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President Biden Looking Ahead to 2024; China Imposes Its Strictest Lockdown in Xi'an City; COVID Cases in South Africa Drops; FDA Approves Pfizer COVID Pill; January 6th Committee to Speak with Rep. Jim Jordan. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired December 23, 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, live from CNN headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Rosemary Church. And this is CNN newsroom.

Just ahead, Biden on the defensive. What he says about the national COVID tests shortage and why Donald Trump inspires him to run in 2024.

A major city in China under strict lockdown this hour, the largest lockdown since the pandemic began.

And heartbreak in Afghanistan. One million young children at risk of dying from starvation.

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

CHURCH: Good to have you with us.

Well, the Biden administration is struggling to deal with the surprisingly swift spread of COVID cases. At the same time, it's trying to we sure an exasperated American public.

The president admitted during an interview with ABC that nothing has been good enough, yet insisted the U.S. is better prepared now than during earlier surges. Still, long lines like these proved a demand for COVID tests is far exceeding the supply. Americans desperately want to spend time with their loved ones this holiday season and feel safe doing so.

Here's CNN's Jeff Zeleny.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: With President Biden acknowledging in a new interview that his administration has struggled to keep up with the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 pandemic, clearly marking this surge in cases here in the U.S. He said, simply, nothing has been good enough. He was defensive in one hand on an ABC news interview, but also tried to explain why no one could have foreseen this rapid surge. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: No, I don't think it's a failure. I think you could argue that we should have known a year ago, six months ago, two months ago, a month ago. I've ordered half a billion of the pills. Five hundred million pills. Excuse me, 500 million test kits, that are going to be available to be sent to every home in America if anybody wants them.

But the answer is, yes, I wish I had thought about ordering half a billion pills two months ago.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY (on camera): But in fact, many experts said, you could see this coming. So, there are questions of why more tests were not ready. Now there are going to be about half a billion at-home tests mailed in the month of January. But the question is, will that be too late?

Now the president also seemed to struggle between the idea of pills and tests, so a bit of confusion there on that part. But no doubt, he said and wanted to stress that these holidays are certainly different than those a year ago because of vaccinations. This is not like March 2020, the beginning of the pandemic, and said the country is at an entirely different place, the world, of course, is as well.

The president, clearly, though, trying to take command of this, which has certainly eluded him. But also, in that ABC News interview, David Muir asked the president about his reelection prospects. Did he plan to run for reelection? Watch what he says when he talks about President Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: Yes, but look, I am a great respect to fate. Fate has intervened in my life many, many times. If I am in the health I am in now, if I'm in good health, then in fact, I would run again.

DAVID MUIR, ANCHOR, ABC: And if that means a rematch against Donald Trump?

BIDEN: You are trying to tempt me now. Sure, why would I not run against Donald Trump being the nominee? That could increase the prospect of running.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY (on camera): So, certainly that is of course many years to come. The challenges facing this White House are much more severe on the pandemic, trying to contain this. Of course, the president's political fortunes are deeply tied into all of this. But clearly, heading into the holidays, the White House on edge during this Christmas, certainly ending this year in a complicated step again with the pandemic.

Jeff Zeleny, CNN, the White House. CHURCH: Well, there is a new pill that could be a game-changer in the

battle against the coronavirus. The FDA has now authorized Pfizer's antiviral pill to treat COVID-19 in the U.S. It's meant for people ages 12 and older at risk of severe illness.

And some positive news on the Omicron variant, two new studies from South Africa and Scotland suggest a reduced risk of COVID-19 hospitalizations when infected with Omicron compared to Delta.

[03:05:07]

Meantime, in New York, 12 Broadway shows have been canceled due to COVID-19 outbreaks. The state reported nearly 29,000 new COVID cases on Wednesday, breaking its own highest daily case count record.

And Washington, D.C. also set a new daily record, reporting more than 1,500 cases on Tuesday.

And CNN is covering the story from all angles with correspondents across the globe, from Asia to Africa to Europe to North America. Let's start with China. The nation is launching what appears to be its biggest COVID lockdown yet. Some 13 million people are being ordered to stay at home in the central city of Xi'an after a spike in locally transmitted infections there.

Sixty-three new cases were recorded Wednesday, the most since Xi'an's outbreak began two weeks ago. More than 200 infections have been registered since then and mass testing is already underway.

China has now basically blocked off Xi'an with transportation to and from the city suspended, just as it did with Wuhan, the original epicenter of the pandemic early last year. Wuhan is amongst several major Chinese cities that have endured strict lockdowns. Some 12 million people there were affected.

And Urumqi was largely shut down from July until September of last year.

More now from Selina Wang.

SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Chinese city of Xi'an and it's 13 million residents have been put under strict lockdown. The city has recorded more than 200 COVID-19 cases since December 9th. Residents are largely banned from leaving their homes, but one designated person from each household will be allowed to leave every two days to buy groceries.

Otherwise, residents are only allowed to leave in the case of a medical emergency or for, quote, "urgent or necessary works." That's according to the local government. Xi'an has also shut down all schools, public transport and facilities except essential service providers.

This is the fourth time a major Chinese city has been placed under strict lockdown. The first was back in early 2020 when Wuhan, ground zero of the pandemic went into lockdown. With the games now less than 45 days away, the country is doubling down on its zero COVID strategy.

Cities are locking down in mass testing residents in response to just a handful of COVID-19 cases in the country. Olympic participants will have to be in a strict bubble and tested daily. If they are not vaccinated, they'll have to quarantine for 21 days upon arrival. If China pulls off the Winter Olympics successfully, it would be a propaganda win for its handling of COVID-19 and for its authoritarian system.

Selina Wang, CNN, Tokyo.

CHURCH: In South Africa, a top scientific expert says the country has passed the peak of its Omicron outbreak. And you can see on the map when we bring that up, that South Africa is one of a few countries on the continent where cases are down compared to last week. They have fallen more than 20 percent.

The head of the South African Medical Association says this fourth wave was steeper but much shorter than previous waves. Hospital admissions and deaths have also been significantly lower.

So, for more on that encouraging statement, Larry Madowo joins us now from Nairobi, Kenya. Good to see you, Larry. So, of course, many are taking comfort from this information. Do experts there know why infections are suddenly falling?

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, Rosemary, the experts think this is because of two factors. One is that the more people in the population have been infected. And two, that vaccination numbers are going up. So, you are seeing population immunity. That might explain why in just a month South Africa came from a very slow number of cases to a huge peak and now they've drop off precipitously and quite fast.

So, for instance, in the middle of November South Africa had about 5,000 or so daily average cases, it's shot up to about 10,000 daily average cases. And then way higher than that, and now they're back down again.

I spent two weeks reporting in South Africa at the height of this crisis, this fourth wave of the Omicron driven wave. And right now, the scientists tell me they think this is a really positive sign for the rest of the world. That even though this wave really shot up quickly in terms of numbers, but it's also dropped quite significantly quite fast. And this is a promising sign because they haven't seen a huge strain on the health care system.

They haven't seen a whole lot of people going to hospital and they haven't seen a whole lot of people dying. Again, there is a caveat here. They are still requiring a bit more data and a bit more time to be to say definitively that the Omicron variant is less severe. But so far, they are encouraged on what they are seeing so far.

[03:09:59]

CHURCH: Yes, and we are always looking for encouraging news. Larry Madowo, joining us live from Nairobi. Many thanks. I want to bring in Dr. Megan Ranney now. She is a professor of

emergency medicine and an associate dean of public health at Brown University. Thank you, doctor, for all that you do, and for talking to us.

MEGAN RANNEY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE, BROWN UNIVERSITY: Thank you. It's a joy to talk to you.

CHURCH: Wonderful. So, the FDA just authorized the first antiviral COVID pill that promises to dramatically reduce hospitalizations and deaths. But it requires early diagnosis for it to work and supply may also be an issue here. How big a game-changer could this Pfizer pill proved to be despite those obstacles, do you think?

RANNEY: This approval is one of the first real pieces of good news that we've had about COVID in a very long time. This is the first new therapeutic to be approved since Remdesivir and the monoclonal antibodies. And it could not come at a better time. The ability to prescribe people a pill they can take in the comfort of their own home and help prevent hospitalization, intensive care unit stays or death?

I mean, that just could be transformational for the effect of COVID on society. But as you noted, there are some issues. The first is, you have to take it relatively quickly after you get sick. And we have a lack of testing here in the United States right now.

The second issue is that we are not going to have adequate supply for quite a while. They are saying that we are going to have around 65,000 doses this year. Another 200,000 in January. That's just a drop in the bucket in the face of Omicron.

And the third thing is, is that I worry that this pill is going to be available largely to those with privilege, to the wealthy, and not to those who are necessarily highest risk for those severe outcomes.

CHURCH: Right, that always is a concern in these sorts of situations, isn't it? And doctor, Omicron infections appear to be falling sharply in South Africa, suggesting we could perhaps see a sharp drop in Omicron infections elsewhere in a matter of weeks, although that is clearly not certain. What do you make of the data coming out of South Africa right now? And does it give you any comfort or hope?

RANNEY: It does give me hope. But hope with a big caveat. You know, there is so much about South Africa that is different from the U.K., from Europe, or from the United States. It is summer there. Folks are spending time mostly outdoors. And the demographics of South African society are different. It is a much younger society. And a huge percentage of folks have been exposed to the Delta variant.

So, although it may be that what rises quickly also falls quickly, that would be wonderful if we see that happen elsewhere across the globe. I'm not fully confident that we will see exactly the same pattern across the rest of the world, particularly those of us in the northern hemisphere. Our indoors mixing right now sets us up for Omicron spreading a little longer. CHURCH: And doctor, you mentioned those lines for COVID testing are

still too long, with some people waiting for more than three hours in some instances. And the White House has announced plans to increase testing, but that won't happen for weeks. So, what should people do over the next few days to ensure that they don't put vulnerable family members in jeopardy?

RANNEY; So, the first and biggest thing is, if you have symptoms -- runny nose, sniffles, cough, certainly body aches or fever, please stay home. Make that appointment online for your local Department of Health or pharmacy, to get a test. But don't go out and about if you have symptoms.

The second thing is, if you happen to have been lucky enough to stock up on rapid tests, if you are asymptomatic and vaccinated, and you will be having a family get together, I strongly recommend a rapid test right beforehand, not a day beforehand, but really within an hour or two of that get together to minimize the risk that anyone is infectious.

And the third thing is, this is a good time to dial things back a bit. I know we are all so exhausted by this pandemic. No one wants to go back into lockdowns. But for the sake of your family, now is a good time to up your masking, wear those KN95s or KF94s, try to decrease the socializing and avoid crowded indoor spaces as much as you can.

CHURCH: Some great advice there. And doctor, most people who were fully vaccinated and boosted are getting pretty frustrated and angry with those refusing to get even one shot. And of course, hospitals and health care workers, as you would well know, are paying the price.

Is it time perhaps for insurance companies to perhaps consider what Australia might do, which is bill those who refused to get vaccinated but then get sick with the full cost of their hospital medical expenses?

[03:15:05]

RANNEY: I honestly don't see something like that flying here in the United States. Certainly, there is a precedent for charging people different rates for life insurance or other forms of insurance. But we don't typically see it in health insurance here in the U.S. for a variety of reasons.

It is exhausting and frustrating as a health care worker to be continuing to take care of patients who are severely ill with a disease that can, the worst of which can be largely prevented by vaccines. But as health care workers, this is our oath to take care of folks no matter what life choices they make. I just hope that more people decide to go and get their shots before it's too late.

CHURCH: Yes, because of course the problem is they are taking up beds for cancer patients, those patients with heart conditions. It is a very sad situation that could be worked out.

Dr. Megan Ranney, thank you so much for talking with us, and happy holidays to you.

RANNEY: Thank you. You too. Stay healthy.

CHURCH: Thank you. Still to come, the date is set. We will tell you when arguments over vaccine mandates in the U.S. will be heard by the Supreme Court. And why the White House is confident it's not overstepping its authority.

And the new lawsuit aims to block a subpoena from the House committee investigating the January 6th capitol riot. The details just ahead.

And then later, why scientists were surprised when they opened a time capsule which sat under a confederate statue for well over a century. Back in just a moment.

[03:20:00]

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CHURCH (on camera): The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on January 7 on challenges to the Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccine mandates for large employers and some health care workers.

The White House press secretary defended the administration's position on Wednesday saying, quote, "especially as the U.S. faces the highly transmissible Omicron variant, it's critical to protect workers with vaccination requirements and testing protocols that are urgently needed. We are confident in the legal authority for both policies and DOJ will vigorously defend both at the Supreme Court."

Well, the House select committee investigating the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol is now hoping to speak with one of Donald Trump's top congressional allies, Republican Representative Jim Jordan. The panel has asked him to meet with them voluntarily. Here is how he reacted to that during an interview on Fox News.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JIM JORDAN (R-OH): We just got the letter today, Brian, we are going to review the letter. But I've got to be honest with you, I got real concerns about any committee that will take a document and alter it and present it to the American people, completely mislead the American people like they did last week. And it turns out it looks like it wasn't just one document they did this with. It was others, other text messages as well. So, I got real concerns with that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH (on camera): And as the House panel faces resistance, it's also facing a new legal challenge.

CNN's Jessica Schneider has more now from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL FLYNN, FORMER U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Who won the election on the 3rd? Who won the election on the 3rd? Donald Trump!

ALI ALEXANDER, ORGANIZER, STOP THE STEAL: I was the person who came up with the January 6th idea --

CROWD: Stop the steal!

JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Trump's allies have spent the past year repeatedly questioning the 2020 election.

CROWD: USA!

SCHNEIDER: And the House select committee's investigation into the deadly insurrection January 6th.

ALEXANDER: This evidence actually exonerates me, and this evidence actually is going to exonerate President Donald J. Trump.

SCHNEIDER: And now, they are taking another page from Donald Trump's playbook, suing to stop the committee from getting access to their records and testimony. The former president has filed his own lawsuit that is now making its way through the courts trying to stop the National Archives from handing over hundreds of pages of documents, including White House visitor and call logs and drafts and speeches and handwritten notes.

In recent weeks, more lawsuits have poured in from Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows, Trump's first national security adviser Michael Flynn, John Eastman, the conservative lawyer who wrote a memo detailing how V.P. Mike Pence could interrupt the certification of the election results, Alex Jones, the far-right wing media pundit, Cleta Mitchell, and election lawyer for Trump, Ali Alexander, one of the planners of the Stop the Steal rally and a handful of other rally organizers.

All have sued to stop the committee or to stop phone companies from turning over their records to the committee. A judge in Flynn's case just denied a request to immediately step in and block a subpoena for his testimony and any request for his phone records as his case moves forward.

MARK MEADOWS, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: The foundation is not based on a legislative purpose.

SCHNEIDER: Mark Meadows is challenging the basic premise of the committee and others have followed his lead. In Meadows suit, his lawyers write, the select committee acts absent any valid legislative power and threatens to violate long-standing principles of executive privilege and immunity that are of constitutional origin and dimension.

Meadows handed over thousands of records to the committee but when he refused to meet with them, the House voted to refer him for possible prosecution for criminal contempt of Congress.

MEADOWS: But truly, the executive privilege that Donald Trump has claimed, it's his to waive, it's not mine to waive, it's not Congress' to waive. And that's why we file the lawsuit to hopefully get the courts to weigh in.

SCHNEIDER: Democrats are pledging that their probe won't be impeded, stressing that hundreds of witnesses have already cooperated even as a handful fight in court.

REP. JASON CROW (D-CO): We won't stop fighting for democracy, we won't fighting -- stop fighting for the rule of law. We're not going to back down. We won't be intimidated. We're going to keep going.

SCHNEIDER: Jessica Schneider, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH (on camera): And still to come, testing is crucial to slowing the spread of the coronavirus. But some Americans are confused about which tests to take. We will explain the options when we return. Stay with us.

[03:25:00]

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CHURCH (on camera): For many Americans, getting a COVID test is on their holiday wish list. But supplies are dwindling and wait times are increasing. And health officials say demand is only going to grow.

CNN's Brian Todd looks at the testing options available.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): From California to D.C., the lines of people waiting to get free COVID tests, many of them unable to buy test kits in stores are now extending around city blocks. And to say patience is wearing thin is putting it mildly.

UNKNOWN: I'm very frustrated. I've been looking for a test for about all week actually for a few days now. All of the CVS near me are out. They don't expect to get any until Friday.

TODD: The demand for test kits is so high, that CVS, Walmart, Amazon and Walgreens are limiting the number of at-home COVID test kits customers can buy. But many simply can't find them at all.

TAYLOR GERY, LOOKING FOR AT-HOME COVID-19 TEST: We searched on like on CVS, on Walgreens, of all the web sites. Everything is full because of the holidays.

TODD: Compounding the problem, at this point, many people are confused over what kind of COVID test to get.

MAEGAN WOOD, IN LINE FOR COVID-19 TEST: So, it's kind of confusing on what's actually correct, and what I need to get to be able to go home for Christmas and see my family, all that stuff.

RANNEY: There are three big categories of tests, and within each of those categories, there are of course a bunch of different manufacturers, a bunch of different ways to even do the tests. It's all awfully complicated for the average American to figure out.

TODD: Over the counter, at home tests from these manufacturers are now authorized by the FDA. Experts say they all work well.

[03:29:58]

MICHAEL MINA, CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER, EMED: In general, for the purposes that most people are using tests today, which is to ask, am I a risk to others around me. The rapid test you can pick up on the shelf tend to perform very, very well for that use.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): There are three basic categories of tests. There are laboratory PCR tests, PCR standing for Polymerase Chain Reaction. Experts say those are the more accurate more expensive tests done in labs which amplify the virus' genetic material that maybe in your system.

Experts say the PCR test is what you want if you want to figure out whether to go back to the office or travel. There are also rapid antigen tests which people can conduct at home which are cheaper and can return results in as little as 15 minutes.

MEGAN RANNEY, E.R. PHYSICIAN/ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, BROWN UNIVERSITY, FOUNDER GETUSPPE.ORG: That antigen test that rapid at-home test is the right thing to do if you want a rapid, time sensitive assessment of whether or not you are infectious right before you go into a gathering.

TODD: And there are antibody tests, which can indicate if you have some protection from a previous COVID-19 infection or vaccine. One expert says no matter what kind of test you want to take, because of the test kit shortage, it's important to make your test count. If you have just one test available.

MINA: If you feel symptoms, come on, don't use the test right away. Assume you are positive and isolate and quarantine. Use the test on day two or day three.

TODD: Another key piece of advice we are getting from experts as we head to more holiday gatherings, they say if you have a test at home and you are going to or hosting a holiday gathering, take the test as close in time to the gathering as you can.

Not one or two days before, not a few hours before but maybe 20 to 30 minute before the gathering, so you can get the most accurate gauge of what to do. Experts say we are going to have to ride this out for probably one or two more months before more tests are widely available for everyone.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Well, the wave of new COVID restrictions across Europe is moving nearly as fast the Omicron variant itself. Spain is set to bring back outdoor mask mandates, starting Christmas Eve. And Belgium is canceling indoor events and activities. Holiday travel remains brisk, despite new restrictions across Europe.

Meanwhile, the U.K. reported more than 106,000 new COVID cases on Wednesday. It's the first time the country has crossed the 100,000 threshold since the pandemic started.

And CNN's Anna Stewart is standing by in London with more on holiday travel. But first, let's bring in Nada Bashir on the COVID situation across Europe. Good to see you, Nada.

So, we know that Omicron is more contagious than delta. Talk to us about the numbers when it comes to hospitalizations and deaths in the U.K.

NADA BASHIR, CNN PRODUCER (on camera): Well, you mentioned that sobering figure, more than 100,000 new cases. And of those, more than 13,000 confirmed to be the Omicron variant, and what the government really is focusing on now is how that will translate into hospitalization rates.

We've heard warnings from the U.K. government's own healthcare advisers, scientific advisers, that we could see a surge in hospitalizations in the New Year if urgent action isn't taken. But we've also had a new early data from an imperial college study suggesting that the Omicron variant carries in the air and less of a chance of hospitalizations in comparison to the Delta variant.

They are saying something up to like 40 percent or 45 percent reduction in that hospitalization risk. But what they have warned is that this is early data. It really is from a small sample. And there is still a lot to know about the Omicron variant. So that could still be an overwhelming surge in admission still.

CHURCH: What is the situation across the continent of Europe in terms of infections, hospitalizations, and of course, restrictions being put in place?

BASHIR: Well, we have heard from the World Health Organization warning that Europe is once again at the epicenter over the pandemic, or we could see a storm coming in Europe, with the Omicron variant becoming dominant in several countries across the continent.

And we've seen an approached from leaders both in terms of those restrictions as you mentioned early but also in terms of vaccination. Many countries in Europe now widening their vaccination campaign for the younger age groups between five to 11-year-olds, we've seen (inaudible), of course. And now we've also have heard from the German health minister saying that people may need a fourth dose.

Now, we have seen many countries campaigning for that booster shot and we've seen a significant uptick of that third dose, particularly here in the U.K., surpassing that 13 million mark. But this fourth dose now being suggested by the German health minister (inaudible) into question of the efficacy of vaccines against the Omicron variant. As you mentioned, there is still a lot to be known about this variant

and we've seen European leaders really trying to tackle this by tightening their restrictions, including limiting social gatherings, canceling out of public events and of course, Spain for example implementing that mask mandates as they have done in the past. Rosemary.

[03:35:11]

CHURCH: Yeah. Absolutely. Nada Bashir joining us live from London, many thanks.

Well, today is typically one of the busiest travel days of the year. And new restrictions don't appear to be slowing things down. CNN's Anna Stewart joins us live from London. Good to see you, Anna. Of course, as the busiest day, it was certainly here in the U.S. it is of the year. It looks like people are not being discouraged by the Omicron variant. Is that what the numbers are showing us?

ANNA STEWART, CNN PRODUCER (on camera): It is. I find that quite surprising, given the whole world is a fresh patch work of new restrictions and travel bans. For instance, I no longer can travel to France, because there is a travel ban for U.K. travelers on account of Omicron.

And you, Rosemary in the U.S., you can't travel to eight nations in Africa, which are on the travel ban list. And actually the CDC advises Americans against travel to more than 80 countries which includes I can say, much of Europe.

But despite that it does look like it will be a busy few days. I have some fresh numbers from (Inaudible), which is a global travel data provider. And they say that airlines have enough demand to operate their schedules as planned, at least until the end of the year.

Since the beginning of December, they say actually seat reduction has only dropped by 2.8 percent, which is actually quite extraordinary, because that was soon after Omicron was identified at the end of November.

However, (inaudible) and probably drank far too much champagne on new Year's Eve, the picture starts to look a bit more bleak for the travel sector going forward into 2022. Lots of airlines already fashioning their capacity. Ryanair, I guess today, European low cost carrier said they're reducing their forecast for January traffic by a third that also doubling their annual loss forecast.

So people clearly willing to travel for Christmas but I think when they get back, they are probably putting their suitcases away and a lot to gather some dust. Rosemary.

CHURCH: Yeah, I think you're right. And so, Anna, what should people do then to stay safe traveling this holiday season? What's the advice?

STEWART: Yeah, because people want to travel but this is of course, a huge concern now. The good news is, airlines are not particularly a risky place to be in fact, because of air filtration systems, the direction of air flow, the fact that people are wearing masks, and also just the design of the plane, everyone faces one way with a seat in front of you.

There is plenty you can do though to reduce your own exposure. First of all, most airlines mandate wearing a mask. But which kind of mask do you wear? Because there are cloth ones, there are surgical ones and then you have the (inaudible) to light the N95.

Now these have varying levels of protection for yourself. They all protect other people, but for instance the N95 better reduces your own exposure. Vaccine passports, really critical. Is it on your phone? Is your phone charged? Can you download a QR codes, you don't have to keep on logging into an app. And you can (inaudible), it's likely (inaudible) of perhaps just print it out.

Testing, got to meet the requirements of course, to where you are going. But you may also want to pack some rapid antigen tests with you, as well. So you can test before your meeting up with new people through the next few days, make sure that you're all staying safe and no one has gone down with COVID-19.

And critically, Rosemary, COVID travel insurance. Because if in the very unfortunate circumstances you test positive while abroad or away, your holiday may get longer and much more expensive than you planned.

CHURCH: Yeah. It's amazing after all that any of us would travel, right. Anna Stewart, thank you so much for the long list of things we need to check out. I appreciate it. Joining us live from London.

Well, Beijing Olympic officials say they regret that players with the National Hockey League have chosen to pull out of the upcoming games. On Wednesday, the NHL said the COVID disruptions to its regular season schedule have been so profound that Olympic participation is no longer feasible. Olympic organizers have said they have COVID prevention and control measures in place to protect player's health and safety.

With pressure mounting, the Biden administration moves to get more humanitarian aid into Afghanistan. But there are fears it may not be enough to save millions of people facing extreme starvation. What the U.N. says needs to be done right now to change that situation.

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[03:40:00]

CHURCH: The Biden administration is lifting restrictions to allow more humanitarian aid into Afghanistan. Aid groups will be exempt from the economic sanctions imposed on the Taliban. The U.S. Treasury Department's action will provide support for educational programs, including teacher salaries. The U.S. will also send 1 million additional COVID-19 vaccines in the coming weeks. Administration officials say planning is underway at the U.N. to support civil servants beyond teachers.

Well, those moves come as U.N. Aid agencies warn 1 million children at risk of dying from starvation if relief does not arrive soon. Anna Coren reports on the humanitarian efforts. And we must warn you, the images are difficult to watch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A little girl sobs, gently rubbing her ears. In a feeble attempt to ease the pain tormenting her body. She doesn't have the energy to cry the way other sick children do. Camilla is exhausted. As she lies in a hospital bed in Kandahar, Southern Afghanistan, slowly starving to death. The 2.5- year-old weighs just over five kilograms, 11 pounds. About a third of what a normal toddler her age should.

The mother is sick, and we are poor people explains Camilla's grandmother. She tried to breastfeed but had no milk to give. Camilla, now one of at least a million Afghan children under the age of five, at risk of dying from starvation.

For months, the U.N. has been sounding the alarm, warning that Afghanistan was on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe. The Taliban takeover on the 15th of August saw international funds immediately dry up. Triggering an economic collapse in an already impoverished company. With foreign aid represented 43 percent of the country's GDP, and 75 percent of government spending, according to the World Bank.

But as the U.S. withholds billions of dollars in Afghan reserves and sanctions are imposed on the Taliban government, the West attempts to force fundamental change within the group are hurting the Afghan people.

[03:45:07]

And with the country in the grips of winter, facing one of the worst droughts in decade, the most vulnerable are paying the price. In this hospital in Ghor province, in Northwestern Afghanistan, up to 100 mothers and children turn up each day with varying cases of malnutrition. Dr. Faziluhaq Farjad, has been working here for the past six years, and has never seen this level of desperation.

FAZILUHAQ FARJAD, HEAD OF MALNUTRITION GHOR HOSPITAL (through translator): Almost 70 percent of the cases are severe, and this is in the city. Imagine how bad the districts are. If nobody pays attention, it is going to get much worse. We are in a disaster.

COREN: One of his patients receiving treatment is Razia. This is her third visit to hospital in eight months. This could lead to a frame, a clear sign this child is just a few months away from turning three is not getting better.

MUSAFER, RAZIA'S FATHER (through translator): There is no work, no income, no food to bring her. Sometimes we have nothing to eat. Every time I see her, I get upset.

COREN: The humanitarian community is collectively issuing an SOS. UNHCR says the country is witnessing truly unprecedented levels of hunger, now inflicting more than half of the population of 38 million people. International Rescue Committee describes a global system failure, fueling the crisis. Naming Afghanistan the most at-risk country of a deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the year ahead.

While the international committee of the Red Cross says the country is on the precipice of man-made catastrophe. The World Food Programme has been distributing aid around the country. And says the middle class, teachers, and civil servants are now joining the poor in the cues.

MARY-ELLEN MCGROATY, AFGHANISTAN COUNTRY DIRECTOR, WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME: We think of the ordinary people of Afghanistan, the children of Afghanistan, who are facing into a winter of abject hunger and destitution, through no fault of their own. Through just a lottery of birth.

COREN: Dr. Paul Spiegel from Johns Hopkins University has just returned from Afghanistan, consulting for the World Food Programme and is alarmed by what he saw. He says Afghanistan's health system that once relied on 80 percent of its funding from international donors is now barely functioning. And blames the West's sanctions, which are gravely impacting government-run hospitals, imploring for the system to be changed.

UNKNOWN: The western governments, the U.S., U.K., E.U. have to make some decisions quickly or it's going to be too late and therefor it going to be a tremendous amount of I would say, unnecessary deaths.

COREN: For little Camilla, her trip to hospital has saved her life, for now. After 15 days, she's being discharged with some medicine that may last a few weeks. She's not very well, but at least she's alive, says her grandmother. It's better than the first day we brought here. But having put on just a few hundred grams, her fate is as precarious as that of her country, edging closer to the abyss.

Anna Coren, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And we'll be right back.

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[03:50:00]

CHURCH: Under the cover of darkness, workers in Hong Kong have removed a famous symbol of free speech, democracy and defend. The pillar of shame sculpture, one of the city's last remaining memorials to the victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre, has stood at Hong Kong University for more than 20 years. But in October, authorities said it had to go.

The Danish artist who created the sculpture, tweeted on Wednesday that he's shocked it's been destroyed. It was cut into chunks, wrapped up, and taken away around midnight Thursday local time, while most students are off campus for the holidays. Security guards tried to prevent any filming of the dismantling. Well, speaking of things that had stood the test of time, workers have

now learned what was inside a time capsule from the late 1800s, which was found last week in the pedestal of a confederate statue in Richmond, Virginia.

CNN's Randi Kaye reports on the artifacts that they have uncovered, and why scientists were surprised when they opened it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's delicate and tedious work. And yes, opening a 134-year-old time capsule is time consuming, too. The task was shared among conservators from Virginia's Department of Historic Resources.

For more than a century, this time capsule sat buried in the base of the statue of Confederate General, Robert E. Lee in Richmond, Virginia. It was discovered Friday morning, months after this historic moment in September. Crews dismantling the statues base found what appeared to be a copper box. As described in the Richmond dispatched back in 1887.

The list of articles in the copper box were said to include dozens of items, including a battle flag, compass, 12 copper coins, even a picture of former President Lincoln, lying in his coffin. But it turns out this capsule was made of lead, heavily corroded and partly covered in mortar. The box itself is an artifact, so they had to take care to preserve that too, using tiny spatulas, tongue depressors and --

KATE RIDGWAY, VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC RESOURCES: A very controlled tool that vibrates and has a hard metal tip. That is much more easily controlled. It's good for getting the mortar separated from the lead.

KAYE: Finally, late this afternoon, the time capsule was unlocked.

(APPLAUSE)

(CHEERS)

[03:55:04]

Inside, three books, a cloth envelope, and a single coin.

GOV. RALPH NORTHAM (D-VA): I saw one book, that's an almanac from 1875. There was another book, I saw the word "Love" on it, and the author, (inaudible). So I'll let the historians take a further look at that, and figure out why that's in there.

KAYE: In the end, there was no picture of Abraham Lincoln in his coffin. And even more puzzling, along with the 1887 almanac was a book that appeared to be published in 1889, two years after the time capsule was apparently sealed.

RIDGWAY: The original time capsule was supposed to put there close to 1887. And so (inaudible) obviously that is -- we will have questions, and that's where the historians come in to help us.

KAYE: So the items weren't in great shape. Most of them were pretty wet. In fact, the coin was stuck to one of the books. One of the books was stuck to the base of the capsule. So now they're going to freeze them to try and prevent any molds from forming on or any further deterioration. But the big question is, is this the right capsule, because they were expecting to find 60 items in there, and they certainly didn't find that.

That was what the newspaper had recorded back in 1887. That there would be about 60 items inside. So where are they? Where is that picture of Abraham Lincoln lying in his coffin? That certainly was not in there. Is there another time capsule that exists or was that one moved? Still so many questions, because of what they found and really didn't find inside that capsule.

Randi Kaye, CNN, Palm Beach County, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And thank you so much for your company. I'm Rosemary Church. Here's wishing you all a happy and safe holiday season. I'll see you next year. "CNN Newsroom" continues with Isa Soares.

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