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Hospitalizations Rise Across U.S. Ahead Of holidays; Rep. Scott Perry Denies January 6 Panel's Request For Interview; Passengers Could Lose Their TSA PreCheck Privilege Over Unruly Behavior On Flights; Jury Deliberates Verdict In Case Of Daunte Wright's Death. Aired 4:30- 5a ET

Aired December 22, 2021 - 04:30   ET

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

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[04:32:34]

ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom, everyone. I'm Isa Soares. If you're just joining us, let me bring you up to date with our top story this hour.

Israel is rolling out a fourth booster shot for people over 60 years old along with medical workers and those with suppressed immune systems. The country's panel of Coronavirus experts made the recommendation on Tuesday.

President Biden says vaccinated Americans can safely go ahead with their holiday plans. The announcement comes as U.S. averages nearly 150,000 cases a day. And according to the WHO the U.S. has the highest number of COVID cases worldwide. Putting it all into perspective for you here's CNN's Athena Jones.

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DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, CHIEF MEDICAL ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT BIDEN: We've really not seen anything like this before.

ATHENA JONES, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hospitalizations are up 35 percent over a month ago, the U.S. now averages nearly 140,000 new COVID cases a day and more than 1200 people are dying each day on average. And even as early indications suggest Omicron may cause milder illness than the Delta variant, the sheer number of COVID cases could overwhelm already stretched hospitals.

MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, DIRECTOR, CIDRAP, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA: One of the things that we're very concerned about is in health care systems are already overstretched, literally breaking now imagine taking 20 or 30 percent of the health care workers out because they now too are infected.

JONES: Doctor stressing people who have not been vaccinated are most at risk. For the vaccinated getting boosted reduces your risk further. While just over 61 percent of the country is fully vaccinated, less than 20 percent has gotten a booster shot.

Even as a New England Journal of Medicine study says people vaccinated more than six months ago, were more than three times more likely to have a breakthrough case of COVID than those inoculated more recently.

In New York, where more than 70 percent are fully vaccinated, only about 40 percent of those eligible have received a booster. There is one potentially positive sign.

MICHAEL DOWLING, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NORTHWELL HEALTH: We have right now about 460 patients in our hospitals. That's less than 10 percent of our overall capacity.

JONES: While the Empire State is setting daily records for new COVID infections, it is not yet seeing a corresponding increase in hospitalizations.

DOWLING: This time last year during the second wave, we had almost 1000 cases this time last year. And compared to where we were back in the first wave. We had 3500 patients in our hospitals.

JONES (on camera): sAnd here in New York City a big focus on boosters.

[04:35:00]

Mayor Bill de Blasio announcing a $100 incentive for any city resident who gets a COVID-19 booster dose at a city run vaccination site. This booster bonus program is in effect now through the end of the month. Athena Jones, CNN, New York.

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SOARES: Well the World Health Organization warns a storm is coming to Europe where the Omicron variant is partly to blame for more than 2.7 million new COVID cases in just the past week. Have a listen.

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DR. HANS KLUGE, WHO REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR EUROPE: Boost, Boost, boost. The booster is the single most important defense against the Omicron. But the vaccination alone is not enough. Because the vaccination protects against severe disease. It protects against death, and it protects the hospitals. But it does not necessarily interrupt transmission.

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SOARES: Explaining why booster is needed. While Germany's health minister is not ruling out a hard lockdown if cases there get out of control and the UK is offering more than a billion dollars in financial support to business hurt by the pandemic. Health experts are cutting their recommendation for self-isolation to seven days with back to back negative tests.

Meanwhile, in France, it says Omicron now represents one in every three COVID infections in Paris. Both France and Spain have reported single day records for new cases this week.

Let's get more on the strands. CNN's Nada Bashir is standing by here in London. But first we go to Barbie Nadeau in Rome. Good morning to you, Barbie. And I think we've learned in last few minutes that France is going to begin to vaccinate children, of course following on from other countries, including Italy, where you are.

BARBIE NADEAU, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: That's right. You know, we're seeing so many different approaches to the threat of the Omicron variant. And we still don't know, you know, countries are not all sequencing all the positive tests. But the one thing is clear that everybody, every country is looking at new lockdowns, new restriction. Let's hear what the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had to say about the holiday season.

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OLAF SCHOLZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): We have to protect ourselves and our relatives. If we do that, with all the common sense that is given to us as human beings, we will also get through the next Corona wave.

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NADEAU: Now, you know so many countries are kind of turning a blind eye to Christmas, get through the holidays, get through with your family. And then they're looking at these more severe lockdowns after sort of, you know, when people gather for New Year's Eve and things like that, so many of those celebrations also cancelled. It's just going to be a holiday very much like last year. And nothing that number of hospitalizations isn't quite as it was last year at this time, but they're very worried that that could be the next threat in the New Year. Isa.

SOARES: Yes, of course, that is a concern. But as you can see lots of other European countries already looking at the plan post-Christmas. Let's bring in Nada, who -- who's in the UK. And Nada, I'm guessing the decision that we've heard in the last few hours reduced isolation period is, I'm guessing, to ease pressure on businesses up and down the country are really short of staff.

NADA BASHIR, CNN PRODUCER: Yes, absolutely. That's been a real concern for many businesses up and down the country. Now the government has announced that that isolation period will be reduced for most people from 10 to seven days along with a lateral flow test taken 24 hours between on day six and day seven.

And we heard from the Health Secretary Sajid Javid saying that he really hopes this will ease pressure on businesses. And that's not the only measure that's been brought into force. We've also heard from the finance Secretary Rishi Sunak announcing millions in new funding to support businesses that have been deeply affected by the pandemic and the other restrictions that have been brought into force.

And that will really focus mainly on the hospitality sector, as well as cultural institutions like museums and theatres, which of course, had to face major closures during this pandemic, but of course others have also been questioning restrictions around the Christmas period, and how that will impact daily life. We've heard from the Prime Minister now announcing that actually people won't have those strict restrictions that we saw last year during the Christmas period, take a listen.

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BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: People can go ahead with their Christmas plans, but the situation remains finely balanced. And I would urge everyone to exercise caution to keep protecting yourselves and your loved ones, especially the vulnerable and remember to keep following the guidance.

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BASHIR: And really following the guidance here is key. We've seen a number of concerns being expressed by health officials from the government's own scientific advisors warning that if urgent action isn't taken before Christmas that we could see a surge in hospital admissions in the new year.

The head of the NHS himself warning that the health service is on a war footing (ph). We have of course seen rising cases in the UK on Tuesday more than 90,000 new cases confirmed and of those new cases more than 15,000 confirmed to be the Omicron variant.

[04:40:07]

But the government has also hailed its booster campaign a success. We've seen a significant uptake of that third booster jab, nearly 30 million people now going out to get the third job. So there is some hope there but there are of course concerns from health authorities that have tougher measures onboard into for soon we could continue to see the surge in cases, Isa.

SOARES: Yes, we shall see what happens post-Christmas, Nada, see what other restrictions and measures are put in place. Nada Bashir for us in London, Barbie Nadeau in Rome, thank you to you ladies this morning.

And just ahead right here on the show, U.S. House Republican calls the January 6 committee illegitimate and refuses to cooperate. We are following the fallout from both sides. You are watching CNN Newsroom.

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SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. Now as we approach the one year anniversary of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Donald Trump's allies continued to put up a fight. A total of eight lawsuits are now challenging the ability of the House Select Committee to gather information about Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn is the latest to follow suit. He is trying to block a subpoena for his phone records. And we are learning about a House Republican who's denying requests to speak with the committee. CNN's Jessica Schneider is following that part of the story for you.

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JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The January 6 committee is denouncing Republican Congressman Scott Perry for his refusal to do a voluntary interview with committee members. And the panel is now leaving open the possibility that they could subpoena Perry.

Monday's request from the committee it was notable because it was the first lawmaker that the panel reached out to requesting an interview. But on Tuesday over Twitter, Congressman Perry from Pennsylvania said he is declining the requests because he views the committee as illegitimate.

[04:45:03]

Hours later the committee fired back and they pointed out that numerous courts have rejected those claims that the committee lacks authority. And then they issued somewhat of a veiled threat saying if fellow members of Congress don't cooperate, they'll consider seeking the information quote, using other tools, that signaling possible subpoenas. And this also sets up what could be a serious showdown between Republican lawmakers and the January 6 committee.

Now Congressman Scott Perry was likely the first lawmaker requested by the committee because he was identified by the Senate Judiciary Committee as being a key player pushing those false election fraud claims. He even pressured top officials at the Justice Department in late 2020 to investigate those flimsy fraud allegations. But of course, DOJ officials consistently declined to do that. Top officials even said there was no evidence of widespread fraud.

But Congressman Perry is viewed by the committee as someone who would have firsthand behind the scenes knowledge about former President Trump's efforts to overturn the election, and exactly what happened leading up to January 6, but the committee not getting to those facts easily now that Congressman Perry is refusing to cooperate. Jessica Schneider, CNN, Washington.

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SOARES: Now on the aviation front, if the cash penalties aren't enough for unruly airline passengers, the Federal Aviation Administration is ready to send them to the back of the security line.

Under a new partnership, the FAA will share information about passengers like this where the Transportation Security Administration and have them removed from the PreCheck screening program. So far this year, there have been more than 5,600 reports of unruly passengers. 4,000 of them involve people refusing to wear masks.

The FAA announced a zero tolerance policy for a member back in January, violators face criminal prosecution of fines of up to $37,000 if they threaten or attack other passengers as well as the crew. And here's one recent example in Miami just two nights ago. Police say they were called to the gate because of disturbance over a delayed flight. Two people were eventually taken into custody.

Well, some travellers who can behave are canceling their holiday plans because of the rapid spread, of course of the Omicron variant. But as Pete Muntean reports, millions of others are heading to the airports.

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PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT (on camera): You know so many are facing that dreaded go or no go discussion and it seems that millions of people are still going in fact the TSA just screened 2 million people at airports across the country on Monday. That is the fifth day in a row where you've seen numbers higher than 2 million.

In fact Friday's number, the highest number we have seen since the Monday after Thanksgiving. It is clear that show many people still have a lot of confidence in traveling. We've seen long lines from L.A. to Boston to Atlanta.

You know, Dr. Anthony Fauci says that people should weigh the risks if you're vaccinated and boosted it should be safe, he says. AAA anticipates a total of 109 million people will travel 50 miles or more between December 23rd and January 3rd, and the TSA just updated its projection saying 30 million people will travel by air between now and January 3 with the busiest day being Thursday.

We will see if this doubt leads to any decline in these numbers. Airlines say that cancelations did pick up a little bit as the Omicron variant began to make headlines. Pete Muntean, CNN, Reagan National Airport.

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SOARES: Thanks Pete. Well, coming up, no decision yet in the trial of ex-police officer Kim Potter for killing Daunte Wright. But questions asked by the jury are giving clues as to where things may be headed. That is next.

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[04:52:46]

SOARES: Authorities in Minnesota are bracing for a possible verdict in the trial of Kim Potter. Road closure signs and barricades have been delivered to the Brooklyn Center Police Department as a precaution. Potter is the former officer who says she mistook her service gun for her Taser when she shot and killed Daunte Wright back in April. The jury will return for third day of deliberations in the coming hours. The juries questions for the court on Tuesday could perhaps signal their thinking. CNN's Omar Jimenez has more for you.

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OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDEN (on camera): What seems the jury in the Kim Potter trial may be struggling to come to a consensus that's based on at least one of two questions the jury asked to judge over the course of Tuesday. The first question simply was if we can't reach a consensus, what is the guidance on how long we should go and what next steps should be taken.

The judge referred them back to parts of their jury instructions, which said they should continue to work toward an agreement without though violating anyone's individual judgments. And she also said that no one should sacrifice their honest opinion just to get to a consensus.

Now this jury deliberated for a little more than nine hours over the course of Tuesday, which brings them to a total of more than 14 hours when you add it up over the course of two days, which I should mention is over four hours more than it took a jury to convict Derek Chauvin back in April of this year.

Now the second question the jury asked the judge on Tuesday was simply if they could remove the zip ties from Kim Potter's gun which they have access to an evidence so that they could hold it outside of the evidence box, likely to compare the feeling of that gun with the feeling of the Taser, which they also have an evidence.

Prosecutors have argued that the mere fact she claimed that she wanted her Taser show that even she knew that deadly force was not necessary in this situation while her defense team has argued that none of this would have happened if Daunte Wright had simply complied.

That is the heart of what the jury is trying to get to a consensus on. They'll be back to continue their deliberations Wednesday morning. Omar Jimenez, CNN.

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[04:55:03]

SOARES: Thank you, Omar. While players from the National Hockey League are not expected to compete at the Beijing Winter Olympics due to COVID concerns, that is according to multiple reports, and would be another major blow to the games.

Now just six weeks away, nothing official yet and the NHL and its players association have been discussing the matter. The NHL season is now on hold until after Christmas because of course of COVID outbreaks amongst several teams. Still on top of that story for you.

Jennifer King as made NFL history. She stepped in as Washington's running backs coach on shoes. You can see they're making her the first woman of color to be an elite position coach in an NFL game. She filled in for Coach Randy Jordan who was sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols. King served as a team's assistant running backs coach for the past year.

And one of my favorite stories of the day actually is 70-million-year- old fossil was shedding light on the links between dinosaurs and birds. This is the perfectly preserved embryo of an oviraptorid dinosaur curled up inside its egg as you can see there. It was discovered in China more than two decades ago but sat in storage for 10 years, and is now the subject of a new study.

Researchers say the fossil indicates the dinosaurs were moving around and changing poses before hatching in a similar way to modern day birds.

Christmas stockings may be missing a classic holiday treat this year candy canes are in short supply right across the US. Candy makers are facing labor shortage supply chain smells (ph) and the surging sugar costs. These challenges are forcing some manufacturers to turn business away while others have been preparing since autumn running extra shifts to meet demand.

And that does it for me on the show. Thanks very much for watching CNN Newsroom. I'm Isa Soares. Early Start with Christine Romans and Laura Jarrett is up next. Stay right here with CNN and I'll see you tomorrow. Have a wonderful Wednesday. Bye-bye.

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