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UNESCO: 290 Million Students Out of School; Airlines Could Lose $113 Billion in Sales Because of Coronavirus; Erdogan and Putin Meet to Discuss Escalating Violence in Syria; War Becomes a Way of Life in Idlib Province; Violence Erupting at Turkish-Greek Border; Conditions Reach Breaking Point on Greek Island of Lesbos; Danish Cyclist Wins Gold After Emerging for Self-Isolation; Experts Say a Vaccine Will Take at Least a Year to Make. Aired 10-10:45a ET
Aired March 05, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
Byline: Lynda Kinkade, Anna Stewart, Julia Chatterley, Matthew Chance, Arwa Damon, Jomana Karadsheh, Phil Black, Frederik Pleitgen, Becky Anderson>
[10:00:00]
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN HOST: As more clusters of the coronavirus pop up around the world, we're going to walk you through the facts and fears in only a
way that CNN can.
Leader of NATO's second biggest military shaking hands with Syria's most important backer. Two leaders on opposite sides for the battle in Idlib
province.
Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade sitting in for Becky Anderson, good to have you with us.
Well we're going to start obviously with the coronavirus. The big picture, the facts and the fears. The number of clusters of the novel coronavirus
keeps ticking higher. According to UNESCO, almost 300 million students are now out of school.
As officials try to contain the spread, now travel restrictions are getting much higher. And fears of the virus are hitting every major industry. The
airline industry now reporting a possible loss of $113 billion in revenue.
Well, at CNN we hear your concerns about this outbreak and we are listening to it. Later on we are going to bring you a "Global Town Hall" which will
be hosted by CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, as well as our Anderson Cooper.
Well, for more on this, I want to bring in Anna Stewart on the economic impact of this virus. Obviously, the economic fallout continues, Anna.
Airline industries now fearing this virus could cost them $113 billion in lost revenue. And that, of course, has quadrupled the last estimate we saw
last month. Just explain how they've come up with that figure.
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: It's a huge jump over a two-week period from IATA, a very dire warning. $113 billion in losses over the year for global
airlines. To put that number into perspective, it's 19 percent of airlines' businesses. Now this is worst case scenario. This is in the scenario that
the virus is not contained. Of course, it doesn't appear to be being contained at the moment so this is a scenario airlines have to face.
And when we look at why there is such a big impact here, you look at number one, the facts that directly, lots of routes have been canceled to, from,
within mainland China and then indirect cause of just a complete collapse in demand for air travel. So those expos, events being canceled all around
the world. The Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, this week ITB in Berlin. All those travelers just not taking to the skies and corporates saying
employees shouldn't travel for any nonessential business. So you can see a huge drop-off there.
And we just had news from Lufthansa, a German airline. They've canceled 7,100 European flights for this month. They've also canceled all flights to
Israel based on new onerous entry regulations. It's kind of gaining pace, I guess, for these airlines. And actually one British airline went bust early
this morning. This has compounded all of the struggles the aviation sector was already feeling -- Lynda.
KINKADE: And we are seeing major companies like Amazon and Nestle that are suspending international travel for some employees. And of course, in
certain parts of the world, schools are closed. I mentioned earlier almost 300 million students having to stay home from school, which obviously means
a lot of parents have to either stay home or work from home. Explain how this could spread, this spread of the virus could drag down the global
growth.
STEWART: Yes, so you can get a dire warning from IATA, you know, looking at one sector. When we look at global growth, it's really overwhelming and
alarming to consider how this couldn't operate for China's economy but also worldwide. So we have the issue of demand -- for instance like the aviation
sector we just mentioned. People not traveling, not using hotels, the tourism sector in many, many countries. Also people not purchasing things -
- in China, particularly luxury goods, cars and so on.
Then you have to also add to that the issue of supply. Factories still offline in many areas of China. That's not supply chains for all sorts of
businesses all over the world. So when we talk about the global growth implications, longer term, as long as this virus isn't being contained,
those just escalate and escalate. It's hard to put any kind of figure on it, but it's very alarming -- Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes, it certainly is. Anna Stewart, good have you staying across it all for us, thanks so much. We'll speak to you again soon, no doubt.
Well, I want to go to Wall Street now. Because it is another wild day. Investors still trying to sort out the economic impact of the coronavirus.
Now the Dow Industrials are plummeting in early trading.
[10:05:00]
You can see they're down almost 800 points after posting a gain of more than 1,000 points on Wednesday.
Well, our Julia Chatterley is live for us at the New York Stock Exchange. Good to have you with us, Julia. So pretty volatile markets right now.
Investors clearly worried. And as we can see, the Dow down again after we saw that post Super Tuesday bounce.
JULIA CHATTERLEY, CNN ANCHOR: I call it very volatile, to your point. We are now down 3 percent for the Dow. That compare and contrast with a 4
percent rise yesterday. And market measures of the future outlook for volatility here says that this level of yo-yoing that we're seeing is set
to remain. And for all the reasons that you and Anna, Lynda, were just describing. The sheer level of uncertainty here. The impact on businesses,
the costs.
What's dragging us down in particular today is the U.S. airlines. They're reacting to that warning of the billions of dollars of cost. And I think he
within that, too -- as you guys were discussing -- the jump. The jump in prediction that we've seen in just the space of two weeks. The point is we
simply can't gauge the future costs for companies, for businesses, the economic impact. And that's simply being played out in realtime on a daily
basis for these markets.
I think the difference in what we've seen now is the Federal Reserve saying, look, we stand ready. They've already cut rates. We had the IMF
with their stimulus announcement yesterday, $50 billion. The hope is that U.S. Congress will now agree to an $8 billion stimulus package. So we are
seeing governments, bodies stepping up. But it's tough to compare and contrast the sheer numbers of stimulus here versus the economic damage
that's been created. V for virus, v for volatility, and, Lynda, I have to say it feels like it's here to stay for a while.
KINKADE: Yes, it certainly does. And we are, of course, Julia, also seeing that slowing demand for oil. And now OPEC ministers have agreed to try and
cut production.
CHATTERLEY: The key point there is OPEC have agreed to cut oil output by $1.5 million a barrel. The question is than they get the plus members on
board, in particular Russia. Because what they are saying is, of that $1.5 million of barrels a day that they want to pull out of the market, a
third, they want Russia to take control of.
And Russia have said, look, it's not so easy for us in terms of infrastructure simply to turn off the taps. They're also as a nation far
more comfortable, let's be clear, with oil trading around $50 to $60 a barrel compared to some of the Middle Eastern nations. But they also have
an incentive here, too, to try and support the market.
I had a guest on my show earlier saying in the short term, we could still see oil hit $30 a barrel, even if they agree to take out this level of
capacity. So that meeting with the OPEC-plus members is tomorrow, Lynda. And we just have to wait and wait and see what the compromise looks like.
Is it 1.5 million barrels a day or is it slightly lower. My money is on perhaps lower.
KINKADE: All right, we'll see how that plays out tomorrow. Julia Chatterley, as always, good to have you with us from New York. Thanks so
much.
CHATTERLEY: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, 27 new cases of the coronavirus have been now reported in Belgium with a third death reported in Spain. CNN is on the ground at EU
headquarters in Brussels. And in the next hour we'll be talking to the European commissioner for health and food safety, Stella Kyriakidou.
But first, we are keen here at CNN to make sure that you know what's fact and what's fiction on all the news, especially when it comes to the
coronavirus. Now you can subscribe and listen to our podcast. CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta will make sense of the headlines.
He'll speak with experts and give you all the information you need to stay safe and healthy.
And in the coming hours, Dr. Gupta will join Anderson Cooper for our CNN Global Town Hall on the facts and the fears about the coronavirus. That's
tonight, Thursday night, 10:00 p.m. Eastern in New York. Friday morning at 7:00 a.m. in Abu Dhabi. 11:00 a.m. in Hong Kong.
Well two leaders who were once on the same page in Syria now find themselves trying to start a new chapter there. What to expect from the
Turkey/Russia meeting coming up next.
[10:10:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: The leader of NATO's second biggest military shaking hands with the Syrian regime's most important foreign backer. Turkey's President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting in Moscow today.
Well it comes just days after Turkey launched its latest operation in Syria in a bid to stop the Russian-backed Syrian government from gaining control
in Idlib province. Since December, Syria's government has carried out a large-scale offensive displacing more than a million people. Well last
week, Turkey opened its borders in an attempt to pressure the EU to offer support.
We are covering this from all angles. I want to go first to our Matthew Chance. Who's in Moscow where these vital talks are taking place. Matthew,
Russia and Turkey certainly don't really want a war over Syria. And it's clear that Erdogan, at least, wants a quick cease-fire. What does Moscow
want?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think it's fair to say, Lynda, that neither side want to find themselves fighting
face-to-face. Turkey is the second biggest military in NATO. Russia, of course, the main backer of Bashar al Assad in Syria, is a nuclear power.
And, you know, the two countries, as well as the broader international community wants to avoid a direct confrontation between these two states.
But we're at a point in Syria now where the two are veering extremely close to that kind of very volatile, very dangerous situation. In terms of what
Russia wants, well, I mean first and foremost, I think that Russia, as you say, wants to avoid that direct confrontation with the NATO military of
Turkey.
But Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, also wants to preserve the prestige that he has garnered in Syria for the past several years,
deploying his military forces there, backing his ally Bashar al Assad. Who doesn't want to see a large-scale Turkish invasion of Syrian territory that
the Russians would find very hard along with their Syrian allies and others to prevent the deployment of very serious, perhaps even tactical nuclear
weapons to prevent. So they want to avoid that at all costs.
But you know, it's a balancing act that Vladimir Putin is engaged in. Because the relationship that Russia has with Turkey is very complex one.
It's not just about the conflict in Syria. Yes, they are on opposite sides of that conflict but they also really important economic and political
relationships. They are big trading partners. Earlier this year Vladimir Putin was in Turkey opening a major gas pipeline. This going to supply
Russian gas through Turkey to southern Europe. They got other economic interests as well.
They're politically increasingly close. One of the big political objectives at the Kremlin is to try to put some distance between Turkey and its
European and NATO allies by sort of siding up to it politically and supporting it where perhaps its European allies and others are not.
And so, again, it is this very difficult balancing act that the Russians are engaged in right now to try and prevent, again, a big Turkish incursion
into Syria but also to preserve the other aspects of that complex relationship with Ankara -- Lynda.
KINKADE: And it certainly is complex. We know, Matthew, that there was this 2018 deal brokered in Moscow. Just explain for us why that failed and
whether that can be revived.
CHANCE: Yes, 2018 deal in order to prevent the two sides coming together in that kind of confrontation over Idlib which is essentially the last
stronghold of rebel forces in Syria.
[10:15:00]
And those, you know, dividing lines between the two sides, the distances that were meant to be between the sort of warring parties. The crackdown on
what the Russians would say are terrorist forces inside Idlib. None of that was really fully implemented. But you know, the framework is still there.
And even though we haven't heard exactly what's been discussed and what's been agreed, if anything, in these face-to-face talks that have taken place
over the last several hours in Moscow between President Erdogan of Turkey and Vladimir Putin of Russia, I think the expectation is that something
like that is going to be reinstated. It may not solve the problem permanently, but at least kicks that problem down the road a little bit to
prevent an escalation of the situation from where we are now.
KINKADE: All right, Matthew Chance for us there. Good to have you across it all for us from Moscow. Thanks so much.
We are going to stay on this story. Because I want to go to Arwa Damon who is in Turkey right now. And, Arwa, you've been covering this war in Syria
extensively for years. And you've just returned from Idlib province. Just explain for us how dire this situation is there right now.
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Lynda, this is really what's at stake. Forget about the politics. Forget about the often-
violent maneuvers on the battlefield. At the core of all of this, and the focal point that needs to be what is the basis for any discussion is how to
protect Idlib civilian population.
How to create something that isn't just a cease-fire or some sort of a safe zone, but something that is really more sustainable. Because all they
crave, all they want is a life where they can feel safe. Where they are no longer on the run. Where they have something of a future for themselves and
for their children and where every day is not defined by whether or not they've been able to cheat death.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAMON (voice-over): The children's smiles belie the depths of their trauma. The school is one of many sheltering the displaced. The blaring music
temporarily drowning out the sounds of the explosions on the front line just a 15-minute drive away. Even at their tender age, they know death can
come in an instant.
Gharat is trying to have fun, gingerly keeping her weight off her injured foot.
I was eating an apple with my sister and then rocket hit us, she remembers. I looked, and I could only see dust and blood.
That strike happened a week ago at the school just next door where Gharat's family, along with others, were living. A rocket slammed into the school
yard killing seven children and wounding many more.
Gharat's father shows us her bandaged foot, grateful his daughter is still alive, agonizing over how he is supposed to even protect his children. I am
used to the sounds of the planes hitting, Gharat says. But since we got hit, I'm scared of it.
(on camera): They've been training the kids on what to do if they hear explosions or the bombings come close. So one is shelter in place. And then
the other, though is to follow the arrows pointed on the walls to go towards the bunker.
(voice-over): It's not a real bunker. Just a room underground that used to store the now dust-covered schoolbooks. The skies outside the town are
painted with the streaks of fighter jets. In the early hours the next morning, a chicken farm being used to house the displaced was decimated.
Crushing many of those who sheltered there in their sleep, including children. Hospitals are overwhelmed, dealing not only with illnesses and
disease but the constant flow of the wounded. There is no sanctity here, least of all, for civilian life.
In the last month, Turkey has upped its military involvement. Battering regime positions. This group of fighters meet close to the front is mostly
made up of young men who were in high school when Syria's revolution turned into a war.
The Turkish presence is preventing the regime from advancing on the ground, 26-year-old Abu Saad says. Our fight is about defending the population. My
wife, my children.
But how to truly protect this population. It's not really in these fighters' control. It's in Turkey and Russia's hands. They, the main two
powers, bartering for Idlib's fate. No matter what is negotiated, there have been too many promises. Too many broken ceasefires. Too many sham
agreements. Pain haunts every street.
[10:20:00]
(on camera): His son died right here. That's blood on the wall.
(voice-over): Muhammad was just 12. His older brother tells us they ran when they saw the plane, but Muhammad didn't make it. I tried to pick him
up, but I couldn't, Hussein remembers. Muhammad died in his arms.
Even celebrations are bittersweet. These women are shopping for dresses for their relative's wedding. But it won't be a lavish affair. It's not the
sort of happiness where you invite everyone, the groom's sister tells us. It will be small with immediate family. There's just too much misery and
fear that a big crowd will get bombed.
Since December, around a million have been displaced, cramming into any empty space they can find, even this prison. The families here sleep with
their clothes on not knowing when they might need to run out.
Meden's father was killed fighting years ago. He used to play a lot with us, when he was alive, she remembers.
As we leave, we come across what's known as the graveyard camp. For even the dead are displaced. Buried as close as possible to the border with
Turkey. In the hopes that at least they can rest in peace.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Certainly a tough situation there. And, Arwa, obviously civilians are key here. But in order to get peace, there does have to be some sort of
political solution. How do you see this situation being defused, and what could possibly happen if the Syrian regime does advance on the ground?
DAMON: That really is the core question. And a lot of that right now lies in the hands of Putin and Erdogan. Some will tell you that the best-case
scenario is some sort of a safe zone or a buffer zone. But even that is not necessarily sustainable because, at the end of the day what you have if
that is created is, yes, potentially sparing the lives of those civilians inside. But then forcing them to live basically as a trapped population
inside a negotiated upon stretch of territory.
Many analysts, many observers will tell you that this is not a military solution. There needs to be a political one, but right now all of these
different sides are on such opposite scales of the political spectrum. It's hard to see where they come together on the middle line. And what everyone
is most terrified of, Lynda, is if there is some sort of negotiation or even if there isn't, that the bombardment will continue.
That Assad's regime forces will continue to advance. And the civilian population there is terrified of this. They are not just afraid of the
bombs and the bullets. They are afraid of actually living underneath the control of Damascus, because they are convinced that they will end up
killed, disappeared, detained as they say so many have in the past.
KINKADE: Arwa Damon, it's always so good to get your perspective on the ground. Thanks so much for that report.
Well, Greek border guards are trying to stop migrants from crossing into their country from Turkey. Reports of violence are increasing, sometimes
fatal. But this has done nothing to stem the flow of refugees seeking a better life in Europe. Our Jomana Karadsheh reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We don't know her name. She's too distraught to speak. But you really don't need words to explain
the (INAUDIBLE) when she grieves. Those with her tell us her husband was killed at the border.
Turkey says Greek border guards opened fire on refugees and migrants gathered at its border on Wednesday killing one and injuring five others.
The Greek government denies using live ammunition and calls it fake news, fabricated by Turkey. But it's not just the Turkish government making these
accusations.
(on camera): We're not allowed past this police line, but the situation seems chaotic. We've seen several ambulances coming in and out.
(voice-over): This man made it out of the area where thousands are gathered by the border fence. He says they were protesting peacefully. They said go
away, then they shot at us, he says. The Greek government is openly firing live ammunition. An accusation Greece categorically denies.
We spoke with a Syrian refugee who also says he witnessed the incident.
(on camera): He saw one person, he says, hit in the chest by a tear gas canister. We're also hearing pops of -- it's unclear what's being fired and
who is firing what.
[10:25:00]
(voice-over): At the local hospital where the injured were taken, Turkish health officials are keen to show us a photo of a bullet they claim was
removed from one of the wounded.
(on camera): Because the Greek side is saying they didn't use live ammunition. They did not use bullets.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We certainly removed it, yes.
KARADSHEH (voice-over): 30-year-old Zishar Omar, a Pakistani laborer says he saw people gathered at the border fence. He thought they may be opening
the gate to enter Greece so he ran up.
This mobile phone footage showed Omar being carried away moments after he was shot in the leg. All he wanted, he says, was a better life.
ZISHAR OMAR, PAKISTANI LABORER: No business, no job.
KARADSHEH: Back at the border, a steady stream of new arrivals undeterred by the news of violence and Europe's determination to keep them out. Some
say they know Turkey is using them as leverage trying to get more support from Europe. People so desperate for a different life that they're willing
to risk everything for this uncertainty.
Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, on the Turkish border.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, from one front line to another, our Phil Black is on the Greek island of Lesbos where conditions are reaching breaking point.
Migrants are living in squalor as they wait for passage onto the mainland in hope of a better future.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is where most migrants on Lesbos must say. The now sprawling Mytilene camp designed for a touch over
2,000 people, the current population is 18,000. Most live among olive trees in handmade shelters without running water, sanitation and electricity.
It's a slum.
(on camera): It's your child?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Baby.
BLACK: Baby.
(voice-over): It is no place for a newborn. No place for 3-week-old Adrian to start his life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, Phil Black will be bringing us fresh updates on the situation in the next hour.
In the meantime for the latest on this trade situation, in Lesbos, head to CNN.com. You can watch the rest of Phil's report at the heart of the
crisis.
Well, you're watching CNN. This is CONNECT THE WORLD. We're going to be right back after a very short break with much more news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Our continuing coverage of the fight against the coronavirus
continues. And there are now more cases, as well as the rising death toll across the world. Businesses are facing huge losses. And UNESCO today is
reporting a startling new figure. More than 290 million students around the world are now missing school as a result of this outbreak.
Well, there are new travel restrictions to tell you about. The United Arab Emirates has a big ask for its residents.
[10:30:00]
Don't travel abroad. State media there reports 27 confirmed cases of the virus. Dubai says it will now be carrying out health checks at the airport.
And the UAE also has shut down schools for a month to try to contain the virus.
Well, this is falling hard on the heels of big problems for professional cycling. The UAE tour was canceled with two stages remaining after two
Italian team members were suspected of having the coronavirus. Well that forced participants on multiple teams into quarantine. Professional cycling
now bracing for the worst.
Well, Danish cyclist Michael Morkov is from the UCI world tour team, Deceuninck. He joins us now by Skype from Copenhagen, Denmark with quite a
story to tell. Michael, good to have you with us. So firstly, obviously, you've just won the UCI cycling world championship after being stuck in
isolation because of this virus. So firstly, congratulations on that.
MICHAEL MORKOV, DANISH CYCLIST, UCI WORLD TOUR TEAM DECEUNINCK (via Skype): Yes, thank you very much.
KINKADE: So you spent 34 hours in quarantine. Just explain for us what that was like and was there anything you could do to continue preparations?
MORKOV: Actually, it wasn't so bad. It was myself who decided to stay away from the other teams, and my colleagues, obviously. Since I came from the
UIE tour, we got the news that I could have been a transport of this virus. So, therefore, I decided myself to stay in my room on this 1 1/2 day. And
it didn't really affect my preparation because the team was sweet enough to bring me my bike and a pair of trainers in my room. So I could keep on my
preparation for the world championships.
And, yes, obviously, it was a bit up and down these days coming into the worlds. Because I was not sure if UCI would let me race in terms of
possibly having this virus. But in the end, after they looked at me and my history, they decided that I probably would not have this virus and I was
very glad that I got the chance to race.
KINKADE: Just explain for us why the quarantine wasn't two weeks, which seems to be the most common time frame given the incubation period of this
virus. Why did you get the all clear so soon?
MORKOV: Yes, so basically, I came from the UIE tour to Berlin where the world championship was. At that stage we didn't know about any of the
coincidences with the virus from the UAE. So I was in the hall watching the world championships the day before, and then I got the news that they found
these two possible viruses in UAE. And then I decided with my national coach that it was better that I stayed away from my team and all the
competitors.
So I stayed isolated myself for this 1 1/2 day, and after we got positive news from you UCI at that point that apparently these two positive
Italians, they were now negative. And then UCI then they decided I would not -- probably not be able to carry any virus since they were all negative
tests and, therefore, I could get out of my isolation and race.
KINKADE: Right. So the two cyclists that they were concerned about, their tests came back negative. They didn't have the virus. You got the all clear
which is great and got to then go on to win this race with your team in Berlin.
But, obviously, there are many sporting events right around the world, especially in countries where there are major clusters of the coronavirus.
Where we are seeing events being canceled. Were you really worried at any point that you might have the coronavirus?
MORKOV: Of course I was. When I got the news that they found the virus, in a way I got -- yes, a really bad feeling because I traveled all the way to
Berlin. And I went there and said hello. Hugged all my teammates who became world champions the day I arrived there in the team pursuit. And the first
thing when I heard about that I could potentially have the virus with me from UAE, I was thinking of all the people that I'd been in close contact
with. So, Yes, obviously it's also -- it's not a nice feeling if you see yourself as a possible carrier of this virus.
So whenever we got the news that apparently the guys who was first tested positive was now negative, it was a big relief for me. So, yes, at the
moment, I don't know myself too much about the virus, but, obviously, just what you hear around in the news and, yes, I think it's important that
everybody try to limit the chance of spreading it around and keep really high hygiene, everyone.
[10:35:04]
KINKADE: And just quickly have you changed any travel plans in the coming months and have any upcoming events been impacted that you know of because
of this coronavirus?
MORKOV: Yes, absolutely, at the moment, it seems like the spring calendar of the cycling is getting a bit mixed up. Already now we know on Saturday,
there will be this Tirreno-Adriatico in Italy canceled. And because of that, the whole race program from our whole team will be changed a bit and,
yes, we will just take it day by day.
Normally, I would myself travel tomorrow to Paris to start the Paris-Nice, but, yes, things change from hours to hours and from day-to-day at this
point. So we can't really be sure of anything, but for me at least, public health is more important than cycling events, even though it's my job. I
hope that we can continue racing, but, obviously, if it's -- if it's a matter of limiting the spread of this virus, I think it's better that we
keep and stay home.
KINKADE: Absolutely, safety first. Michael Morkov, great to get you on the show today. Glad to hear that you're very healthy and hope that it stays
that way. Thanks so much for your time.
MORKOV: Yes, thank you very much.
KINKADE: Well as the virus spreads, the need for a vaccine certainly grows. But experts believe developing a viable vaccine will take at least a year
and potentially even longer. Our Frederik Pleitgen has more from Berlin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the novel coronavirus continues to spread around the globe and the death
toll mounts, these scientists in Germany, like countless others around the world, are in a race against time. Trying to develop a vaccine as fast as
possible for an illness the scientific world has a lot to learn about.
FRANZ-WERNER HAAS, COO, CUREVAC: Well the challenge first of all is that the virus is unknown. So you don't know which kind of protection you need
in order to stimulate the immune system, in order to be protected.
PLEITGEN: German-American company CureVac whose CEO has been to the White House to meet President Trump makes vaccines by essentially embedding the
virus' code into human cells to help the body protect itself.
HAAS: Well, we are making the body to produce your own vaccine or your own drug.
PLEITGEN: Each of these little tubes contains a different construct of the virus' code. Right now the scientists at the main lab in Germany are trying
to find out which one is the safest and most effective to be turned into a vaccine. While they don't want to put a date on it yet, they believe they
are getting closer.
HAAS: We are in preparation for a clinical trial. All of the different constructs, we have to get the best ones into the clinics, and we're in
constant discussion with regulatory authorities.
PLEITGEN: The pressure couldn't be higher with the number of novel coronavirus cases jumping every day and the global economy taking a beating
from the coronavirus's affects. President Trump at a meeting with drug makers urged the industry to come up with a vaccine asap.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're moving aggressively to accelerate the process of developing a vaccine. A lot of good things are
happening, and they're happening very fast. I said, do me a favor, speed it up. Speed it up. And they will.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need to be prepared.
PLEITGEN: While U.S. health officials acknowledge it will be at least a year before one will be certified, the company says it's working overtime
to get it done soon.
HAAS: If you compare normal vaccine development, it takes several years. We are fighting an outbreak right now and, therefore, regulatory authorities
are hands-on and trying to do this within a year's time.
PLEITGEN (on camera): Getting that done within a year is almost unheard of as far as the certification of drugs is concerned. But the folks at the
company tell us that they've almost never seen this amount of international urgency on the part of governments, on the part of NGOs and also, of
course, on the part of drug companies and labs to try and get a vaccine on the market as fast as possible and as safe as possible.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Berlin.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: You're watching CNN. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back after this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN MANAGING EDITOR, CNN ABU DHABI AND ANCHOR: So you grew up in London in place called Kilburn. In what you describe as a crowded
council flat. There were nine of you?
KANYA KING, FOUNDER, MUSIC OF BLACK ORIGIN: I know it's hard to believe. I'm the kind of youngest girl of nine children. My mother came from
Ireland. My father came from Ghana, and they both came to this country in the U.K. around about the age of 18. And, you know it was hard to believe
it now but it was a time there was notices that said no Irish, no blacks, no dogs. Our limiting factor is we couldn't afford a dog. I always wanted
one.
[10:40:00]
ANDERSON: You came up with the idea that ultimately became MOBO when you were really young. Take me back to that period. How difficult was it for
example to get support for the idea?
KING: Yes, it was very challenging trying to get support for a platform that was going to celebrate and champion black music and culture. I
remember, you know, becoming quite frustrated with the injustices I saw around me.
Because, you know, black music and black artists were making waves that were reverberating around the world. But weren't seemed worthy enough to be
celebrated in their own rights. And I just want to do something about it. And I thought, you know I -- basically it's now or never and I'm -- I
refuse to fail.
ANDERSON: How would you define success?
KING: I would define success by the impact I'm able to make in the world. I would define success by the ability to kind of support and champion kind of
social causes. And I would also define success by having an idea, building a brand and for it to be able to last for kind of generations to come. That
makes me proud.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Hello I'm Lynda Kinkade. We've got some breaking news into us in the U.S. The presidential race for the White House, Senator Elizabeth
Warren has just announced she's suspending her campaign. My colleagues Jim Sciutto and Poppy Harlow have more.
[10:45:00]
