own party?

NORMAN: Well, we obviously see the president sowing a lot of chaos right now, putting a lot of different kinds of pressure on his own party within Congress. Partly in a way just to keep himself relevant so that he is still pulling some of the strings, still very much in the headlines.

But again, the fact that Trump is only in office for three more weeks, it's true that he will continue to have a very large sway over the party. But he will not be president after three weeks. And even House Republicans are starting to acknowledge that. And again, a bill like the military bill in particular is one that there is kind of a cross benefit analysis.

Yes, there might be some pushback from Trump for supporting it. But probably even stronger pushback in terms of rejecting a bill like that. And there is also strength in numbers on this bill as well. There is critical mass of Republicans who have shown support. It would be hard for Trump to undercut individuals, even if he can kind of point fingers at Congress more broadly.

SOARES: And to remind our viewers right around the world, why is the president so opposed to this bill?

NORMAN: Well, there is different reasons that Trump has given over the past few weeks in terms of his rejection of the bill. First it was regards to the fact that the bill includes a provision for renaming some of the U.S. military bases that were named after confederate generals and leaders with new names. And Trump opposed that provision. And that's one that will appeal to some of his base, his opposition to that.

He also opposed some of the other measures that were really more directed to him in terms of restrictions on a fast troop withdrawal from places ranging from Germany to Afghanistan, as well as some restrictions on the amount of funding that could be diverted to his border wall.

And finally, Trump was hoping to insert a repeal of section 230, the legislation that gives protection to social media companies, completely irrelevant to the military bill but one that Trump was hoping Congress would shoehorn in there for him before the end of his term.

SOARES: Let's talk about the other bill, the stimulus relief bill. Financial help desperately on the way for millions of Americans as they battle, but there is still a battle I believe between the president and congressional leaders. And that doesn't seem to be dying down as we heard from our Phil Mattingly. Still much at odds over the amount of the stimulus. Why is that, Julie?

NORMAN: Well we obviously heard from Trump over the Christmas holiday that he wanted to push the bill back to Congress to increase the stimulus check amount from $600 for each recipient to $2,000 to each recipient. This was passed last night by the House on a floor vote that included 44 Republicans voting for this increase. And it will now go to the Senate where it will be up to Mitch McConnell to decide how to move this forward.

Again, putting Republicans in a very difficult position. This would increase the spending on the bill by about $460 million. So, this was a bill that Republicans were try for months to keep under a $1 trillion threshold, would really increase the spending. It's not a direction that McConnell and the Republicans want to go. But they don't want to be seen as not only crossing the president, but also rejecting this what many see as a much-needed income, and aid for Americans at this time.

[03:09:56]

SOARES: And could this fight, Julie, do you think, over the stimulus payments carry any sort of political consequences, if you will, ahead of the two Senate runoff elections in Georgia next month? What are your thoughts on that?

NORMAN: Well, it certainly might, Isa, and this is one reason that McConnell and some other Republicans are hesitant to bring this up for a vote.

Again, we've already seen Democratic candidates, you know, really saying they will definitely pass this. And really setting up a tough position for Republican candidates in Georgia with either, again, crossing the president or kind of denying what many people see as much needed relief. So, it's a position people don't want to have to be put on the spot for in any case, but definitely if you're going into a runoff election.

SOARES: Julie Norman, thank you very much for joining us. It's always great to have you on the show.

NORMAN: Thanks, Isa.

SOARES (on camera): Now U.S. President-elect Joe Biden says his transition team is not getting key information from the outgoing Trump administration. Biden is preparing to tackle a number of pressing national issues when he is sworn in next month. On Monday, he called out the Trump administration for holding up meetings. Take a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We've encountered roadblocks from the political leadership at the Department of Defense and the Office of Management of Budget. Right now, we just aren't getting all the information that we need for the ongoing -- outgoing -- from the outgoing administration in key national security areas. It's nothing short in my view of irresponsibility.

My team needs a clear picture of our forced posture around the world and our opposition to deter our enemies. We need full visibility of the budget planning under way at the Defense Department and other agencies in order to avoid any window of confusion or catch-up that our adversaries may try to exploit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES (on camera): Well, meanwhile, the Pentagon is defending its work with Biden's transition team. Still a source familiar with the matter tells CNN there are critical meetings that have not yet happened. Meanwhile, Biden also reiterated his pledge to break from Mr. Trump's foreign policy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: We're stronger and more effective when we're flanked by nations that share our vision and the future of the world. That's how we multiply the impact of our efforts to make those efforts more sustainable. That's the power of smart, effective American leadership.

Right now, there is an enormous vacuum. We're going have to regain the trust and confidence of a world that has begun to find ways to work around us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES (on camera): Joe Biden will be sworn in as president of the United States in just 22 days.

I want to take you to Russia now, where prison authorities are threatening to jail opposition leader Alexei Navalny unless he returns from Germany. If you remember, he fled Russia after he was poisoned in August.

CNN's Fred Pleitgen has more now from Moscow.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Russian authorities have told opposition politician Alexei Navalny that he needs to return to Russia by the morning of Tuesday or face being put in jail. Now all this stems from a case from 2014 in which Alexei Navalny says is politically motivated but in which he received a suspended jail sentence.

Essentially, what the Russian authorities are now saying is that if he doesn't show up to that hearing on Tuesday morning, that he will have violated his probation and could then be arrested any time if and when he returns to Russia.

Now interesting aspect in this is that after Alexei Navalny was poisoned using the chemical nerve agent Novichok and was then on the mend after getting treated in Germany, the renowned medical publication the Lancet published details of how the poisoning was found out and of the recovery process as well.

And that article is now being used by the Russian authorities in part of what they say, they say, quote, "based on the Lancet publication, A.A. Navalny was discharged from the Charite clinic in Berlin where he was treated on September 20th and by October 12th all of the symptoms of his illness have passed."

So, essentially, they're saying that he is well enough to come back to Russia and face this hearing. Now the hearing is on Tuesday morning, and it's physically impossible for Alexei Navalny to get to Russia in that time frame. There are no direct flights in that time frame, and he would need a coronavirus test to even board a plane.

Alexei Navalny himself is obviously saying he believes all of this is politically motivated. He thinks Russian authorities are embarrassed after a CNN and Bellingcat investigation found out large parts of that alleged plot to kill Alexei Navalny, and of course, he was also able to contact one of the agents who was allegedly part of that plot and dupe that agent into admitting large parts of it.

Alexei Navalny on his Instagram account said, quote, "like I said, somewhere there is Vladimir Putin in his bunker stomping and yelling why didn't he die? And if he didn't die, then he is twice guilty, and now we will jail him."

[03:15:02]

The Russian authorities of course have continued to say that they were not behind the poisoning of Alexei Navalny. Navalny, for his part, have continuously said that he wants to return to Russia.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Moscow.

SOARES (on camera): Now a long-time of the Nashville bomber says their last conversation raised a red flag.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK LAUDE, NEIGHBOR OF NASHVILLE BOMBER: I asked him is Santa going to bring you anything good for Christmas? And he smiled and he said --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES (voice over): The bomber's chilling response, when we return.

Plus, COVID-19 continues to devastate the United States. Now vaccines may take much longer to get to the masses after a rocky roll-out. We'll bring you both of those stories after a very short break. You are watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOARES: New body cam footage from police in Nashville, Tennessee gives us a glimpse into what the Christmas Day bombing sounded like just blocks away.

Now, the explosion injured at least eight people and damaged more than 40 buildings. Police have identified the bomber, but are still searching for a motive.

CNN's Martin Savidge has the latest for you.

[03:20:03]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's a blast that shook an entire city and captured the attention of an entire country. The accounts of the first officers on the scene before that blast only add to the mystery of the man police believe was inside that RV, playing a recording.

UNKNOWN: If you can hear this message, evacuate now.

TYLER LUELLEN, OFFICER, METRO NASHVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT: There is a large bomb within this vehicle, your primary objective is to evacuate.

SAVIDGE: There was also the music, the 1964 hit single "Downtown." Officer James Wells heard the music and a voice inside of him told him to turn around.

JAMES WELLS, OFFICER, METRO NASHVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT: And the music stop. And as I'm walking back towards -- I just see orange, and then I hear a loud boom.

SAVIDGE: Six Metro Nashville police officers are considered heroes for going door to door and warning residents to get out before the blast. And some are wondering if there is significance about where the explosion occurred, in front of an AT&T telephone facility. The blast knocking out or curtailing phone and internet coverage to much of the region. Did the alleged bomber have a paranoia of the new 5G service, something widely talked about online?

UNKNOWN: We're not at a position where we can speculate on that now.

SAVIDGE: This new CNN video shows federal agents combing through the rubble three days after the blast. Authorities identified 63-year-old Anthony Quinn Warner as the alleged perpetrator of the Christmas Day bombing and are still seeking information about his motivations.

DOUG KORNESKI, FBI SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, MEMPHIS FIELD OFFICE: We're still following leads, but right now there is no indication that any other persons were involved.

SAVIDGE: The realty company where he did freelance I.T. work said earlier this month the alleged bomber told them he was retiring. In the community where he lived, residents say the first sign something was wrong was when law enforcement trucks showed up at his home Friday night.

Neighbors say they knew about the RV, seen here on Google street view at his house that appears to match the one captured by security cameras in downtown Nashville at 1.22 a.m., Christmas Day, hours before it explodes.

MARCO, NEIGHBOR OF ANTHONY WARNER: He started moving it a month ago, but before that it never moved at all.

SAVIDGE: Authorities say the alleged bomber was not previously known to them.

UNKNOWN: He was not on our radar.

SAVIDGE: Somehow, he was able to gather the components and material to make his powerful bomb, without ever triggering warning signs to law enforcement.

ANDREW MCCABE, FORMER DEPUTY DIRECTOR, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION: Unfortunately, it's not that hard in this country to assemble the chemicals and the equipment that you need to construct an improvised explosive device.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE (on camera): It took an army of investigators about 48 hours to determine that Anthony Warner was the person behind the bombing, but it is very clear it's going to take authorities much longer to determine why.

Martin Savidge, CNN, Nashville, Tennessee.

SOARES: Well, investigators are speaking to people who knew Warner to learn more about him. One neighbor described him as a loner, and shared a brief exchange the two had, just days in fact before the bombing. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAUDE: I asked him is Santa going to bring you anything good for Christmas? And he smiled, and he said, yes, I'm going to be famous. Nashville and the world will never forget me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES (on camera): Well, the neighbor went on to say they were not friends and that no one in the neighborhood would claim to be a friend of his.

Now the number of COVID-19 patients in U.S. hospitals hit another record high on Monday. Last week more Americans were admitted to hospitals than in any week of the pandemic so far.

Have a look at this. For the 27 straight days, the U.S. has had more than 100,000 people in the hospital for coronavirus. Absolutely staggering.

California's governor says a stay-at-home order for parts of the state is likely to stay in place because of low ICU capacity as well as rising cases.

CNN's Nick Watt looks at the state of COVID-19 in the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Sunday was the busiest air travel day of this pandemic.

UNKNOWN: We've gone to Utah in the past to ski. So, it was a good idea. Just trying to get out of the house.

WATT: The search for normalcy will be fatal for some.

JEROME ADAMS, U.S. SURGEON GENERAL: We're very concerned, and we always see a little bit of a bump after holidays, and sometimes a large bump.

WATT: December is already the deadliest month of the pandemic. More than 65,000 lives lost. And --

ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: As we get into the next few weeks, it might actually get worse.

WATT: More than one in a thousand Americans are already dead, killed by COVID-19. Up in Canada, by the way, that number is around one in 2,500. Six states now with record numbers of COVID patients in the hospital.

UNKNOWN: We have a limited number of ventilators. We have a limited number of ICU beds.

[03:25:00]

WATT: And California is now suffering the highest rate of new cases per capita in the country. Now remember that Seattle era nursing home?

UNKNOWN: Why don't you guys cover his legs up?

WATT: The nation's first hot spot, today residents and staff are getting vaccinated.

UNKNOWN: That feels good.

WATT: Just over two million Americans have now had their first dose.

BRETT GIROIR, U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: The two million number is probably an underestimate.

WATT: But the goal was to vaccinate 20 million people by year's end.

SCOTT GOTTLIEB, FORMER COMMISSIONER, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION: Well, the pace was slower than what was stated. That's probably unrealistic at this point.

WATT: Novavax says it's starting phase three trials of its vaccine in the U.S. and Mexico. Oxford AstraZeneca could receive approval for its vaccine in the U.K. within days. But the current rocky vaccine roll- out proves a painful point. These elixirs will take time.

Nick Watt, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES (on camera): But how much time exactly will it take for the majority of Americans to get a COVID vaccine?

CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen says that at the current rate, get this, it could be much longer than expected.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEANA WEN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Two million in two weeks sounds really impressive, but I did some back calculations here, and at that rate, for a two-dose vaccine, for us to reach 80 percent herd immunity in the U.S. through vaccination, it will take us 10 years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES (on camera): And while a vaccine may have been rolled out soon in U.K. and the United States public health officials are recording the highest number of new infections since the start of the pandemic here.

And in South Africa is imposing more restrictions as cases rise. A look at that country and what it's facing, next.

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[03:30:00]

ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Welcome back to our viewers in United States and right around the world. I'm Isa Soares, and you are watching CNN Newsroom. Now, the U.K. is marking another alarming milestone. On Monday, reported more than 41,000 coronavirus cases. Have a look at that peak on your screen that is the highest daily rise of cases since the pandemic began, and this comes as the U.K. could soon approve the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Meanwhile, logistical issues are delaying the delivery of the Pfizer- BioNTech vaccine to countries in the European Union. It comes since the issues has been resolved and that those 100,000 doses are now being dispatched. Let's get more on all of this.

Our correspondent are covering all the developments across Europe. Salma Abdelaziz is live in London. Cyril Vanier is standing by in Paris. Salma, let me start with you this hour. We're seeing really those numbers that we've seen from out of the U.K. really truly shocking numbers that we haven't seen since March or April. How different is it this time around in terms of how authorities here and how the health care system here is dealing with the pandemic?

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN PRODUCER (on camera): Isa, it really feels like a tale of two cities. On the one hand, you have the U.K. that is excited about what you mentioned the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, this new vaccine that made right here in the U.K. by Oxford University. Vaccines are being rolled out. Jobs are being given. All of the excitement and national pride around that.

But on the other hand, you have a country that is very much dealing with a very serious spike in cases that's absolutely plagued by COVID- 19. As you mentioned, unprecedented rates of infection. The London ambulance servicing the day after Christmas, they received 8,000 emergency calls, almost as much as the height of the pandemic.

We're right now under tier four rules here in London. Essentially a localized lockdown. But to your question about, how are the authorities handling it? Well, a lot of this comes down to people following the rules, Isa. There is only so much enforcement that police can do. There has been very limited tickets that have been issued in this country. So people have to take the rules upon themselves and the responsibility upon themselves. Now, we are expecting that more restriction will come into place

potentially tomorrow when all of these tiers are reviewed. But again, all of this falls on the individual to follow these rules and make sure that this country gets a grip on the virus. Isa?

SOARES: Stay with us. I want to go to Cyril. Cyril, you know, vaccinations that you have been reporting for days now for us have in full throttle in many countries around Europe. But it hasn't been smooth sailing, has it?

CYRIL VANIER, CNN SHOW HOST (on camera): Well, what happened, Isa, is that hundreds of thousands of doses have just been delayed. These are doses of the only vaccine that is currently approved in the European Union and in the U.K. for that matter. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine which is all being manufactured out of Belgium.

And hundreds of thousands of doses delayed. Why? Well, because of what Pfizer says are minor logistical issues. Those are their words. So for instance, Spain got its scheduled resupply of the vaccine, is getting it a day late. Today instead of yesterday. The Spanish health ministry saying it's only a few hours delay, and it's all because of shipping and loading issues back in Belgium.

Pfizer, adamant that this is not to do with manufacturing the vaccine. The problem is not with actually making it. It's about getting it, fanning it out through the 27-member states of the European Union. And for that matter in the U.K. as well. Look, we've been saying it's a major logistical challenge. It so happens that the first vaccine to be approved in the E.U. and in the U.K. is also the hardest one to actually get to people.

And so it is frankly not a surprise that we are seeing this. It underscores how dependent the E.U. is right now on its only authorized vaccine and it's also why the E.U. try to spread out the risk by preordering five vaccines, five other vaccines, I should say, two of which AstraZeneca and Moderna could be approved fairly shortly, both in the E.U. and in the U.K.

SOARES: And for that reason, Salma, you know, the logistical challenges that so many people here in the U.K. are so excited in many ways about this new Oxford vaccine that is expected to be approved. At least we hear rumblings of sometime this week.

ABDELAZIZ: That's right, Isa. Because there's a lot of advantages to this vaccine. It's cheap. Only costs about 3 pounds, $4, same as your morning latte. It also doesn't need that special refrigeration capacity that the BioNTech -- the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine needs. A normal refrigerator will do.

Now there are debates about its efficacy. So that's sort of the gray zone. When trials were carried out, it was found to be 70 percent effective in immunizing against the vaccine.

[03:35:05]

But the researchers behind it say they have a winning formula that could potentially increase the efficacy to bring it on par with Pfizer and BioNTech. Remember, we need two doses. So with this Oxford vaccine, potentially what researcher are talking about is one of the two doses would actually be a half dose. And that could bring the efficacy up to 90 percent.

But yes, there's a lot of excitement about this, because again, that logistical challenge, this is easier to distribute. It's cheap. It could roll out by January 4th. So you're talking about potentially in the first two week, the government looking at vaccinating two million people. So a very exciting roll-out there. But again, balancing it with the reality that this country is dealing with a spike in cases, Isa.

SOARES: Absolutely. And Cyril, you know, I've been speaking to many doctor friends of mine across Europe, but in particular here in the U.K. And they said to me, they are booking people in to get their vaccination, but many people are simply not showing up, Cyril. Are you hearing similar stories? Is there a vaccine hesitancy where you are?

VANIER: Yeah, yeah, there really is, Isa. There is vaccine hesitancy here in France. It's hard to get great numbers, but the best CNN estimate is that at the beginning of the month of December, only one in two French nationals actually intended to get the vaccine. That leaves half the population that either doesn't want to or is still unsure.

Vaccine hesitancy is a major issue. In fact, achieving herd immunity in Europe assumes two things. It assumes smooth logistical roll-out. We just addressed those issues. And it assumes trust by the general public in this vaccine. And that trust is not guaranteed. So each country is dealing with that in different ways.

In the Czech Republic for instance, on day one of the vaccination, first person to get the vaccine was the Prime Minister. Clearly sending the message well, if I can get it, it's safe for everybody. You know, your authorities are not trying to sell you something that they don't believe in.

Here in France they're doing it the other way around, because the government isn't very popular, they don't want the messenger, politicians to spoil the message. So actually the health minister is to stay as far away as he could from the vaccinations on day one. They want as much of the vaccination roll-out as possible to be handled by local doctors, regular -- local practitioners because they are embedded in the communities and people trust them.

SOARES: Salma Abdelaziz and Cyril Vanier, wonderful to see you both, my friends. Miss you. Hope you're well. Thank you very much.

Joining me now from Oxford, England is Sian Griffiths, emeritus professor of Chinese, University of Hong Kong. She's also chaired Hong Kong's inquiring 2003 SARS epidemic. Professor, thanks very much for being with us.

Let's start, if I may with a sharp increase that we were just reporting there with Salma Abdelaziz, our correspondent in London. In the new cases we're seeing here, a record 41,000 plus testing positive. Do we know the percentage of these infections, what percentage are from the new variant, I should add?

SIAN GRIFFITHS, EMERITUS PROFESSOR, CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG (on camera): The figure that has been quoted for southeast England and London is around 70 percent because that's where we've seen the southern increase of the new variant. As you remember, you identify it through genomic sequencing. And genomic sequencing was put into play at the beginning of December, because we were still seeing large increases in cases in the southeast, despite having had a lockdown, and people were saying, was it just behavioral or was it something else?

And the something else was this new variant. So, now the new variant does appear to have taken a grip in the southeast. And so what we're seeing is large increases in cases within London Barrows, sometimes over a thousand, 400,000. That's really high. In my own patch in the countryside, it's still 100 percent increase in cases during the last week. So, we're seeing a rapid rise in cases which then knocks on to hospital admissions and pressure on our NHS.

SOARES: And that's exactly going to be my next question. You know, we're starting to see hospitals under extreme pressure, care beds being limited. Health care workers once again in the eye of the storm, many of them actually infected themselves. Give me a sense of what you're hearing from the medical community, and how different it is to the height of the pandemic back in April.

GRIFFITHS: I think the difference from the height of the pandemic back in April is that as you were reporting, there is a sense of hope because the vaccine is around. So, although hospitals themselves are under huge pressure, some of them are having to cancel elective surgery to reorganize the way they work because it's not just the COVID cases. It's also the other respiratory infections which always rise during winter or winter pressure.

So, it's not just COVID. Our hospitals are under huge pressure. The beds are under huge pressure. The ambulance servicing under a huge pressure. But I think it feels different, because we can see that A, we've learned a lot from the treatment so the scientists have been refining treatment. We now can used dexamethasone for example. Methods in ICU are refined.

[03:40:13]

So, that put pressure on everybody on the hospitals, but at the same time we can see the vaccine, but are particularly and hopeful about the AstraZeneca vaccine, as you were saying. Once that comes on stream, easier to give in the community, it's easier to get the numbers up.

SOARES: On the Oxford vaccine, professor, we expect it to be approved within days. How much of a game changer do you think this is. I mean, our correspondent was talking about pressures over efficacy. What are your thoughts on this? GRIFFITHS: It will be a huge game changer because the current

conditions in which the BioNTech vaccine has to be given, it require the very cold temperatures. Those aren't required by the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, which means that you can get it out to care homes, to the vulnerable groups, to the surgeries, to the G.P.s while the G.P.s are getting themselves organized into groups and then calling in just as they do for the flu job.

So, it will become much more normalized and much easier to get the vaccination and then the rates will go up. So, I think that's why it's a game changer. The numbers who could be vaccinated. The immunity in the population will increase. And that must all be to the good.

SOARES: Professor, very quick final question. Parents will be wondering whether their children will be returning to school next week, also Tuesday next week. With this new variant, or how do you think the government ought to act, given there is so much we simply do not know?

GRIFFITHS: You're right. We simply do not know. And I think this requires continued discussion between stage between the scientific body and government. This particular variant appears to infect children whereas previous variant didn't seem to infect them as much. So that means that they can or become the transmission becomes more risky, but you don't know whether that's because it's in schools or whether itis in the way, you know, kids mix together.

So I think we're hoping to keep kids in school because of the benefits of being in school, particularly for younger children. But this is something that needs to be watched very carefully. Obviously trying to protect the teachers, testing the teachers, that's starting to be rolled out, and we are going to be having testing in schools. But that does need to be worked out and logistics ought to need to be work out. So, a lot to do about getting kids back to school safely next week.

SOARES: Professor Sian Griffiths, thank you very much. Always great to hear your insights.

GRIFFITHS: Thank you.

SOARES: Now South Africa is now imposing tighter COVID restrictions to take effect immediately. In a televised address, President Cyril Ramaphosa said more than 50,000 new cases have been reported since Christmas Eve, and that the new variant found in the country appears to be more contagious than the first. He says many public as well as private hospitals are almost full. Under the new restrictions, there will be no alcohol sales, indoor and outdoor gatherings are banned for 14 days and a nationwide curfew will be extended.

It is a polarizing issue in a changing region. Argentina is one step away from legalizing abortion. We'll bring you that story next right here on CNN Newsroom.

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[03:45:00] SOARES (on camera): One of Saudi Arabia's most prominent women rights

activist has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison. Loujain al- Hathloul was obtained in 2018 during a government crackdown that targeted opponents of the kingdom's former law barring women from driving. Because of time, Hathloul had already served, her family says the sentence paves the way for her release in two months. Her relatives say she's told them she was sexually assaulted and tortured in detention. The Saudi government denies those allegations.

Now Argentina is one step closer to legalizing abortion before the 14th week of pregnancy. The country's Senate will debate the bill in the day ahead.

CNN's Matt Rivers has our report.

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MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Women's rights supporters in Argentina proudly wave their green scarves, hug each other and cheer in jubilation as the conservative country is one step away from legalizing abortion.

The lower House of Congress passed a landmark bill two weeks ago, and now many are waiting as the Senate debates the issue. If the law passes, Argentina would become one of the few countries in Latin America to legalize abortion. The chamber of deputies of Argentina approved the legislation with 132 members in favor and 117 against. Now the bill faces an even tougher vote in the Senate.

Abortion in Argentina is only legal in cases of rape or if the woman's life is in danger. But activists argue that even in those situations, women don't receive proper care. According to amnesty international, since 1983, more than 3,000 women have died in Argentina as a result of unsafe abortions. The new law would allow a woman to terminate her pregnancy up to the 14th week in all cases. It's an historic move for the predominantly Roman Catholic country with strong opinions both for and against the procedure.

UNKNOWN: No, no, I'm not in favor of abortion. The 14th week or whatever, it doesn't seem right.

UNKNOWN: I'm in favor of this legislation. I think it's correct that each person can choose what to do with their body.

RIVERS: Not surprisingly, Argentina native, Pope Francis is opposed to the bill, upholding catholic doctrine forbidding abortion. He has been outspoken about the legislation, writing a letter to Argentinian anti-abortion activists, quote, the problem of abortion is not primarily a question of religion but of human ethics, first and foremost of any religious denomination.

Passing the law is also about President Alberto Fernandez fulfilling a campaign to make abortions legal so women don't resort to risky back room procedures.

ALBERTO FERNANDEZ, ARGENTINE PRESIDENT (through translator): The first of them is to legalize voluntary pregnancy interruptions and guarantees that the health system allow their realization under sanitary conditions that ensure their health and their life.

RIVERS: Argentina lawmakers also took up the issue back in 2018 after intense debate and rallies on both sides, that bill passed in the House but was struck down in the Senate. If the current bill becomes law, it could pave the way for a wider shift in similar laws throughout the region as calls for greater reproductive rights for women ring louder. As we wait to see what the Senate decides, it is an emotional time for many women, and it is a defining moment in history of Argentina.

Matt Rivers, CNN.

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SOARES (on camera): Well, ahead right here on CNN, a large storm system is set to impact much of central U.S. over the next couple of days. Meteorologist Karen Maginnis joins us next with what's in store.

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[03:50:00]

SOARES: Right now in the United States, nearly 40 million people are under some form of winter weather alert across 17 states. Meteorologist Karen Maginnis joins us now. Karen, good to see you. How bad are we expecting this to be, this storm?

KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN METEOROLOGIST (on camera): This has the potential to be so broaden area across the United States, all the way from the four corners of the U.S. into the central plains, the northern tier and into the Great Lakes region. It encompasses a broad set of real estate across the United States, and ice is going to be the big problem with downed trees and power lines, very dangerous road conditions. But it also affects some of those higher elevations, even across portions of Wyoming, into Kansas, and into Michigan as well.

It looks like the heaviest amounts will be between Interstate 80 and Interstate 88 and Interstate 35. Essentially, that encompasses portions of Iowa into Illinois and across Missouri, Kansas, and into Nebraska. But not everybody is going to start out with snowfall. Some areas could start out with rain changing over to sleet or freezing rain and then snow. And it's going to be blowing snow.

All right. Take a look at this. This is out of Mt. Baldy, California in the San Gabriels. They really didn't see a lot of snowfall, but the snow caused pileups like this. About 100 cars trying to get out of this messy situation here.

[03:55:09]

What those gentlemen were doing, that was pretty dangerous there. But it just lets you know what we can expect as far as road conditions are concerned all the way from the front range of the Rockies towards Omaha, Des Moines, Minneapolis, Chicago. Chicago is going to be difficult to forecast for because you're right

on the edge of what we think will be temperatures above freezing and then you may be below freezing once that frontal system moves through. Very heavy rainfall across the southeast, Isa. So we've got a variety of weather. But the winter weather is probably going to be the most dangerous situation as people head in towards what will be the end of 2020 and the start of 2021 with this very dangerous winter storm system. Back to you.

SOARES: Yes, and this of course no doubt an extra challenge, Karen, as you -- as the government begins vaccine roll-out as coronavirus continues to hit the country. Karen Maginnis there. Thank you very much.

Now crews in New York City are busy rigging lights and making soundstages, as you can see there, to prepare to ring in the New Year. There will be live performances in Times Square by artists like Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull, but the event is closed to the public because of coronavirus. The traditional crystal ball drop will also go on. This year's design by Waterford is called the gift of happiness, something we all could use after 2020, to be honest. And CNN's coverage of the festivities hosted by Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen starts at 8:00 p.m. Eastern in New York on New Year's Eve.

And that does it for me for this hour of CNN Newsroom. I'm Isa Soares. I'll be back in a few minutes, so don't go anywhere.

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