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United Kingdom Crosses 100,000 COVID-19 Deaths; EU Calls Out AstraZeneca and Pfizer Over Delivery Delays; Biden to Unveil Policies Combating Climate Change; Republicans Wrestle with Their Party's Future; Vaccines Reaching More of Britain's Care Homes. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired January 27, 2021 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Britain has crossed a grim COVID milestone. 100,000 people there have now died of the virus. And statistics show that the U.K. has a higher per capita death rate than any of the other countries that have also lost 100,000 lives. The Prime Minister says he takes full responsibility for what has happened.

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BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I am deeply sorry for every life that has been lost. And of course, as Prime Minister, I take full responsibility for everything that the government has done. What I can tell you is that we truly did everything we could, and continue to do everything that we can, to minimize loss of life and minimize suffering in what has been a very, very difficult stage. And a very, very difficult crisis for our country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And let's take you live now to London. Salma Abdelaziz joins us now. Salma, the Prime Minister apologizing for the deaths of more than 100,000 people insisting they couldn't have done more than they did. Not everyone agrees with him on that though, do they?

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: No, they don't, Rosemary. It is a somber day here. 100,000 deaths, 100,000 families who have tragically lost their lives due to coronavirus in this country, that that is not a proportionate death toll. You are overwhelmingly more likely to be one of those victims if you are elderly, if you are clinically vulnerable, if you are black or a of the minority population in this country.

That is why there is so much anger and grief. This virus exposed the socioeconomic divisions of this country. And there's a sense that the authorities here did not protect the most vulnerable. Those who needed the most protection did not get it.

Now Prime Minister Boris Johnson, of course, they're saying, look, I take full responsibility, but we did everything we could. But questions will be asked were lockdowns put in place fast enough? Where scientist advisors listened to closely enough? Were actions by the government following those guidance of the science as they should have been or did, they act too late? Did that cost lives?

But I think what really struck me about the Prime Minister's statement yesterday, is it wasn't just about a past tense. A death toll that we've overcome. This is about what's happening right now, Rosemary.

Much of that death toll is due to a new variant, that tier that spread quickly through this population that's caused thousands of deaths. That's brought the health care system to the brink. And the Prime Minister there saying, I'm sorry, but unfortunately, more people will lose their lives. We have many more tough weeks ahead and that death toll, Rosemary, it will only climb.

CHURCH: Yes, it is devastating. And we will see some powerful reporting later in the show, from you, Salma, as you take us inside a U.K. aged care home where residents are receiving that long-awaited vaccine. Thank goodness. But for now, Salma Abdelaziz, many thanks, joining us live from London.

Well the British Prime Minister says he expects and hopes that vaccine contracts from the EU will be honored. The European Union is calling out AstraZeneca and Pfizer for delivery delays with threats of restricting exports and legal action. And Cyril Vanier is live in Paris. He joins us now with more on this. So what's the latest on these rising tensions over vaccine supplies?

CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, we're waiting for round three of discussions between the EU and vaccine maker AstraZeneca today. And the first few rounds were not very fruitful with the EU furious at AstraZeneca over substantial delays in delivering doses of its vaccine to the European Union. That AstraZeneca vaccine expected to be approved by the European medicines agency later this week.

And countries that are facing a third wave of coronavirus were hoping to hit the ground running with scheduled delivers. But that's not going to happen as AstraZeneca announced a few days ago. It's two months behind schedule, as far as its European deliveries are concerned.

[04:35:00]

And the gulling things from the European perspective is that the same vaccine maker is delivering lots of vaccines doses to the U.K., just on the side of the channel.

The reason being, according to AstraZeneca's CEO, that the U.K. simply entered into the contract with them three months before the EU giving them time to finetune their manufacturing issues and their supply chain in the U.K. Which is what has allowed the U.K. to vaccinate up to half a million people in the space of a day, we found out yesterday. Europe would like to get some of that -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: Yes, absolutely. And Cyril, what can you tell us about this unusual deal involving a French pharmaceutical giant and a rival company to produce more vaccines?

VANIER: Unusual, indeed, this is coming from the French pharmaceutical giant this time, Sanofi. As you know, they were among the pharmaceutical companies involved in the race to produce a coronavirus vaccine. And in that respect, they had bad news last month when they announce that they didn't expect to be able to put a vaccine to market before the end of 2021. And that puts them way behind Pfizer, Pfizer- BioNTech and Moderna who are already are distributing vaccines across around the Western world.

So what Sanofi has decided to do, and it has entered and by on tech into an agreement with Pfizer and BioNTech, who were the first to be approved in Europe and in the U.K., to help bottle their vaccine. So Sanofi believes that thanks to work coming out of you its Frankfurt production plant, they will be able to bottle up to 125 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine this summer helping to roll it out across the European Union.

Mean meanwhile, they're working on their own vaccine which the CEO said may be better against variants -- coronavirus variants. You know, we'll take that with a pinch of salt. Their vaccine is not even in phase 3 of mass testing or clinical trials. So they're not there yet -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: We'll keep an eye on that. Cyril Vanier bringing us up to date from Paris, many thanks.

And coming up next. The U.S. says it's back in the global climate fight but with humility, according to its climate envoy. We will look at what Joe Biden is doing in his first 100 days to make up for lost time. Back in a moment.

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[04:40:00]

CHURCH: This was the aftermath of a tornado that ripped through the U.S. state of Alabama late Monday. The storm killed at least one person and injured dozens more as it tore homes apart in the town of Fultondale. Emergency teams have been searching through a collapsed hotel for any survivors, even though most of its primary buildings were cleared.

President Biden is expected to sign more executive actions to combat the climate crisis in the coming hours. He's already signed several executive orders including rejoining the Paris Climate Accord. A source says one of the additional measures includes extending his moratorium on new oil and gas leases on federal land.

Meanwhile, the country's new climate envoy says the nation is ready to reclaim a leading role in the global effort to tackle climate change.

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JOHN KERRY, U.S. SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY FOR CLIMATE: Three years ago, scientists gave us a pretty stark warning. They said we have 12 years within which to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Now, we have nine years left, and I regret that my country has been absent for three of those years. So, we're proud to be back. We come back, I want you to know with humility for the absence of the last four years. And we'll do everything in our power to make up for it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And for more, CNN's John Defterios joins me live from Abu Dhabi. Good to see you. So John Kerry will take to the virtual stage at the World Economic Forum later today. What can we expect?

JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN BUSINESS EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Well, you know, Rosemary, I think there's a big, huge sigh of relief coming from Europe having John Kerry as the special enjoy and what we're seeing from the Biden administration. These is being dubbed "climate day" in the United States. I would expect at least a minimum that moratorium to be announced in the oil and gas fields both on in the waters and on federal lands in the United States at the same time.

A complete U-turn from the Donald Trump policy of supremacy of oil of 13 million barrels a day, this time last year. It's dropped because of the pandemic. What have we announced so far from the Biden administration, net zero, 2050 on emissions that aligns nicely with the European Union. Having 100 percent energy on the grid by 2035, the electrical grid in the United States, that's extremely ambitious. 4 million building in at least 40 cities being refitted in the U.S. as well because that's where the emissions are.

And then we heard from Angela Merkel who is the Chancellor of Germany, talking about how they used the COVID-19 pandemic for the green economic recovery at the same time. In Germany, the largest economy in Europe and throughout the European Union. Let's take a listen to her.

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ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): We had said, our European goal, our national goal from CO2 emissions from 40 percent to 55 is something that we want to aim at for 2030. We have committed ourselves for 2050 to climate neutrality which may well lead to a situation that Europe, and once we have achieved that is the first climate neutral continental.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEFTERIOS (on camera): Angela Merkel at her 15th appearance -- according to WEF official -- at the World Economic Forum. This one virtually and she didn't limit her promise to climate change. She was saying that if you want to be a multilateral player like China was suggesting the day before with Xi Jinping, we need greater transparency and in particular on COVID-19. The origins in China, very bold to say and also the World Health Organization and its information policy going forward. We need to learn something -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: Most definitely. John Defterios, many thanks.

Well, Janet Yellen is now officially the first female U.S. Treasury Secretary after being sworn in yesterday. Vice President Kamala Harris administered the ceremonial oath of office to Yellen on the side of the White House, facing the Treasury Department. Yellen shares the council of economic advisers under former president Bill Clinton. She was also the chair of the Federal Reserve.

Well, the U.S. Republican Party is the at a crossroads. While some look to the future, others still can't accept the party's losses in 2020. In some states, the divide is causing party members to leave by the thousands. CNN's Kyung Lah has our report.

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KYUNG LAH, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the storming of the Capitol you may not have seen.

[04:45:00]

Rioters breached the Oregon State Capitol and assaulted police less than a month before this -- the insurrection in Washington D.C.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: USA!

LAH (voice-over): As former President Donald Trump faces a second impeachment trial charged for his role in inciting the deadly D.C. riots.

BILL CURRIER, OREGON REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR: It was a sham impeachment just like the first one.

LAH (voice-over): The Oregon Republican Party defiantly defends Trump.

CURRIER: Patriots are not going away. The president's not going away.

LAH (voice-over): The state party passed a resolution condemning 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump, calling it a betrayal.

Then dived into this conspiratorial lie about the insurrection that there is growing evidence that the violence at the Capitol was a false flag operation designed to discredit President Trump.

CURRIER: This is a time for choosing, but it's a time for choosing what you really believe and want to stand for and not for just giving lip service to being a Republican.

LAH (voice-over): That's not helping to win over more Republicans says Oregon Republican State Representative David Brock Smith.

DAVID BROCK SMITH (R-OR) STATE REPRESENTATIVE: Extremism on either side, only benefits a small minority. And it's not the majority of the constituents that we represent.

LAH (voice-over): Choosing to side with the far-right fringe or not. That's the battle at the state party level. In Texas, the GOP continues to use a slogan "We Are the Storm." The same slogan used by followers of the QAnon conspiracy. The Texas Republicans deny that connection. In Hawaii, a top GOP official resigned from his post after he tweeted sympathy for QAnon followers from the state party account. He later called it an error in judgment.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It'll be the Trump Republican Party.

LAH (voice-over): In Arizona, it's open warfare among Republicans. These women believe the baseless claims peddled by Trump.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE This election was stolen. Trump won. I think by a landslide.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I will be with him wherever he goes. However he goes.

LAH (voice-over): The state party shows no sign of moving away from Trump, members reelected a fervent Trump follower as their Chairwoman. Despite Democrats flipping the state blue in 2020. Arizona Republican Party members don't seem to care.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unification at what cost? OK. Selling out America, I can't do that.

LAH (voice-over): There will be a price war in establishment Republicans.

JEFF FLAKE, FORMER U.S. SENATOR (R-AZ): It really is driving normal, regular, rational people from the Republican Party and we can't afford to lose many more.

LAH: Unless more than just a fear that the former Senator is talking about there are real numbers behind this. The Arizona Secretary of State's office tells CNN that 9,944 registered Republicans, that's almost 10,000 of them, have officially switched their party registration since the U.S. Capitol riots. Establishment Republicans here in Arizona say that's not just a warning, that is a blaring siren that something is very wrong.

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CHURCH: Do your best and stay positive. These words of wisdom have helped seniors at a U.K. care home through the darkest days of the pandemic. We will have their stories when we return.

[04:50:00]

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CHURCH: British ICU workers say they have been forced to dilute patients' care after a surge in coronavirus cases last month pushed hospitals to the brink. But the U.K.'s vaccine program is bringing hope, CNN's Salma Abdelaziz shows us a care home that's experienced desolation, resignation and now jubilation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): This is not what you would expect to see inside a British nursing home. Places once devastated by COVID-19. But this is a day of celebration.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please.

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): Today is vaccine day.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get my sleeve rolled up.

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): 45 residents and dozens of staff got the first dose.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hope it will soon be over the whole COVID business.

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): This care home suffered deeply, an outbreak here at the start of the pandemic left half the residents sick. Four died of the virus. Now these survivors have some wisdom to share.

SANDRA STEPHENS, RESIDENT, ROSE LODGE CARE HOME: The secret is to begin to realize that you are in control of yourself. And therefore, it's up to you to make something out of something that is difficult.

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): Like so many, Sandra Stephens suffered from depression during lockdown.

STEPHENS: That was the deepest feeling of all, actually. The feeling of being all on my own.

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): So the 86-year-old made changes and said she moved into this nursing home to be closer to her daughter.

NATALIE WHITE, MANAGER, ROSE LODGE CARE HOME: It's very emotional. You know, it's a big day.

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): The care home manager, Natalie White, says she found strength by leaning on those around her.

WHITE: We've got so many people that needed us. You just have to be brave and do -- you know, we all just did everything that we could.

ABDELAZIZ: Joan Curtis recovered from COVID last year. She said on the tough days, do the best you can.

JOAN CURTIS, RESIDENT, ROSE LODGE CARE HOME: Just try and stick it out and be as cheerful as possible.

ABDELAZIZ: Bernard Morton lost his wife of 68 years just before the pandemic. He says he has not seen his three children since the funeral.

BERNARD MORTON, RESIDENT, ROSE LODGE CARE HOME: We could exercise no control. It's really in life that you haven't got a bit of input. But our input wasn't needed as for were taken

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): His advice, really try and stay positive.

MORTON: You're always hoping for the best. That's what it really boils down to. Otherwise you could be very, very unhappy.

[04:55:00]

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): There are more difficult months ahead but those who suffered most want us to keep hope alive.

Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, Peterburg.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Well, the coronavirus pandemic has left many people missing the chance to attend live music as part of a crowd. Well, the rock group The Flaming Lips might just have a socially distanced solution for you. These are images from a concert in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The Flaming Lips and the audience rocked in so-called space bubbles. Lead singer Wayne Coyne originally came up with the idea back in 2004. But he was the only one in a bubble back then using it to crowd surf. Now he's reimagining the idea amid COVID and spoke with CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WAYNE COYNE, LEAD SINGER, THE FLAMING LIPS: I do a thing where it said, you know, in The Flaming Lips concert in 2019 showed the band in the audience. And I would have been the only one of these space bubbles. And then right next to it. I said a Flaming Lips concert in 2020 and I was in the space bubble. And of course, all the band was and the audience, too. And we all thought, oh, this is funny and absurd. And now here we are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And here's how it worked. 100 bubbles filled the concert hall, each able to fit up to three people and stocked with fans, water, towels. And to answer the question you all want to know, concert goers had handy restroom signs to signal nearby stewards. Guests could then leave the bubble wearing a mask, escorted by that steward.

We'll live you with that. That's it for this hour of CNN NEWSROOM. Thanks for your company, I'm Rosemary Church. "EARLY START" is up next. Have yourselves a great day.

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