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California Sees More Daily New Cases Than Ever; London Metropolitan Police Injured In Clash At Illegal Party; 26 States Seeing An Increase In Cases Over Last Week; Boris Johnson's Father On How British PM Is Handling Pandemic; Liverpool's 30-Year Title Wait Can End Thursday. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired June 25, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HALA GORANI, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. Welcome. I'm Hala Gorani in London. Let's get straight to our top story. We start with the alarming
surge of Coronavirus infections in the three most populous American states. California, Texas and Florida are all reporting record one-day case numbers
this week.
Another hard-hit state, Arizona, is seeing ICU beds fill to near capacity. And we're seeing troubling trends in other parts of the world. The World
Health Organization today reported that Europe has recorded its first weekly increase in cases in months. There is a sobering prediction on Latin
America from the model the White House often uses to forecast U.S. cases.
The University of Washington is predicting nearly 400,000 deaths in that region by October with Brazil and Mexico accounting for nearly two-thirds
of those fatalities. We'll look at those cases worldwide in a moment.
Back in the U.S. as cases surge in some states, others have successfully stopped the spread and their Governors want to keep it that way. Stephanie
Elam shows us the vastly differing circumstances across the country.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The first state to issue a stay at home order is now seeing sky rocketing Coronavirus cases this morning.
California reporting more than 7,000 new confirmed cases in one day Governor Gavin Newsom asking residents to be cautious as they were at the
start of the pandemic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): We cannot continue to do what we have done over the last number of weeks. Many of us understandably developed a little
cabin fever. Others have just frankly taken down their guard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: California's one of the nation's three most populous states experiencing record highs in new Coronavirus cases. And Newsom says its
hospitals are ready for the influx of patients if needed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWSOM: California did to lead on a state-wide stat-at-home, save lives and bought us time to build out our infrastructure and we have done just that.
That's why today we're at roughly 8 percent capacity in our hospitals.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis once again said no to issue a statewide mandatory mask order, despite the State Health Department
recommending them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL): Ultimately, we've to trust people to make good decisions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: This as one updated model suggests that universal mask wearing could help save more than 33,000 lives by October 1st.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. CHRIS MURRAY, DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH METRICS AND EVALUATION: If we can get people to wear masks, we can always save lives, but I sort of
think of it as we can also save the economy because we can keep businesses going if we can convince people that this is the best strategy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: In Arizona, only 12 percent of Intensive Care Unit beds for adults are available. That's according to the state's public health agency. And in
Texas, more than 4,300 people are hospitalized with the disease. One health expert wants Houston could end up the hardest hit city in the country, and
other big Texas cities like Dallas and Austin could be deeply impacted too.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. PETER HOTEZ, DEAN, NATL, SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AT BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE: So our big metro areas seem to be rising very quickly and some
of the models are, you know, on the verge of being apocalyptic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: The New York tri-state area is now seeing downward trends of new infections, and state leaders hope it stays that way as phased reopening
continues.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. PHIL MURPHY (D-NJ): And we've beaten this virus down to a pulp in New Jersey with an enormous loss of life. We've been through hell again; we
don't want to go through hell again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: To help, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut announced a travel advisory requiring 14-day quarantine for people arriving from eight states
with high levels of Coronavirus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): A lot of people come to New York and the tri- state area from other places. We just want to make sure we don't import the virus, because we learn that lesson, been there, done that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right. There you have at a look around the United States. That was Stephanie Elam. Before we get to specific cases in California and in
Texas, which will we'll be going live to, here's a look at what's going on around the world starting with our David Culver in Beijing.
DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm David Culver in Beijing, where city officials now consider this most recent cluster outbreak to be basically
contained in their words. It is believed to have originated in a popular wholesale food market here in the capital. Two weeks in and several
neighborhoods are still on strict lockdown.
Mass testing sites like this one that CNN toured this past week continue to require screening for - two hundred of thousands of residents. Of that,
they have only recorded about 250 confirmed cases from this most recent outbreak. In all since the start of that pandemic, Chinese health officials
say they have conducted more than 90 million Coronavirus tests.
[10:05:00]
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm matt rivers in Mexico City. It was about a month ago that the Pan-American Health Organization officials first
declared Latin America and the Caribbean to be the new epicenter of this global pandemic.
And in the several weeks since, we know that cases in this part of the world have tripled going from just under 700,000 to now standing at more
than 2 million cases and more than 100,000 deaths.
The Director of the Pan-American Health Organization told reporters on Wednesday that she thinks outbreaks could continue to crop up in this
region for the next two years saying in part, "All of us must adjust to a new way of life and redefine our sense of normal".
CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Cyril Vanier in Paris where the Eiffel Tower is partially reopening to visitors today after its longest shutdown
since the Second World War. For now, the lifts are closed to avoid crowds in a confined space. So, if you want the view, you have to earn it.
745 steps to the second level that's a 15-minute climb and once you get there, the Eiffel Tower experience is a little different now. With
mandatory face masks, regular disinfection of surfaces and no access to the very top for now. An estimated 4,000 to 5,000 visitors are expected on day
one.
GORANI: All right. I did that once, but I was in my teens and it was hard enough then. It's not something I'll attempt again to walk up the Eiffel
Tower by foot. A few minutes ago we heard about the rapidly worsening situation in parts of Texas. CNN's Lucy Kafanov joins me now from Dallas
with more. What is behind this rise in cases in Texas in particular, Lucy?
LUCY KAFANOV, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Texas is a growing concern. It is one of 26 states in America where we have seen a massive spike in cases.
This is also the second most populous state in the United States.
And so, the rise in numbers is a massive, massive public health disaster. The Governor here is now warning about a third potentially third
consecutive day of record-breaking numbers, both in terms of new cases as well as hospitalizations.
Local officials are worried about capacity at hospitals to the point where one hospital in Houston, the children's hospital, is now making room for
adult COVID patients just to make sure that the area doesn't run out of, for example, intensive care unit beds and critical care beds.
Here in Dallas, we are now hearing local officials talk about turning the massive Convention Center into a field hospital to deal with the surgeon
new cases. The Mayor of Austin also warning that his hospitals could run out of room by mid-July if these current trends continue. Take a listen to
this one dire warning from one of the nation's and state's top infectious disease experts.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOTEZ: Our big metro areas seem to be rising very quickly and some of the models are, you know, on the verge of being apocalyptic. We're seeing the
models coming out of the University of Pennsylvania, now it's a model, but the numbers say that, we'll have a four-fold increase in the number of
daily cases by July 4th in Houston.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAFANOV: So why are these cases going up? Look, it's because a lot of states including Texas are reopening. Texas pushed to aggressively reopen
back in May. We are now seeing bars letting folks back in. There are social distancing measures, but at least 17 bars had their alcohol licenses taken
away over the past week, because people weren't wearing masks, they were jam-packed and drinking, being close together.
There's the upcoming 4th of July holidays so that's why using more concern about big public gatherings and folks getting out and about and potentially
spreading the disease. And there's also growing concern about young people spreading this disease.
For example, being infected, not knowing, hanging out with friends, bringing it back home and therefore being responsible in fact for those
numbers going up. There's also no mandate for masks to be worn in public.
You do have to wear one inside a business, but on the street folks are walking around without them quite often. And so, this is one of the many,
many issues that Texas is grappling with, Hala?
GORANI: All right. Lucy Kafanov thanks very much. When people start using the adjective apocalyptic to describe COVID cases in your state that is
quite worrying. As we mentioned this week, California also saw more daily new cases than ever. Let's go live to Stephanie Elam live from Los Angeles.
And Stephanie, the question I have for you is California is a state that shut down early. Initially, the numbers were quite promising and now yet
again, we're seeing some very worrying numbers. What is going on?
ELAM: Yes, you're right, Hala. California was actually the first state to go into a stay-at-home order on March 19th. And really for a state of this
size, one of the three most populated states in the nation, it was really leading the curve.
People are like, California is doing fantastically with these numbers and the numbers were stabilizing. But over the last couple of weeks the trend
is starting to change. You are seeing over 7,000 new cases yesterday, just obliterating the previous record which was about 5000 new cases in a day,
which was the day before that.
[10:10:00]
ELAM: So, it shows that things are changing here. I did get to ask Governor Gavin Newsom about this. And this perception that California was ahead, but
is now slipping behind? And he said that is not the case that they always expected that the numbers would increase.
But what they managed to avoid early on was a huge spike in cases and thus giving the state time to prepare. He said at the time they weren't prepared
but now that they do have surge hospitals, they do have the capacity for beds, they do have ventilators and all the PPE that Personal Protective
Equipment that they would need as well.
He is saying now they're in a better position to handle that as these numbers go up. And they said that they also expected that the state would
see an increase in these numbers as businesses came back online, as people started to mix about outside of their normal communities.
And then he pointed to we had the Memorial Day holiday. And then also you have had all of the protests throughout the state in light of the death of
George Floyd at the hand of police officers. So because of that, he is saying you would see that.
Now I can tell you as I covered those protests here, most of the people out there do have masks. But there's a big discussion now of reminding people
on how to wear their masks, and so, the Governor has been sometimes speaking about that too.
About the mask can't go below your nose and still have your nose out and making sure that people are washing their hands. And there's a bit of a
feeling of complacency now that it's gotten warmer. But when you look at the hospitalization rate here in the state and it's now up 29 percent, this
is giving people concern.
I also asked the Governor, Hala, about the President and how he refuses to wear a mask and be seen in a mask and whether or not this was causing a
politicization of masks in California as well? And his response to that was for people to look to Dr. Fauci who is really been leading the charge on
what people should be doing here in this country. And he says he wears a mask. That's what you should do too.
So, everyone should be having a mask with them, having them wherever they go, but obviously this idea that we're not ahead of the virus, but sort of
playing catch-up is very concerning here as we still have the fall months and the fact that there might be that second peak when we haven't even
gotten out of it here especially when I talk to some ER doctors here.
They are saying that in some parts of just L.A. of Los Angeles, those numbers are still very high. They've never gone done. That's a concern as
it spreads through people's families for sure, Hala.
GORANI: Yes. And briefly, you'd expect the Governor to be, you know - to be defensive about his strategy and to say that this was expected. But when we
are looking at L.A. numbers and other parts of California with numbers that never truly dipped, I mean, you've to question some aspects of this
strategy. What are experts saying could be done better here?
ELAM: Yes, I mean, what you hear across the board is like the best thing ever would be if people would stay home, right? That's not happening. I
mean, the people are out and about more. I can tell you as someone who has been designated, someone who can go out and about the entire pandemic,
because being a journalist, that the streets are more full.
People are out, people are seen in the streets, people can now go back into restaurants, although there are less tables in these restaurants, and
people now have on face shields when they serve you food. There's a whole protocol on how this is done?
Still there is a feeling of fatigue here. And even here in Los Angeles, the city announcing yesterday that they're increasing their testing, they're
saying that they can now test 13,700 people a day. That's up from 7,700 a day. So increasing that testing I did do the testing a week ago and it's
very easy.
You can just drive in there and do it, but the problem is, that there seems to be the sense of fatigue and there also does seem to be a bit of a battle
county by county on how people are responding.
So you may have a county like Los Angeles, which is the most populous county in the country. We have a lot of cases here, but you'll see that a
lot of people are wearing masks. You go to different counties versus different political intonations and you'll see that they have a very
different vibe on how they are going to respond to masks, Hala.
GORANI: All right, certainly thanks very much, Stephanie Elam. We're tired of the virus, but the virus is not tired of us yet certainly as we can see
with these numbers. Just ahead on the program, there's a spike in violent crime in dozens of American cities.
We'll tell you how the Coronavirus and police tactics figure into that troubling development? Also, there was violence in London yesterday. We'll
explain what happened there. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:15:00]
GORANI: London's metropolitan police say 22 of their officers were slightly wounded while trying to break up an illegal party Wednesday night in
London. It happened in Brixton that's in South London. Police say a large, unlicensed music event was happening when revelers became hostile towards
officers. Tension between police and their public have been heightened lately.
The growing Black Lives Matter movement is calling for an end to police brutality and racism. Alongside that, illegal parties have been gaining
popularity due to the pandemic forcing entertainment venues to close.
Well, I also want to show you some of that video with our Diplomatic Editor, Nic Robertson, who is live in London. I mean, we're talking
hostility. The revelers were basically demolishing police vehicles yesterday. It got really nasty, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes. It got ugly and it seemed to get ugly pretty quickly. The police said that they went in,
because they were called in to that neighborhood. This is a small sort of housing area. Not far from where we're standing now. There was a party
going on in the streets. The police asked people to stop it.
They say that, you know, they went in using sort of cool, calm tactics and then the people didn't respond. Then they called in, you know, additional
police and put in, you know, a police provisioning that allowed them to clear that area. But very clearly, they couldn't clear the area. They were
sort of met by quite hostile crowd.
The Prime Minister's called it, you know, an appalling act of violence. He said it won't be tolerated. He said the full force of the law will be used.
And the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has equally been tough with these language, he said, I'm in touch with the met, meaning the met police were
in charge in London. I'm in touch with the met about the completely unacceptable events in Brixton overnight.
Violence against the police will not be tolerated. Large gatherings during COVID-19 are deeply irresponsible and put the lives of others at risk. The
reality of what is happening in the UK at the moment, just two days ago, we were talking about the Prime Minister with his announcement saying that,
come the 4th of July, people will be able to sort of do more, that the end of the lockdown was sort of coming out of hibernation was his language.
But technically right now people can only gather outside in groups of six. But people have taken the opportunity of a good weather, that sort of
promise of better things to come from the Prime Minister. And it doesn't matter which park you go in, in which part of London you're in, I was
running through a park close to me last night.
And it was full of huge groups of people gathering, listening to music, drinking. It's very clear that what the Prime Minister described earlier in
the week as people to use their common sense and telling them these - the guidelines are now guidelines and not the law, you can see that people are
not sticking to that.
And this is going to present the police with a problem. And I think what we heard from the Home Secretary today as well saying, she is in touch with
the met police, it does appear as if the police - the politicians here want to take a tougher line. There were no police out in that park where I was
last night, Hala.
GORANI: All right. Thank you very much, Nic Robertson in Brixton. There's a disturbing spike in violent crime in dozens of American cities. In many of
the same places where civil rights protests are ongoing. Brynn Gingras has that.
[10:20:00]
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN U.S. CORRESPONDENT: In many major cities across the country, gun violence is on the rise. In the Chicago suburb, about 13-year-
old girl hit by bullets while watching TV the gunfire outside her window among more than 100 shootings in the windy city last weekend. In
Minneapolis--
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I saw people are just shooting just 30, 40, 50 shots.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GINGRAS: Officials say more than a hundred people have been shot in the last month since the death of George Floyd. And in New York City, NYPD
crime data shows the number of shooting victims is up, 414 percent last week compared to the same time period last year. Chief of Department,
Terence Monahan calls it troubling.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TERENCE MONAHAN, NEW YORK POLICE CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT: It goes back to 1996 that we haven't seen this level of violence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GINGRAS: Researchers with the council on criminal justice looked at homicide rates across 64 cities this year compared to the previous three
years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS ABT, CO-AUTHOR, COVID-19 & HOMICIDE STUDY: If you see significant sudden changes in crime trends across the country, you need to look at some
type of national shock to the system. Sort of broader, underlying structural trends are not going to explain it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GINGRAS: As part of their study released this morning, the authors cite two major trends, the Coronavirus pandemic and the aftermath of Floyd's death.
Historically incidents like the police involved killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Freddie Gray of Baltimore have led to a period of more gun
violence.
Now many cities are seeing more violent crime as protesters call to defund police departments and police reforms across the country is put into place.
In Atlanta, a task force is working to rethink training policies for the city's officers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS (D-GA), ATLANTA: There's a fierce urgency of now in our communities.
DERMOT SHEA, NEW YORK POLICE DEPT. COMMISSIONER: It will be felt immediately in the communities that we protect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GINGRAS: Last week, the NYPD disbanded its anti-crime unit, playing close officers who combated violent crime, but those aggressive tactics were
often met with controversy. - says constant police changes are causing confusion among the rank and file.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MONAHAN: How does the community want us to police? Quality of life, police in the New York was wanted to think that - got us through where we were,
and got the question, what do communities want us to do? And there are people out there that are taking advantage of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GINGRAS: And then there's the pandemic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABT: Public resources, fleets, hospitals, service providers, community based providers means there's less resources to fight violent crime and the
pandemic has placed people under great financial mental and emotional strain and so all of those things can trigger more violence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GINGRAS: The council's research had already found killings in major cities were on the rise this year starting in January and February. Now a dramatic
increase in numbers as cities reopens after the shutting down in the spring. A nationwide trend many believe will continue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABT: We are deeply concerned that in the months ahead we may see more violence in the future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GINGRAS: Researchers and members of law enforcement say the burden to bring crime down can't solely rest on the shoulders of police.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MONAHAN: We need to hear from the communities that are living through these gunfire. They have to see it each and every day. What exactly do they want
us to do? This is a monumental period in policing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And that was Brynn Gingras reporting. U.S. President Donald Trump is sticking to his 2016 tactic for his 2020 campaign relying on his
divisive and often incendiary rhetoric to fire up his base. But some republicans are worried. Voters are unhappy with Trump's response to the
pandemic and the racial unrest and it is showing in the polls.
A "New York Times" poll puts Mr. Trump a full 14 percentage points behind Former Vice President Joe Biden, one of the bleakest polls for the
President so far 50 percent to 36 percent. Joining me now from Massachusetts is CNN's Senior Political Analyst David Gergen. David thanks
for being with us.
DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Thanks, Hala.
GORANI: I mean are we at risk of making the same mistake we made in 2016 because if you look at the swing state polls, yes, Biden is ahead in
Arizona 46 to 42, Ohio 45 to 43? But it was similar numbers in 2016 and Trump ended up winning by eight points against Hillary Clinton. So is there
a risk we're making the same mistake?
GERGEN: Yes, there is definitely a risk and Democrats cannot be too complacent despite these massive leads. There has been a change in the
culture. There's been a change in our politics Hala, in the last few weeks. President Trump has definitely suffered because there was a sense earlier
before these - before the pandemic that he could - that he was very effective rhetorically on the stump.
He was very good at arguing, but he never really dealt with a crisis. And he never really showed whether he could lead in that crisis?
[10:25:00]
GERGEN: And now we've had three crises piled on top of each other the pandemic, the economic to racial. And he's seeing there is ineffective of
all three, and the combination is dragging him down. As a leader of the country who is fit for the office, fit for the office, he reputationally
suffered a lot of setbacks here.
He's now sort of free game. I don't think he's going to come back easily. Can he come back, yes, he can. It's possible, especially if the economy
comes back. But it's also possible that things can get worse for him.
And that is if he can't control this virus and the numbers keeps sky rocketing the way they are right now in places like Florida, Texas and
Arizona, that that will make it - that will put a lot more pressure to start closing down more, to start suppressing the economy and the jobless
numbers will get worse, not better. So he's got a dilemma on his hands.
He's gambled by pushing for an early opening. He can get the economy moving and that will overcome the virus and that gamble, he's lost that gamble so
far.
GORANI: Yes. If we can't really trust polls because they've misled us in the past, what should we be looking at for a better gauge at how the Trump
Campaign is doing today?
GERGEN: Well, I thought one indicator is going to be crowd size as he had in Tulsa which was very disappointing. I thought that, you know, in and of
itself sent a message. I think you want to have to look, "A" at how his own base is responding?
More importantly, can he win back the voters in the middle? He is conspicuously derided everything by his base. It's hard for him to back and
say, I really love you, suburban women. I will respect you and I want to respect really women's rights.
It's late in the game to be doing that, but he has to - if he's going to - if he's going to build anything like what he had before. So the election
was held today, he'd lose massively. And all the winning states, all the six swing states, he's behind by double digit or high single digits.
These polls are not lined, at the moment he's in a crisis. He can come out of the crisis, but I want to go back to one other point. When America goes
through a crisis, we look to our President to be a father figure someone who can make it better for us someone who can bring us together. Someone
who can help us get through the valley - and get up - and that's just not who Donald Trump is.
He's simply - he's not capable of filling that role, and that's why I think he's got his work cut out for him. I think the odds now do favor Biden. A
couple of things can happen.
GORANI: Yes.
GERGEN: The economy could surprise us on the upside. Very, very importantly, the left could go too far. If, you know, starting to pull down
your statue, that's right on the edge of what's acceptable in America?
GORANI: Okay. Thanks very much, David. We're having just a few audio problems there with your connection but thank you so much for joining us.
And I hope we will be able to speak again very soon, very interesting what's going on politically in the U.S. with David and other political
observers there, you know, remarking on President Trump's issues in the polls, and perhaps his popularity waning and his base shrinking just a bit
since the pandemic began and those racial quality protests as well.
And coming up after a quick break, I'll speak to the father of the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson about how his son is handling the COVID-19
crisis? That's coming up. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:30:00]
GORANI: Well now that 3 states in the North Eastern U. S. have brought their infections under control. Governors there want to make sure there are
no setbacks. Nick Watt reports on the action they're taking.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CUOMO: We're announcing today a joint travel advisory. People coming in from states that have a high infection rate must quarantine for 14 days.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So from midnight 3 north eastern states once our epicenter won't let anyone in from these 9 southern and western states
unless they quarantine in Arizona another record COVID-19 death toll.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILL HUMBLE, ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION: --within days we're going to be over capacity and dealing with hospital crisis in my opinion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: In Florida more new cases than ever before one hospital system says they're seeing more young patients.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SEEMA YASMIN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: And if that's spreading infection to older people, people with chronic diseases right now will see an increase
and that's potentially 2 weeks from now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: Another new record case counts in Texas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GREG ABBOTT, TEXAS GOVERNOR: There is a massive outbreak of COVID-19 across the State of Texas today. We are making sure that the rules are enforced so
we are going to be able to better contain the spread of COVID-19.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: And for 11 days straight Texas has set new records for the number of COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital. Nationwide and more than half
our state's new case kinds just aren't going down.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. LEENA WEN, EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN: Basically, we're back to where New York was back in March except that this time I don't think that there is
the political will and the public support to have these shut downs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: Dr. Anthony Fauci says we need to get past mask wearing being a political issue. The Democratic Governor of North Carolina just said he's
making them mandatory and the Republican Governor of Florida just said he won't.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DESANTIS: We advise from the beginning of May we advise if we can distance wear the mask but ultimately, we've got to trust people to make good
decisions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: And those well-known University of Washington modelers say we would save more than 30,000 lives by the end of the summer if 95 percent of those
wear masks. But right now we aren't.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. ANTHONY ALMOJERA, FDNY EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN: We just went through hell trying to revive and take care of people. And we don't want to
go through it again. Wear masks, wear masks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: Here in California they set a new record Tuesday more than 5000 new cases. Wednesday they obliterated that record more than 7000 new cases. But
there are still beds in hospitals to deal with these cases according to state officials. Nick Watt, CNN, Los Angeles.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:35:00]
GORANI: Welcome back. British medical experts are urging the government to prepare for a second Coronavirus wave as the country inches closer to fully
reopening the economy. In an open letter to the British Medical Journal health officials warn that a second wave is a real risk.
Johns Hopkins University reports more than 43,000 people have died in the UK that's one of the highest death tolls in the world. The country is set
to ease more lockdown measures on July 4th Former British Prime Minister David Cameron has been critical of the World Health Organization's response
to COVID-19. In a CNN exclusive he says there needs to be a new international body that can sound the alarm earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID CAMERON, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: There's a danger of having China on one side saying let's just expand and better fund the W.H.O. and
the United States on the others saying well the W. H. O. hasn't succeeded and so we're not willing to fund it. And therefore we could be stuck with
no progress.
My suggestion of saying let's fill this one critical gap with a new flexible organization that people can belong to and scientific
organizations can belong to this independent science led non political and they can tell us about the next virus and what we should do about it? An
early reporting as we know it is absolutely vital.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: We'll have the full interview with David Cameron in the next hour of "Connect the World" But joining me now is Stanley Johnson. He is the
father of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Author of "The Virus" in 1982 novel set to be reading this summer. Stanley Johnson thanks for being
with us.
We have your book cover there on the air. And this is a book you wrote in 1982 and you just kind of remembered that you'd written a book entitled
"The Virus" and so it's being re published how did that come about?
STANLEY JOHNSON, FATHER OF BRITISH PM BORIS JOHNSON: Well, it's true. I did right bring back way back in 1980 and it was probably just your say in
1982. Well, I wouldn't say I particularly remember - I mean I came to that issue way back in 1980 saying this is a vitally important issue.
I had the opportunity to visit a small town in Germany called Marburg and in Marburg about 1967 they had had an outbreak of a previously unknown
disease which retrospectively. What's called the Marburg virus and honestly the mortality rate was well over 80 percent maybe even 100 percent.
And I said to myself what happened that? Why did it happen? And I read it through. I read it through that which involved me going to Central Africa
to find out the source of the disease which turned out in my book to be green monkeys using medical laboratories.
I went to Atlanta, Georgia to the Centers for Disease Control and realize all the fantastic efforts they were making and out of that I constructed
novel. We said it's something as dangerous as Marburg happens you really got very short space of time to deal with it before it's out of control.
And America as this happened twice in America according to my book. They did get it under control. It did turn out right in the end but by job it
was a close run thing.
GORANI: Well, now we're confronted with a real live virus and it has caused havoc, it's created havoc around the world and in the UK. I mean you have
one of the highest death tolls in this country almost 50,000 people per capita apart from Belgium among major countries it is the worst per capita
death rate.
What do you make of the criticism directed at your son Boris Johnson that he was late to react? That now it's kind of a fumbling response still to
the pandemic. How do you react as the father of the man in charge?
JOHNSON: Well, I don't need to react as the father of the man in charge or that of course I was as concerned as any father would be when Boris himself
went down with it and within the intensive care unit that's obvious.
[10:40:00]
JOHNSON: No I am frankly very impressed. I've got to tell you by the way we have come out of this event. And we are now in a situation where there's
light at the end of the tunnel. Lockdown is being eased. Yes, I heard your correspondents talking about a possible second spike.
Well, lock down has been eased very, very cautiously. And I think basically we are on track. I think this whole league table approach that's in? Who's
out? We were all in a totally unknown situation and we'd be feeling our way forward.
And I'm certainly not going to criticize this government or leader of this government by saying they did not do enough. They've done absolutely
fantastic. And I take one measure when it all started they said our objective is not to see the National Health Service overwhelmed by
intensive cases and they achieved that. That was a fantastic result. And I think we should recognize that for what it is.
GORANI: All right. Well, I mean and you know I don't have to tell you people will disagree with your take on whether or not it was a fantastic
result. I don't know linger on it though because I want to talk a little bit more about what it was like for you?
You mentioned when your son was in ICU. He himself said it could have gone either way. How - what was it like for you when he was hospitalized?
JOHNSON: I've said it before and I would say it again now. I don't think my emotions would be any different from the emotions of any parent in that
situation. And of course when I said a moment ago I thought the government have done well, don't think for a moment I am not totally sympathetic with
those who have loved ones? Who don't have?
And those who have survived and have had a lot of difficulty while they were ill and who may have conditions which still needs to be sorted out? So
yes, that side of things was fantastic and thank you - thank you for talking to me about this.
And I say, I mean you know just come back for a second. We were lucky in many ways with this Coronavirus because the mortality rate - but it is not
the most lethal disease and the real priority now we just had David Cameron.
The real priority is to be - to see what's coming down the road and get in touch with the experts to make sure that right from the start people are
given full isolation. One of the things I learned when I went to America was how very few--
GORANI: Yes.
JOHNSON: --there were for total isolation, very few indeed and that's what you need right from the beginning.
GORANI: And you mentioned about what's coming down the road. But it's not just the pandemic here in the UK it's also all these black lives matter and
racial equality marches? There is a - just feels like an inflection point here in the UK with how the country is coming to terms with the way it
treats some of the minorities, black minorities and Asian minorities?
Do you for instance agree with removal of statues like the - statue at Oxford or others in Bristol a former slave owner? What do you think about
all of that because you come from a family that has gone to all - you know you've gone to Oxford? You have children have gone to Cambridge? This is an
environment - this is your world these universities and these academic institutions?
JOHNSON: Well, I have a very clear view of this. I do not think you know you can tolerate damage to public statues - public property. I think it's a
fairly straight - it's a fairly straightforward case here.
You can be sympathetic and if for example the authorities in the end said look well, maybe we will remove the statue of Cecil Rhodes from the High
Street in Oxford. Well, that would be done with proper consideration and in accordance with the law.
I think that there are huge issues here - in a public. I saw some pictures from America yesterday - was it from Andrew Jackson you know being ropes
being tied around the statue and being pulled off or chance being made to put him off his walls.
Yes, I mean these are terribly important issues. On your wider point, I think we are moving very much into a different kind of society from what we
were. Of course we face at the moment another very era and I was heavily involved in that which is of course leaving of the EU and from my point of
view of course I've accepted the results of the referendum.
I accepted the fact we're leaving. But I do say it is absolutely vital we continue to build these bridges with Europe even when have left Europe.
We're going to have to work together on climate change on biodiversity all the things I spend most of my career doing.
[10:45:00]
JOHNSON: I cannot see that we can afford not to move in lockstep with the European Union even as we leave it.
GORANI: All right. I hope to speak to you again soon or we can speak at length about some of these issues. Thanks very much. This stuff a book that
you wrote as we mentioned and it was published in 1982 the novel "The Virus" is being republished this summer. Thank you Stanley Johnson for
joining us.
JOHNSON: Thank you.
GORANI: We told you a bit earlier about open letter British medical experts wrote. We're going to speak about that after the break stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: All right we told you about that open letter that some British medical experts wrote asking UK leaders to make sure the country is
prepared if there's a second wave. My next guest is among those who signed that letter. Martin Marshall is the Chair of the Royal College of General
Practitioners and he joins me now live from London. We're not really even out of the first wave but you're already worried about the second wave?
MARTIN MARSHALL, CHAIR, ROYAL COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS: Yes, that's absolutely right. I mean, I think people are starting to celebrate the
release of lockdown but we have to remember that this isn't a virus that's going away. As our Chief Medical Officer reminded us all a couple of days
ago.
We are all expecting that to be spikes, local spikes and I think most people are expecting there to be a second wave and there maybe even a third
wave later in the year over the winter. So what we're asking for this letter to the political leaders is to take a little time out to reflect to
look at how we've done to learn and to do things better when the next wave comes along.
GORANI: Yes. And the UK, the deaths per 100,000 those numbers are really, really bad for the UK. I mean apart from Belgium, the UK is at 64 deaths
per 100,000 Spain at 60 deaths per 100,000 and Italy which was sort of devastated by the virus in the earlier days of the pandemic at 57. Why did
it go so wrong in the UK when they have so much warning that the virus was coming their way?
MARSHALL: I don't think we know the answer to that. I agree with you that the UK has not fared well and I'll disagree. I have to say with your
previous speaker but we don't know exactly why? We know there are some countries that have down very well.
UK has not done well, Belgium has not done well, Italy, Spain has not done well. But at the moment I think it's too early to be absolutely sure what
the reason is?
GORANI: Yes. The previous speaker was the father of the Prime Minister. So I guess it's not shocking that he would think his son did a good job. But
so what needs to be done to fix the problems that we faced so far for a potential second wave?
What do we need - so what do officials need to be doing but also what do we need to be doing just individuals? You know participating in the in the
greater effort to try to mitigate some of the effects of a second wave?
MARSHALL: Let me start with officials first because that's the focus of the letter we you wrote to the political leaders. And we say there are number
of areas that we think we can learn from in the UK where things haven't gone as well as they might have done.
One of those is around a better integration between hospitals in general practice and community services and social services.
[10:50:00]
MARSHALL: One of them is about better procurement particularly of things like personal protective equipment and testing. One of them is about
getting the right balance between what happens centrally within government and what happens at a local level?
One of them is about making sure that we protect the most vulnerable people in society and particularly the black, Asian and minority ethnic
populations. And then the final one is about what we can learn from other countries as we were just discussing, some countries have done well some
countries less well?
What can we learn from those that have done well? So that's what we're asking from policy. From individuals a lot actually is really quite
basically and will be very familiar with people. So the virus is less problem to the community maybe when in 2000 people.
And what we need to do though is remember the distant infectious, remember about good hygiene, remember about social distancing, remember basically to
look after yourself particularly if you're vulnerable. And those are kinds of things that we really want the public to continue doing and not pretend
as if the virus is going away completely.
GORANI: Yes. I know as we keep saying words sick of the virus, the virus is not sick of us yet. Martin Marshall, the Chair of the Royal College of
General Practitioners. Thank you so much for joining us. Hope to speak again very soon.
It has been one of the longest waits in football but after 30 very long years that wait could be over for Liverpool today. Don Riddell joins me
with that.
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes, that's right Hala. Thanks very much. Liverpool hasn't won the English League Title since 1990. And they have
never won the Premier League Title but after comprehensively beating Crystal Palace on Wednesday night it is now almost within their grasp.
Trent Alexander Arnold put Liverpool ahead with a brilliant free kick midway through the first half by the end of the game the score line was 4-0
a screamer from Fabinho the pick of the goals. It was a dominant display from a team that's been head and shoulders above everybody opponent this
season.
And it means that they now only need 2 points from 7 games to clinch the title. And they might not even need actually to play again if Manchester
City cannot beat Chelsea later today that Liverpool will be crowned champions. World Sports Alex Thomas is in Liverpool to gauge the mood for
us. Good to see you Alex, what do you think the city will be like later on if they finally able to claim the title today?
ALEX THOMAS, CNN WORLD SPORT: It's very hard to tell Don and I should note that I've been 3 years running now. In 2018 I was in the Anfield Stadium
behind me watching a screening of the Champions League Final taking place in Ukraine as Liverpool lost to Real Madrid and then 12 months later I was
back in the city watching a different screening as Liverpool finally triumphs crowned European Champions for a sixth time when they beat
Tottenham 2-0.
And now as you say possibly the end of a 30 year wait to be Champions of England. That's the one they really, really want the culmination of a 5
year project under manager Jurgen Klopp and it seemed inconceivable back in 1990 when it wasn't the Premier League it was still the first division and
Liverpool were crowned champions for an 18th time in the history.
They had won something 41 trophies in the 30 years up to 1990 and only about 16 in the 30 years since then. So a massive turnaround and Manchester
City even if they don't drop points to Chelsea later they do win and take the title race into next week, Liverpool are certainly going to try and get
this nail down as soon as possible if you judge from their Manager Jurgen Klopp.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JURGEN KLOPP, LIVERPOOL MANAGER: You should not underestimate how much this team wants it? This team really wants it. They want to fulfill the wishes
of the people at home, really. We all have a common dream and we have to work for it. And we have to work our way for it. We cannot play like other
teams. But we can play pretty good stuff.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS: So just to reiterate, there will be no football action at Anfield Stadium Liverpool's home ground behind me later on Thursday Don. The action
they'll be we taking place several hours drive South East of here in West London where Chelsea play their first match in the Coronavirus era behind
closed doors against Manchester City.
The only club that mathematically can catch Liverpool now even though Manager Pep Guardiola verbally conceded the Title to Jurgen Klopp's
Liverpool even before lockdown and said ahead of the Chelsea match that actually the FAA Cup game this weekend is more important because really
they know they're going to lose the league title at some point.
I think many neutrals would feel they'd like to see City beat Chelsea later and then the title race would go to a game between Liverpool and Manchester
City taking place next Thursday. May be a more fitting way for livable to win rather than just having the title handed to them on a night they
weren't playing.
[10:55:00]
RIDDELL: Yes whenever it comes and it is now inevitable I think we don't agree. It's going to be a great moment for Liverpool but they won't be the
occasion that the fans have been craving for. And Liverpool's fans are such great supporters so much color, such great voiceovers for the Liverpool
fans but they'll take the title of course.
What has been the difference in the last few years for them? Why have they become such a phenomenally good team?
THOMAS: I mean, it's all down to a partnership between the man who has the most direct impacts on the tactics of the team and that's Manager Jurgen
Klopp who came from a very, very successful spell on the German side - who despite having far fewer resources.
He did a tremendous job of challenging the best club in Germany the mighty Bayern Munich but just has won the Bundesliga for an 8th season running.
And it's taken him 5 years to build a squad using data analytics.
The Liverpool owners the American group Fenway Sports Group who also in the Boston Red Sox of course a very keen on using data analytics to find value
in the transfer market. They have bought players from underrated clubs like Saudi Amani from Southampton for example and really showing that they are
good players in good teams.
Basically Liverpool conceding fewer goals and scoring more than they have done in recent years and that's always a good combination in a game of
football Don which almost it means a low scoring game compared to a - basketball we get, 100 points plus a both teams on regular occasions.
It means the best team doesn't always win but statistically Liverpool are one of the best teams in Europe that's why that the reigning Champions
League Winners and that's why they're on the verge of this Premier League title now.
So huge credit to Fenway Sports Group who took over Liverpool in 2010 what is in disarray really they have tried to remain a community club over the
last 30 years while also seeking to be as good as the best brands in the business when it's such a huge football business now.
RIDDELL: Yes, and that stats also reveal that these guys aren't just great players but a lot of them just don't get injured. It's incredible they're
able to scout for that. These players are always available and when in that good that's going to make a huge difference.
All right, Alex that's all we've got time for just now. But we'll check in with you again throughout the day. And that's all for this sport update.
Hala, back to you.
GORANI: I don't get injured, that's because I don't work out. Thanks very much Don. I'm Hala Gorani. Another hour of "Connect the World" is next with
Kim Brunhuber.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
