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U.S. Confirms First Omicron Case in California; Biden to Extend Mask Mandate for Travel through March; France Reports Nearly 50,000 New Infections in 24 Hours; U.S. Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Landmark Case; 15-Year-Old Charged with Murder, Terrorism. Aired 4- 4:30a ET
Aired December 02, 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]
ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and a very warm welcome to our viewers joining us in the United States and right around the world. I'm Isa Soares in London, and just ahead right here on CNN NEWSROOM.
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DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, U.S. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: A recent case of COVID-19 among an individual in California was caused by the Omicron variant.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We know the virus is everywhere.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Omicron variant is going to dent in the vaccine numbers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: The United States records its first case of the Omicron variant while across the Atlantic, Europe says it's trying to consider vaccine mandates.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns Russia of severe consequences ahead of a meeting with the country's foreign minister. Tensions over Ukraine are the top of the agenda this hour.
And true to his word, the Woman's Tennis Association boss, puts principle ahead of profit. Suspending tournaments in China over the safety of Peng Shuai.
ANNOUNCER: Live from London, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Isa Soares.
SOARES: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the show. It is Thursday, December 2nd. We begin with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus now confirmed in the United States. Now, Dr. Anthony Fauci says the person is fully vaccinated and had recently travelled to South Africa. The U.S. is now among the many countries -- at least 28 countries in fact. Have a look at the map -- and territories with confirmed Omicron cases. Even though the World Health Organization says the Delta variant remains dominant right around the globe. Have a listen.
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FAUCI: Having a single person who had what would be considered a breakthrough infection because the person was fully vaccinated doesn't really tell you much at all. Because we have breakthrough infections with Delta, with people who have been fully vaccinated. Very often, more often than not, they have mild illness. They don't go on to any serious consequence.
From what we've heard from our colleagues at UCSF in San Francisco, that this person had mild symptoms and is actually improving. But it's only a single person, Anderson. So, you really can't make a broad general statement or extrapolation for what will go on with unvaccinated people, or people who are boosted, so there's a lot still to be learned.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Dr. Anthony Fauci giving us his perspective on that first case in the United States. Well, U.S. President Joe Biden will speak today at the National Institute of Health to lay out this strategy for fighting the Omicron variant. Mr. Biden will extend the mask mandate for people in airplanes, buses and trains through March. Earlier, Dr. Fauci explained how he and others officials are advising the president on the pandemic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FAUCI: What we're emphasizing and he's accepting very readily, the kinds of things that we're talking about, of making sure that the unvaccinated get vaccinated. And that people who are fully vaccinated get their boosters as quickly as they possibly can if they're eligible. Because the question arises, you jump ahead of yourself, and you say, well, is there going to be a variant specific boost. And if so, should I wait to get that boost. The answer is no, if you are eligible, mainly if you had the Moderna or Pfizer and you're six months following your primary regiment of vaccination, or two months following J&J, don't wait, get that extra boost now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: But not everyone is on the same page about restrictions on travel. The U.N. Secretary-General says the southern rise of travel bans amounts to, quote, travel apartheid. On Wednesday he said it's unacceptable to condemn one part of the world, especially for being responsible and reporting the new variant which has been found in the other part of the world. Have a listen.
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ANTONIO GUTERRES, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: This is a very strong appeal that I launch. Appeal to common sense. We have the instruments to have safe travel, let's use those instruments to avoid these kind of, allow me to say, travel apartheid.
(END VIDEO CLIP) SOARES: Antonio Guterres there. Well, the variant has become a global concern. CNN has correspondence in physicians right around the world to bring you the very latest. Kaitlan Collins is in Washington for us, Jim Bittermann's in Paris following Europe's vaccine mandates. Eleni Giokos is in South Africa where Omicron cases are on the rise there. And our Paula Hancocks is in Seoul. First, though, let's go to the White House where CNN's Kaitlan Collins has more on the Biden administration's plan to deal with the Omicron variant.
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KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: This is a moment that scientists and federal government had been bracing for, finding this first Omicron variant in the United States. Of course, they found this in California, in San Francisco, where an individual who had recently returned from South Africa to San Francisco, started feeling mild symptoms. Got tested, went to the doctor, got a positive result the next day. And of course, it only took about 30 hours after that for scientists to figure out that, yes, it was the Omicron variant.
Now, they said this person had mild symptoms, was fully vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine, but had not yet gotten a booster shot. So, of course, they are conducting aggressive contact tracing for this person. Though Dr. Anthony Fauci said that so far all of the close contacts had tested negative. And of course, the broader question is what this means for the United States.
The White House. While they are still waiting to get more information about this variant and whether or not the concern over it is justified. So, they're encouraging the people who are eligible to get booster shots to get them. That's about 100 million people judging by White House estimates. And so, that is what Dr. Anthony Fauci is calling on. You will see President Biden delivering a speech today, saying the same. Maybe some new regulations, of course, as they are tightening those testing restrictions for entering the United States for international travelers.
But when it comes to booster shots, Dr. Anthony Fauci said also do not wait for an Omicron specific booster shot. If it ever comes to that in you ever need that don't wait for that, go ahead and get your regular booster shot now. And of course, the questions and whether or not there are further restrictions to come, more travel restrictions or the lifting of those travel restrictions remains to be seen.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Our Kaitlan Collins there, thanks very much, Kaitlin. Well, Europe's facing really a surge in COVID-19 cases along with the growing number of infections from the Omicron variant. A fifth wave of the pandemic is hitting so far -- you can see the colors there on your screen. Nearly 50,000 infections were reported in 24 hours. A new record since April. The European Commission president said it's time for Europe to consider vaccine mandates.
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URSULA VON DER LEYEN, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT: I think it is understandable and appropriate to lead this discussion now. How we can encourage and potentially think about mandatory vaccination, within the European Union. This needs discussion. This needs a common approach, but it is a discussion that I think has to be led.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, German citizens especially the unvaccinated may face tougher restrictions as the country battles the fourth wave of COVID- 19 infections. Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel and her successor are holding crisis talks today. And Britain has sped up its contract to buy 114 million more vaccine doses in light of the Omicron variant.
For the latest, let's get to Jim Bittermann in Paris. And, Jim, we'll talk in a minute about Ursula von der Leyen's suggestion that Europe may need to do mandates, vaccine mandates. Because I'm seeing now that France has confirmed its first Omicron case in mainland France. What can you tell us?
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was confirmed just a few hours ago by the health authorities here, that basically the Omicron case is in the Paris region. It's with a man that's between 50 and 60 years old. He returned from Nigeria on the 25th of November and was tested on his return.
This is something that the French are now requiring, tests, as you return here, to make sure that you don't have the coronavirus. He tested positive, however. And they have further sequenced the positive test. And it indicates that it is the Omicron variation.
They are now also trying to verify what kind of COVID that his wife has. She also tested positive. And there's a third person that lives in the household that's also being tested. So, there are potentially three cases here of the Omicron virus.
One of the things, though, we heard this morning, Isa, from the head of the health authority here, the scientific consulate of advisers -- the government -- basically he was on television saying that people should make no mistake about it, the fifth wave of the Delta variant is really the thing that is concerning. The Omicron virus will take some time to take hold in France. It's really the Delta variant that people should be worried about.
And one of the things that indicates he's right about that is that practically 50,000 cases of COVID have been determined over the last 24 hours in France. That's way up, and the incidence rate is double what it was ten days ago. So, Isa, a lot of problems here concerning the COVID and Omicron is here as well.
SOARES: Jim Bittermann for us in Paris this hour. Thanks very much, Jim. And we go ahead to South Africa and Seoul, in about 20 minutes or so from now to hear more about Omicron concerns there. So, do stick around for that. Now, abortion rights in the United States could be on the line as the
U.S. Supreme Court starts looking around to one of the most important cases in decades. It involves an abortion law in Mississippi. But the end result could be overturning the Roe v. Wade ruling which legalized abortion for all women in America. Our Jessica Schneider has more.
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BRETT KAVANAUGH, ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES: The reason this issue's hard is that you can't accommodate both interests. You have to pick. That's the fundamental problem.
JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For the Supreme Court, six conservatives, they're questioning during two hours of arguments on Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban signaling they're inclined to uphold the law.
JOHN ROBERTS, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES: But if it really is an issue about choice, why is 15 weeks not enough time?
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): The Chief Justice, John Roberts, seem to be pushing for compromise. Let Mississippi enact its law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks with limited exceptions but stop short of completely striking down Roe v. Wade. The landmark 1972 case that established women have a constitutional right to get an abortion. The Chief Justice emphasizing the importance of precedent.
ROBERTS: If we look at it from today today's perspective, it's going to be a long list of cases that we're going to say were wrongly decided.
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): But the courts other conservatives repeatedly questioned why Roe should be upheld when the Constitution says nothing about abortion.
KAVANAUGH: The constitution is neither pro-life nor pro-choice on the question of abortion.
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): It is a case that could remake the legal landscape surrounding abortion in the United States. The arguments strew hundreds of protesters on both sides of the emotional debate to the steps of the Supreme Court. The stakes high as a dozen states have triggered laws on the books that would immediately ban abortions if the court overturns Roe.
SONIA SOTOMAYOR, ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES: Will this institution survive the stench that this creates in the public perception that the Constitution and its reading are just political acts?
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): The three liberal justices railed against the possibility that conservatives could rule against Roe. Saying it would call the courts legitimacy into question. STEPHEN BREYER, ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES: To overrule under fire in the absence of the most compelling reason, to reexamine a watershed decision would subvert the courts legitimacy beyond any serious question.
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): All sides seem to be bracing for seismic change.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Almost 50 years of the slaughter of innocent babies is too much. We're done.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am just full of angst that we could take this huge step backwards.
SCHNEIDER: The justices' questioning points to the strong possibility that abortion rights will be rolled back by this court and the impact could be immediate. If the court limits their rule and simply allows Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban to take effect, other states could write similar laws. But if the court overturns Roe v. Wade completely abortion right advocates estimate that half of the nation's states would then quickly act to completely ban abortions.
Jessica Schneider, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Well, the U.S. House committee investigating the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol signal it may pursue a criminal contempt report against Jeffrey Clark if he stone walls the investigation any further. Clark is a former Justice Department official who promoted Trump falsehoods about a stolen election. He walked out in an earlier deposition. Clark now tells the committee he will submit to questions on Saturday but intends to invoke the Fifth Amendment against self- incrimination. Republican Vice Chair Liz Cheney warned nobody is above the law, including the former president. Have a listen.
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REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY): Any communications Mr. Trump has with this committee will be under oath. And if he persists in lying then, he will be accountable under the laws of this great nation. And subject to criminal penalties for every false word he speaks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, Trump's former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows is scheduled to appear before the committee next week, he tells a right-wing broadcaster here in the U.K., they will honor Trump's claims of executive privilege and will only discuss nonprivileged information. He's already given the committee thousands of emails as well as documents.
Now, a teenage suspect makes his first court appearance, as a Michigan community mourns the victims of the deadliest U.S. school shooting this year. We'll have the details for you ahead. And as the Omicron variant spreads across the globe, new infections
spike across Asia. We'll have the latest in a live report next. You are watching CNN.
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SOARES: Now, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, five children remain hospitalized after that Christmas parade tragedy early last week, if you remember. The children's hospital in Wisconsin has been treating 18 children. The parade turned deadly after a man fleeing another incident plowed his SUV through the crowd. In all, six people were killed. One of the victims eight years old, 62 people were injured.
Now, an Oxford, Michigan community is mourning the four students who were killed in Tuesday's school shooting, seven others were wounded. A 14-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to his jaw and head has been discharged but three others are still in hospital. 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley faces first-degree murder and terrorism charges. Authorities said school officials met with Crumbley and his parents hours before the shooting to discuss behavior they found concerning. CNN's Adrienne Broaddus reports for you.
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ADRIENNE BROADDUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The suspect appeared virtually in court as police described the shooting and his attorney asked the court to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf.
MARC KEAST, OAKLAND COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE: He methodically and deliberately walked down the hallway, aiming the firearm at students and firing. Right outside the bathroom, he began firing, Judge. This continued on for four or approximately five minutes. The defendant went to another bathroom. As Deputies arrived, he set the firearm down and he surrendered.
BROADDUS (voice over): The suspect's parents also watching the proceedings via video. As police detailed videos, the suspect recorded on his cell phone and his journal writings.
LIEUTENANT TIM WILLIS, OPEN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: The night before the incident wherein he talked about shooting and killing students the next day at Oxford High School.
[04:20:00]
While Further, a journal was recovered from Ethan's backpack also dealing -- detailing his desire to shoot up the school to include murdering students.
BROADDUS (voice over): The Oxford Michigan School student shot 11 people on Tuesday, killing four, after a meeting with his parents and school authorities earlier that same day. We were with the Pittman family learning about one of the victims, Tate Myre from his friend, JaVon. JAVON PITTMAN, OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: Tate is probably the most best person I proudly meet besides my dad and besides God. Tate was always -- he's smart in class. Me and him used to joke around, me and him used to play.
BROADDUS (voice over): And then news, another classmate died.
PITTMAN: Oh, Justin. Justin. No. I knew Justin.
JAMAR PITTMAN, FATHER: That was a good boy.
BROADDUS (voice over): JaVon described calling his dad during the shooting.
PITTMAN: I was whispering because I didn't want the shooter to hear me and my classmates, and my dad was just asking me, what's going on? What's happening? And I told him it's a shooting, somebody is here shooting up the school and he told me, he said, OK, I'm on my way.
BROADDUS: Why your dad? Is he your superhero?
PITTMAN: Yes.
JAMAR PITTMAN: You can't save your kids, that's devastating. I would rather been the one that got shot than my kids.
BROADDUS (voice over): Afraid for their lives other students sheltered in their classroom, barricading the entry, refusing to open the door for authorities.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Open the door.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not taking that risk right now.
BROADDUS (voice over): And then, escaping through a classroom window, following the training they never wanted to use.
When police took the suspect into custody on Tuesday, he still had 18 rounds of ammunition.
In Oxford, Michigan, families are now left with a nightmare that for some will never end.
VONTYSHA PITTMAN, MOTHER: I'm turning off the light and I have my kids. Sharon and Todd don't have Tate. I can turn off the light and they'll be in the room, but there are some parents that that room is going to be empty.
BROADDUS: And we also learned the suspect's father purchased the gun that was used in the shooting four days prior to the shooting. On Wednesday, the prosecuting attorney said the suspect's parents could face potential charges. When asked if there was evidence to support those potential charges, she didn't go into detail.
Meanwhile, JaVon Pittman and his family were vulnerable with us, as you just saw in this story. JaVon said he will miss his classmates. Every Thursday he is varsity teammates met up at Tate's house for dinner ahead of their football games. This is their senior year, a time when they are supposed to create memorable moments. But what happened inside of the high school behind me is something that JaVon says will haunt him forever.
Adrienne Broaddus, CNN, Oxford, Michigan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Terrifying experience for the Pittman family and all of the other children of course.
Now, actor Alec Baldwin now says he did not pull the trigger of the gun on the movie set "Rust" crewmember that killed Halyna Hutchins. Bolduan made the claim while speaking with ABC news -- his first interview since the tragic shooting. An attorney for prop master Sarah Zachry denies that she handed or loaded the gun that went off while Baldwin was holding it. He says only two people on the set were responsible for Baldwin's gun and ammo and Zachry wasn't one of them.
Now, the first accuser to testify in the sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell broke down on the stand during her second day of testimony. When asked about money she received from the Epstein Victim Compensation Fund, she said sometimes it's the only thing victims can get to move on with their lives.
The woman said she was 14 years old when Jeffrey Epstein began sexually abusing her and testified that Maxwell would sometimes join in. The British socialite is charged with six federal crimes including the sex trafficking of minors. She has pleaded not guilty. We'll stay of course, on top of that story for you.
Still to come right here on the show, South Africa is reporting a high number of Omicron cases as scientists race to figure out more about the variant. We are live for you this hour in Johannesburg, that is next.
Plus, the Women's Tennis Association takes a stand against China over tennis star Peng Shuai. Why the organization says it's suspending all tournaments in the country. That is next.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Isa Soares. If you're just joining us, let me bring you up to date with our top story at this hour.
A Michigan community is mourning the four people killed in a school shooting on Tuesday. Seven other people were injured. The suspect a 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley is facing first degree murder and terrorism charges.
The United States has confirmed its first coronavirus -- Omicron variant case. Dr. Anthony Fauci says the person was fully vaccinated and recently traveled from South Africa. President Biden is expected to announce plans for handling the variant. We'll bring you that for you live in the coming hours.
Meanwhile, the president of vaccine maker Moderna says the Omicron variant is giving his company a serious concern. He says it seems likely that the mutation will make a dent in vaccine efficacy. But boosters will provide at least some extent of protection. Have a listen.
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DR. STEPHEN HOGE, MODERNA PRESIDENT: What is clear right now, is we're in the throes of a pandemic. And the virus continues to mutate and evolve in breakthrough some of our defenses, whether it's vaccine- induced or previous infection. And so, in the face of all of that force of infection, that much virus circulating, we do believe it's important that we continue to boost populations because we've seen the damage that can be wrong when you see breakthrough infections, hospitalizations, new breakthrough through deaths.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Moderna president was commenting after Moderna's CEO sent stock market stumbling on Tuesday -- if you remember -- when he suggested the current vaccines would struggle with Omicron.
Now, more countries around the world are reporting cases of the Omicron variant as new infections spike. South Africa, where the virus was first discovered, reported nearly 75 percent of COVID tests taken in a key province, all sequenced for the Omicron variant.
