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The New COVID Strain Has Officially Made Its Way Into The United States; AstraZeneca's Version Of The Vaccine Is About 70 Percent Effective; President Trump Is Keeping The Pressure On Senate Republicans This Morning Pushing For $2,000 Checks In Hand; Joe Biden To Be Sworn In As President On January 20. Aired 11-11:30a ET

Aired December 30, 2020 - 11:00   ET

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

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BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone, I'm Bianna Golodryga. Thanks, so much for joining me at this hour. The new COVID strain has officially made its way into the United States. And while there is no evidence this variant is more deadly; experts say it's even more contagious than other strains of the coronavirus. Right now there is at least one confirmed case and one suspected case in Colorado. Boosting fears about a new threat to the nation's already overwhelmed healthcare system.

In the final days of this tumultuous year the country continues to set sobering pandemic records. Yesterday, alone, more than 124,600 Americans were hospitalized with COVID according to the COVID tracking project. That is the highest number yet. The country also reporting 3,700 deaths; that too a record for the most fatalities in a single day and among those killed newly elected republican Congressman Luke Letlow. Letlow was just 41-years old and days from being sworn in to represent Louisiana's 5th Congressional District.

I want to get right to "CNN's" Senior Medical Correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen for details on the first known case of the new COVID variant here in the United States. Elizabeth, what more can you tell us about this strain?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: So, Bianna, let's talk a little bit about this Colorado man. We are told that he is in his 20's, that he had no travel history. That's really important. He didn't go to the U.K. and get this. He got this from someone else here in the United States and that there is an additional suspected case awaiting confirmation.

Even having said this it's important but I want to put a note here; there's probably hundreds of these cases out there, at least. That's what experts are telling me. It's just that we haven't caught it. Now why hasn't the United States caught other cases like this one of this new variant? Well because the surveillance system in this county is not very good. That's what experts say. It is just not very good. That's a problem because there could be other mutations out there maybe even worse than this one and we are just not catching them.

The CDC says that they have a new system that they are gearing up and they hope to have that up and running at full speed soon. Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, the U.K.'s surveillance system is among the best in the world and perhaps this new variant could help explain why we continue to see this rapid increase in cases in the United States. But in terms of vaccines; we know the U.K. authorized another one, this one from Oxford University and AstraZeneca. How does this vaccine candidate compare to those of Moderna and Pfizer? And is there a timeline for its authorization here in the U.S.?

COHEN: So what we know about this AstraZeneca vaccine is that at this point the data shows that it is 70 percent effective whereas the two that are already out there in the United States; Moderna and Pfizer, those are about 95 percent effective. That is a big difference; 70 versus 95 percent. As far as when we might see this one here in the United States; not anytime very, very soon. They haven't gone to the FDA yet. The FDA had not sought and you know advice from its advisors. So it's not on the immediate - it's not on the horizon.

There will be questions that need to be answered. Dr. Paul Offit, who was with you, Bianna, in the last hour; he's on the FDA Advisory Committee for vaccines. And he said there's a lot of questions here. Their data raises a lot of questions. Plus they had two studies subject who became ill after getting the vaccine. They seem to both have had neurological illnesses. There are definitely questions that need to be answered.

GOLODRYGA: And there seem to be different impacts given that varying levels of how much of the vaccine is administered to patients as well. So, as you've said a lot of questions still to be asked here. So we don't expect to see that approved here in the U.S. anytime soon.

Elizabeth, thank you, so much. We really appreciate it.

So why is the U.S. vaccination rate lagging behind that of other countries? Well "CNN's" Kristen Holmes is in Washington tracking the vaccine rollout for us. So, Kristen, what is the hold up? We had expected or they had promised what 20 million by the end of the year. That's tomorrow. What's going on here?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Bianna. So first let's take a look at those numbers. Right now, where we stand, the current CDC numbers say that 11 million doses have been shipped out but only 2.1 million doses have actually been put into people's arms. Now senior administration officials say that this number is not accurate. They believe this is because of a lag in reporting. But as we've talked about - even if it is a lag in reporting, even if it is an under estimate; the idea that it would be 18 million shots in arms is very unlikely given every single medical expert that we've talked to.

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So what are some of the reasons that could be holding this up? And I talked to many industry experts who tell me that there's really four categories to look at. One is simply vaccine supply. We know overall 330 million people roughly in America will want to get vaccinated or need to get vaccinated.

We know we're nowhere near that number when it comes to production. We -- the administration has utilized the defense production act but how quickly they can actually produce those vaccines, that's a big question mark still. Now, the other two right there, they kind of go together.

You have an inadequate infrastructure as well as challenges with transporting and storing the virus -- the vaccine, excuse me. This is not something that the United States has done before. This has an ultra cold storage, it has a chain of command and it's very different from any other vaccines that we've seen here in this country.

And the states are doing this on their own and it took time, it's still taking time. People have to learn how exactly to deal with this vaccine, how to handle it. And as we know, we've already heard stories about doses being lost because of human error, because of the mishandling of this vaccine, even though it was an accident.

And lastly here, they talk a lot about communication and how much of this is an overpromise by the administration that we started with the idea that there could be 100 million vaccines by the end of the year, then it went to 40 million, then it was 20 million, that this overpromise made the public really believe that this could be a quick process when in fact it could take more time. Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, and Elizabeth Cohen has done some incredible reporting for us just to give us a comparison as how many vaccines had been administered per 100,000 in other countries and we are far behind countries like Israel, like the U.K., so so many questions still remain about what went wrong. Kristen Holmes, I know you will continue asking those questions. We appreciate it.

Well, President-elect Joe Biden is slamming the administrations vaccination pace, vowing to turn it around when he takes office in three weeks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CALL)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: A few weeks ago, the Trump administration suggested that 20 million Americans could be vaccinated by the end of December. With only a few days left in December, we've only vaccinated a few million so far, and the pace of the vaccination program is moving now as it -- if it continues to move as it is now, it's going to take years, not months, to vaccine the American people.

(END VIDEO CALL)

GOLODRYGA: Years, not months. So joining me now to discuss is Olivia Troye, former Homeland Security Official and COVID Task Force Adviser to Vice President Mike Pence. Olivia, great to have you on. So you were on that task force. What is your assessment of the vaccine rollout thus far, and why are we so far behind?

OLIVIA TROYE, FORMER HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICIAL AND COVID TASK FORCE ADVISOR: Well, first I think it comes down to really just a lack of a national strategy on this vaccine distribution, and this has been the problem for day one on the pandemic response. First it was a lack of national strategy on testing, on how that was going to be conducted, and then you see it happen again with PPE.

And so I'm not surprised that we are seeing this happen with the vaccination distribution. I mean, billions of dollars were spent on Operation Warp Speed, on the development of these vaccines. The scientists and the doctors were focused on developing a safe vaccine so that the integrity of the process remained intact.

But the problem is while that vaccine was being developed, there should have been an enormous effort of planning out supply chains distribution, all of these logistics along the way. And while I appreciate General Perna coming forward a week or so ago saying it was his fault for the kickoff of this, that really actually doesn't excuse this because there should've been a whole team, a whole of government approach to this.

I'm talking about FEMA, I'm talking about HHS. FEMA knows how to do this and what really this comes down to is a group of people who sit behind closed doors in the Oval Office planning and scheming with no interest in actually doing the right thing.

GOLODRYGA: And yet you still have members of this administration. Look, you have the President Trump continue to say hey, it's not on me, it's on states. We got the vaccines here, now it's on states to distribute and administer the vaccines. And Brett Giroir, just this week also, said listen, it's on the states as well.

I can't go into Texas and vaccine everybody. So they clearly are being very defensive about how this has played out. Why do you think they are taking this stance, in particular Brett Giroir, who knows better and knows that it takes more than just providing a vaccine, it's about the distribution of it as well.

TROYE: Look, Admiral Giroir knows better. He was there for the testing debacle, he knows how this goes. It starts off with first no accountability and taking no responsibility.

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And I feel badly for the governors and the states because once again, This shift is going to be to blame them, and that's really been the game the entire time. And that continues today, but you know, the most egregious thing is that when they do this and they placed the blame on the states because the White House doesn't want to take ownership of this, you're really playing with human life and that is fundamentally what I think is going to be so hard for the Biden administration when they come in is they will have a legacy of months of time wasted on this effort that really should have kicked off. I mean, this is the biggest, most critical thing in responding to this pandemic is this vaccine. And we have it, and the fact that we can't get it out the door and get it out to the people that need it is disgraceful.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, I'm hearing anecdotally of people and their elderly parents and grandparents waiting for hours in lines to get these vaccines. It's just inexcusable, but in terms of dealing with it President-Elect Biden says that he plans on invoking the Defense Production Act to help expedite vaccinations. What kind of impact will that move have, and why has this curren6t administration been so reluctant to use it?

TROYE: Well I think it's important to get all of us rowing in the same direction, and I think that the Defense Production Act will be critical in helping that process. You know, personally I've known of any companies and manufacturers who have stood by on the sidelines willing to help the government. I mean, they've done this on PPE. They've asked. They volunteered, they've offered. And repeatedly the White House has turned them down for whatever reason. Either it was we're going to turn to the private sector or we're going to do this in a way that we can manipulate what's happening and we don't want you involved because we don't want to be transparent on what's really going on here, and I mean that wholeheartedly.

So I think, you know, there's been a hesitancy there because, you know, they've done this, and I also think it's incompetence. It's just in competence of utilizing the experts across the U.S. government including at the CDC and HHS and at FEMA at DHS who really know how to do a national response in the middle of a major crisis, and this is quit frankly the biggest crisis we've had as a nation.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. By far, as you said, lives are at stake, too. Olivia Troye, thank you so much. Happy Holidays to you. Happy New Year. And coming up why Democrats are calling moves by Senator Mitch McConnell on the increase for stimulus checks a, quote, "poison pill". I'll talk to Senator Chris Van Hollen coming up next. And later coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are surging to record levels in California. What's not working there and the battle against COVID.

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GOLODRYGA: President Trump keeping the pressure on Senate Republicans this morning as he pushes to get $2,000 checks in the hands of Americans. The question is; how will Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell respond. Just yesterday McConnell blocked an effort by democrats to quickly increase these direct payments. Instead introducing legislation that combines stimulus checks with two unrelated Trump demands that democrats are almost certain to oppose.

"CNN" Congressional Reporter, Lauren Fox, joins us now from Capital Hill. So, Lauren, what is McConnell going to do here?

LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: Well essentially McConnell's making it very clear to the president that he doesn't intend to take up a stand alone bill anytime soon despite the fact that President Trump has threatened republicans on Twitter essentially asking them that unless they have death wish that they should bring up this bill. McConnell has always played the long game when it comes to demands from those within his own party especially when it comes to President Trump.

And while, yes, he did file legislation yesterday that would essential give him an out card if he needed to bring something to the floor. There is no indication, at this time, that they'll even vote on that piece of legislation. Essentially what it would do would tie together several controversial provisions with that $2,000 check bill. Essentially it would make changes and get rid of Section 230 which would protect companies that like Facebook and Twitter for what is posted on their websites by third parties. It also would include a provision to establish a voting fraud commission, something the democrats would never support.

So that puts McConnell essentially having an option if he needs to bring this bill to the floor. But, in the meantime, there's no indication that we're going to see any action on checks any time soon.

Meanwhile, there is an ongoing fight between Republicans and Democrats over the National Defense Authorization Act. I just want to note that democrats are livid at McConnell over this checks issue. We just heard from House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, a few minutes ago. I want you to listen to what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NANCY PELOSI, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE (D): It's amazing to see the patience that some people have with other people suffering. These republicans in the Senate seem to have an endless tolerance for other people's sadness. We urge Mitch McConnell to stop his obstruction and bring that legislation to the floor of the Senate.

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FOX: And we have Democrat Senator Bernie Sanders, actually an independent from the state of Vermont, he is blocking republicans from being able to move quickly on that veto override of the National Defense Authorization Act. Essentially, that could drag out into the weekend. So a bit of a mess up here on Capitol Hill at the moment.

GOLODRYGA: And this term, as we know, ends Congress Sunday as well, so down to the wire. Lauren Fox, thank you so much.

And less discuss all of this with Democratic Senator Chris van Hollen of Maryland. He sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee and is a member of the Budget Committee. Senator, first, do you agree with President Trump, are $2,000 stimulus checks needed ASAP?

SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-MD): Bianna, it's good to be with you and the answer is yes. And the way to make that happen today is for Senator Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans to let us vote up or down on the $2,000 Individual Payments Bill that's already come over to the senate from the House of Representatives. We can get it to President Trump's desk today, he could sign it, and

Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans are holding this up and playing political games and people are hurting. It's actually disgraceful and this is exactly what the country hates about the political maneuvers they see on Capitol Hill.

GOLODRYGA: And clearly Mitch McConnell is not wanting to move forward with this as a stand-alone bill, attaching what would be described as a poison pill. What is your sense of his ultimate strategy here and will he prevail?

VAN HOLLEN: His strategy is to stop these individual payments. He's never been for them. Large numbers of -- members of his Senate Republican caucus have opposed it. And so what he's trying to do is put together a package to give them political cover knowing that it will fail.

Make no mistake, the McConnell proposal is designed to fail, but to fail in a way that gives some republicans cover. I think this exposes all of them, including their incumbent senators in Georgia, who are very close elections, this just shows they have no influence within their own Senate Republican caucus. They say they want these individual payments but they're not doing anything to really push Mitch McConnell to make that happen.

GOLODRYGA: Well, those Georgia Republican Senators, Kelly Loeffler and David Purdue, clearly in a tough spot right now. And now they're expressing support for these $2,000 checks yesterday. They've got these tight runoff races, they were supporting $600 up until yesterday. Is there enough support to sway McConnell, or will he try to delay until January 5th has passed?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, if those senators like Loeffler and Purdue had any juice, if they had any influence within their caucus, then they could push senator McConnell to bring up the House Bill for a vote, an up- or-down vote, on the individual payments.

After all, they're telling their constituents in Georgia that they need to be re-elected to help the people of Georgia. The people of Georgia want these individual $2,000 payments and they could deliver if they get Senator McConnell to have an up-or-down vote on that House bill and that's what needs to happen and that would address this today. It could be done.

GOLODRYGA: Let me ask you about the National Defense Authorization Act. In terms of what Senator Bernie Sanders is doing, saying that he's going to delay a vote on overriding the president's veto until these $2,000 checks are considered on the floor, have you heard of any other democrats that are willing to go in lockstep with him with that tactic?

VAN HOLLEN: Well look, I support Bernie Sanders' effort here. I support the National Defense Authorization Bill, but we want Senator McConnell to schedule a vote on the $2,000 individual payment. So what Bernie Sanders is saying is give us our up-or-down vote on that and then we can vote on the veto overriding the National Defense Authorization Bill.

So I -- my view is that this is a -- an approach worth pursuing. I would like to see us override the president's veto on the NDAA but I also very much want Senator McConnell to schedule an up-or-down vote on the $2,000 individual payments.

GOLODRYGA: So you think it's something worth pursuing. I do want to end by asking you on breaking news that we just got, "The Washington Post" reporting and others as well that Senator Hawley, Josh Hawley, announced that he will contest certification of electoral college vote next week, which would be at least a delay in cementing President- elect Joe Biden's victory.

What is your reaction to that and do you fear, do you worry, that there may be others that will follow suit now?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, this is just grossly irresponsible by Senator Hawley, going and undermining even more public confidence in our democratic process, siding with the false Trump narrative that somehow the election was fraudulently won by Joe Biden.

[11:25:00]

And what he's done now is throw this up for the vote for a vote in the House and the Senate. It will not succeed. Joe Biden will be sworn in on January 20 as the next president, but it will succeed in furthering -- furthering undermining, you know, people's confidence in the process.

I can tell you, Senate Republicans did not want to have this vote in the Senate because either they're going to have to, you know, show their loyalty by Donald Trump by voting against reality, because we know that Joe Biden won these states, or they're going to have to, you know, support the outcome of the Democratic process and get Donald Trump upset.

I -- I hope they will stand up for democracy and the rule of law. And what Josh Hawley is doing right now is undermining that very important process.

GOLODRYGA: And he's undermining Mitch McConnell as well and temporarily, at least, siding with President Trump, doing what he's wanted others to do as well.

Senator Chris Van Hollen --

VAN HOLLEN: Right.

GOLODRYGA: -- always great to have you on. Happy New Year to you.

VAN HOLLEN: And Happy New Year to you Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: Thank you. And coming up a dyer situation in California, as COVID cases surge, now some hospitals are preparing for the worse as doctors and nurses get pushed to their breaking point.

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