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Brexit Deal Signed And Sealed - What Will It Realistically Deliver?; U.K. Rings In New Year With Tougher New Restrictions; COVID Hospitalizations In U.S. Top 100,000 For 29th Day Running; Explosions At Yemen Airport Unclaimed By Rebel Groups; Vaccinations In Japan and China - Finally Start In Latin America. Aired 1-1:30a ET
Aired December 31, 2020 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[01:00:00]
PAULA NEWTON, ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM: And hello everyone, I'm Paula Newton. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM live from CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta.
Ahead this hour. England goes under coronavirus lockdown as the United Kingdom suffers its deadliest day since the spring.
Just under the deadline, British lawmakers agree to a post-Brexit deal with the E.U. avoiding what could have been a near disaster.
And explosions rock an airport in Yemen just as members of the newly formed power-sharing government arrive.
So English health authorities are urging people to ring in the New Year at home reminding them COVID loves a crowd.
The country is suffering through a record spike in infections and more than 44 million people now are under the government's tightest tier four stay-at-home restrictions.
The new COVID variant is being blamed for the explosion in cases. Britain also recorded nearly 1,000 coronavirus deaths on Wednesday. Staggering. It is its highest figure since April.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We've seen a 40 percent increase in cases in England in the last week alone, almost 15 percent more patients in hospital, more than at the peak of the first wave.
So at this critical moment with the prospect of freedom within reach, we've got to redouble our efforts to contain the virus.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: Now before the ramped up rules were announced, the U.K. became the first country to approve the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.
CNN's Phil Black explains why the government is already calling it a game changer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The authorization of this vaccine is considered hugely significant because it is robust and transportable. It doesn't need to be stored at ultra low temperatures, a fridge will do.
That logistical convenience means that it can be moved around easily and rolled out widely.
To make the most of its potential, the government is switching tactics. Instead of focusing on getting two doses of the vaccine to people, it's going to prioritize stock as it becomes available on getting the first dose to as many people as possible, as quickly as possible to build up a level of immunity in a wide section of the population.
The hope is that will reduce severe infections, save lives and ease pressure on distressed hospitals.
The government is confident this is a game-changer. So much so, it says it will help end the pandemic in this country. And it says that could happen as early as spring. But to achieve that, the vaccination program will have to be ramped up significantly.
It is welcome news inspiring some hope in what is otherwise a very dark time in the United Kingdom when cases are soaring and threatening to overwhelm parts of the health system.
Phil Black, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NEWTON: In the U.S. meantime, more than 12 million vaccine doses have been shipped so far. But here's the problem; only about 2.8 million have actually been administered.
Health officials admit the rollout has been slower than expected. They're vowing to pick up the pace.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADM. BRETT GIROIR, ASST. SECRETARY OF HEALTH, U.S. DEPT. OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Of course, we need to be doing a better job but all vaccine programs start somewhat slow. I think it's more of just you starting a program and that starts relatively slowly and ramps up very quickly.
So absolutely, vaccines on the shelf are no good, they need to get in people's arms. And if -- we are leaving no stone unturned to do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: Now for the third day in a row, sadly, the U.S. has set a new record for COVID hospital admissions. More than 125,000 people now were hospitalized with the virus on
Wednesday, that is right now in hospitals across this country. It is the 29th straight day the number has topped 100,000.
And California remains the worst hit state in the country with more than 2 million cases reported so far. Hospitals are now treating 20,000 patients. ICU beds have reached capacity and health care workers are running dangerously low on resources.
[01:05:00]
NEWTON: Joining me now is Dr. Jennifer Ellice. She's an emergency room physician in California.
I've got to admit, Doctor, I'm almost afraid to ask you this question. What has it been like in California in the last couple weeks, and what do you fear is going to happen in the coming weeks?
DR. JENNIFER ELLICE, EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN, CALIFORNIA: Hi, Paula. Thank you for having me.
What's been happening in the past few weeks has been pretty much the worst-case scenario that we could've imagined back in the summertime.
We've seen this Thanksgiving surge that most recently occurred. We had just so many patients turning up in the emergency room, so many patients admitted to the hospital that our entire hospital is filled up with COVID patients and the entire emergency room is filled up with COVID patients.
We've had to turn people away, we've had to treat people in hallways. It's kind of the worst case.
NEWTON: You're already turning people away?
ELLICE: Well, it's not that we turn them away. It's more after a six to eight-hour wait, they leave.
On a recent shift I recently had to call back -- a patient I called and called for her in the waiting room, she wasn't there and I called her, she had gone home. And I called her back because she needed -- she had an emergency, she needed surgery.
So we're already rationing care in the sense that we don't have space and we don't have staff to take care of people.
NEWTON: And getting to that point. What is it like for you and the staff around you to have to deal with this when you've already been dealing with it for so many months now?
And Christmas and New Year's, those surges you know are just around the corner?
ELLICE: Yes. Quite frankly, were exhausted. My colleagues and I have been wearing full PPE for our entire shifts since March.
And when you're working like this, when you're pushing yourself like this, it takes a toll.
On a recent shift, I was working with one nurse who looked like she was about to collapse. She had been wearing the PPE -- you sweat and it's really hot. She had been taking care of four ICU patients for hours.
And one of her patients -- our patients was crashing. And she would not take a break, she wouldn't leave because she knew that there just weren't enough nurses to take care of the other patients. So she wouldn't leave.
And I've seen my colleagues close to tears. This is not easy.
As you said, we are expecting because of the travel and because of the Christmas holidays, that it might be worse in the coming weeks.
NEWTON: We certainly wouldn't blame any of you for being exhausted, you guys have all given so much. And yet, I always try and remind people, you guys have families too. You guys are trying to protect yourself from this virus as well.
How difficult has it been -- we seem to be at a better point because we have vaccines. And yet now, even in California, now we know that a new variant that perhaps is even more transmissible is in California.
ELLICE: That has been one of the scariest things about this. Not only do I fear for my patients every night when I go to sleep but -- especially in the beginning, I did fear that I might bring this home to my family as well.
Right now, I just found out a few hours ago, that one of my colleagues just got intubated and is on a ventilator. So this is a very real concern for us.
And it's something that pales in comparison though -- that fear, it pales in comparison to what I see every day happening to my patients. And yes, the vaccine is here, it has offered us a lot of hope. But my patients haven't gotten the vaccine and they continue to suffer.
And fearing for yourself and your own family kind of fades when you see what we -- some of the things that we've seen in terms of what our patients are going through.
I had a phone call recently with a family member and his 90-year-old mother had COVID. And I had to call and tell him that we were going to keep her in the hospital.
And he asked a few questions and then his voice broke. And he said I'll take her home. He's 70 -- and he said I'll take her home, I don't care if I get it, I want to take care of my mom.
And then after that he said I know you've got a family too and I know -- and he wanted to thank us for what we had done.
We beg people to wear masks and we beg people not to travel and take it seriously. Not because we fear for our families but because we fear for our patients.
NEWTON: And I pray that everyone listening right now heeds those words. No matter where you are in the world.
[01:10:00]
I want to thank you and all of your colleagues for your sacrifice. And really, we are all hoping for better things in the New Year.
Dr. Jennifer Ellice joining us. Thanks so much.
ELLICE: Thank you for having me.
NEWTON: So at the end of a tumultuous day in Britain, the prolonged Brexit negotiations finally came to an end. Lawmakers approved the post-Brexit deal with the European Union hours before the transition period ends.
Isa Soares reports on what the deal will mean to British and European citizens.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (Voice Over): When the clock strikes midnight, Britain and the European Union finally divorce.
After many months of bitter negotiation, the two blocks begin a new relationship, as sovereign equals.
JOHNSON: Glad tidings of great joy.
SOARES: Not always a joyous affair. A deal was settled just days before the December 31st deadline leaving businesses little time to assess the practical implications of the 1,200 page agreement.
Under this new deal, the U.K. will continue to enjoy zero tariff and zero quota access to the E.U.'s single market and that means no taxes on each other's goods when they cross borders. And no limits on the amount of things that can be traded.
So what's changing? Freedom of movement. British citizens will no longer have the right to live and work in the E.U. without the necessary documentation and vice versa.
And how about those precious holidays? Vacations remain visa-free but British travelers will only be allowed to spend 90 days after out of every 180 in the E.U. while the U.K. will allow European citizens to stay for up to six consecutive months.
This represents perhaps the most tangible consequence of the breakup.
And the renowned British love of queuing faces its toughest test. No longer allowed to use E.U. gates, they must use the "All Passports" line instead.
Michelin star chef Pascal Aussignac says Brexit killed a dream that brought him to London 22 years ago.
PASCAL AUSSIGNAC, CHEF & RESTAURANTEUR: British people are not working in the hospitality sector so we need to find people from Europe.
And, actually, because of the Brexit going on there are better way of staying in their own country than moving to London.
SOARES: Students bear the separation too, no longer able to move between universities as part of the Erasmus program.
E.U. chief negotiator, Michel Barnier called it a failure for the British people and a choice made by the British government.
JOHNSON: With this bill, we're going to become a friendly neighbor, the best friend and ally the E.U. could have.
SOARES: Brexit might now be over. But a divorce of this magnitude puts inevitable strain on the pair's future relationship.
SOARES [(Voice Over): Isa Soares, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NEWTON: So earlier I spoke with CNN's European affairs commentator Dominic Thomas and I asked him what Britain will look like as this agreement goes into effect.
DOMINIC THOMAS, CNN EUROPEAN AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: Paula, that is really the question that we have before us.
You have on the one hand those that are celebrating after years and years and years of fighting to leave the European Union and to regain what they see as this emotional kind of sovereignty.
And on the others, those of course who are bemoaning leaving this incredible post Second World War institution that brought peace and prosperity, and also a kind of an opening to the world beyond the island mentality that Brexit has become so associated with.
And, of course, the irony that rejoining the European Union would be a very different process on very different terms.
And that so many prime ministers over the years have gone back to the E.U. asking for concessions but at the end of the day, the debate was won by those pushing for this emotional sovereign argument.
And that's where Britain stands today.
NEWTON: And that's the point you may, Dominic, right, is that this went beyond any kind of consideration of is it going to be good for our wallets? It was emotional; we are Britain, we will remain Britain, we will remain the island.
THOMAS: You're absolutely right. And I think that, to that extent, so many things that have just unfolded at this last moment. On the one hand, the general election was won on just get Brexit done.
Boris Johnson achieved that. When it came to triggering, initially, article 50 to start the process they just jumped into it. They only wanted 11 months for the transition period.
At the end of the day, the question of the deal was really secondary and there was no time for Parliamenters to scrutinize this particular deal.
But when it comes down to it, the fact that there is a deal in place is absolutely crucial. Because I think it mitigates some of the appalling consequences that this deal is going to have on the United Kingdom.
And for those who enjoyed that connection with Europe, the process of mourning has only just begun.
[01:15:00]
So for Boris Johnson, it might be a new beginning but for many, the road ahead is certainly uncharted and full of anxiety.
NEWTON: Yes. And again, we go back to a debate that it was essentially emotional; what are we in terms of national character and our sovereignty?
I have to say though, Dominic, Europe, Europe itself gets so lost in this discussion, right? It's like the terrible toddler's been having the tantrum now for five years.
THOMAS: Yes.
NEWTON: Will these countries fragment further. will it change the character of that consequential European project?
THOMAS: Yes. Well, I think what's really interesting -- but I think first of all, the fact that a deal was achieved was crucial. Because if not, it would have given a further opportunity for the European Union to be blamed for having reached any -- sort of achieved any kind of consensus.
And I think that what unfolded last week, those terrible scenes of the truck drivers and blocked and Dover suddenly fueled and pushed the argument across the line.
But at the end of the day, I think that the European Union comes out of this very strong.
It was interesting to listen to Boris Johnson and then also to hear comments from what is essentially a new president of the E.U. Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, who deserves a lot of credit for shepherding through the final stages of this process.
Because let's not forget that the U.K. is not the only country that's ever left the European Union, it's also the only country that's ever had a vote to leave the European Union. And when she stated we are putting Brexit behind us, you can't help but think that she could accidentally have said we're putting Britain behind us. And then she said we are moving ahead.
And I think that's the big question, is who's in this "we?" We know that there are 27 united countries --
NEWTON: Right.
THOMAS: -- that understand the value of this project and the success that it has had. And it's really up to Brittan now -- because let's not forget, it's got a trade deal --
NEWTON: Yes.
THOMAS: -- but the trade deal is only as good as if the U.K. respects --
NEWTON: And I've got --
THOMAS: -- all the rules and regulations -- NEWTON: And I've got to leave --
THOMAS: -- it's going to have to follow now.
NEWTON: And I've got to leave it there, Dominic, but some good analysis for us to chew on.
Dominic Thomas for us in Los Angeles. Thanks so much.
THOMAS: (Inaudible).
NEWTON: Yemen's new government had just landed from Saudi Arabia when a massive explosion went off. What might have led to this deadly attack and what this means for the ongoing civil war there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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NARRATOR: It was 1868 when Edmund McIlhenny decided to go commercial with a pepper sauce concoction he invented and had been sharing with friends and family.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Today we make 750,000 bottles of sauce per day on average. And Edmund, during his entire career as a pepper sauce manufacturer -- and that was a 22 year period -- he made about 350,000 bottles.
So we make twice as much in a single day as he made during his entire career.
NARRATOR: And today, the Tabasco label is produced in 25 languages and exported to 195 countries around the world.
(ENDS)
NEWTON: Saudi Arabia is blaming Houthi rebels backed by Iran for Wednesday's attack on the airport in Yemen. Now the group, though, hasn't yet claimed responsibility.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(NOISE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON (Voice Over): Officials say at least 22 people were killed the attack when happened soon after a newly form government arrived from Saudi Arabia.
CNN's Arwa Damon is following the story for us.
[01:20:00]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This newly formed government was just disembarking from their aircraft to quite a bit of fanfare, a large crowd and a lot of media. (Inaudible) this first explosion went off, one of three we are told, followed by quite a bit of gunfire.
No one from this newly formed cabinet was injured according to authorities but dozens, dozens of people, were killed and wounded.
This power-sharing government was meant to symbolize -- and its arrival in Aden, especially -- was meant to symbolize something of a way forward at least for one section of Yemen.
For quite some time now, there has been a power struggle in between the internationally recognized government and what's known as the Separatist Southern Transitional Council. They both were backed by Saudi Arabia and then transitional council
began shifting more towards the UAE, they were vying for power, at times violently. This was meant to bring an end to all of that.
Historically speaking, there have been quite a few efforts to try to prevent any sort of power sharing government from actually materializing and being able to physically arrive in Yemen, in Aden in Yemen.
They are blaming, some officials, the Iranian-backed Houthis for this attack although they, at this stage, are not making any claim of responsibility.
Arwa Damon, CNN, Istanbul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NEWTON: At least 10 people have been injured, one critically, and 11 are missing after a massive landslide in Southern Norway.
Now I want you to take a look at this video here. You can see a large crater created by the landslide. Rescue workers are still searching for survivors among the mud and debris and more than 900 people were evacuated from the area.
The landslide struck a residential neighborhood 30 kilometers from the city of Oslo.
Now new coronavirus infections are surging in Tokyo. Just ahead, the alarming numbers that are prompting the city's governor to consider a state of emergency.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(CNN HIGHLIGHT)
TOM GNOZA, FOOD CREATOR, GASTRAG: Hello, my name is Thomas Gnoza from Switzerland and I'm a food creator.
I will prepare for you today my perfect snack.
We looking for a theme like, for example, New York or something and then I start to do my research and try to create dishes. After a while, I present my ideas and the dishes at the company.
We close the whole thing, press it slightly together.
Since March, I'm not really allowed to work because we are like on -- I call it in English, it's like on short time. So I'm allowed to work three or four hours a week, max.
And this is, of course, quite difficult because you follow the news every day but you don't know what is going on the next day. So you're not sure about your job, if you will keep it or you will lose it.
But you think about the future, what you can do. So I think, for example, I will buy a food truck. So this is a lot of new opportunities in my life, actually. And for me it's like tough times but also a new beginning, for me. For myself.
Here we go. This is my meatball sandwich, my favorite snack.
(END)
NEWTON: New coronavirus infections in Tokyo are nearing 1,000 a day and the city's governor is worried she may have to declare a state of emergency.
Now cases for all of Japan are fast approaching a quarter of a million. CNN's Selina Wang is live this hour for us in Tokyo.
An alarming numbers, indeed, Selina. Japan has seen this movie play out right around the world. They must know by now that if you don't act decisively and quickly, the virus will punish you.
What do you think they're considering right now in both Tokyo and Japan?
SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Paula, the Japanese government is considering declaring this state of emergency but it's been reluctant to take any action that could further damage the economy. But the government is under pressure to do more.
You have cases continuing to be near record highs, hospitals are under massive strain.
But the challenge, Paula, here in Japan is that the government does not have any legal means to enforce COVID-19 restrictions.
So that state of emergency, the last time it was declared was over the spring. But again, no legal enforcement. It's simply allows regional governments to urge people to stay inside.
[01:25:00]
But we have seen the government ban entry of non-foreign, non-resident foreign nationals because -- in order to prevent any more cases of that new, potentially more contagious COVID-19 strain from coming into Japan.
And of course, it is New Year's Eve today in Japan, certainly a strange holiday for everyone around the world. The government is urging people here to stay inside, to avoid traveling.
And they say that if people are going to go to their hometowns to visit their families, they say to be extremely cautious around elderly parents. One minister said that people should actually not even go inside their parent's homes but simply greet them from outside.
NEWTON: Yes. And Selina, we've got to hope that people heed that warning especially given what's going on in the rest the world.
Some news also from China. Sinopharm vaccine has now been approved for use, its efficacy is still quite good, nearly 80 percent.
I'm wondering is this going to be a game-changer for China remembering that they already have been doing a very good job in the last few months of controlling the virus?
WANG: Well, it certainly paves its way for a broader rollout both at home and internationally.
The country is aiming to vaccinate 50 million people before the Lunar New Year holiday and we've seen the country already dramatically accelerate its vaccine emergency use program.
Just in recent weeks, government officials say that millions of doses have already been administered. And when it comes to Sinopharm, the company's chairman nearly 1 million people have already received its vaccine.
But even though China had several vaccines that are in late-stage trials, international health experts continue to question the transparency, efficacy and safety of China's vaccines.
Let's take Sinopharm, for example. That 79 percent efficacy rate is based on that phase III trial data but critical information was missing from that announcement. We don't have information details on the data, information on the trial size and we don't have any information on the side effects.
But, certainly, this does pave the way for China to continue to vaccinate more of its population and deliver those doses to developing countries.
Paula.
NEWTON: Yes. And given the slowdown that we've seen in vaccinations in many places in the world, it'll be interesting to see how they handle it because we've seen those mass testing operations in so many Chinese cities now so it'll be interesting to see how they handle the rollout now with these approval.
Selina Wang for us in Tokyo. Appreciate it.
Now in hard-hit Latin America, much needed relief has finally arrived. Several countries are beginning to distribute COVID vaccines and the first shots are finally going into arms.
CNN's Rafael Romo has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, SNR. LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR (Voice Over): "It was a Christmas eve gift." A nurse in Mexico City became the first person in Latin America to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
MARIA RAMIREZ, ICU NURSE, MEXICO CITY (Speaking in Foreign Language):
ROMO: Maria Herene (phonetic) Ramirez, a nurse at Mexico City's general hospital called it the best gift I could have received in 2020.
Chile and Costa Rica followed Mexico the very same day with their own COVID-19 vaccination campaigns.
Chilean president Sebastian Pinera said health care workers would be first as has been the case in other countries, receiving 10,000 doses altogether in this first shipment.
Argentina this week became the latest Latin American country to start vaccinating healthcare workers at 37 public and private hospitals in Buenos Aires, the capital.
ROMO (On Camera): Instead of working on a regional strategy, each country has made its own effort to acquire vaccines.
The first vaccine authorized in Mexico, Chile and Costa Rica is the one developed by Pfizer and BioNTech while Argentina opted for the Russian one. Additionally, the Argentinian government announced Wednesday it has approved the emergency use of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.
Also on Wednesday, Bolivia signed an agreement with the Kremlin to acquire 2.6 million doses of the Russian-made Sputnik 5 vaccine, enough to inoculate roughly 20 percent of its population.
But the director of the Pan American Health Organization warns COVID- 19 vaccines will not be an easy quick fix for the Americas.
CARISSA ETIENNE, DIRECTOR, PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION: This pandemic stands out in both skill and impact. And it has put a spotlight on two of the long-standing challenges of our region; inequality and underinvestment in our health systems.
ROMO: In addition to these challenges, another one has surfaced. The doubters, even at the highest levels.
In Brazil, the region's most populous country, people are still waiting for a vaccine.
JAIR BOLSONARO, PRESIDENT, BRAZIL: (Speaking in Foreign Language):
ROMO: While President Jair Bolsonaro has railed against vaccines even going as saying the one developed by Pfizer can turn people into alligators or bearded ladies.
Rafael Romo, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NEWTON: And I want to thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM, I'm Paula Newton.
