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U.S. Seen an Uptick in Omicron Cases; U.K. With New COVID Rules in Place; Senator Manchin Not Moved by Criticism; Chile with New President. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired December 21, 2021 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): 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, Omicron surges prompt new restrictions in Europe. And in the U.S., the new variant has become the dominant strain in just three weeks. I'll speak to a doctor about this rapid rise.

Joe Biden's domestic agenda takes a hit as Democrats fight over his build back better bill. What's being done to try to salvage the deal?

Plus, U.S. missionaries kidnapped in Haiti say they made a daring escape. We'll bring you the latest details.

UNKNOWN: Live from CNN center, this is CNN Newsroom with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: Well, fears of an Omicron takeover are becoming a reality in the U.S. On Monday, the CDC announced the highly contagious variant now accounts for more than 73 percent of new cases. Omicron has been detected in all but two U.S. states, and it's even more prevalent in parts of the southeast and northwest.

The variant's rapid spread comes during the busy holiday season, straining the country's testing capacity. Some states are now deploying the National Guard to assist, and military teams are being sent to support overwhelmed hospitals in hard-hit areas.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden will deliver remarks on the Omicron variant in the coming hours.

The variant is also leading to a wave of new restrictions across Europe. The Netherlands entered a strict lockdown over the weekend, closing nonessential shops and limiting the number of people at holiday gatherings.

And Germany is now the latest country to limit travelers from the U.K., where infections have been soaring to record highs.

Meantime, the Omicron variant's staggering spread is threatening to upend holiday plans in the U.S. And cities and states across the country are moving to reimpose restrictions, hoping to curb the spread.

CNN's Athena Jones has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: It is going to be a tough few weeks to months as we get deeper into the winter.

ATHENA JONES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): America bracing for a tough winter that's beginning to look a lot like last winter.

FAUCI: This virus is extraordinary. It has a doubling time of anywhere from two to three days. It's going to take over.

FRANCIS COLLINS, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: We know that it's very contagious. You saw what happened in South Africa initially, then in Europe, and now in the U.S. It's doubling about every two to four days, and we're going to see the number of cases go up pretty steeply over the course of the next couple of weeks.

JONES: The U.S. now averaging about 1,200 deaths a day and 130,000 new COVID-19 cases a day. That figure up 10 percent from a week ago. Hospitalizations nationwide up 35 percent over last month and intensive care unit beds nearly 80 percent full.

Cases rising much faster in parts of the Midwest, the south, and the northeast. New York setting a record for new cases for the third day in a row on Sunday. New York City, an early epicenter of the pandemic, seeing a spike in cases officials say is being driven by Omicron.

MAYOR BILL DEBLASIO (D-NY): We have to move faster. That's why we're focusing even more on vaccination, and we do know that vaccination helps address Omicron.

JONES: Still undecided on whether crowds will fill Times Square for New Year's Eve. As new COVID infections have upended the worlds of sports, entertainment, and education in recent days, forcing Saturday Night Live to cancel its live studio audience.

The NBA, NHL, and NFL also postponing games due to COVID issues, and schools like Harvard University moving graduate and professional schools to online classes for the first three weeks of January.

COVID striking Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and members of Congress with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, and Colorado Congressman Jason Crow all testing positive for the virus. Health workers and government officials increasingly focused on boosters.

[03:05:02]

BILL MANNS, PRESIDENT & CEO, BRONSON HEALTHCARE: We see that those who are vaccinated, those who have received their booster aren't coming into the hospital at the same rates.

JONES: Moderna today announcing preliminary data show it's half-dose booster shot increased antibody levels against Omicron, noting that a larger size dose raised them even more. The company says it's working January on variant specific boosters as well.

MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICIES: Right now, you need that third dose. I wish we stop calling it a booster. It's a three-dose vaccine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES (on camera): And with doctors reminding us that basic mitigation measures like masking can help slow the spread of COVID, Washington, D.C.'s mayor is reinstating an indoor city-wide mask order after lifting it only a few weeks ago.

The district is seeing its highest daily coronavirus case counts since the pandemic began. This new measure goes into effect Tuesday and last until the end of January.

Athena Jones, CNN, New York.

CHURCH: So, let's bring in Dr. Eric Topol. He is a cardiologist and professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research. He joins me now from La Jolla in California. Thank you, doctor, for all that you do and for talking with us.

ERIC TOPOL, PROFESSOR, MOLECULAR MEDICINE, SCRIPPS RESEARCH: Thank you, Rosemary. Great to be with you.

CHURCH: Thank you. Now the Omicron is now the dominant coronavirus variant in the United States, making up 73 percent of all new cases. What does that tell you about this variant? And what lies ahead considering, less than 20 percent of Americans have the 3rd COVID shot to protect them.

TOPOL: That's right. This shot up exceptionally quickly. You know, there was just over 12 percent in a week. And that's 73 percent just a couple of days ago. So, it is a very dominant strain, it will take over for Delta very shortly. And the problem is that our vaccines don't work nearly as well for Omicron as they did for Delta.

So, without the boost, the effectiveness is down in the 30 percent. It shoots out to about 75 percent to protect against infection with the booster third shot. So that's why we really need to get those percentages of third shots up as high as we can.

CHURCH: Right. And of course, we seem to, we know that this is more contagious, but we don't know for sure if this is more severe or less severe. But how much do you worry that this Omicron variant along with Delta could overwhelm the health care system in this country in the next few weeks or months?

TOPOL: Right. Well, it's already overwhelmed in the U.S. and in many cases. And that's just the Delta side. As you say, Rosemary, we don't know the severity. But overall, the picture around the world where it's hit. At South Africa, in the U.K., in Denmark, Norway, it's a more mild picture.

But the problem is we don't know how more mild or less severe it is. We know there's been deaths. There's been deaths in all of those countries including the U.S. now from Omicron. And many hospitalizations.

So, it's really the unsettled question right now. We know why it would be less severe because we have this immunity with the vaccinations and the boosters and the prior COVID. And there's also some intrinsic activity that hints about this virus, that would make it less severe.

But still, there are an untold number of people who will be very, severely, it'll.

CHURCH: And doctor, why do you think it is that it's still a struggle to get tested in this country, particularly at a time when people plan to be with their family members, some of them vulnerable. Now admittedly, that means more people are going out to get tested, but this country isn't able to keep up with that.

And President Biden had promised that that would be the case, that they would meet that demand.

TOPOL: It is inexcusable, Rosemary, that we don't have rapid tests distributed everywhere. We have that in Colorado, one state, and in a couple other places. But it should be everywhere throughout the United States, and the testing other than the rapid testing is also woefully inadequate.

There's just no reason that this should continue two years into the pandemic, and we've had advance warnings for Delta and Omicron. We just have never taken these with the heed and the aggressiveness that we need to.

CHURCH: And, doctor, the CDC has said that unvaccinated people face 20 times greater risk of dying from COVID-19 than those who have received a booster shot, and still around 30 percent of Americans are refusing to get even the first shot.

How likely is it that some will perhaps wake up and realize, perhaps have an epiphany and go out and get their shots, or will there always be around a third of this country unwilling to vaccinate? Do we have to live with that?

[03:10:00]

TOPOL: Yes, this is really a sad state that we've gone a year, and we still have, as you say -- it's actually 39 percent of Americans have not been fully vaccinated. And this is what's holding us back. This is why we've done so poorly and now are not ready in any way to deal with Omicron, going through right now a second surge with Delta.

So, whether that's going to change, it seems remote. On the other hand, every day we go where our number of people waning from their vaccination is exceeding the number of new people getting vaccinated, so we're actually losing ground from where we were, where we are. And that's why we have to work to protect already the protected ones because we haven't been able to make things happen in the people who largely have been unvaccinated.

CHURCH: Dr. Eric Topol, thank you so much for talking with us. We appreciate it and appreciate you.

TOPOL: Thank you. Happy holidays.

CHURCH: Same to you. Thank you, sir.

Well, the British government is under pressure to get the Omicron surge under control, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson says new restrictions may be necessary.

The U.K. reported more than 91,000 new infections on Monday, its second highest daily total in this pandemic. Of those cases, more than 8,000 are confirmed to be the Omicron variant.

Meanwhile, London is canceling its New Year's Eve's party in Trafalgar Square. Mayor Sadiq Khan says infections are at record levels and people's health must be protected.

So, let's go live now to London and CNN's Nada Bashir. Good to see you, Nada. So, what sort of restrictions is the prime minister considering right now, and just how bad are these infections and hospitalizations?

NADA BASHIR, CNN PRODUCER: Well, you mentioned the figures, Rosemary. It really speaks for itself. We are seeing those rising number of coronavirus cases and in particular, a rising number of the Omicron variant. That has really stoked concerns here in the U.K.

But in terms of the restrictions, we saw the prime minister, Boris Johnson, meeting with his cabinet ministers yesterday in Downing Street to get an update on those figures to discuss the government's response to the pandemic, and there were expectations that further restrictions would be enforced.

Now, at this stage, the government is sticking to its plan b restrictions. So, what we've seen already enforce at this stage is mandatory mask wearing in shops and on public transport, the introduction of a COVID NHS pass to enter places like theaters and restaurants and nightclubs. And also, now of course, people being encouraged to work from home unless they absolutely have to go into their offices.

But what is really being considered now and what we could expect to see are those tougher restrictions that we saw last winter and potentially another lockdown. Now, the prime minister and his deputy, Dominic Raab, both haven't gone so far as to rule out a potential lockdown but what they have said at this stage is there is the potential for those tougher restrictions to be brought into force. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We agree that we should keep the data from now on under constant review, keep following it hour by hour. And unfortunately, I must say to people, we will have to reserve the possibility of taking further action to protect the public and to protect public health, to protect our NHS. And we won't hesitate to take that action.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASHIR (on camera): And really protecting the NHS, the National Health Service here in the U.K., is the key concern. The government's own scientific advisers have warned that by next year, in January, we could be seeing something like 3,000 daily hospital admissions in England if urgent action isn't taken.

And the head of the NHS warning that the health service is now on a raw footing. So, there's some serious concern, they are coming from the experts. And serious pressure on the prime minister to take the necessary action. Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right. Nada Bashir, many thanks for bringing us up to date on the situation there in London. I appreciate it.

Well, the White House is trying to lower the temperature after heated remarks with a key senator. Can Joe Biden and Joe Manchin find enough common ground to pass a key spending plan?

And fresh off an election win, Chile's president-elect is pledging to tax the super-rich to support his liberal agenda. More of his promises and reaction to his victory ahead here on CNN Newsroom.

[03:15:00]

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CHURCH (on camera): U.S. Democrats are facing a long difficult winter and likely more infighting in the upcoming midterm election year. That's as one new poll shows President Joe Biden's approval rating slipping to 41 percent.

But CNN's poll of polls puts it at a relatively stable 45 percent. More than half of those surveyed say they don't approve of his job performance. The latest numbers come as Democrats scramble to push through the president's massive Build Back Better plan. Despite Senate Democrat Joe Manchin thwarting their efforts.

CNN's Phil Mattingly picks up the story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOE MANCHIN (D-WV): This is a no on this legislation.

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The seven words that shook Washington and put President Biden's cornerstone domestic legislative effort on life support. Senator Joe Manchin, the West Virginia Democrat and critical holdout on Biden's $1.75 trillion economic and climate package --

MANCHIN: I have a problem.

MATTINGLY: -- making clear again on Monday his stunning announcement is firm and deep-rooted.

MANCHIN: We're in a 50-50 Senate. You all are approaching legislation as if you have 55 or 60 senators that are Democrats. And you can do whatever you want.

MATTINGLY: And now in a war of words in a Biden's team after White House press secretary Jen Psaki released a scathing statement calling it a quote, "breach of his commitments to the president."

Manchin responding with this.

MANCHIN: This is staff. And they drove some things and they put some things out that were absolutely inexcusable. They know what it is, and that's it.

[03:20:05]

MATTINGLY: The White House now attempting to take down the temperature.

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: He considers Senator Manchin a longtime friend, and our focus is on moving forward and getting this done.

MATTINGLY: As Democrats seek a pathway to bring things back on track. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pledging to vote on the bill in a letter to colleagues and, quote, "keep voting on it until we get something done." As the White House considers ways to pare back the proposal to keep it alive.

PSAKI: He's going to work like hell to get it done.

MATTINGLY: But for Biden's agenda, a devastating 24 hours with large- scale repercussions. Wall Street firm Goldman Sachs moving immediately, slashing its growth forecast for the U.S. economy in the wake of Manchin's pronouncement.

And Biden's coveted policy initiatives like universal pre-K, child and home care subsidies, the largest investment in combating climate change in history and the extension of the expanded child tax credit now all at serious risk.

PSAKI: Our objective and our focus now is moving forward.

MATTINGLY: But sky-high ambitions setting the stage for a crushing reality and with significant blowback from progressives.

REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): I think what Senator Manchin did yesterday represents such an egregious breach of the trust of the president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY (on camera): White House officials are already in the midst of phone calls with House and Senate Democratic leadership trying to figure out what the next steps are, how to maybe restructure the proposal in order to have a shot at 50 votes, including Senator Manchin's votes.

But there are real questions right now about how willing Senator Manchin is to reengage in negotiations. To some degree, it's not just a policy issue at this point. It's a personal issue. That's been very clear over the course of the last 24 hours. And as one senate Democrat told me when I asked what the next steps are, take a breath.

Phil Mattingly, CNN, the White House.

CHURCH: Now this all comes just ahead of President Biden's remarks on the fast-spreading Omicron variant. He's expected to lay out plans for fighting the virus as testing lines lengthen across the country and as Americans weigh whether it's safe to gather for the holidays.

The White House will also drive home why it's now more important than ever to get vaccinated and boosted.

So let's talk more about this with Jessica Levinson. She is a professor of law at Loyola Law School, and she's also the host of her podcast, Passing Judgment.

Great to have you with us.

JESSICA LEVINSON, PROFESSOR OF LAW, LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL: Good to be here.

CHURCH: So, we have been assured that this presidential speech in the coming hours will not be about lockdowns. But everyone is looking for answers on why this pandemic isn't over yet and why people are having to stand in long lines for COVID tests in the lead-up to the holidays. So, what does the president need to say compared to what he will likely say?

LEVINSON: He needs to say that he's on top of this. He needs to say that he knows what's happening, and frankly what's happening behind the scenes here, we know that there are so many things that affect a president's approval ratings, and a president's political capital. And sometimes they are totally outside the president's control. Think about the economy. Think about a raging pandemic.

So, he certainly can't say, look, this isn't my fault. He has to say, I'm in control. I'm doing something. Case numbers will be worse, but I'm getting vaccines to you. You do your part and get those vaccines and get those boosters.

And frankly, I think he does have some explaining to do for what is a real failure by the administration, which is we shouldn't be standing in lines for tests. We should have accessible rapid home tests. We know that that's something that's a public health imperative. So, I think we're going to hear all that, but he needs to talk to us,

and he knows that. He needs to say, I know it's going to get bad, but I'm doing something.

CHURCH: Right. I mean it is good that people are getting out there and getting tested. Obviously, a lot of people want to do that to protect their vulnerable family members. But this should have been foreseen, right? They should have had that supply.

So, President Biden's approval ratings, they're rock bottom right now. He just had his Build Back Better plan effectively killed off by his buddy, Senator Joe Manchin, and now he's trying to end the pandemic with this new, more contagious Omicron variant, making his task even more difficult. How does he recover from all of this?

LEVINSON: Well, I mean that's the huge question, right? So, I think he needs to explain to people what we should already understand with respect to the pandemic, which is there's only so much in his control. And he understands that politically, Americans are not in the place where I think they would tolerate lockdowns. Look at what's happening in the Netherlands. I don't think the American public would be -- would find that acceptable basically two years into this pandemic.

[03:24:54]

When it comes to the Build Back Better plan, he needs to try and salvage that, and Joe Manchin has, you know, the one person in the Senate, the one Senate Democrat who has said, I'm torpedoing this because of our anti-majoritarian institutions in America, because we basically allow that to happen where a senator who represents I think .5 percent of the population can do that.

Joe Biden has to go back and get something done. This is part of his legacy. It's his top priority, and he got that infrastructure bill done. That's great for him. Those jobs are going to go primarily to men, and I think he is going to have a problem with female voters if he doesn't do something to increase the safety net which we know disproportionately helps women who are poor, the working poor, and that is partly the Build Back Better plan.

CHURCH: Yes. And of course, voters want to back a winner, and right now President Biden isn't looking like a winner. Why is it all going south for him, do you think? Is it his leadership style or just bad timing with the pandemic, the economy, inflation? And can he say anything in the coming hours that might change the hearts and minds of Americans?

LEVINSON: I don't know that he can say that much. I think he needs to do that much. And that typically is the case, I think, for President Biden because he's not an amazing orator. He's not going to move us all to tears.

What we need to see from him is action. We need to see action when it comes to the pandemic. We need to know exactly what to expect, what we can do, and what he's going to try to do to help. Let's also remember that he's fighting in court to try and maintain

two different types of federal mandates on vaccines. He may talk about that. Two cases probably destined for the Supreme Court. And he needs to talk to people about why it is important to increase our safety net. He needs to talk to people about what we're going to do about climate change, and frankly the moments are just ticking away as we get closer to the midterms.

So, it's structural things. It's the Senate. It's the pandemic. Those are out of his control, and they're also some things that are in his control. But he certainly, you know, he faces an uphill battle for a lot of these issues.

CHURCH: Yes. We shall see, of course. Always great to get your analysis, Jessica Levinson. Thanks for joining us.

LEVINSON: Thank you.

CHURCH: Chile's President-elect, Gabriel Boric, is promising to move quickly on naming his cabinet and uniting a deeply divided country. But his opponents worry that the leftist will upend Chile's economy with his plan to raise taxes on the rich.

CNN's Rafael Romo is in Santiago with more.

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR: Chileans had two very clear choices, a 35-year-old leftist, former student activist who promised a better, bigger government with more social services paid for by taxing the rich, and a conservative attorney who campaigned on a law-and-order platform, family values, and a nationalist agenda.

They chose Gabriel Boric, who will become Chile's youngest president, at least since the country's return to democracy in 1990. Boric promised the kind of government that takes care of people's needs by raising taxes.

During the campaign he spoke about improving public education and welfare programs as well as protecting human rights, LGBTQ rights, and the environment. His rival conservative attorney Jose Antonio Kast quickly conceded defeat, calling Boric less than two hours after polls closed and the trend had become irreversible.

Boric's victory was swiftly recognized by current president, Sebastian Pinera who had a video conference call with the winner moments later. How will Boric govern once he takes office in less than three months? After a tooth and nail campaign in a very polarized country, Boric was ready to turn the page when he addressed Chileans after winning the election. He thanked supporters and said he will be a president for all Chileans.

Leaders from across Latin America and the Caribbean including President Miguel Diaz-Canel of Cuba and Colombia's Ivan Duque congratulated the new president-elect. Boric will take office on march 11 for a four-year term. The turnout was massive, even larger than November's first round. More

than eight million people went to the polls, about 56 percent of the electorate.

Rafael Romo, CNN, Santiago, Chile.

CHURCH: And you're watching CNN Newsroom.

Just ahead, Germany's new government is preparing new COVID restrictions including a limit on private gatherings. We're live in Berlin for the details.

Plus, Omicron is forcing New Zealand to rethink its reopening strategy. What this means for foreign travelers. That's ahead too. Back in just a moment.

[03:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Welcome back to "CNN Newsroom" live from Atlanta. I'm Rosemary Church.

The surge in new COVID infections, including the fast-spreading Omicron variant, is forcing new restrictions on holiday travel and gatherings across Europe. Switzerland is now requiring vaccine passports or proof of recovery to enter restaurants and indoor event spaces. Masks are mandatory except when eating or drinking.

Next week, Germany plans to limit private gatherings to a maximum of 10 people who are either fully vaccinated or have recently recovered from COVID.

Meanwhile, Israel has added 10 countries, including the United States and Canada, to its red no-fly list. Travel from Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Portugal is also banned.

The head of the World Health Organization says holiday events may need to be called off to save people's lives.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, DIRECTOR-GENERAL WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: An event canceled is better than a life canceled. It's better to cancel now and celebrate later than to celebrate now and grieve later.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: So let's go live now to Berlin and CNN's senior international correspondent, Fred Pleitgen. Great to see you, Fred. So what are some of these new COVID restrictions being considered by Germany's new government to try and contain these rising infections?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Yeah. They certainly are very interesting, some of these new measures that are being considered. And what you're really seeing with this new government under the new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and his health minister, Karl Lauterbach, who himself is a medical doctor, is Germany for the first time really since the pandemic started is really acting very preemptively.

[03:35:00]

Essentially what they're saying is that right now you actually have falling infection rates here in Germany. But they believe that they need to act preemptively because of the Omicron variant. Of course, in places like the United Kingdom, in Denmark, the Germans are saying it's only a matter of time before all of that arrives here as well.

Right now the projections for Germany, Rosemary, are that this new wave most probably will hit this country at the beginning or the middle of January, and right now what you have is the authorities taking these measures that they say they don't want to affect Christmas, but they certainly will affect New Year's Eve.

And you do have that rule with public gatherings not being allowed even for vaccinated people of over 10 people at once. That, of course, makes it very difficult for folks to have public gatherings or have big gatherings for New Year's Eve.

And that counts, by the way, both indoors and outdoors as well and goes along with another new German guideline that fireworks have also been banned here in this country for New Year's Eve as well.

The other thing also, and this is quite a big deal here in Germany, is that professional sports, including, of course, the soccer Bundesliga will have to go on without spectators. So you have the so-called ghost matches without spectators that are also going to take hold as well.

The Germans, Rosemary, are so concerned about the Omicron variant that the authorities here have now told hospitals and emergency services to make emergency plans in case large parts of their staff come down with COVID-19 infections due to the Omicron variant.

And this again comes at a time where right now the infection rates here in this country are actually falling. So you can see this new government really acting very tough, acting very proactively. And we do have to say that these very tough measures, polls have shown that large parts of the German population are actually in favor of getting tough to make sure that the Omicron variant does not get out of control, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Yeah, I mean, it's all about protecting people. So, Fred Pleitgen, many thanks for bringing us up to date on the situation there in Berlin. I appreciate it.

Well, Australia's most popular state is reporting a new COVID case record. New South Wales has topped more than 3,000 daily infections for the first time ever. All this as Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, says he wants to avoid travel restrictions ahead of Christmas.

Meanwhile, New Zealand is pushing back plans for a phased border reopening because of the Omicron variant. It was set to ease restrictions next month, but that's now on hold until at least the end of February.

And for the latest on all of this, CNN's Selina Wang joins us live from Tokyo. Good to see you, Selina. So what is the latest on COVID-19 infections in both Australia and New Zealand?

SELINA WANG, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Yeah, Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right. We're having problems with our connection there with Selina. We will actually try to reconnect with her, but we'll move on for now.

And of course the Omicron variant is keeping investors on edge. Wall Street took a big hit on Monday, but despite those losses, major markets in Asia are showing some gains. You can see some movement there north, which is what we like to see. But Omicron fears weren't the only factor in Monday's massive sell-off. CNN's Alison Kosik explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): 2021 is at risk of ending like it began, with COVID cases surging on both sides of the Atlantic. This time it's the Omicron variant triggering a global sell- off on the market.

Major averages in the U.S., Europe, and Asia were all lower to start the week. The DOW fell almost 700 points at its worst point of the day, and oil prices also fell sharply.

With the Netherlands entering a new lockdown and European countries restricting activities and travel, Barenberg's chief economist is warning that even with boosters, health systems could be overrun, and severe restrictions like the ones in the Netherlands could be necessary elsewhere.

U.S. politics are also worrying investors. The prospect for President Biden's massive spending bill were dashed over the weekend when one Democratic Senator pulled his support. In response, Goldman Sachs has already lowered its growth outlook for next year.

Now as investors head toward their Christmas break, the fear is that 2022 won't offer the economic rebound they were counting on.

Alison Kosik, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Alright. We've re-established our connection with CNN's Selina Wang in Tokyo. She joins us now live. Selina, you were bringing us up to date on the COVID infections in both Australia and New Zealand. What is the latest on this?

WANG (on camera): Yeah, Rosemary. COVID-19 cases are rising rapidly in Australia. In New South Wales, those rising surging numbers are being driven by these super spreading events at large venues like pubs and nightclubs.

Meanwhile, in Queensland, authorities are warning that cases are doubling every two days and a growing number driven by the Omicron variant. But the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, is saying that they do not want to go back to lockdowns. He's saying the country is not going to go back to, quote, "Shutting down people's lives."

[03:40:09]

He's saying that people need to learn how to live with the virus with, quote, "Common sense and responsibility." Now, for about two years, Australia has avoided the worst of the pandemic through the strict border restrictions as well as long lockdowns.

But now the Prime Minister is saying they need to move past a heavy- handed approach from the government when it comes to the country's COVID-19 response.

Meanwhile, over in New Zealand, the country is delaying its phased border reopening plan after being shut for about two years. This phased reopening plan was supposed to start in January, but now it's being pushed back to February. Take a listen to what the country's COVID-19 response minister said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS HIPKINS, NEW ZEALAND COVID-19 RESPONSE MINISTER: All evidence so far points to Omicron being the most transmissible variant yet, and public health advice suggests that soon every case coming in through our border into or managed isolation facilities will be the Omicron variant. Our immediate job right now must be to slow it down and to delay it from entering the New Zealand community for as long as we possibly can.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WANG: But, Rosemary, on the bright side, New Zealand has become one of the most vaccinated countries in the world with about 90 percent of its eligible population fully vaccinated.

CHURCH: That is pretty impressive, isn't it? And across Asia, cases also rising in China and South Korea. What's the latest on that?

WANG: Right. In China, they reported 57 new locally transmitted cases. Most of them reported in the city of Xi'an. Authorities there are trying to contain a growing cluster of cases. They have launched mass testing of its nearly 13 million residents and imposed fresh travel restrictions.

Now, the case numbers there in China may sound low, but authorities there are doubling down on a zero COVID strategy with the Winter Olympics less than two months away. Authorities have urged residents in any areas where they have confirmed COVID-19 cases to avoid traveling during the Lunar New Year Holiday. That is the biggest holiday in China, and it is another blow for residents that have dealt with some of the toughest COVID-19 restrictions in the world.

Meanwhile, in South Korea on Sunday, they reported a record number of patients who are critically ill from COVID-19. More than 1,000 patients. Authorities there are reimposing a social distancing measures in the greater Seoul area. They have limited the number of people allowed in private gatherings to just four people. Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right. Wow, that is small, isn't it? Selina Wang bringing us the very latest from Tokyo. Many thanks.

And still to come, a Christian aid group is now claiming it was help from God, not a ransom payment that led a dozen kidnapped missionaries to freedom in Haiti. And we will have the details just ahead.

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[03:45:00]

CHURCH: Still so many unanswered questions about the well-being of Peng Shuai. The Chinese tennis star resurfaced on Sunday, telling a Singapore newspaper she denies ever making sexual assault allegations against a former communist party leader. But many are still skeptical about how freely she's being allowed to speak her mind.

CNN's Will Ripley has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): On the sidelines of a skiing competition in Shanghai, Chinese tennis star, Peng Shuai, breaks her silence, speaking to international media for the first time since her explosive allegation.

Are you taking a video, Peng asks? Yes, says the reporter from a Singapore newspaper known for pro-Beijing coverage. The only overseas Chinese language newspaper allowed in the mainland.

Are you free to go as you please, the reporter asks. Is anyone monitoring you? Peng replies, why would anyone monitor me? I've always been free. Peng's freedom has been in question for weeks, ever since she disappeared in early November. She accused a retired communist party leader of sexual assault, an accusation Peng apparently now denies.

PENG SHUAI, OLYMPIC TENNIS STAR (through translator): I want to emphasize one thing that is very important. That I have never spoken or written about anyone sexually assaulting me. This point is very important to be emphasized clearly. In terms of the Weibo post, first of all it's my personal privacy. There possibly has been a lot of misunderstanding.

RIPLEY: That November 2nd post erased within minutes from Chinese social media. The story censored on China's internet, ignored by state media inside the country. Outside, state media reporters tweeting ferociously for weeks, trying to discredit concerns over Peng's well- being, now saying the outside world should respect her denial. In a statement to CNN, the Women's Tennis Association says, "These

appearances do not alleviate or address the WTA's significant concerns about her well-being and ability to communicate without censorship or coercion."

The WTA made similar comments last month when Chinese state media released these videos of Peng, videos WTA CEO, Steve Simon, told outfront, "Were just as unconvincing as emails from the tennis star, supposedly walking back her claims." The WTA suspending all tournaments in China indefinitely, putting a lucrative 10-year deal on the line.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: The WTA knows Peng. Peng Shuai knows the WTA. Why in the world with all these interviews is she not talking to the one group of people that desperately want to hear from her?

RIPLEY: In her international interview, Peng says she's very grateful to the International Olympic Committee, very happy to have video calls from them. The IOC accused of sports washing, releasing just one image of two calls with the three-time Olympian, issuing statements claiming she's fine.

The IOC telling CNN, we will continue our quiet diplomacy. CNN's repeated requests for comment from Peng and the Chinese government, unanswered. IOC President, Thomas Bach, planning to meet with Peng next month before the opening ceremonies of the Beijing 2022 Olympics. Retired Vice Premier, Zhang Gaoli, the man Peng accused of sexual assault, the former face of the games now just weeks away.

The WTA is not backing down here. They are continuing to call for a full, fair, and transparent investigation without censorship or coercion. Former tennis great Chris Evert summed up the feelings of a lot of people on Twitter when she said watching that new interview is just unsettling.

Will Ripley, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[03:50:00]

CHURCH: More than two months after their kidnapping in Haiti, Christian aid ministries says the last 12 missionaries being held by a criminal gang made a daring escape, even after a ransom was paid.

Journalist Stefano Pozzebon has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEFANO POZZEBON, JOURNALIST (voice over): Christian aid ministries has said that a ransom was paid in order to help secure the release of 17 North American missionaries that had been kidnapped more than two months ago in Haiti. That is according to a press conference that the Ohio-based group gave on Monday. And the group said the decision came after excruciating hours. DAVID TROYER, GENERAL DIRECTOR, CHRISTIAN AID MINISTRIES: As you

might expect, the taking of our workers, including women and children, pushed us to our knees as we sought God's direction. Recognizing the lives at stake and having a desire for a nonviolent resolution, we grappled for many hours over the proper course of action, many intense hours.

POZZEBON: And in that news conference, the group also claimed that the hostages had escaped after many days of waiting and no action on the part of the kidnappers. Now, Haitian authorities have not yet confirmed that series of events describing an escape, and CNN has asked Haitian authorities for further information about the circumstances around the hostages returning home.

Ransom kidnapping is a lucrative business for criminal groups in Haiti such as the one that kidnapped the missionaries. In the year so far, more than 900 ransom kidnappings have been reported although experts believe the number might be even higher because not all the kidnappings are reported to the authorities.

For CNN, this is Stefano Pozzebon, Bogota.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Up next, it's time for toast. Why French champagne is set to pop sales records this year. We'll explain.

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[03:55:00]

CHURCH: French champagne makers are toasting to an unexpected turnaround in sales, which could top $6.2 billion this year, a new record. Revenues had plunged last year when pandemic lockdowns and closures took effect. But as restrictions were eased this year, people were back to buying bubbly again.

Investors say the Omicron variant could dampen the mood, but champagne suppliers expect plenty of people will pop a few corks for the upcoming holidays. You bet they will.

While Europe and other parts of the world are weighing new COVID restrictions, one person will be working nonstop through the holiday season. That person is, of course, Santa Claus.

And if you were in Venice during the weekend, you would have been in for a very festive treat. Dozens of Santas swapped their sleighs for gondolas, rowing down Venice's famous canals in a colorful Christmas regatta.

Great practice, no doubt, for a busy week ahead. Well done, Santa.

Thanks so much for your company. I'm Rosemary Church. "CNN Newsroom" continues with Isa Soares next.

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