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Texas Governor Has Issued Statewide Mask Order; Turkish President Erdogan's Spokesman: We Have Religious Freedom; Imperial College Vaccine In Second Phase Of Human Trials; World Health Organization Expects COVID-19 Rise In Africa As Countries Reopen; Barcelona Have Won Two Previous La Liga Crowns. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired July 17, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: We're actually in Abu Dhabi apologies for that. We are in the UAE this hour. Russia tries to steal the world's best chance
at a vaccine. The American President all quiet on that more on that ahead. I'm Becky Anderson. Hello, welcome to what is our expanded edition of
"Connect the World".
Two hours of news for you. The latest Coronavirus numbers out of the United States are staggering, quite frankly. Another daily record smashed and the
U.S. President refusing to address the gravity of the crisis as the numbers grow and grow with each passing day.
The latest of those numbers, more than 77,000 new cases those reported just on Thursday. It is the ninth time in a month that the United States has set
a new daily case record. You can see how it is taken just one month for daily cases in the country to more than triple, and states continue to
report day highs in hospitalization and deaths.
In South Florida, the U.S. epicenter of the outbreak, the ICUs are at 107 percent bed capacity. That means they're over the limit of course. They
will have to convert regular hospital beds to intensive care beds. And Florida's Governor is still refusing to issue a statewide mask order.
Texas is another state with skyrocketing cases. It reported a record- breaking number of deaths on Thursday at 129. Hospitalizations are dropping slightly, but many are still overwhelmed. We're told one doctor in South
Texas tells CNN we are in dire need, we are exhausted. He says before the COVID surge, his ICU had four patients. Now it has 211.
Unlike the Governors of Florida, another southern state, Georgia, the Texas Governor has issued a statewide mask order, and he spoke about it
yesterday. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. GREG ABBOTT (R-TX): I know that many of you do not like the mask requirement. I don't, either. It is the last thing that I wanted to do
actually, the next to last. The last thing that any of us want is to lock Texas back down again. We must do all that we can to prevent that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Ed Lavandera joins me from Dallas. You just heard the Governor speaking there. What do you think Texans will make of what he just said?
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know this state is so much diversity, you really have the polar opposites of all this. You have big
cities that tend to be more liberal than the rest of the state where you see city officials and city leaders pushing for the stricter enforcement of
mask order.
And then you have that struggle and that push and pull between the more conservative right wing elements of the Republican Party here in Texas that
are calling the Governor, a Republican himself, his mandate order unconstitutional.
So you have this struggle of all these kind of competing interests going back and forth, but the Governor here is pushing back and defending this
order, saying that essentially this is the last straw before more serious shutdown effects would be put into place if they're not able to get the
virus under control in many parts of this state.
So the Governor doesn't seem interested in pushing for an economic shutdown in the immediate future. He wants to see how this mask order will help
flatten the curve and flatten the surge of Coronavirus that we're seeing in Texas right now?
But essentially getting that message out now whether or not people will comply with this in every corner of the state still remains to be seen? But
the numbers here, Becky, have been staggering more than three days in a row of 10,000 new Coronavirus cases being reported, 129 reported dead
yesterday.
[11:05:00]
LAVANDERA: That is a record single day high since this pandemic started, and the positive infection rate of those new cases being reported is now
almost at 17 percent, and to give you an idea of how dramatically that has changed, at the end of May it was just at 4.2 percent?
So basically quadrupling in just a month and a half and that is why we're seeing such dire hospitalizations across the state here.
ANDERSON: That's the story in Texas on the ground. Ed always a pleasure, thank you. Arizona has now dropped to third in the U.S. for new daily
infections per capita, that is after holding the highest average for over a month even so hospitals, ICUs are still filling up. The state has to bring
in refrigerated trucks to handle the bodies of the victims.
On Thursday there were more than 3,200 new cases and 58 new deaths reported. An emergency physician in Phoenix tells us how the health care
system remains backlogged.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. MURTAZA AKHTER, EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN, VALLYWISE HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER IN PHOENIX: It's like talking about a clogged sink with a faucet that's still
running. If you make the faucet plateau and not let it drink quite as much, the sink is still clogged. As long as the water is running, you're still at
risk for it flooding.
That's what we're dealing we're at right now in a hospital setting where the sink is backing up with water and we're hoping well, maybe if we turn
the facet on a little bit it will be okay. But really what we need is to unclog it for people to get healthy, to be less sick and to be able to come
out of the ICU safely.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: CNN Correspondent Evan McMorris-Santoro is being tracking the virus in Arizona for weeks. We've been speaking to him just this week and
he joins us once again live from Phoenix. The medical expert, the physician there saying what we got to do is keep people healthy ensure that people
avoid catching this virus. What's going on in Arizona to help ensure that that happens?
EVAN MCMORRIS-SANTORO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Governor yesterday in a press conference said that there was some positive news. You mentioned that
drop from first to third, and maybe that plateauing of cases. But the secret in Arizona, just like it is everywhere else in the United States, is
testing, testing, testing.
Testing has been a problem in Arizona and one they're trying to alleviate where places like where I am right now. This is South Mountain Park, a
public park in the Phoenix area, and this is a testing site run by the federal government with local authorities.
Cars are driving in behind me. They drive around to some tents over there, and we're going to show you those tents, and inside those tents they
administer a self-test. Now, the idea is they're hoping to get the results back in about 48 hours, but they're expecting maybe about a week.
So that's the problem in Arizona and has been right along, is that they don't have the testing data that they need to figure out exactly what this
virus looks like? The picture they have been getting has been a bad picture. You mentioned the idea of the medical system being overwhelmed.
The Governor and the state officials here called in 600 nurses from around the country to come into Arizona and to help out that Beleaguered Medical
Center. The County Medical Examiner in Maricopa County which is where Phoenix is they are currently able to deal with the bodies they have, but
they're at normal capacity.
They have a surge capacity. So just as kind of a preventive measure, they ordered a bunch of refrigerated trucks to come in here and almost double
the size of their medical capacity for bodies here.
Now, they're not expecting to have to use that, they're not planning on it, they're just preparing for the worst. And that's what the story in Arizona
is right now. You start to prepare for the worst because you don't totally know what the picture is? That's the hope with things like testing, to
maybe change that narrative just a little bit, Becky.
ANDERDSON: Superb. Thank you very much, indeed important stuff. We have touched on the U.S. Now let's get the picture elsewhere. Let's start in
South America, Brazil, whose President is fighting the Coronavirus, has now reported more than 2 million cases. CNN's Nic Robertson has more.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro announcing he tested positive again for COVID-19, saying he's
doing better. But his country isn't. His anti-lockdown speeches help thrust his Latin American nation to second worst in the world after the United
States, surpassing 2 million cases Thursday and 76,000 deaths.
Fellow big India also in the worst throes of the pandemic, third in the global ranking of cases recorded its highest daily infections Thursday,
32,695 more than 24,000 dead so far.
[11:10:00]
ROBERTSON: And more than 400 million people there re-entered lockdown conditions this week. And on yet another continent, Africa, South Africa
facing rising caseloads overwhelming under resourced hospitals, some staff short of PPE, refusing to show up, fearing for their lives.
Developing nations being the hardest hit, Latin America and the Caribbean the worst 3.5 million infections 150,000 deaths. Peru, which this week
reopened domestic flights, second to Brazil nearly 4,000 new cases Thursday. In Chile, some reason for hope. New vaccine trials could begin
August.
Half a planet away in Japan, fears of a second wave Tokyo going onto the highest state of alert as hospitalizations rise. Elsewhere in Asia, Hong
Kong facing a possible third wave over 60 new cases Thursday as social distancing measures eased. Australia's Victoria state also facing a new
wave of infections had its worst daily rise, 313 cases.
Meanwhile, Europe on the downside of its first wave, facing rising unemployment, more than 600,000 lost jobs in the UK alone, as experts
forecast a nearly 120,000 UK COVID deaths this winter. Local, not national, lockdowns here becoming the norm, and finally the PM commits to an
independent inquiry into his handling of COVID-19.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Of course, Mr. Speaker, we will seek to learn the lessons of this pandemic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: This as some leaders facing protests over their handling of COVID-19. For several days, Serbs in Belgrade took to the streets, angry at
their government's handling of lockdown. And in Israel, PM Benjamin Netanyahu facing protest as a second COVID-19 wave buffets his tiny nation.
He promised handouts as infections hit a new daily record.
In Spain Thursday, the nation pores over their COVID losses. Tourists got drunk, ignoring social distancing, forcing a resort to shut. Nic Robertson,
CNN, London.
ANDERSON: Russia is dismissing accusations that it's trying to hack Coronavirus vaccine developers in three of the countries. The acquisition
comes from Britain, saying the hackers want to get their hands-on vaccine research, in the United States, in UK and in Canada. As our Matthew Chance
reports Britain is also pointing a figure at a well-known Russian hacking group.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is an extraordinary allegation that Russian spies have been hacking into
organizations trying to find a Coronavirus vaccine in the U.S., Britain and Canada, one which has drawn angry denials here in Moscow.
Russia has nothing at all to do with these attacks, is what the Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told them later on. But the latest allegations are
that a hacking group known as amongst other things - links to Russian Foreign Intelligence Services BSVR exploited software flaws to access
vulnerable computers and then used malware to upload and download files from infected machines.
UK security services say vaccine research has not been hindered by those attacks, but Coronavirus research is of course particularly a sensitive
area at the moment with nations racing to find effective treatments. Russia is of course one of those nations, who own the highest number of
Coronavirus infections in the world and Moscow has - vast results into trying to find a vaccine.
So on one level it won't be surprising if the country's intelligence services were also focused on finding answers as much as possible about
what research other countries may be engaged in. Russia, though, says its own vaccine program is already at an advanced stage, and that the
accusations of spying merely an attempt to tarnish the Russian Coronavirus vaccine, which may yet become the first in the world. Matthew Chance, CNN,
Moscow.
ANDERSON: Well, the U.S. President so far has been silent on this is the latest acquisition of Russian interference of course just as Mr. Trump stay
silent on recent acquisitions of Russia offering stayed silent on offering Russia bounties for the Taliban U.S. and UK military personnel.
[11:15:00]
ANDERSON: Well, as the world sprints for a vaccine, the Turkish calls for international co-operation. After the break why President Erdogan's inner
circle believes the pandemic is showing a weakness in our current global system? Then record Coronavirus cases pushed Israel to the brink of second
complete lockdown, the impact on the country's already fragile economy is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Turkey's daily Coronavirus count is beginning to slow. The country has reported less than a 1000 cases for three consecutive days
that's after several weeks of falling numbers. Now the World Health Organization recently commended Turkey for its response to the pandemic,
applauding the country for turning a corner in its Coronavirus battle.
However, it is, of course, at this point where vigilance must persevere. I asked Ibrahim Kalin, a Spokesman for the Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, if he is concerned about a second wave?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RECEP TYYIP ERDOGAN, TURKISH PRESIDENT: Like anyone else, we're also concerned about what may come next, because we won't have a full knowledge
of how the virus will behave from now on? Will it mutate? Will it change again? Will it come back? We are advising our people not to loosen up on
the measures we have taken.
Of course, we want them to normalize but do it with the understanding that, you know, if we do not observe these measures carefully and diligently, a
second wave is always a possibility. The COVID-19 has shown weakness of the global system and how weakness can give in to a virus like this. So that
has required serious international cooperation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Kalin often referred to as Erdogan's brain also spoke to me about Turkey's decision to convert the historic Hagia Sophia from a museum back
into a mosque. It has prompted a wave of backlash from around the world including from the Arab world here where we are.
The EU deplored the move, arguing it will fuel distrust and promote new divisions. Pope Francis said he's very saddened by the decision the French
Foreign Minister imploring the need to preserve this symbol of religious freedom. Greece's Cultural Minister said converting Hagia Sophia was an
open provocation to the civilized world.
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: Well, I asked Ibrahim Kalin whether this decision marks the end of Turkish Secularism.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IBRAHIM KALIN, TURKISH PRESIDENT SPOKESPERSON: These concerns are misplaced. Some of the statements that you just summarized are based on
some old positions and prejudices against Turkey. We have religious freedom in Turkey.
ANDERSON: Pope Francis said he is very saddened by the decision to which--
KALIN: He shouldn't be saddened because it's been turned into a house of worship where the name of God will be invoked rather than being a place for
visits for tourists. Place was changed not from a Church to a Mosque, but from a museum to a Mosque that it will remain as a cultural site in
addition to being a mosque.
ANDERSON: So those who say this move could embolden extremists to intensify their campaign of fourth conversion and destruction of minority heritage
sites. These are views share by many of Mr. Erdogan's critics not just in the west importantly, but around the Arab world your response.
KALIN: We have a wide religious minority community here. We have returned the properties of religious minorities Christians and Jews back to them.
Properties that were confiscated in the 1930s and 40s for other political reasons, our religious minorities are enjoying the equal citizenship status
like every other citizen in the country.
You ask any of them if they have been subjected to discrimination, religious oppression, they will say to the contrary, that they have been
enjoying religious rights just as much as any other community in the country. So this decision in fact has no bearing up on this status and
freedom of religious minorities in Turkey.
ANDERSON: Concern has been raised about the medieval mosaics inside the Hagia Sophia which typically holy family in portraits of Imperial Christian
Emperors. What will happen to these artifacts?
KALIN: They will be protected. They will be preserved. They have been preserved for the last 500 years. They are an important part of our
cultural heritage. These beautiful mosaics describing Jesus Christ Virgin Mary and other Christian personalities they will be preserved untouched.
We are making some arrangements to make sure that during Muslim prayer times they will be covered but not touched so that they will not be eroded
or affected by light or anything else. They will be preserved, and everybody, those who pray, worshippers or other tourists will be seeing
that.
ANDERSON: So you can confirm that this world heritage site will be open to tourists?
KALIN: Absolutely. I mean, to everyone, believers, non-believers, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and we in fact invite all and including the Pope who
said he is sad about this come and visit Hagia Sophia as a mosque.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Ibrahim Kalin speaking to me and don't forget you can always catch up on the interviews and analysis that we have here on "Connect the
World" online at cnn.com/connect. And don't hesitate to join in on the global conversation. Do get in touch with me. I'm on Twitter, I'm on
Instagram @BECKYCNN and you can also find us on FACEBOOK@CNNCONNECTTHEWORLD.
I want to stay in the region - is on the cusp of entering a second complete lockdown. Time restrictions are now being re-imposed after record spikes of
new Coronavirus cases. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is doing all he can to avoid a complete closure of the country fearing impact on Israel's
already fragile economy CNN's Oren Liebermann connecting us to Jerusalem. So just how did Israel end up here, Oren?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, it was the reopening in early June, late May that timeframe that - country that was really a model of the
rest of the world in terms of how to limit and control and contain the Coronavirus? A country that started with 25 new cases a day, and suddenly
they're reopening essentially brewing all of that as critics say - sort of control.
Now Israel hitting a new record 1819 cases on Thursday that breaks the old record set just one day earlier of 1750 cases or so. That is because of
those surging numbers which - case will get above 1500, that Israel is re- imposing lockdowns. Not quite out of complete closure yet, that certainly seems to be the direction the country is moving.
Closures took effect just a short time ago. Gyms are now closed as well as what will be weekend closures of stores, bars and many other places--
ANDERSON: All right. I'm going to stop you because I think we got a problem with your mic. So I want to stop you. I want to take a very short break and
I'm going to come back to you when we can solve this problem out. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:25:00]
ANDERSON: Well, just before the break, if you weren't with us, we were in Israel talking to Oren Liebermann about what the Prime Minister there is
doing to avoid a complete closure of the country given the spike in the number of Coronavirus cases. Oren, you were explaining how Israel is ended
up here?
And an apology because I stopped you there was a problem with your mic. I think we fixed that. So just want to give us a sense of how the country got
here and why it is that the Prime Minister is promising to pay a huge payout to every Israeli?
LIEBERMANN: I apologize for that mic problem. Hopefully the wonders of modern technology will work for us now this time. Israel went from having
this what appeared to be under control not all that long ago to more than 1800 cases yesterday, that's a new record for Israel breaking the old
record set just one day earlier.
It's because of that we're seeing the new restrictions. First, restrictions on gyms and other places as well as what are now essentially weekend
lockdowns, any places where people can gather indoors or outdoors, stores, malls, all of those are closed. Beaches will be closed not this weekend but
next weekend, all in an attempt to contain Coronavirus.
It's not a general lockdown like we saw a few months ago. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is doing everything he can to avoid one of those because
of the state of Israel's economy. Unemployment is over 21 percent at this point perhaps it will keep raising and that's what he wants to avoid more
damage to the economy.
To kick start the economy he promised a massive bailout, $6 billion shekels that's about $1.75 billion to go to every Israeli adult and more to
families with children. But the plan hasn't been approved yet, and many of Israel's top economic experts have ripped it as sending money to everybody,
instead of just to those who needed such that millionaires will also get money when they're not really the ones really in need here.
In fact the Chief Economics Editor of one of Israel's largest newspaper called it populist election economics. So we'll see if what Netanyahu
promises a jump start to the economy will actually be approved this coming week.
ANDERSON: Oren Liebermann, well done. You survived it. Oren Liebermann is in Jerusalem with the very latest there. So what we all need where ever you
are watching for in the world is a vaccine, right? Well, some hopeful news out of London, Imperial College, one of the many research institutions
around the world on the hunt is entering a second phase of human trials. It's got more people taking part, and CNN's Nina Dos Santos went to meet
one of them.
NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Justine in her 30s is receiving an experimental new vaccine against Coronavirus. She'll get a second booster
shot in two weeks' time and if all goes to plan, should become immune.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This goes under your tongue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANTOS: She's one of around 300 volunteers who have been tested for Coronavirus and deemed eligible to take part in this stage of human trials
at Imperial College London.
[11:30:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANTOS: Justine, how do you feel?
JUSTINE ALFORD, VACCINE TRIAL VOLUNTEER: I feel really good, actually. It will definitely be something to tell the grandkids over supper one day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANTOS: And here's why. This is what Justine has just received. It works quite differently to other vaccines. It doesn't contain a full, albeit a
weakened copy of COVID-19, instead just a tiny piece of genetic material. The hope is now that genetic material has found its way into one of her
muscle cells, her body will be encouraged to produce antibodies, thereby conferring immunity to Coronavirus.
The vaccine is based on a synthetic strand of self replicating code or RNA. It's a technique that has never yet been brought to market but one which
could transform the way future vaccines are made.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. KATRINA POLLACK, SR. CLINICAL RESEARCH FELLOW, IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON: That allows the vaccine to be very scalable and that's what you need when
you've got a pandemic and you're talking about not just vaccinating millions, but potentially billions of people.
SANTOS: This is very, very high science.
POLLACK: That's true to say that it makes it very exciting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANTOS: The vaccine will still have to be tested on thousands more in locations where the virus is still circulating. This is among 23 vaccines
in clinical trials worldwide and one of several using RNA. But with billions of people to protect in this pandemic, developing a vaccine in
such small doses could make a big impact soon. Nina Dos Santos, CNN London.
ANDERSON: Well, Robin Shattock leads the team working towards that vaccine at Imperial College, London. And he joins me now live. When we say working
towards a vaccine, what are we talking about, sir? How soon at this point?
ROBIN SHATTOCK, DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE, IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON: So we're really still at a very early stage where we're testing the safety of the
vaccine and checking that it makes the kind of immune response that we think will be protected.
And then as soon as we can, we'll go into much larger trials to prove whether it prevents infection in the wider community. And that's really
where the rubber hits the road and where we really understand whether this is going to be one of the candidates that will successful globally.
ANDERSON: As I understand it then, it is the fact that we don't know what level of immunity people will need which makes the chance of success
difficult to predict. Explain if you will.
SHATTOCK: Yes. So we don't know whether just a small amount of immunity tips the balance and will protect you from getting infected or developing -
or whether you need a very strong immune response or a particular quality.
And so, we live in a world where actually multiple candidates may work, or we may see that some candidates were better than others, and also we don't
know how long these vaccines will be protected for?
So one that may work for six months might be replaced ultimately with one that works for five years so there are really a lot of unknowns, and that's
why there is quite a lot of security in having all these different candidates being developed.
And while we talk about a race, it's not just about who is first, it's really the more people who get across the finishing line, the more options
we have globally to make vaccine available for those who really need it.
ANDERSON: Do you believe that the pressure for a vaccine is such that mistakes could be made? I know so many of us are still quite surprised
about the fact that it may be spring or even summer of next year before a vaccine is on the market. That seems a long way away. Is it, though, in
your world?
SHATTOCK: It's not a long way away in our world. You have to remember, for example, our own example we have gone from a concept into testing humans
within six months. That would probably take five or six years. And to do the whole process of going from discovery to a licensed vaccine, that's
usually a 10-year project.
So to do it in 12 or 18 months, if anybody actually can do that, that's paradigm changing. It's never been done before, but it's not being done at
the cost of safety. Nobody is taking shortcuts. Safety will be paramount. It will be continued to be looked at for years to come. And again, that's
where we may see that some vaccines start to replace or dominate because they have a better profile.
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: How secure is your infrastructure around the development of this vaccine? We now know that the UK, the U.S. and Canada concerned that there
has been Russian interference in the development of these vaccines in a number of these countries.
SHATTOCK: Well, obviously that's something everybody needs to be vigilant about in terms of Cybersecurity, and we continue to take advice from the
government on Cybersecurity to make sure that we can take every precaution out there.
ANDERSON: Have you been hacked?
SHATTOCK: Not as far as I'm aware, but I'm probably not the person who would know about that, anyway, because if I knew about it, it's probably
not a very astute hacker.
ANDERSON: I know you estimated in February 2020 that the vaccine for the disease would be available by early 2021. Is that your best guess, still?
SHATTOCK: That's still the best scenario. So I can't guarantee that that is the case. I think that's the earliest when we'll see a vaccine proven to
work, but then the real challenge is actually making it available.
And not just making it available in a single country, we need a vaccine to be available globally because we won't be protected until everybody gets
access to a vaccine and there is always a danger that people will profiteer from trying to roll out fake vaccines as soon as there is one that does
work.
ANDERSON: Until a vaccine is found, sir, and I know how hard your team is working, and other teams, of course, around the world. You have described
cycles of this virus as continuing and suggesting that more local lockdowns will be needed. That's your concern, is it?
SHATTOCK: Well, I think that that's - it's almost common sense that we're not going to be able to eliminate this virus without a vaccine. I'm sure
we'll get better treatment as every month goes by, which will be a good thing.
But there is a lot of tension between opening up society and then the virus being able to circulate freely versus closing down societies to control the
virus. And every country is going to look for that sweet spot whether you get the balance right, and if they don't, then they will need to return to
a more closed scenario or accept a much higher rate of infection, and unfortunate fatalities.
So it's a judgment call which luckily I did have to make. It's being made by governments in different ways around the world.
ANDERSON: You will need to partner up with manufacturers around the world to be able to get this out on a kind of - on a wide enough scale for it to
be useful. Who will you work with?
SHATTOCK: So we're still at an early stage. Obviously we don't know whether this vaccine will work. And as soon as we know that, that will change the
scenarios completely. We are discussing with organizations like COVAC and GAVI that should all vaccine be appropriate that we would position
ourselves to work with those global partners.
ANDERSON: With that, we're going to leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us.
SHATTOCK: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Fascinating times. The good thing is that we're hearing some news about the development of these vaccines, so we wait for further good news.
The United States reporting another record smashing number of Coronavirus cases that's why these vaccines are so important more than 77,000 new cases
in a single day on Thursday as the ninth time in a month that the U.S. has set a new daily case record this as local and state governments fight over
whether to enforce face masks.
The Mayor of Atlanta firing back of the Governor of the State of Georgia who has suit her and city council members personally for requiring people
in Atlanta to wear masks in public. This after he eventually began encouraging Georgians to wear masks. But the Governor argues a mandate -
businesses, the Mayor calls his claims propaganda.
We've told you how Florida hospitals are struggling. Now that sets the U.S. hospital for Coronavirus infections. An infectious diseases professor of
Florida International University in Miami believes another lockdown is not only necessary, it is imminent.
[11:40:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. AILEEN MARTY, INFECTIOUS DISEASE PROFESSOR, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY: At this point, I think we're stuck with the real possibility of
having to go back into another lockdown. But this time, we have to - while we're on lockdown convince the population of how they have to behave the
second, they get out of lockdown.
We'll have to have a steady decrease in the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 or influenza-like symptoms. We have to have a continuous
community viral burden that's down based on the total number of virus- positive individuals for at least 14 days.
We have to have an increase in the ability to rapidly turn around and rapidly test anyone who merits testing and our testing strategy has to be
targeted not random, but completely targeted towards individuals that are the most likely to be either asymptomatic carriers or pre-symptomatic
carriers or people who are obviously having symptoms.
A decrease in response time for the testing result is absolutely critical. And increase in the quantity and the quality of contact tracing information
whether it's done by humans or automatically, we still need that data and we need that to happen very rapidly. And until those things are in place,
we cannot properly open up, because we wind up in a roller coaster ride. And that's what has been happening.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Expert analysis of the situation on the ground in the State of Florida. Coming up on "Connect the World" with me Becky Anderson. The
W.H.O. is giving a dire warning about countries reopening in Africa. And in South Africa, things could get even worse. Plus we take a look at some of
the latest figures from countries here in the Middle East battling COVID- 19. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: The World Health Organization is expecting a significant rise in COVID-19 cases in Africa as countries reopen, estimating more than 640,000
cases across the continent so far. But for South Africa, one of the first countries to shut down, cases have sadly been skyrocketing with nearly half
of the continent's cases in the country alone some residents are worried about what comes next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GIFT MATLALA, JOHANNESBURG RESIDENT: I'm very, very worried. I think everyone should. It's something that is challenging the human life. It's
something that can kill - that has the potential to kill nearly half of the population in the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: CNN's David McKenzie joining us from Johannesburg. What is the situation on the ground, David?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the cases are skyrocketing, Becky, as you said, particularly here around Johannesburg and now south Africa is
well in excess of 300,000 confirmed cases. And that's very worrying because it is accelerating.
[11:45:00]
MCKENZIE: And just doctors I've spoken to in the last week said that systems here in the - and particularly in the Eastern Cape are really under
strain and they hope they have enough beds and particularly oxygen to help people recover. It's a mixed bag across the continent, though.
While the cases are increasing, the death rate thus far in South Africa and even the rest of the continent, Becky, is just not as high as it was as in
countries like the UK, for example. Becky?
ANDERSON: Okay. Well, that, at least, is good news. We've just been talking to Oren, who is in Jerusalem, of course, and he was reporting that Israel
is heading towards another lockdown. Is South Africa considering the same?
MCKENZIE: Well, at the beginning of this week, Becky, the President did say they took really serious consideration of doing that, at least possibly
localized around key cities. But at this stage, they are really not doing that. They say they can't afford to go into another lockdown. Now, that
might change.
What they've rather diagnosed, reinforced some previous strict rules, like the alcohol ban they brought back into place here in South Africa, they say
to try and avoid of a whelming the emergency room beds, particularly on the weekends.
And they've also put in the curfew that starts in a couple of hours from now. So those measures plus just a mandate on wearing masks that even could
see business owners prosecuted, if you don't wear a mask in their establishment, that's really the way they're going at this, sort of
tightening the rules rather than going back into a full lockdown.
They feel that if they can keep the capacity high enough for those beds, they might get through this, but I think the next few weeks and certainly
the next month, Becky are going to be very challenging here in South Africa. For the emergency room doctors and the front line workers and front
line workers trying to battle this out in the strained health system. Becky?
ANDERSON: David McKenzie in Johannesburg for you thank you David. I want to give you an update then on how some of the countries here in the Middle
East are handling rising numbers of infections. Iraq easing its virus restrictions even as the number of cases there is on the rise. More than
86,000 Iraqis have been infected and over 3600 have died.
Next week the country will lift the lockdown for more hours of the day and reopen restaurants and malls. Airports will also open for the first time
since March. And in Iran, surging new cases there has been reported in just the last 24 hours. And nearly 2400 new infections, you just told in Iran is
now close to 14,000 in the number of confirmed cases nears 270,000.
Forces in Libya's civil war mobilize the game control over the strategic City of Sirte. Egypt has warned it is willing to intervene to protect
Libya's National Security as well with its own. At a meeting in Kyra Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said, Libyan tribal lead is a loyal
to the Commander Khalifa Haftar has authorized the intervention.
Now this high stakes battle to gain control of Libya's oilfields is also a threat against Egyptian security that according to el-Sisi. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABDEL FATTAH EL-SISI, EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT: You'll not stand idle in the face of any moves that posed the direct threat to the national strategic
security on our western borders, especially during increased mortuary mobilization around the City of Sirte. I hope that our Libyan brothers in
the west can understand this and give a chance so the situation does not escalate, because we honestly will not stand idle before any breach of that
line.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Abdel el-Sisi on it's a tale of two cities as we turn our attention to sport, while Real Madrid are on top of the world after lifting
their Spanish League title it is quite another story for rivals Barcelona who's superstar captain didn't hold his tongue after giving up the crown.
Patrick Snell is up next with your "World Sport"
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[11:50:00]
ANDERSON: You're watching "Connect the World." I'm Becky Anderson. We are in Abu Dhabi where the time is 10:28 in the evening. The celebration
continues for Zinedine Zidane and is all conquering team, but Patrick explains something for me please if you will. Real Madrid 34, Barcelona 26.
PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: All in good time, Becky. I will indeed hold that thought Real Madrid driving the Christopher wave right now, 34th La
Liga Crown. And the books are now I would imagine, they have their sights family set and trying to overturn the Champion's League round a 16 deficit
to Manchester City. And who knows maybe even going on to win the European Cup for a record extending 14th time.
On Thursday, Real beating - Real, Real they just went up to it in the end, because guess who got Real going that prolific French striker Karim Benzimo
with 2 on this night at the first drilling at home after being played in by Luka Modric, he would add a penalty later on as Real win it 2-1 at an empty
Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, a tenth straight victory for Madrid.
And that was enough for the title, but with Barcelona who losing shockingly as well at home to also sooner the celebration especially joys. Look at
these scenes right there delight on the players faces and their manager as well Zinedine Zidane, they have been relentless since La Liga resumed after
being halted for months due to the global pandemic, and they thoroughly deserve that success.
Real's third domestic league title in this decade and the first since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure Barcelona has won eight titles in the past
twelve seasons. But it's Los Blancos here we go, he has to explain Becky, Los Blancos sitting alone at top, the Spanish football pyramid with 34
titles to the - 26 even Zidane himself not one to have to get overly excited. He was thrilled, calling it one of his best days as a
professional.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZINEDINE ZIDANE, REAL MADRID MANAGER: This is how I am. I think it's true that I'm not the most expressive person, but inside I'm really very happy.
I've always told everyone, we still haven't won La Liga, but today we have. So I can show off my best smile, because today it's allowed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNELL: His best smile, there it is. Let's bring in CNN's Sports Contributor Darren Lewis. Darren, you wouldn't know, it at times, but Zidane shows us
he is delighted in his own unique way. Real finished almost 20 points behind Barcelos and how have they turn it all around?
DARREN LEWIS, CNN WORLD SPORT CONTRIBUTOR: They have been absolutely sensational this season and the secret of their success is they defense,
they have only lost three times all season. They are the picture of organization and leadership at the back. And also the calm off Zidane -
just now because he was a winner as a player and he has been absolutely sensational for Real Madrid as a manager as well.
He is a rarity in Europe, and even with world football, as much as he has won the domestic title a fewer times and he's won the Elite European title,
because he's won the Champions League three times, of course, with Real Madrid where he's only won the league title twice.
But he is the guy who - they sat a couple of years, they've bought him back because they - Barcelona were dominating in this country, and we want to
break that stranglehold that they have on the domestic title. We've certainly done that - final game of the season Patrick, they have done it
in style.
SNELL: Yes. They've really have downed. They cannot be caught, but look, there is another story here. It's a fascinating subplot if you're going to
call it that. Barcelona. We're going to show our viewers now worldwide how they came unstuck. Just to reset for you, they came unstuck at home against
10 - Thursday night. Lionel Messi far from happy what's he have been saying?
LEWIS: Well, there's been very unhappy with the team. And he described his teammates as weak and the entirety because they've managed to lose the La
Liga title two - the big domestic rivals that he says, there's something that's got to change.
[11:55:00]
LEWIS: Now despite his age, you may know he is 33. Lionel Messi is the highest scorer in the league with 23 goals and he still does have to calm,
the authority to say that the people who run the club really better otherwise I'll go elsewhere to Manchester City. They are the only club in
Europe in football that can afford him and Barcelona that would be a nightmare if they were to lose him to their European rival.
So I feel - story around to bring in the caliber of player that they need. The secret of their demise, Patrick, defense. They conceded more goals than
the other teams in the top four of Spanish football. 38 so far this season, even though they scored 81 times that is more than 81 in the entire top
division of Spanish football.
But the problem has been Real Madrid to be better. And so now Barcelona will look to - some of the other clubs around Europe to bring in the
quality that Messi demands.
SNELL: Darren fascinating. We're going to watch this one very carefully indeed.
Where will Messi go next, if ever? We'll see. It's always a fascinating one, isn't it? Darren Lewis, many thanks for joining us. We really do
appreciate it great insights there. Yet the spotlight on Messi and co, as every Becky, I'm going to send it back to you there in Abu Dhabi.
ANDERSON: Thank you very much, indeed, Patrick. That's sort of it from us. I'll leave you with these final thoughts. The Coronavirus pandemic has
given us its share of misery, to be sure, hasn't it? But it's also given us its share of everyday people doing heroic works, nurses, doctors, first
responders and this man Captain Tom Moore.
100 years old doing what he can to raise a little bit of money for the UK's National Health Service while $40 million later, we want to leave you with
this just from last hour. Captain Tom Moore is now, Sir Tom Moore, we leave you with sights and sounds of Queen Elizabeth doing the honors. I'm Becky
Anderson. We wish you a very good weekend.
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END
