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Biden Vows Swift and Decisive Action if Russia Attacks Ukraine; Results of Kamila Valieva's Doping Hearing Expected Soon; Team USA Wins Gold and Silver in Women's Monobob; Rams Edge Out Bengals to Win Super Bowl; Authorities Say Ambassador Bridge is Now Open Again; Hong Kong Reports 1,300+ New Infections Sunday; Millions in East Coast Under Weather Advisories. Aired 12-1a ET

Aired February 14, 2022 - 00:00   ET

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

JOHN VAUSE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: This hour on CNN, 48 hours to stop a war. The German chancellor traveling to Kyiv and Moscow. The latest world leader trying to prevent a Russian invasion of Ukraine, which intelligence reports indicate could be just days away.

[00:00:36]

After testing positive for a banned substance at the Winter Olympics, the fate of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva being decided at this hour behind closed doors at a Beijing hotel.

And on the seventh day, police finally moved in, clearing the major crossing point between Canada and the U.S., arresting protesters opposed to pandemic restrictions.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center, this is CNN NEWSROOM with John Vause.

VAUSE: Great to have you with us here on CNN. And this week begins with a Russian invasion of Ukraine, appearing to inch closer by the hour.

The German chancellor will be the latest European leader heading to both Kyiv and Moscow to try and end this crisis and avoid a war. He's expected to touch down in Kyiv in the coming hours, but as he arrives, multiple countries including Germany, the U.S., Britain, have ordered evacuations at their embassies and advised their citizens to either leave or prepare for war.

Dutch airline KLM has now suspended all flights to Ukraine. Germany's Lufthansa says it's considering the same.

The Black Sea to Ukraine's south is now blocked by a massive display of Russian naval firepower. But of routine wargames, says the Kremlin. But that means Ukraine is now virtually surrounded on all three sides, as well as to the south. More than 100,000 heavily armed Russian troops.

And while the west commits to weapons and their support for Ukraine, the U.S. is withdrawing 160 National Guard troops sent there as part of a training mission. Here's the latest intelligence from the Pentagon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN: I think a mosaic of the intelligence that we're seeing now, not speaking to it specifically, but -- but you know, we have good sources of intelligence, and they're telling us that -- you know, that things are building now, to some sort of crescendo opportunity for Mr. Putin.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: In a moment, we'll hear from CNN correspondent Alex Marquardt, reporting in from Ukraine. But we begin with the very latest from White House and CNN's Arlette Saenz.

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Biden spent a total of 51 minutes on the phone with Ukrainian President Zelensky on Sunday as U.S. officials continue to warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen at any moment.

The president held this call while spending the weekend at the presidential retreat at Camp David. And the White House said that President Biden made clear that the U.S. would act swiftly if Russia were to invade Ukraine.

A White House statement, a readout of that conversation between Biden and Zelensky said, "President Biden made clear that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, together with its allies and partners to any further Russian aggression against Ukraine. The two leaders agreed on the importance of continuing to pursue diplomacy and deterrence in response to Russia's military build-on on Ukraine's borders."

Now, this conversation with Zelensky occurred just one day after President Biden spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin. A U.S. official said there were no major breakthroughs during that phone call, but stressed that the president told Putin there would be severe costs if he moves forward with an invasion.

The U.S., of course, has been readying a sanctions package to implement with allies, should Putin decide to move forward with an invasion into Ukraine. And the U.S. has also said they are ready to offer defense support to the country of Ukraine right now.

The national security adviser, Jake Sullivan has said that Ukraine -- Russia could attack Ukraine at any moment. But ultimately, the White House still is hoping that there might be some way to achieve a de- escalation through diplomacy. But the White House has also been clear to say that they are clear-

eyed about Russia's military moves. That the maneuvering that they've seen, the positioning of troops around Ukraine, do hint that there is a distinct possibility Russia may move forward with an invasion.

Now, one thing of utmost importance to the administration at this moment is ensuring the safety of American citizens. The U.S. has drawn down most of its embassy presence in Ukraine, evacuating non-emergency personnel.

And they've also encouraged Americans to depart the country immediately, including a direct message from President Biden in an interview with NBC's Lester Holt. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What I've asked is American citizens should leave, should leave now. We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It's a very different situation that things could go crazy, quickly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Well, that comment came with President Biden's first network television interview of the year. The president has conducted fewer television interviews than his predecessors. Where right now Ukraine and Russia tried to ease these tensions, trying to deter an invasion by Russia into Ukraine remains a top priority for this White House. They are engaging in a full-court press from the president on down.

Arlette Saenz, CNN, the White House.

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: When president Zelensky and Biden end up on Sunday, the Ukrainian president made a significant ask of his American counterparts, suggesting that he come to the Ukrainian capital as soon as possible to help calm the situation down.

We are told by U.S. officials that that is extremely unlikely. But this is what President Zelensky's office said that he told President Biden: "I'm convinced that your arrival in Kyiv in the coming days, which are crucial for stabilizing the situation, will be a powerful signal and contribute to de-escalation."

Now that is a near impossibility, because right now, the U.S. is trying to get as many of its citizens out as possible. It is removing nonessential personnel from the embassy. It is moving other court diplomats to other parts of the country and asking Americans to leave Ukraine as soon as possible.

Now on this call, we are also told by a senior Ukrainian official, who spoke with our colleague Matthew Chance, that Ukraine also asked for more financial aid and more military aid.

We have been seeing from Ukrainian military officials that despite the tons of military assistance that have come in from the U.S. and other countries over the course of the past few days, there are still in need of more sophisticated weaponry. And in particular, anti-aircraft weaponry that could be used against Russian helicopters and fighter jets.

And this all highlights the careful line that President Zelensky has been walking, in agreeing with the U.S. assessment that there is a significant threat coming from Russia.

But at the same time, downplaying that threat, in order to not cause panic in his population and prevent chaos. We saw that on full display on Saturday, when President Zelensky was visiting Ukrainian military exercises.

And in speaking of new U.S. intelligence that talked about Russia potentially invading Ukraine in the coming days. President Zelensky said that he still needs to analyze that information and that he has other information.

So this difference in tone from Ukraine and from the U.S. continues, amid this growing threat from Russia.

Alex Marquardt, CNN, Zaporizhia, Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: If Vladimir Putin does order Russian tanks and troops to cross the border, if he orders his missiles to target key cities and flatten neighborhoods and towns, most of the world will watch in horror and do little more than watch.

Ukraine will face this invasion alone, a military offensive which could be the bloodiest in Europe since the end of World War II.

Joining us now for more on this from Washington, CNN military analyst, retired colonel Cedric Leighton. For almost three decades, he worked as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force.

Colonel, it is good to see you. Thank you for being with us.

COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: You bet, John. It's good to be with you.

VAUSE: Thank you. Now, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, he laid out what would happen if this standoff escalates to a hot war. What it would look like? Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE SULLIVAN, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: If there is a military invasion of Ukraine by Russia, it's likely to begin with a significant barrage of missiles and bomb attacks. Those are never as precise as the army would -- any army would like them to be.

It would then be followed by an onslaught of a ground force moving across the Ukrainian frontier.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: That seems to be an old-school, narrow definition of this invasion, and a war of choice rarely ends well for anyone. But are there other options here for Putin before he orders the tanks to start rolling across the border?

LEIGHTON: Absolutely, John. In fact, what I think will happen is a combination of what Jake Sullivan just described, plus, cyber and hybrid warfare.

What you're going to see, if this does happen, is an effort by Special Operations forces from Russia to go in, and in all likelihood, they'll try to decapitate the current Ukrainian government. Maybe not literally, but certainly, figuratively.

And the idea would be to eliminate that government, say that there is no government. They had to restore order, and then they would bring in even their own puppet Ukrainians, or some other people that would do their bidding.

That is, basically, what they're going to do. Kyiv is very close to the Belarusian border, 56 miles at its closest point. That is an area that really is relatively open, with one big exception.

That is the fact that Chernobyl is right between the Belarusian border and Kyiv. So there's a radiation zone. Then, of course, there are marshes they'd have to go through.

But basically, what you're looking at, John, is an effort, a multi- disciplined effort, to go in and to take out the Ukrainian government.

VAUSE: The trigger for a U.S. response, is it's no definition of invasion, it seems. Can Putin stop short, still achieve his goal of destabilization of Ukraine, and avoid sanctions and repercussions?

LEIGHTON: Yes, I think he can. And if he plays this, you know, wisely from his point of view, he would be able to get rid of the Ukrainian government, have a very limited operation that would take, you know, an area (ph) out of Kyiv temporarily, install his person or persons and then move on.

And in that case, the idea would be not set off alarms and the trip wires that NATO and the U.S. have been talking about. Because the incursion -- incursion will be only a limited one. That would, potentially, sow divisions within NATO. So it's definitely possible that he could achieve his goals with a minimum of force.

VAUSE: Here's part of the readout from the Biden-Zelensky phone call on Sunday. President Biden made clear that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, together with its allies and partners, with any further Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Nothing new there, but to that, I want you to listen to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. He raised this point. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): I don't want to ring in alarm bell, as much as take action. They're telling us the invasion is imminent, but they're not telling Putin, with -- with clarity what happens if you invade. He should be punished now. What I can't get over is that the world is allowing him to do all this without consequence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: So two points here. Firstly, how many warnings does Putin get? You know, threats about follow-through are meaningless.

And the second point, is there an argument to be made that Putin should be sanctioned now?

LEIGHTON: I think you can certainly make an argument that Putin could be sanctioned now. However, the counter argument to that, John, would be that, you know, right now we have some leverage. The Germans have some leverage with Nord Stream 2, for example. And what could happen is, if they sanctioned Putin through cutting off Nord Stream 2, at this moment, and Putin might just go ahead and do things anyways.

They've already taken away my major concern. My major economic lifeline. Therefore, there's no difference if I do this or if I don't do this. So I will go ahead and do that, I will achieve my goals, and I will -- I will move from there.

So in many ways, doing what Senator Graham suggested would actually weaken the possibilities of the United States to have leverage over Russia in the event of a new incursion into Ukraine.

So that, I think, is the primary reason not to impose sanctions at this point in time.

VAUSE: Some nervous days ahead, Colonel, but we are glad you're with us. Thank you very much, sir.

LEIGHTON: You bet, John, absolutely.

VAUSE: Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva will soon know if her participation at the Winter Olympics will be cut short. Right now, she's listed as competing in Tuesday's single skating short program, despite revelations last week that she had tested positive for a banned heart drug.

Russian Olympic officials knew of the positive result in December. The IOC only found out last week. The court of arbitration for sport has been meeting behind closed doors for hours, an announcement expected less than an hour from now.

CNN WORLD SPORT's Patrick Snell joins me in Atlanta with the latest on the Winter Games. First, let's go to Beijing and Steven Jiang, with the very latest on this drugging scandal.

And Steven, this is about the future of the games. It's also a gold medal that she's already won. So what are the details? STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Well, John, the IOC just

clarified a few key points about this case, at a press conference, saying that decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport is going to be very narrowly focused. It's only going to address this very technical and procedural issue. That is whether or not she can compete on Tuesday.

It's not going to draw conclusions on whether or not she has committed a doping offense, or whether -- or what's going to happen to the Russians' gold medal from that team event last Monday, just one day before her positive test result returned.

Now that, the fate of those medals, according to the IOC, is going to be determined by a separate, more thorough process that could take much longer to complete.

Obviously, this is not going to be a very satisfying result, and the IOC acknowledged that themselves, saying they would actually like to see everything settled, once and for all. But they simply couldn't get everybody on board for that to happen.

So, what they also said, if Valieva is allowed to compete on Tuesday and wins, then, conceivably, she could actually receive that medal.

[00:15:09]

But if that separate process found -- finds her guilty of doping later, then that medal could be revoked. So it's a rather complicated picture, but of course, the Russians have insisted they have lifted that temporary ban on Valieva, because she's been passing her doping tests both before and after December 25.

That is when the positive sample was collected, and she's been testing negative since she arrived here in Beijing. That's why the Russians think the test -- the positive test result should not apply for the games period.

But one thing is clear, even with that decision announced in less than an hour from now, that there are still going to be a lot of things left hanging -- John.

JIANG: This is -- this is obviously taking some of the shine, at least, off her achievements so far. I mean, she was sensational in the figure skating. She landed that incredibly difficult jump twice. No woman has ever done that before. And now there's this hanging over her.

JIANG: Yes, that's right. And of course, the Russians have been throwing growing support behind her, because of this where the country's sports minister and the head of its figure skating federation both saying how they have no doubts over her honesty with the Russian sports minister, especially saying he's been talking to her in the past few days and really stressing her strength, despite her young age, saying he had heard a lot of optimism and energy in her voice. That's what's convinced him of her innocence -- John.

VAUSE: Yes, it was a decision by the Olympic -- the Russian Olympic Committee, I guess, to lift the ban. It wasn't hers, I guess.

Let's get Patrick Snell now for more on the games. It was a great start to the day for Team USA in women's bobsledding.

PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORT CORRESPONDENT AND ANCHOR: Yes. Hi, John, yes. Women's mono bob is a brand-new event at these games, and two of bobsledding's biggest American stars are going home with gold and silver.

Already a very, very fascinating day indeed, and a triumphant one for Kaillie Humphries taking the cold. A really special moment for her, her third career Olympic gold medal, a fourth Olympic medal overall.

Her previous three Olympic medals coming as she competed in the two- women bobsled when she competed for Canada. And how about her fellow American? What a great triumph, as well, for Elena Meyers Taylor has much to be proud of after she won silver today during a very challenging star indeed, John, to these Winter Games.

She was supposed to help carry the U.S. flag at the opening ceremony but would test positive for COVID-19. This just two days after arriving in China.

Other developments unfolding (ph). Eileen Gu, the American-born Chinese competitor, through to the finals of the freeski slopestyle event. This after a third place finish in qualifying. The teenager already winning gold in the big air event.

And they'll also tell you, if I may, the French ice dancing pair could redeem themselves after a costume malfunction that cost them gold four years ago.

I'm teasing ahead to a story, John, that is coming our way on WORLD SPORT in just 45 minutes from right now. Not to be missed.

Back to you.

VAUSE: Never to be missed. Patrick Snell, thank you so much. We'll see you again soon, Patrick. And to Steve Jiang, earlier, before Patrick.

Well, enough is enough. Coming up on CNN NEWSROOM, after seven days of protesting on the main crossing between Canada and the U.S., Canadian police have finally moved in, arresting demonstrators opposed to pandemic restrictions, and clearing the Ambassador Bridge.

And in the end, home sweet home was so fine for the Rams. We're live from Cali with the Super Bowl LVI highlights in just a moment.

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[00:22:32]

VAUSE: And the perfect Hollywood ending for the L.A. Rams in Super Bowl LVI.

In the closing minutes came a game-winning touchdown for a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Leading the charge, quarterback Matthew Stafford, his first season with the Rams.

U.S. President Joe Biden congratulated the new champions and offered an invitation to visit the White House.

CNN's Andy Scholes joins us now from outside Sofi Stadium.

What an ending. What a game.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR/CORRESPONDENT: Great game, John.

Super Bowl LVI is going to go down as one of the best ever. I mean, really, it had it all. Emotional lead changes. It had a heartbreaking injury, awesome halftime show that's going to go down as one of the best ever, and of course, it had a fantastic finish.

We'll show you how it all went down. Quarterback Joe Burrow for the Bengals playing in his very first Super Bowl, trying to make some history. And he showed up looking sharp. Look at that suit and hat combo he had going on there. He had to rock out there on the field before the game, pumping everybody up.

And hey, those Los Angeles fans had a lot to cheer about early in this when Matthew Stafford, Odell Beckham Jr. to open up his scoring.

But bad news for OBJ in the second quarter, a non-contact injury. He hurt his knee. He would leave the game and not return.

At that point, the Rams took a lead into halftime, 13 to 10. But the first play of the second half, Burrow going deep, his team -- lot of people on social media thinking that was offensive pass interference, but nevertheless, no flag.

Higgins goes for 75-yard touchdown. Bengals take the lead. They had it all the way to late in the fourth quarter before Stafford manufactures a 15-play, 79-yard drive. Got helped right there by a defensive holding penalty that gave the Rams a first down in the red zone.

And then Stafford to Cooper Kupp, his second touchdown of the game. That gave the Rams the lead, 23 to 20.

Burrow did have one more chance to go in this game, but Aaron Donald wrapping it up right there. Donald, Von Miller in that Rams defense, sacking Burrow a Super Bowl record high, seven times.

Los Angeles gets the win, 23-20. Kupp was named the MVP of the game, Donald after the game, emotional, winning his first Super Bowl.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AARON DONALD, L.A. RAMS PLAYER: I am just so happy. I wanted it so bad. I dreamed this, man. I dreamed this, and it's like, it's so real. Look at this -- look at this man. This is -- I feel amazing. I feel amazing. I feel great.

[00:25:04] SEAN MCVAY, LOS ANGELES RAMS HEAD COACH: Those guys just did a great

job. They took over that game. The offensive line did a great job protecting. You knew that we were pretty much thrown in. Second down and two run run where K-makers (ph) got his first down to make it to the 80-yard (ph) line was big, but so many contributions. It's about the team. I'm so happy about these players. World champs, baby!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: You see Sean McVay is pumped up, and the biggest move he did all season was actually before the season, when he was on vacation in Cabo.

He met with Matthew Stafford. They decided they would be a good pair together. And that's when McVay traded for Stafford. Got him from the Detroit Lions, where had been for 12 seasons, suffered through a lot of losing.

They brought him to the Rams to try to get them over the hump and win a Super Bowl, and he did just that. Here's what Stafford had to say after the game.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW STAFFORD, LOS ANGELES RAMS QUARTERBACK: I'm so proud of this team! There's so many guys on our team that deserve this. So many great players, guys that have just given their heart and soul to this team, guys that are either playing in this game or not, you know, whatever it is.

But I'm just so proud of this group. I mean, it is the story of our season. You know, it's up and down. It's tough. We're a freaking tough team. Showed up late and got it done. I'm just -- I'm excited.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Yes, and Cooper Kupp completing one of the greatest seasons we've ever seen from an NFL player. He already won the triple crown as a wide receiver. That's the most receptive, most yards, and most touchdowns.

And he adds this Super Bowl MVP in the same week that he was named the offensive player of the year. The only other receiver in NFL history to do those three things was Jerry Rice, the great receiver for the 49ers. It took him a career to do that.

John, Cooper Kupp did that in one season, and he's also a Super Bowl champion now. You could say a Hollywood ending for Cooper Kupp, even though it's not the end, but what a year for him. A guy who went to a small school, eastern Washington, really had to work his heart out to become the best. And now there's no question. He is the best.

VAUSE: They laugh, they cry, they laugh some more. What a day.

Andy, thank you. Andy Scholes there, live for us with the very latest. Appreciate it. SCHOLES: All right.

VAUSE: Well, a fifth wave of COVID in Hong Kong, filling hospital beds, and quarantine facilities are becoming increasingly crowded. We'll have a live update when we come back.

And Canada's Freedom Convoy protest, spreading around the world. We'll tell you where in a moment.

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VAUSE: A seven-day-long protest, an occupation at North America's border crossing is now over. A short time ago, officials in Detroit announced the Ambassador Bridge, connecting Canada and the U.S., is now fully reopened.

Early on Saturday, Canadian police stepped up their crackdown on protestors opposed to pandemic restrictions. Dozens were arrested. Their vehicles were seized. CNN's Miguel Marquez was there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: One of the main protests there took place here on the Ambassador Bridge is cleared. Police here in Windsor say that they made 25 to 30 arrests. Those individuals charged with criminal mischief.

A few cars were towed, but, amazingly, nobody was injured. There weren't any sort of police officers or protesters that were injured throughout this entire ordeal. It was -- it was a lesson in patience on the part of police agencies that responded to these protests.

The police now dealing with the ongoing issue of keeping that bridge open. That -- that is their first priority, and their ongoing priority now. It's a very long stretch, about a three-mile stretch of surface streets from the bridge here in Canada to the main transportation corridor, Highway 401 that they will have to secure. That's what police are doing now, trying to figure out how they can secure that area, all those side streets, that lead on to that surface street and keep protesters from blocking traffic in that area and on the bridge itself in the days ahead.

They also have to coordinate with the U.S. in the state of Michigan to make sure that all of the pieces of this massive puzzle come back together.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: In New Zealand, protesters shouting freedom from COVID restrictions, as the sentiment in Canada spreads globally. Along with New Zealand, protests in France, Australia, and the Netherlands all took place over the weekend, in opposition to COVID rules and vaccine mandates.

A small South Pacific nation is preparing for its first COVID infections. The prime minister of the Cook Islands says an infected traveler from New Zealand spent eight days in the community, then tested positive for Omicron after returning home last week.

Vietnam will remove its restrictions on all international passenger flights, beginning Tuesday.

And Hong Kong reporting more than 1,300 new COVID-19 infections on Sunday. Health authorities warned hospital beds and quarantine facilities are reaching capacity during this fifth wave.

CNN's Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong with the very latest.

Hong Kong is facing its toughest battle so far against the virus. We're two years into this. So what's the latest?

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's getting so bad that the healthcare system here in Hong Kong is being overwhelmed as the city is being hit with a record surge in COVID-19 cases.

On Sunday, Hong Kong reported over 1,300 new daily cases of COVID-19. On top of that, it recorded an additional 2,000 suspected cases.

Ninety percent of hospital beds across the territory for COVID-19 patients are now fully occupied.

Over the weekend, you had that meeting take place in Xianjin between Hong Kong government officials and mainland officials, the Hong Kong government saying that mainland China is pledging to help; to offer help with testing, with treatment, as well as to boost quarantine capacity.

The government of Carrie Lam here in Hong Kong has set up a number of task forces. But as for a timeline when this help is going to come in? That is an open question.

And late on Sunday, we also heard from the Hong Kong government that they plan to open vaccinations to children, aged 3 and up. This will start February the 15th.

This news coming out after a 4-year-old child has passed away. A child, who tested had preliminarily positive for COVID-19.

And last week, John -- I want to mention this -- the Hong Kong government also warning of food disruptions here in the territory after an outbreak between cross-border truck drivers. These are the truck drivers who bring in food supplies from mainland China into Hong Kong.

I have to point out, the fact that Hong Kong is an importer of food. In fact, some 90 percent of our food supply, or groceries, are imported.

Back to you. VAUSE: Well, Hong Kong, mainland China, they are among a few places

which are continuing this zero-COVID strategy, or dynamic zero-COVID strategy.

STOUT: Yes.

[00:35:03]

VAUSE: This is the heavy hand. You know, the whack-a-mole approach. You know, whack it really hard and whack it so you crack down at the first sign of an outbreak. Could there be a lockdown, as a part of the strategy?

STOUT: Yes. A whack-a-mole strategy that we've been really feeling hard for the last couple of years.

The big question over the last few days among residents here in Hong Kong is there going to be a lockdown? Is there going to be a Shanghai- style lockdown? A Wuhan-style lockdown?

That was something that was addressed on Saturday by John Lee, the No. 2 government officials, whether there will be a lockdown in Hong Kong. He said no, but listen to the context here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN LEE, CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION, HONG KONG: Obviously, how things are run and practiced in the mainland may have to be modified a little bit, if it is to be applied to Hong Kong.

That modification may or may not affect the effectiveness, or efficiency, of the whole arrangement. So they -- there may be possible areas that some of the strengths in the system can be maintained by dividing responsibilities, and functions, between what are those that are best to be taken in Hong Kong and what are those that may best be done as background support in the mainland.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: OK. So no lockdown in place just yet. A number of tough measures are in place. Schools are closed. No dine-in service after 6 p.m. Tough border restrictions. The list goes on and on.

And despite the dynamic zero-COVID measures that are in place, we recently heard from Hong Kong University scholars and epidemiologists who say daily cases are set to rise to as much as 28,000 a day by March -- John.

VAUSE: Well, Kristie, thank you. Kristie Lu Stout, live in Hong Kong, thank you.

Well, it's getting cold outside, and millions in the U.S. are under winter weather advisories. We'll go to the CNN Weather Center for the very latest. That's after a very short break.

You're watching CNN. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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VAUSE: In the United States, more than six million people are under variety of winter weather alerts right now. Boston and to the south has been especially hard hit. New England expecting several inches of snow in the coming hours.

And we're expecting meteorologist Pedram Javaheri with all the details. And there he is.

Hey, Pedram.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hey, John, good seeing you.

You know, when you look at what's happened here in the northeast, the snowfall here is -- seems so persistent for so many hours. And finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel here.

The weather advisories set to expire around sunrise, 6 a.m., and you'll notice another 2 to 4 inches could fall here. As much as seven inches has come down over the past 24 or so hours.

And even our friend across portions of the Canadian Maritimes, Halifax, Nova Scotia, that's where we see some of the more significant bouts of snow left in this forecast.

And beyond this, the forecast really switches significantly, going over the next several days. The quiet conditions, once we get to Monday and Tuesday, albeit very cold.

The trend then, from say Wednesday into Thursday across the northeastern United States, shift to an incredible warming trend for this time of year.

Climatologically, we're talking about the coldest time of year, temps warming up about 5 to 7 degrees every day, John. And look at this. New York City touching 60 degrees, about 15 or 16 Celsius. Same in Boston, which is almost unheard of, in February, after all the snow in recent days. A pretty big (ph) change in the forecast.

VAUSE: That is just incredible, to go from the freezing cold to that really nice, warm weather. It's -- could be the climate could be changing. Who knows?

Pedram, thank you. Good to see you. Pedram Javaheri with all the details.

Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm John Vause. Please stay with us, WORLD SPORT is up next, and I hope to see you again at the top of the hour.

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