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Family of 14-Year-Old Killed in LAPD Shooting Speak Out; CDC Cuts Recommended COVID Quarantine Time in Half. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired December 28, 2021 - 15:00   ET

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

[15:00:00]

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: That is all awesome and slightly creepy.

Our thanks to Jeanne Moos for that.

OK, so how about ringing in the new year safely in the comfort of your own home with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen? They are hosting CNN's "New Year's Eve Live." It starts at 8:00 p.m. Friday right here on CNN.

And why aren't Don Lemon and I mentioned? We're also hosting from New Orleans with Dulce Sloan? Don't worry. I will get that graphic fixed soon.

It's the top of the hour. Hi, everyone. I'm Alisyn Camerota. Happy holidays. Thanks for joining me.

Another day and another jump in COVID cases driven by the Omicron variant, the U.S. now averaging more than 237,000 new infections per day. That is 66 percent higher than just a week ago.

But hospitalizations are increasing at a more gradual pace. Four states hit their peak this month before starting to decline in just the past few days. Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, and Vermont saw more people hospitalized from COVID than ever before.

Now new CDC guidance aims to shorten the isolation period for people who test positive, but have no symptoms, from 10 days to just five.

CNN senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joins me now.

So, Elizabeth, give us the full details on these updated guidelines.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Alisyn, these guidelines have their supporters and they also have their critics.

At the sort of the bottom line, the base of these guidelines is that the CDC and other scientists have learned is that people are most contagious either right before they have symptoms or just for like two or three days afterwards. So the thinking is, we have a shortage of essential workers, doctors, nurses, people to fly planes, flight attendants, et cetera.

Why are we keeping people isolated if they're probably no longer contagious and they no longer have symptoms? So let's take a look at what the CDC is recommending. They're saying, if you have COVID-19, you have tested positive, but you don't have symptoms, or you have symptoms, but they're getting better, isolate for five days, and in the five days after that, wear a mask when you're around other people.

Now, if you have been exposed, meaning maybe someone in your household has COVID, you might have it, you might not, but you have certainly been exposed, here's the directions. If you have been vaccinated and your second shot was within the past six months, or you have been boosted, then they say don't quarantine, but do wear a mask for 10 days.

The reasoning behind this is that the CDC says that having a booster shot, that is 75 percent effective against Omicron. And so, basically, again, the thinking is, you're -- it's -- you're almost certainly -- you're 75 protected. Why do we want to keep you out of work if most likely you're not going to get COVID, or, if you do, it likely will be -- your chances of transmitting it are much smaller -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: OK, Elizabeth Cohen, thank you for all that.

So doctors across the nation are seeing more children in the hospital with COVID.

CNN's Alexandra Field is on this story.

So, Alex, can you explain what hospitals are experiencing? How sick are the children there?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sure.

Look, there is a clear trend that we are seeing. In the last week alone, you have seen a 35 percent increase in pediatric hospitalizations. And the numbers can seem alarming on the face of it, because, if you look at just New York City, you're talking about a fivefold increase in pediatric hospitalizations since just December 11.

You have got another hospital in Chicago that is reporting a fourfold increase in pediatric hospitalizations. So these numbers are clearly climbing in these younger age groups. But what does it all mean?

Well, really, Alisyn, there's no indication at this point that the virus has become more severe for young children. But what we are understanding from the medical experts is that, given the amount of virus that's out there right now, given this spike in cases, as you see the case count climb, hospitalizations naturally climb, children become a part of that.

Children remain far less likely to become severely ill than adults. But there are cases of it. And now, when we see a surge, you see more kids going to the hospital. We're hearing from children's hospitals all over the country that they are bracing for this to become worse. And that is because of the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant, that coupled with the fact that people have been traveling and doing these holiday get-togethers both last weekend and next weekend.

So, really, these doctors and hospitals are preparing for the possibility that they will see cases continuing to spread among younger people. What can you do about it? How can you protect your child?

Well, we are hearing very clearly once again from Dr. Fauci that if your child is eligible for a vaccine, you should be getting your child vaccinated. Remember, children are still among the least vaccinated in this country. Of course, not all children are eligible. Those under 5 years old don't yet have an approved vaccine.

[15:05:07]

CAMEROTA: OK, Alex Field, thank you for all that.

Let's talk more about it with primary care doctor Saju Mathew. He's also a public health specialist.

Dr. Mathew, thanks so much for being here.

You're a primary care physician, so tell us what you're seeing in your practice. Are you seeing more kids get sick? And are the families that you're seeing who are sick, are they more sick than they were in previous waves or less?

DR. SAJU MATHEW, PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN AND PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALIST: Yes, hi, Alisyn. Nice to be on with you again.

What I am actually seeing in our major hospital system are a lot of breakthrough infections, but, so far, touch wood, these infections tend to be milder, even amongst the kids. And just as the reporter mentioned, when you have a surge of cases, this virus or this variant, Omicron variant, is multiplying every two to three days.

I mean, we could get to over 500,000 daily cases by New Year's Eve at this rate. When you have a large number of people that are infected, you will see that proportionate number also fall sick.

But, generally speaking, so far, the infections tend to be less severe.

Alisyn, I try really hard not to use the word mild, because a lot of people, they think, OK, it's just a common cold. That's not true. What might be mild for you could be severe for somebody else.

CAMEROTA: That's such a great point.

I read that you had tweeted that you are in support, I believe, of the CDC's new guidelines for isolation. They have halved them from 10 days to five days. But we're also hearing from front-line workers -- and I mean hospital employees, as well as airline employees -- that they are not crazy about these new guidelines.

So let me just play you their thoughts and get your reaction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARA NELSON, PRESIDENT, ASSOCIATION OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS: CDC should also be recommending, if they're going to fall in line with what the airlines want, that the airlines also say how they are going to implement this to make sure that is only for people who are asymptomatic who are coming back to work, so that people are not forced to come back to work when they're still sick, and how they are going to implement ensuring that masks are worn at all times, including in the flight deck.

JEAN ROSS, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL NURSES UNITED: This is not the time -- during a surge of a new mutant variant, this is not the time to be lessening. Our staffing concerns have not been addressed, and measures like this will make it worse, instead of better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: I mean, so they make a couple of good points.

Is a surge a time to shorten the isolation period?

MATHEW: Well, I mean, a couple of things regarding that, Alisyn.

We're not really dealing mostly with the Delta variant. Remember, the Omicron variant, the good news, if there's anything good about Omicron, is that the half-life is shorter. That means it gets into your system, you fall sick, and it also is eliminated most of the time from your body much quicker than Delta.

So if you're vaccinated and boosted, the CDC guidelines, like I tweeted, makes the most sense, because you have less of a viral load. You're mostly infectious two days before and about four days after you develop symptoms.

In fact, there are some studies to show, Alisyn, that if you are asymptomatic, fully vaccinated and boosted, you may not even be contagious. I mean, I can completely understand the voice you played from a lot of employees that feel like, hey, are we bringing you back too soon?

But I still think that, if you look at the science, 10 days is way too long. Most people, if you isolate for five days and add, by the way, a rapid antigen test to get out of isolation -- that's one thing CDC did mention -- then I think you are perfectly fine going back to work.

CAMEROTA: As long as you can get a rapid test in a timely fashion. But that's another issue for another day.

And what I wanted to ask you about was the booster shots. Right now, as you know, they are highly recommended six months after your second dose of the vaccine.

You think that that time, that window should be shortened. To what?

MATHEW: I think that, basically, if you look at the number six months, it's actually fairly arbitrary. There's not necessarily a hardcore science behind it.

Now, six months is optimal, because, after you get that second shot, you want the body to recover and develop what's called immune memory. So six months is optimal. But you can shorten it as close to four months to actually get the booster shot.

And the reason that I say that is, you also want to time it when the infection is at its peak. With Omicron, lots of people are getting infected, lots of breakthrough infections. This is the time to balance getting longer durability with actually controlling the infection.

So that's why I think that four months will actually be a much better idea in this surge than waiting that extra two months.

CAMEROTA: And our other health officials listening to that? I mean, do you think that we will see it now recommended four months after your second shot?

MATHEW: Well, I'm hoping, Alisyn, on your show, that people will be listening, people like Dr. Fauci, the FDA.

[15:10:03]

And I think that, again, if you look at the science (AUDIO GAP) back up what I said. Six months is optimal, but a lot of virologists -- I have spoken to quite a few at CDC who silently agree that four months should be the interval time, again, to attack the surge that we're seeing right now.

CAMEROTA: OK, we will see what happens.

Dr. Mathew, thank you so much. Great to talk to you.

MATHEW: Thanks, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Well, the parents of that 14-year-old girl who was killed by police are talking publicly now about their experience and their grief. This comes as this new video was released showing the moments leading up to this tragic shooting.

We have the latest from Los Angeles ahead.

And later, how filling up with gas could drain your wallet even more in the new year. We will explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:15:25]

CAMEROTA: The parents of a 14-year-old girl are speaking out today after she was shot and killed by Los Angeles police.

In this newly released bodycam and surveillance footage, you can see officers responding to a suspect who had assaulted several customers in this store. When they opened fire, a bullet pierced through the dressing room where Valentina Orellana-Peralta was trying on clothes with her mother.

CNN's Josh Campbell joins us from L.A.

So, Josh, what do her parents want us to know?

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: But we just heard from the parents of this 14-year-old girl, Valentina Orellana-Peralta.

They were basically baring their hearts. This was their opportunity to respond to what transpired on that day here last week at that department store. We know that the LAPD just released that body camera footage showing the moment that an officer opened fire on a suspect who was assaulting people in that store, one of those rounds piercing a wall, fatally killing and striking this 14-year-old girl.

Now, we heard from Valentina's mother, who was actually in the dressing room with her that day. She said they had come to this department store. They were looking for Christmas presents. She said that they heard some screams and went down and sat down on a bench that was inside that dressing room.

And they started to pray. She said the next thing that she remembers is, there was some type of commotion. She says something impacted her daughter. They both went to the ground. She would later learn that that was indeed a rubber bullet that had been fired through the wall, her daughter dying in her arms, just a truly, truly tragic moment there.

I caught up with attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family, and asked him afterwards what should happen to that officer who fired that round. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN CRUMP, ATTORNEY FOR FAMILY OF VALENTINA ORELLANA-PERALTA: Justice is trying to examine and investigate thoroughly, how could the death of this innocent little 14-year-old princess have been avoided?

I mean, our children should not be collateral damage in a shopping mall two days before Christmas, should not be.

CAMPBELL: Do they want to see this officer prosecuted?

CRUMP: They want to see justice. They want to see accountability. Right now, they're heartbroken. They're devastated. They're calling for full transparency and full accountability.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMPBELL: Now, the LAPD chief has called this incident tragic and devastating, a very tragic accident. It is under investigation by state prosecutors, who will be determining whether any charges are warranted here.

But, Alisyn, hearing directly from the family just so sad. You get the sense of that grief that they are feeling now in the aftermath of this incident, Valentina's father addressing us just a short time ago saying that they had bought Christmas presents for Valentina.

Now, instead of giving them to her to his daughter, he will be taking them to her grave site. He also said that he's seeking justice, noting that, while other families this holiday season are spending time with their loved ones, has now an empty seat at his home -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Yes, it's all so awful. Josh Campbell, thank you very much.

Let's discuss what justice might look like in our "2 to Four Things" legal edition today.

We have CNN legal analyst Areva Martin. She's a civil rights attorney.

So, Areva, can we just look at it from the police's perspective for a moment? Because, obviously, from the family's perspective, it is a horrible, devastating tragedy.

From the police's perspective, there was a suspect with a metal bike lock, swinging a metal bike chain and bike lock and assaulting various women in this store.

AREVA MARTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes.

CAMEROTA: In fact, when the police got there -- first, they got a call that there might be an armed -- that there was an armed suspect, possibly with a gun.

When they got there, they found one of the customers bleeding on the floor, so, obviously a very high-stress, obviously very high-stakes situation. For the police, do you think that there could be legal charges against the police in this case?

MARTIN: Alisyn, it's such a complicated case. Obviously, my heart goes out to this family for the loss of their teenage daughter. I have two daughters myself. I can't even imagine the pain that they're experiencing right now.

And you're right. From the police's standpoint, they arrive at a very chaotic scene, where a suspect has already assaulted multiple women and they see a victim on the floor who is bleeding. So, their job is to nullify the threat that is in that store.

But, at the same time, they have an obligation to make sure that, in trying to prevent that individual, that suspect from harming other people, that they don't harm people, innocent victims like this 14- year-old girl.

[15:20:03]

I think what's troubling to so many in the Los Angeles community is that the officers arrived guns ablaze and fired a weapon. This one officer fired a rifle without knowing who else was in his line of fire. So, an investigation clearly is needed to see what tactics were used.

And this is all happening, Alisyn, at a time that the Los Angeles Police Department is in this moment of self-reflection about what tactics should be used in similar situations.

CAMEROTA: Yes, I mean, we just heard Josh there say that the family wants transparency.

And I must say they have released this video very quickly, in an effort, I think, at some of that transparency while the investigation is going on.

OK, let's turn to another case. that's happening right now. That's Ghislaine Maxwell. As far as we know, I think this is day five of jury deliberations. The jury has sent 12 notes at this point to the judge. Yesterday, they asked the judge for the legal definition of enticement.

So, clearly, they are working this case somehow. What do you see in their questions to the judge.

MARTIN: Some confusion, Alisyn, about these jury instructions and about some of the evidence. They wanted to review transcripts of some of the key witnesses during the trial.

And we saw in the Kim Potter case that that jury stayed out four days, four days-plus, and everyone was thinking, well, maybe that meant -- it signaled what the outcome of that trial would be. So, given that, I don't think you can make any prediction about what the outcome of this trial would be, because jurors have their own process.

They go through their own methodical way of going through the evidence and applying the facts to the law. Not clear what they're thinking. We know there are some very serious charges against Maxwell. She faces up to 70 years in jail if she is in fact convicted of the charges.

CAMEROTA: OK, now to this next case, and it is fascinating and horrifying. There are these content moderators at social media companies like TikTok.

And, apparently, what they are subjected to in terms of screening the content that the rest of us see, something like 12 hours of having to -- I mean, every day, this one woman who's suing the company describes all of this psychological trauma after she has to screen hideous, violent and graphic video every day to figure out if it's appropriate to put on TikTok.

So she's suing for PTSD. What do you think of this case?

MARTIN: I think she probably has a case.

The question is, who is the case against? There's some questions about who she's actually sued. TikTok is not apparently the actual employer in this situation. She works for a third-party employer, and that third-party employer then has some kind of contractual obligation or contractual arrangement with TikTok.

So I think there's some issues with respect to who the employer is and who the appropriate defendant is. But if you take the allegations at face value, they are disturbing allegations, watching rape videos, watching murder videos, watching the most horrific videos that you can imagine and having to do it at 12 hours a day without very many breaks.

So the question of, I think, post-traumatic stress, there's probably not a big fight about the impact on your mental health from watching those videos. The question, I think, in this case is going to be, who is responsible?

CAMEROTA: And I really didn't understand until I read the notes of this case what these human content moderators are subjected to, as you say, I mean, animal mutilations and beheadings and stuff like that. I mean, of course, that has an impact.

And TikTok and others say, well, we get you mental health help if you need it. But I don't know if this -- if this could ever work for anybody's full-time job. It seems like there has to be a better way.

MARTIN: Yes, it seems horrific as a job. I can't even imagine how someone could be prepared, even with mental health counseling, to go to work every day and have to subject themselves to the horrors of these videos.

And I think, for me, Alisyn, what was equally disturbing was that these types of videos are on TikTok, and we know that TikTok skews to a younger generation. So, are 12-year-olds, 13-, 14-year-old kids watching these videos? That was equally alarming, and I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see more lawsuits, not just from the content moderators, but from parents whose children perhaps have some kind of mental health issues as a result of watching some of these videos.

CAMEROTA: Yes. Obviously, we will continue to follow all of this.

Areva Martin, thank you.

MARTIN: Thanks, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: OK, well, the demand for COVID testing, as you know, is super high.

So we're going to take you live to a testing site to see just what it looks like at this hour. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:29:23]

CAMEROTA: As you know, many Americans are struggling to find COVID tests, some waiting in line for hours.

CNN's Leyla Santiago is at a Miami testing site that is seeing unprecedented demand.

So, Leyla, do we know how many tests they're administering there?

LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, Alisyn, this is the busiest site in Miami-Dade County. And, yesterday, they administered at 9,000, nearly 9,000 tests just at this site. The health group that runs this site says, across the county, they did 60,000 tests.

And let me put that in perspective for you. When you compare that number to the peak of the Delta variant wave, that's a 50 percent increase that they're seeing here.