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Devastating Tornadoes Rip Through Eight U.S. States; Prime Minister Boris Johnson's 2020 Christmas Party Photo During Lockdown; Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett Official Visit to UAE. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired December 13, 2021 - 02:00   ET

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

[02:00:00]

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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN HOST: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. You are watching "CNN Newsroom" and I'm rosemary church. Just ahead.

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ANDY BESHEAR, GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY: In Dawson Springs, again, that's where my family is from. It's a town of about 2,700. The list of unaccounted for was about eight pages, single spaced.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Hundreds still missing, homes destroyed, and communities in shock. My guest's home was completely destroyed in the storm in Dawson Springs, Kentucky.

Plus, we will take a look at the global nursing shortage. Why so many in the healthcare field are preparing to quit their jobs.

And we're live in Johannesburg where the South African president has tested positive for COVID.

And we begin with the desperate search for survivors after the deadliest December tornado outbreak in U.S. history. Dozens of people were killed when a series of powerful tornados tore through several states over the weekend. Kentucky, the hardest hit, the governor says in the best-case scenario, at least 50 people died in his state.

But he says crews are still finding bodies and he fears the final toll could be much higher. Still, rescuers are looking for signs of life as they dig through the rubble including at a candle factory that was flattened in the small town of Mayfield.

Initially, officials feared dozens may have died inside that factory. But a company spokesperson said Sunday that most employees did make it out. Eight have been confirmed dead, though, and eight others are still unaccounted for.

It wasn't just the factory that was destroyed, the entire town of Mayfield was decimated. Tornados, also, caused destruction in several other towns and cities. The heads of U.S. Homeland Security and FEMA are now on the ground bringing federal resources to help.

U.S. President Joe Biden also has approved a major disaster declaration in Kentucky freeing up even more federal funds. Kentucky's governor says the outpouring of support has helped ease some of the heartbreak.

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BESHEAR: We're grateful for the outpouring of love. It's the best way I can describe it. From all over the country and from all walks of life, I want to thank everybody for standing with the people of Kentucky. We feel it. In fact, one of our -- one of our biggest challenges right now is organizing the amount of people that want to help, want to donate, and want to volunteer. But you know what? That's the best challenge that any of us could -- could ask for.

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CHURCH: CNN's Brynn Gingras is on the ground in Mayfield where she spoke with one family who managed to ride out the storm.

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are seeing electric crews, volunteer fire departments, police departments descending on Mayfield willing to help everybody here get through this, and there is so much work to be done. I just want you to see what's behind me, what I believe is a preschool. This is just some of the damage that is really all across this town of 10,000 people.

This particular school is actually blocking part of the street in downtown Mayfield and it was moved off its foundation. You can still see inside the school, some of the stuff in there is still intact. It's quite an eerie scene. And I got to tell you talking to so many people in this town, the people that call Mayfield home, they're stunned. They're in disbelief.

They are trying to figure out what the next day and the next day is going to bring them. Some of them, thanking god that they are alive. We talked to one couple who hunkered down in a crawl space of their home with their 6-year-old daughter. I want to hear -- you to hear from them about how they survived this storm.

SAMANTHA BURNS, SURVIVED TORNADO IN BASEMENT: Me and our daughter were sitting on that pallet. This door here is what kept us alive basically, along with him because he was holding it with a lanyard. Just a lanyard.

DE'AMONTE WILLIAMS, SURVIVED TORNADO IN BASEMENT: I never felt nothing like that in my life. It felt like there was 10 grown men on the other side of this door trying to pull it off the hinges.

GINGRAS: So he's holding the door shut.

BURNS: Yes.

GINGRAS: You're holding your 6-year-old daughter.

BURNS: Yes.

GINGRAS: Can you just describe being a mom?

[02:04:58]

BURNS: We were just -- I just told her to close her eyes and she started counting. So, she's like-- I was like, hide and seek mom.

GINGRAS: And of course, as we know, there is so much loss of life as well. Still, people are being -- there is work to try to rescue them or recover their bodies, particularly at that candle factory where so many people are still missing.

We talked to one family who lost a member of their family, a 47-year- old who was working at that candle factory at night. His family now remembering him as just a happy person and missing him this holiday season coming up. So much despair in Mayfield, but again, so much resilience to move forward from all of this devastation. Back to you.

CHURCH: And Friday night's tornados nearly flattened the town of Dawson Springs, Kentucky. The mayor says about 75 percent of the town is gone. Hundreds of people are now displaced after their homes were turned into rubble. At least 13 people were killed. More than 100 others are missing. The town still doesn't have power and it could be weeks before it's restored. CNN's Ed Lavandera has the latest now from Dawson Springs.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The death toll continues to rise here in Hopkins County, Kentucky. We are in the city of Dawson Spring. A town of about nearly 3,000 people. Emergency management officials tell us that two-thirds of this city was decimated by the tornados that ripped through here on Friday night.

And this is the destruction that many people are still trying to comb through at this time. Everywhere you look, it was a stretch the emergency officials tell us that the storm left a swath about a half- mile wide of destruction. That it went from the western county line all the way to the eastern county line here in Hopkins County.

They say it's unlike anything the residents of this county and this community has ever seen. And that really goes well with what we have heard from residents who survived the direct impact of these storms. Many people who jumped into their basements if they had one to save their own lives. It was that kind of desperation that so many people here have described to us.

And they do say it was over in a flash, but that it was a level of intensity, not just homes toppled over by the storm, but simply shredded. This is a scene where it really feels like the epicenter of a massively explosive blast. Back to you.

CHURCH: Jeff Jennings is a resident of Dawson Springs, Kentucky, whose house was destroyed by the tornado. He's also the father of CNN political commentator Scott Jennings who shot this video that we are showing you right now. Jeff joins me on the phone from Princeton, Kentucky. Thank you, sir, for talking with us and I am so sorry for the loss of your home.

JEFF JENNINGS, KENTUCKY RESIDENT (via telephone): Thank you. It's -- I'm glad to be here.

CHURCH: Now, your son, Scott, spoke to CNN earlier and he said he was so shocked when he first pulled up to the remains of the family home that he wasn't even sure that he was at the right place because of the total devastation. What were your thoughts when you first saw your home after this tornado hit?

JENNINGS: Well, to be honest, you know, you can see video time after time of these supercell tornados coming through towns and cities and until you see, you know, the homes of your neighbors, your friends, your family, and your own home that has been hit by one of these, you just -- you have no idea, you know, how overwhelming it is to experience that.

CHURCH: Yes, I can imagine. And you were not actually in your home at the time. Where were you when this tornado came through and how did you get through this safely?

JENNINGS: Actually, I watch weather and I had watched these -- these storms progress from Arkansas up through Kentucky and I was on the phone with a friend of mine that lived across town who had a basement. And I had stayed with them for a period of time at one point in my life. And anyway, he -- he offered me, you know, to come over if I wanted to. And I told him I was going to watch one more update and when they told me that Princeton, Kentucky, was next and then Dawson Springs, I told him I would be over there in five minutes and I was.

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CHURCH: Do you think going there saved your life?

JENNINGS: You know, that's -- that's hard to say. I do know of three people that lost their lives that lived out in -- in the Oak Heights vicinity where I live. So, you know, you never know. My house -- while it is a total loss, it does still have some of the, you know, walls standing and everything. So, you know, it's hard to say that. But I was glad to be where I was.

CHURCH: Yes. Yes, and we're glad, too. And, sir, what are your thoughts as you survey your town of Dawson Springs? And how long do you think it will take to rebuild it?

JENNINGS: You know, it's going to take years. I mean, we're a small town. A lot of the homes, you know, have been there for several years. My home was built in '72 and -- but just, you know, the town is kind of two halves. The half of the town that I lived on is pretty much destroyed. And it's just going to take a long time. I mean, it's hard to get -- you know, it's hard to get lumber and the different things that you need to rebuild right now.

CHURCH: Absolutely. JENNINGS: And, you know, it's just going -- it's going to take a long

time. I'm not sure we'll ever be the same again.

CHURCH: And you say that your house, it's totally destroyed, so what are your plans going forward? Where will you go?

JENNINGS: Right now, I'm not certain, you know, what I'm going to do. I -- I grew up out on Oak Heights where I live and I still live there now in a different home. Of course, it's going to have to be torn down and rebuilt or whatever if I decide to stay there. So, I really haven't decided yet. I am going to just, you know, I'm still trying to just get my bearings after all of this. It's -- it is definitely a life-changing event.

CHURCH: Yes. I mean, it just takes so long to process a situation like this. Jeff Jennings, thank you so much for talking with us and our hearts go out to you and your family and the loss of your home. Do take care.

JENNINGS: Thank you so much.

CHURCH: Thank you. And of course, we know that many of you want to do something to help the victims of this tragedy. The CNN Impact Your World site has verified ways to do just that. And will be updated as more information on resources becomes available. But you can go there right now. Visit cnn.com/impact to help.

More fuel for the fire. Coming up on CNN, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing new controversy over a 2020 Christmas Party. We'll have a live report from London.

Plus, Israel's prime minister looks to deepen ties during his trip to the UAE. The first such visit by an Israeli leader. We'll have the details in a report, just ahead.

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BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Omicron is doubling here in the U.K. every two to three days. And we know from bitter experience how these exponential curves develop. No one should be in any doubt. There is a tidal wave of omicron coming.

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CHURCH: That was the British prime minister sounding the alarm on Sunday after the U.K. confirmed its first hospitalizations due to the omicron variant. Starting today, everyone in England who can work from home is asked to do so. Face coverings are now compulsory in public. And parliament meets Tuesday to consider a mandatory COVID-19 pass.

But Prime Minister Boris Johnson has more problems on his already- crowded plate. A 2020 photo of Mr. Johnson at a Christmas quiz party at 10 Downing Street was published by British newspaper "The Mirror." The event occurred while strict coronavirus restrictions were in place. It is part of a wider scandal that's hurting both the prime minister and his party.

So let's bring in CNN's Salma Abdelaziz who joins us live from London. Good to see you, Salma. So, this comes on the heels of one of Boris Johnson's top advisers resigning over a leaked video showing her joking about an alleged Downing Street Christmas party held during lockdown. What is the latest on all of this and just how damaging could this prove to be?

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Yes. That photograph is yet another detail in just this growing and growing body of evidence about multiple Christmas parties taking place during a very strict lockdown last year, during a period in time in which a variant was sweeping through this country claiming hundreds of lives a day.

I just want to show you, Rosemary, the front page of "The Mirror" from the weekend, the newspaper that released that photograph. You can see there, Taking Us for Fools Again."

The prime minister's office says that that photograph was taken for a remote pop quiz Christmas party quiz, that it was done remotely and that people were at work late because they were key workers. They were doing late hours at Downing Street, but that is simply not flying in the court of public opinion, Rosemary.

It's just another additional detail that builds on this growing frustration, this growing anger, this growing sense that the government not only does not apply the rules that it sets to itself. It also is willing to lie and cover those violations. And this comes at a very difficult time for Prime Minister Boris Johnson. As you heard earlier there, more restrictions coming into place starting today.

[02:19:59]

People are going to be asked to work from home whenever possible. The authorities concerned about the rise of the omicron variant. It seems to be doubling every two to three days, the number of cases linked to this variant. And the prime minister going out yesterday in a taped address to the nation and calling on everyone to get boosted, boosted, boosted.

He wants to increase that layer of vaccine protection across the country. He's also brought forward a very ambitious plan, a very ambitious date to get everyone an invitation to get their booster jab before the end of this month. It was originally before the end of January. Now, bringing that up to before the end of this month, Rosemary.

So, prime minister very much embattled, trying to win back support, particularly within his own party. And at the same time, trying to get that reputation, trying to get that standing to call on this country to fight yet another variant of COVID-19, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Yes, absolutely. Salma Abdelaziz joining us live from London. Many thanks.

Israel's prime minister is expected to meet soon with the UAE's crown prince. Naftali Bennett is the first Israeli leader to make an official visit to the country. He arrived in Abu Dhabi late Sunday, more than a year after the two countries normalized their relationship. Mr. Bennett says he will discuss ways to further deepen ties during his talks with the crown prince. CNN's Hadas Gold has more now from Jerusalem.

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HADAS GOLD, CNN REPORTER (voice-over): For the first time ever, an Israeli prime minister will set foot into the UAE's glittering presidential palace for an official visit. Naftali Bennett set to meet the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheik Mohammad Bin Zayed on Monday morning.

NAFTALI BENNETT, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL: We're going to be discussing ways to further our cooperation in a number of fields.

GOLD (voice-over): Just over a year after the two countries signed on to the Abraham Accords, normalization agreements between Israel and Arab countries, once considered enemies.

Israel's former Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was meant to make the inaugural visit, but several planned trips were cancelled at the last minute. The past year has seen a flurry of diplomatic, cultural, and business activity kicked off by the first Israeli El Al flight to cross Saudi Arabian air space and land in the UAE.

Faring former White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and senior Israeli officials. Less than a year later, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid opened the first Israeli embassy in Abu Dhabi.

YAIR LAPID, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: Our hand is outstretched. Our people are ready. Our country is ready. And our new government is ready.

GOLD (voice-over): As a string of Emirati political and military officials have made their way to Israel. Tourism hampered by COVID but bolstered by Israel's pavilion at the Dubai expo. But the top of the agenda for the two leaders will likely be Iran, a shared concern for both countries. With negotiations in Europe ongoing around a return to a possible nuclear deal.

NAFTALI: Such a murderous regime should not be rewarded.

GOLD (voice-over): Israel increasing its rhetoric about being ready to carry out a military strike, while the Emiratis have been working to improve ties with their neighbor. The UAE senior national security adviser in Tehran just last week for a rare visit with Iran's president as the Emiratis try to contain regional tensions. A critical meeting for Israel's Bennett, one that could have far-reaching consequences beyond the photo op. Hadas Gold, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEO CLIP) CHURCH: And coming up. Back to our top story, the devastating tornados that tore through several states, including Illinois where an Amazon warehouse collapsed.

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CHURCH: Welcome back everyone. I want to go back to our top story, the devastating tornados that tore through the central United States this weekend. This is the destruction in Edwardsville, Illinois at what used to be an Amazon warehouse. At least six people died when a powerful tornado hit the building.

A warning siren rang out 11 minutes before the thick concrete walls collapsed inward and the roof crumbled downward. CNN's Polo Sandoval is at the scene in Edwardsville.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here in southwest Illinois, you are getting a clearer picture right now of the devastation that was left behind via the series of storms on Friday night. A look from above and you can actually see how a tornado cut through an Amazon shipping center here, causing multiple injuries and deaths of at least six people.

In fact, today, authorities confirming their identities, they range from 26 to 62 years old, all employees at this location here. And now, operations basically shifting to cleanup as from our vantage point. You can actually see crews removing portions of the building that were structurally compromised and they are doing so confident that everybody has been accounted for.

In fact, police here on the ground confirming today that they no longer have any outstanding reports of any missing individuals. Amazon also on scene here not just working with authorities here in the cleanup process, but also answering some of those important questions that we've been asking really all weekend long about the policies and procedures that are in place to keep their employees safe in the event of severe weather. Here is how one spokesperson described what took place on Friday night as the storm moved in.

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KELLY NANTEL, AMAZON SPOKESPERSON: The tornado warning siren actually went off and we had about 11 minutes from that time to the time that the tornado hit the ground in order to get our employees and our partners into a safe place.

Our managers were on the loud speakers telling people to get to the shelter-in-place area. They were also being guided by other managers and other employees who were trying to get everybody to that safe location. We had people in two different sheltering areas.

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SANDOVAL: A separate spokesperson confirming that they are actively working not just with the community but also those families that have been affected, especially the families of those six employees who perished at this location on Friday as this storm swept through. Polo Sandoval, CNN, Edwardsville, Illinois.

CHURCH: And one of the victims of the Amazon collapse has been identified as 29-year-old Clayton Cope. His mother says she believes Clayton spent his last minutes making sure others were safe.

[02:29:53]

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CARLA COPE, SON DIED WHEN TORNADO HIT WAREHOUSE: In my heart, I know that he -- he went to try to warn other people to get where they needed to be. And between his military training and just who he was, he would've done that no matter whether, you know, he was told to or not. So that's the only thing I can hold on to is that I feel like he must have been trying to help someone else.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN HOST: Just heartbreaking. Clayton was a U.S. Navy veteran. He had been working as a mechanic at the Amazon warehouse for a little more than a year. Well, South Africa's president is getting treatment for COVID-19 after testing positive on Sunday. We'll have the latest on his condition in a live report from Johannesburg, that's next

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CHURCH: South African officials say President Cyril Ramaphosa has tested positive for COVID-19 and is receiving treatment. His symptoms are mild, but he has delegated his responsibilities to the deputy president for the next week. Mr. Ramaphosa said in a statement he's infection serves as a reminder to everyone in the country to get vaccinated and stay vigilant against exposure. CNN's Larry Madowo joins me now live from Johannesburg. Good to see you, Larry. So what is the latest on the condition of South Africa's president?

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We haven't had any more Rosemary, beyond the statement we got from the presidency last night about the President's diagnosis. His last public event was in Cape Town. He was at the state memorial for South Africa's last Apartheid Era President F.W. de Klerk. And the presidency said he started feeling unwell. So he got a test and that's when he tested positive.

So that's the last time we saw the president. He's reported to be having mild symptoms. President Ramaphosa has been traveling in West Africa. He spent about a week in Ghana, in Nigeria in Cote d'Ivoire, and in Senegal, where he had lots of public events. He had press engagements and things that is he attended a press conference and a summit in one of those countries. They said they followed all the protocols, social distancing, mask wearing.

You see him in video wearing masks and all that but that speaks to how quickly COVID-19 is spreading in this country so it's not clear if he caught COVID-19 while here in the country or during his travels. It could be anywhere.

[02:35:00]

So far the positivity rates last 24 hours of tests carried out in South Africa, 28.9 percent. South Africa is approaching an all-time record of daily cases, which were reported back in July. So, even though early data indicates that this Omicron variant appears to be milder, even though these - easily transmissible between one person to the other is still a cause for concern and that is why President Ramaphosa has been encouraging South Africans to get vaccinated because that is truly one of the strongest ways of protecting themselves as the country tries to learn more and the world tries to learn more about how this new variant behaves in vaccinated people.

CHURCH: Yes, we cannot labor that point enough. People need to get out, get vaccinated. Certainly that third shot if possible. Larry Madowo joining us live from Johannesburg. Many thanks. Well, some sobering numbers for the U.S. in the COVID crisis. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. is approaching 50 million cases and ticking closer to 800,000 deaths. Health experts are pleading with Americans to get vaccinated as the Omicron variant continues to spread.

Nearly 61 percent of the country is fully vaccinated. That's according to the CDC. And just under 27 percent of that group has received a booster, that third shot. As of Sunday, the COVID-19 Omicron variant has been identified in at least 29 U.S. states and Washington DC. Well, for our U.S. viewers later in the show, I will be talking about the uptick in COVID-19 cases with Dr. Ashish Jha, the Dean of Brown University School of Public Health.

Meantime, the pandemic continues to push healthcare systems across the world to the brink. CNNs Michael Holmes reports experts fear the Omicron variant could make matters even worse.

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MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Champs Elysees sparkles at night full of holiday lights and shoppers, some wearing masks, some not. A festive scene, but there is a different hustle and bustle going on in hospitals in France and elsewhere in Europe too, one that is far more urgent and devoid of cheer.

Hospitals once again in some regions of France are almost filled to capacity due to a rise in new COVID-19 cases. Even though the country has more than 70 percent of its population fully vaccinated. Some medical centers are struggling to admit new patients and have activated emergency plans, which include expanding the number of ICU beds and postponing non-essential treatments.

Another wave of COVID-19 that is wearing down and already weary staff.

JULEN CARVELLI, ICU DOCTOR (through translator): You know, work has been very hard for two years, especially in COVID units. We've had people who are competent to work in ICUs who left and they no longer want to be hired in a COVID unit. HOLMES: Hospital wards already strained with patients infected by the Delta variant of the coronavirus brace for what could come next. The UK says people sick from the fast spreading Omicron variant are now being admitted to hospitals. The CEO of the International Council of Nurses who heads a group representing 27 million nurses says this could be the breaking point for many healthcare workers.

He says turnover could be alarming. His Organization estimates the rates of nurses intending to leave the job within a year has risen to 20 percent to 30 percent.

HOWARD CATTON, CEO, INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF NURSES: The feeling that they've run already two or three or even four marathons with each wave of the pandemic. The prospects of having to go again means that many of them are not sure whether they can.

HOLMES: The nurses group says there was already a global shortage of 6 million nurses before the pandemic, and many were set to retire in the next few years. But the pandemic has further drained the ranks. The World Health Organization says up to 180,000 healthcare workers may have died from COVID-19 from the beginning of the pandemic through May of this year, and a small percentage of leaving because of vaccine mandates.

Germany recently joined a number of other European countries like France and Italy to require vaccinations or proof of recovery from COVID-19 for all healthcare workers beginning in March. A new study in the UK says without additional measures, there could be more hospitalizations in England this winter than last because of the Omicron variant. Experts warning large numbers of even less severe cases would have an impact on hospitals.

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CATTON: My sense is that nurses around the world, I think like all of us were perhaps starting to feel as though we were seeing light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. But now, there's a palpable anxiety that we could be going back close to square one.

HOLMES: A setback that could derail what many healthcare workers really want this holiday season, desperately needed break. Michael Holmes, CNN.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And I'm Rosemary Church. World Sport is up next for our international viewers, for everyone else the news continues after this short break, stay with us.

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[02:45:00]

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CHURCH: Back to our top story now. Dozens of people are feared dead after a series of devastating tornadoes ripped through the central U.S. over the weekend. The storms touched down in eight states but it was Kentucky that bore the brunt of the devastation. The town of Mayfield was nearly leveled. On Sunday, the National Weather Service confirmed the town was hit by at least an EF3 tornado, though that rating could still increase.

That means winds - wind speeds up to 165 miles per hour or 266 kilometers an hour. An EF3 tornado also touchdown in Bowling Green, Kentucky, leaving behind widespread destruction and you can see entire homes reduced to piles of debris. And in Dawson Springs the death toll from the storm rose to 13 on Sunday, with dozens still unaccounted for.

The town's mayor estimates 75 percent of the town was destroyed, calling the situation just devastating. And joining me now is meteorologist Pedram Javaheri and Pedram, it is the deadliest December tornado outbreak in the - in U.S. history with more than what, 30 tornadoes across eight U.S. states. What is driving this?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes you know, remarkable pattern, right Rosemary? When you think about what is played out here, in the past couple of days, you look at the climatological norm of when tornadoes of this intensity, this magnitude take place, certainly nowhere near the month of December. Climatologically, it is by far the quietest month of the year across the United States, only 23 tornadoes on average. And you see where the numbers shape up.

And Rosemary, a lot of people kind of look at this and think maybe climate change certainly could play a role in this. And I'm here to say that there isn't really great data right now kind of suggesting the point pointing to climate change and kind of going with human induced climate change related to strengthening of tornadoes and the frequency of tornadoes.

Certainly plenty of data to pinpoint flooding, related to climate change, extreme heat waves, extreme drought, even some hurricanes that you could kind of tie that into climate change. But the data is just not there when it comes to tornadoes. But when you take a look at what has happened, there is some data certainly to suggest that tornado alley has shifted farther towards the east in the past four decades. And that's where we can kind of draw this and kind of see how things have played out in the last couple of days.

Just over a 24 to 36 hour span, upwards of 50 plus reports of tornadoes, you notice 400 plus to be your wind reports. And that's across generally in the eastern periphery of the United States where historically Tornado Alley is across the Central Plains and portions again, of the central United States. But all of this shifting a little farther to the east.

We have data to suggest that, Hoosier alley is smaller area towards the Midwest, even Carolina alley where we've seen tornadoes historically across this region as well. And all of this gradually shifting a little farther towards the east. Now, the current - current pattern we're seeing across the world, La Nina in place, that also is indicative of seeing - tornado season shift a little farther towards the east, the areas of impact shift a little farther towards the east.

So that is what is kind of playing a role potentially into what we've seen play out here and certainly the storms as new - as you noted, they're strong as we've seen them on record for the month of December. As devastating as you'll ever see it for really any time of year and one of these tornadoes tracking over 300 kilometers or more than 200 miles also plays a role into leaving the amount of fatalities, the amount of destruction we saw, Rosemary across at least four states there. So an incredible last couple of days across the eastern U.S.

CHURCH: It is just been horrendous for people. Pedram Javaheri, many thanks for bringing us up to date on the situation there. Well, two sheriff's deputies in the Mayfield Kentucky area were out on patrol during the storms. Debris hit their cars including a piece of lumber that crashed through a windshield. One car was lifted off the ground and spun sideways.

Amazingly, both officers lived to tell the tale. Shortly after the tornado passed, a scream from a little girl snap them into action.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When we heard the screaming, I went back and grabbed my medic bag and then we took off to the house.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By that time Chief Debbie Jeremy Prince was coming to help us. He arrived and he said there was a girl inside that was bleeding profusely. So we ran up there with our tourniquet and it appeared that her leg were seriously injured.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was just muscle memory. Just you know what I knew had to be done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: That little girl had life threatening injuries, but thanks to those officers, she's going to be OK. Well, some sobering numbers for the U.S. in the COVID crisis. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. is now approaching 50 million cases and ticking closer to 800,000 deaths. Health experts are pleading with Americans to get vaccinated as the Omicron variant continues to spread.

[02:50:00]

Nearly 61 percent of the country is fully vaccinated according to the CDC, and just under 27 percent of that group has received a booster. As of Sunday, the COVID-19 Omicron variant has been identified in at least 29 U.S. states and Washington DC.

Dr. Ashish Jha is the Dean of Brown University School of Public Health and joins me now from Providence, Rhode Island. Thank you, doctor for all that you do.

DR. ASHISH JHA, DEAN, BROWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: Thank you for having me, Rosemary. CHURCH: Absolutely. So the Omicron variant, it has been a wakeup call for governments all around the world as they put new restrictions in place. But what we do know is that a third booster shot offers the best protection. And over here in the U.S., just under 27 percent, of the nearly 61 percent of fully vaccinated people have actually received that third booster shot. What is your message to everyone on this?

JHA: Yes, my message is really very clear. Omicron is highly contagious. And it really seems to break through infection - breakthrough vaccines, and cause breakthrough infections for people who have only gotten two shots. So if you want to protect yourself, if you're an adult, you're six months out from your second shot, it's a no brainer, you should be getting a booster. It's the best way to get through what I think is going to be the next few weeks and couple of months ahead with Omicron.

CHURCH: And at the moment we know that the United Kingdom is toughening restrictions as a result of the Omicron variant, making masks compulsory, getting people to work from home if they can and seriously considering a compulsory COVID-19 Pass that will go to Parliament. How important are those measures? And should other nations be considering this too, or simply trying to get as many people that third shot?

JHA: I think you need an all of the above strategy. So certainly getting people that third shot is going to be very, very helpful. I think in the United States, this issue of mask mandates remains hotly debated. There's no question behind the science. I think putting in mask mandates, asking people to mask up will help quite a bit in places where there are large surgeons happening. But the question is, is your policy interest in doing so. From a pure public health point of view, it would certainly help a lot.

CHURCH: And according to the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. is now approaching the 50 million mark in COVID cases and nearing 800,000 deaths. What do those numbers tell you? What do they indicate?

JHA: Yes, for me, it's those are very, very sad milestones. What it indicates is we are a country where there is just a massive amount of toxic misinformation, which has made it very hard to control this pandemic. And we have not had the kind of political leadership from many of our leaders, many of our state and federal leaders to really stand up and get this virus under control. And so we're seeing the effects of that both in terms of number of infections, but particularly in terms of lives lost.

CHURCH: Right and of course, now we are seeing warnings of a growing nursing shortage worldwide, because so many health workers, they're just burned out from this pandemic, and some are even contemplating quitting their jobs. In other instances, some hospitals here in the U.S. are allowing nurses who refuse to get vaccinated to keep working at those hospitals. What is your reaction to all of this?

JHA: Yes, on one hand it's understandable from a healthcare provider organization, the hospital saying, well, we already have a shortage. But I actually think this is a real abdication of leadership. And here's why Rosemary. I mean, first and foremost, we know that when people put in vaccine mandates, most people end up just getting vaccinated. Very few people want to quit, and very, very, very few end up quitting for that reason alone. The shortages are not from this cause.

And the second is from a patient's safety point of view. It's unconscionable to ask patients who are immunocompromised to come to the hospital and get taken care of by an unvaccinated person. So the answer here is really clear. And I don't think it will hurt staffing if we continue with the mandates.

CHURCH: I know it's difficult to look into the future, but from what's happening now and the reaction to the Omicron variant, when do you think we will see this in the rearview mirror?

JHA: Yes, I think 2022 is the year that we're going to see this pandemic in a very different way and in many ways in the rearview mirror. And that's because Omicron variant will come, the wave will wash over us. It will create that much more population immunity and hopefully people will not get very, very sick. That's always a thing to try to avoid.

But we are going to get to a point by even by spring where most people are going to have either been vaccinated or infected. Future variants if they do arrive will have less and less of an impact and I think we will slowly find our way out of this pandemic.

CHURCH: It's nice to end on a hopeful note. Dr. Ashish Jha, always a pleasure to talk with you. Many thanks.

JHA: Thank you.

[02:55:00]

CHURCH: A woman who brings beauty and hope to homeless men and women just got a special award.

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ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: The 2021 CNN Hero of the Year is. Shirley Raines.

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CHURCH: And you heard it there. Shirley Raines, this year's CNN Hero of the Year, Raines and her nonprofit Beauty to the Streets have been a mainstay on Los Angeles Skid Row for the past six years. She provides food, clothing, and hair and makeup services to 1000s. Raines says her goal is to make broken people feel hope.

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SIRLEY RAINES, 2021 CNN HERO OF THE YEAR: First and foremost, I want to thank the amazing nine honorees I have been with. This certainly has not been easy. I stand before you today, a very broken woman. My life would never be the same since my son died. But it's important that you know that broken people are still very much useful. We are very much useful.

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CHURCH: And congratulations to her. If you would like to support Raines' work or any of the nonprofit organizations of the top 10 CNN Heroes, you can also make a donation all donations made by January third will be matched by Subaru up to $50,000 per hero. And thank you so much for watching CNN Newsroom. I'm Rosemary Church. I'll be back with more news in just a moment. Do stick around.

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