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U.S. Weighing Stricter Testing to Enter the Country; Omicron Variant Now Detected in 22 Countries; Three Students Killed, 15-Year- Old Suspect in Custody; Nigeria Confirms Three Cases of Omicron Variant; Blinken Warns Russia Against Renewed Aggression. Aired 4- 4:30a ET

Aired December 01, 2021 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. Just ahead, on CNN NEWSROOM --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The worst kind of tragedy we've seen across the country.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is every parent's worst nightmare.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not going to head back to this school. This is ridiculous.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They deserve to be known but they didn't deserve to die tonight.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: An unimaginable tragedy, the U.S. sees its deadliest school shooting of the year. Now a community is mourning the loss of three young lives.

U.S. officials consider new travel requirements for everyone, as the Omicron coronavirus variant raises concerns around the world.

And open to engaging, Donald Trump's former chief of staff agrees to cooperate with lawmakers, investigating the January 6th capitol riot.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center. This is CNN NEWSROOM with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: It is Wednesday, December 1st, and we are following two big stories this hour, the Omicron variant of coronavirus now in 22 countries and territory, Saudi Arabia being the latest. But it has not yet been detected here in the U.S. Health experts stress vaccines are still key to controlling its spread. Israel's health minister is the latest to voice his optimism that the current vaccines and boosters will offer protection against this variant. We're also following a deadly shooting at a high school in Michigan.

The three teen victims have been identified. The gunman is in custody and on suicide watch. And we will have much more on that in just a moment.

First up, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is stepping up surveillance at four major airports to keep an eye out for the Omicron variant in travelers. They are Newark Liberty in New Jersey, John F. Kennedy in New York, San Francisco International, and Hartsfield Jackson in Atlanta.

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DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, DIRECTOR, U.S. CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: We are actively looking for the Omicron variant right here in the United States. Right now, there is no evidence of Omicron in the United States.

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CHURCH: Also, the Biden administration is thinking about stricter rules for people flying into the country, including U.S. citizens. CNN's Kaitlan Collins has that.

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KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, the United States is currently considering imposing new testing requirements on travelers returning to the United States. That includes U.S. citizens even those who are vaccinated and of course foreign travelers as well. Right now, the period that you have to get tested before getting on a flight to enter the United States is about three days, 72 hours before your departure time. And now we are told officials are considering shortening that time frame to one day.

Of course, that would also come in conjunction with something else they are weighing which is requiring all travelers who get to the United States to have to take a test several days after their arrival, essentially re-test to make sure they are still negative following that negative test to get on their flight. These are things that are coming up now, but of course officials are racing to figure out what kind of threat is posed to the United States and to the broader global community by this new Omicron variant. Something that, of course the White House has made clear they still don't have the answer to.

But it comes as there has been some criticism over those travel restrictions that President Biden imposed on Monday, as other world leaders did as well, for South Africa and seven of its neighboring nations. Because the argument was, well, Americans and legal permanent residents are exempt from these travel restrictions. But of course, very much still they can carry the Omicron variant just as much as anyone else can. So, the White House seems to be adjusting to that. Trying to make sure they are taking these efforts to contain this variant in case it turns out to be a worst-case scenario. Something they hope to learn in the coming days.

Kaitlan Collins, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Well, now to Europe and Asia where leaders are anxiously tracking cases of the Omicron variant on their own shores. Dutch officials say the new variant was in the Netherlands a week earlier than previously thought. The strain was found in two test samples taken on November 19th and 23rd.

[04:05:00]

And as concerns spreads across the U.K., the Prime Minister says he's making sure that all adults are able to get their booster shots by the end of January.

Meanwhile, Germany is considering tougher restrictions for the unvaccinated. Several proposals are up for debate, including limits on private gatherings, and expanding rules that require proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID to enter all stores.

And Japan is further tightening its border due to the variant. Starting today, foreign nationals with Japanese residency will be banned from re-entering Japan if they've travel to one of ten African countries.

Our Will Ripley is standing by for us in Hong Kong. But first, let's go to CNN's Cyril Vanier who joins us live from Paris. So, Cyril, what is the latest on these rising COVID cases in France and these possible new restrictions on the unvaccinated in Germany?

CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, two things we're looking at, Rosemary, of course with concern, are confirmed cases that the Omicron variant across Europe and there has been one such confirmed case in France, although not on the mainland. This was in the Indian Ocean island of La Reunion. And the second thing we're looking at, of course, is the surge in cases due to the Delta variant.

So, in France yesterday, we had almost 50,000 new infections, that is the highest number since April. This is of course concerning, especially for a country that has a high vaccination rate, 75 percent of the overall population, 90 percent of the eligible population. Well, France is now banking on boosters. And boosters are open to all adults, Rosemary.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the French/German border, there is still a great deal of concern over the current surge of case, especially in eastern region, Saxony, Bavaria, the worst affected where ICU beds are at capacity in multiple places. And that is why the incoming Chancellor, Mr. Olaf Scholz did say yesterday, and confirmed to Bild TV that he would be favorable to a vaccine mandate.

This is a complete U-turn because the Germans were not open to that earlier this year. But given the surging cases that they've had, given the difficulties they've had in battling and containing COVID, Mr. Scholz now open to this. Now there is a caveat. This probably wouldn't come into effect, if it

were approved for multiple months and he wants this to be raised by German lawmakers as opposed to the leaders of the executive branch. So that's not to say that a vaccine mandate will exist in Germany but that does mean that there is now a lot more openness to it than there has been in the past -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: Indeed, and Will I want to go to you. Because Japan has talked new border restrictions. What's the latest on that?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just in the last few minutes, Rosemary, we have learned that there's now an additional hurdle that Japanese, even citizens will have, in getting back to the country. We have just confirmed that the Japanese government has requested all international airlines stop accepting new flight reservations. That means if they haven't booked their travel in advance, even Japanese citizens may have a very difficult time getting back into the country for Christmas or the New Year holiday.

This is new information added to a whole host of restrictions that Japan has put in place, as they have just identified their second case of the Omicron variant. This was in a man in his 20s, tested positive in the Narita Airport traveling in from Peru. Which curiously hasn't reported a single new case of this new variant. But apparently the traveler has tested positive along with a man from Namibia who tested positive as well.

Japan is going to ban entry of all foreign arrivals if they're new arrivals and even people who are Japanese residents if they're coming from ten southern African countries, including Namibia, also South Africa, Angola. They are also now banned from entering the country. So, you can see that they're really stacking on the restriction, Rosemary, to try to keep Omicron out even though they already detected two cases coming in.

CHURCH: All right, our thanks to Cyril Vanier and Will Ripley joining us there and bring us up to date on the situation. Appreciate it.

And do join us for a CNN Town Hall, Coronavirus Facts And Fears, hosted by Anderson Cooper and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and featuring Dr. Anthony Fauci. That is Wednesday, at 8:00 p.m., in New York. 9:00 a.m. Thursday in Hong Kong. And 5:00 a.m. in Abu Dhabi.

A horrifying but sadly familiar scene unfolded in Michigan on Tuesday. Three people died, and eight others were injured, in America's latest school shooting. A 15-year-old boy is in custody, and under suicide watch at a juvenile detention facility. And the handgun at the scene was purchased by the suspect's father on Friday.

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SHERIFF MICHAEL BOUCHARD, OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN: The deputies removed from the suspect a 9-millimeter Sig Sauer SP2022 pistol. It was loaded at the time and still contained seven rounds of ammunition. When they took it from him, he had a loaded firearm and he was coming down the hall. That again, I believe, interrupted what potentially could have been seven more victims.

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CHURCH: Teachers and students barricaded doors and hid in classrooms. One class feared the shooter was trying to lure them out into the hall, so they escaped through a classroom window.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, he said it's safe to come out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, no.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we're not willing to take that risk right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't hear you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not taking that risk right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Well, then come to the door, and look at my badge, bro.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, bro.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said "Bro." He said "Bro."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He said "Bro." Red flag!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go!

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go! Go! Go! Go!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go!

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CHURCH: Just terrifying for those students. And one of the victims, a 16-year-old boy, died in the sheriff's deputy car on the way to the hospital. Michigan's governor rushed to the scene and had this to say.

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GRETCHEN WHITMER, MICHIGAN GOVERNOR: This is a uniquely American problem that we need to address but at this juncture I think we need to focus on the community, the families, supporting all of the first responders, including the incredible people at our hospitals, that are working so hard to save the lives of those who are fighting for their lives right now. I think this is every parent's worst nightmare.

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CHURCH: Aiden Page is a senior at Oxford High School. He says the shooter was so close to his classroom that a bullet pierced one of the desks that was barricading the door. The class was in lockdown for an hour.

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AIDEN PAGE, OXFORD HIGHT SCHOOL STUDENT: We heard two gunshots, and then after that, my teacher ran to the room, locked it, we barricaded it, and then we covered the windows and hid.

The very first thing, in my head, was this is actually happening. I'm going to text my family, say I love them, just in case if I were to die. And then after everything kind of calmed down for a second, I was able to like get my breath and kind of rationalize things.

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CHURCH: Community members gathered at a local church Tuesday night to mourn the victims.

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ELLA GILLING, OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: They doesn't didn't deserve it, you know. They deserved to be known, but they didn't deserve to die tonight. In just everybody who went through it, we're all family, a community, and I think we really need to go through this together.

MAGGIE FELTZ, OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: Today was really traumatic for all of us and just seeing everybody together here, and in each other's presence was really good for everyone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: CNN's Adrienne Broaddus spoke to some community members about how they learned of the shooting.

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ADRIENNE BROADDUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I spoke with a grandmother earlier in the day, she said she got the alert that the school was on lockdown, minutes after leaving a funeral. She lives about an hour north in here from Saginaw, Michigan. She said the first call she made was to her pastor to request prayer because she didn't know what was going on. She later found out her two grandchildren who were at the school were OK. Her oldest grandson, who is a senior, and also a friend of Tate Myre, was able to escape. He ran to a nearby grocery store. Folks here know that grocery store as Meijer.

His younger brother was still inside of the school, barricaded in a classroom with his teacher and a few other students. He was hiding under a desk when he called his father to let his father know what happened. Tonight, that grandmother told me those prayers she requested from her pastor now turn to this community. At least 1,800 students attend this school.

And in the interest of full transparency, that grandmother, I've known since I was a child, and her pastor is my father. And they told me, we see this on the news all the time, Adrienne, but we never knew it would show up in our community.

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CHURCH: And 16-year-old Tate Myre, 14-year-old Hannah St. Juliana, and 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin were killed, seven other students were shot.

[04:15:00]

Three of them are in critical condition including a 14-year-old girl who's on a ventilator after having surgery. One teacher who was shot has been treated and released.

And we'll be right back.

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CHURCH: Three cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant have now been identified in Nigeria. That means at least 22 countries and territories have confirmed cases of Omicron. Dozens of countries have imposed some kind of travel restrictions. Mostly targeting southern Africa. But the World Health Organization is warning against blanket travel bans like these, saying they're not effective. CNN's Eleni Giokos joins us live from Johannesburg. So, Eleni, what more are you learning about these three confirmed Omicron cases in Nigeria?

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ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Nigerian Centers for Disease Control says they have embarked on sequencing on recent cases and they have discovered three cases of people that had recently travelled to South Africa. We're talking about in the past week and these are three cases that have been verified with the Omicron variant.

So, now we're seeing a little bit of data, an understanding of just how widespread the Omicron variant is. And as you say, it's now being identified in 20 countries or territories around the world. Interestingly, when you're seeing the most aggressive travel bans being instituted, in the southern African region, only Botswana and South Africa have confirmed the Omicron variant cases right now. In South Africa, you are seeing a very big surge of positive case, over 4,000, in yesterday's session.

But again, a very vast difference to what you're seeing in countries across Europe, where we've seen tens of thousands of cases. But South Africa is starting to post a lot more Omicron variant cases, specifically where I am in Halpin, that is where it's most prevalent.

In terms of the severity of the illness, we're seeing anecdotes or evidence coming through that perhaps it's not as severe as previous variants. But the big question is, is it more transmissible? In terms of vaccine efficacy, we know that the pharmaceutical companies are trying to ascertain that. But the health minister says that the biggest tool against the Omicron variant remains vaccines. Now, what we've also heard and this is again anecdotal evidence coming

through from the Center of Disease Control here in South Africa, saying that in some of the most concentrated cases of COVID-19, you're seeing hospitalizations still being prevalent among the unvaccinated. So, perhaps that's one clue in terms of the vaccine efficacy against the Omicron variant.

Now in terms of travel bans that you're seeing, Emirates says that it's going to continue flying to South Africa, but only bringing people in, not taking anyone out. British Airways saying that they will resumes flights again a few days a week only for U.K. citizens and people with visas and in they will then have to quarantine once they get to the U.K.

You're seeing the widespread reaction on travel bans coming through from across the world and this is sort of the panic that has now come through, because of the new variant that has been dubbed as a variant of concern. But again, Rosemary, not much is known. What we just do know is that South Africa's advanced genomics sequencing was one of the most important steps in understanding the variant that perhaps might be the next dominant variant around the world.

CHURCH: Yes, so important what they did, and now of course, they're paying so very dearly for it, with these travel bans. Eleni Giokos joins us live from Johannesburg, many thanks.

Well, protesters in Sudan are refusing to accept last week's power sharing agreement between the civilian Prime Minister and the military. Tens of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Khartoum Tuesday, demanding full civilian rule. Police responded with tear gas. The civilian aligned Sudan central doctors committee say 43 people have died since the October 25th takeover.

A German court has issued a landmark ruling, the first in the world, to recognize crimes by ISIS against the Yazidi people as genocide. An Iraqi man who was a member of ISIS was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of enslaving a Yazidi girl in 2015 and chaining her up outside where she died in the scorching heat. The court ruled he was involved in a wider campaign of genocide and crimes against humanity, against the Yazidi people. ISIS militants persecuted the Kurdish speaking minority in Iraq and Syria for year, killing and enslaving thousands.

Well, Russian President Vladimir Putin is stepping up his rhetoric warning NATO not to send military forces or missile systems to Ukraine. He says Russia has no intention of invading Ukraine. But warns Moscow would be forced to take action if it's threatened. Meantime, CNN has just learned that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine Thursday to discuss these growing tensions. CNN's Alex Marquardt has more now on Blinken's diplomatic efforts, including his meeting with NATO in Latvia.

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ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Secretary of State Tony Blinken warned that there would be severe consequences for Russia if there is what he called renewed aggression. Blinken was speaking with reporters here in the Latvian capital Riga. He said that the U.S. is very concerned about the Russia military troop buildup along the border with Ukraine, as well as increasingly belligerent rhetoric.

And Blinken said that Russia often pairs these moves with efforts to destabilize a country from the inside.

[04:25:00]

That was in response to a question about an allegation made by the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about a Russia-backed coup plot against him. Blinken said he did not know whether or not that was true or not, but he did say this.

ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We have seen the Russia's play book many times over and part of that play book is to attempt to create and manufacture a so-called provocation as justification for something that Russia is planning to do all along. And so, whether what's been reported fits into that play book, I don't know.

MARQUARDT: This NATO summit that Blinken is attending here in Latvia is right on Russia's doorstep, that is sure to anger Russian President Vladimir Putin who has worked relentlessly for years to undermine the NATO alliance. Blinken said he would have more to say about the situation between Russia and Ukraine following these NATO meetings. The U.S. has already shared some intelligence that it has about Russia with NATO allies. Meanwhile, the Secretary General of NATO said that Russia needs to de-escalate.

JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: We stand united in our aim to deter or shutter any further aggressive actions. We call on Russia to be transparent, de-escalate, and reduce tensions. Any the future Russian aggression against Ukraine would come at a high price.

MARQUARDT: From here, Secretary Blinken travels to the Swedish capital of Stockholm to meet with more European allies as tensions between the west and Russia heats up.

Alex Marquardt, CNN, Riga, Latvia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Donald Trump's former chief of staff agrees to cooperate with lawmakers investigating the January 6th Capitol riot. Coming up, what this mean for Mark Meadows and the insurrection probe.

And in New York, the first accuser in the sex trafficking trial against Ghislaine Maxwell takes the stand. Hear some of her emotional testimony, that's next.

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