Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
Pandemic Out of Control as Americans Celebrate Thanksgiving; Swift Reaction on Capitol Hill to Michael Flynn Pardon; World Mourns Passing of Diego Maradona. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired November 26, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:11]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People are going to die because they are choosing to go home for Thanksgiving. That's insane to me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the second day in a row, the U.S. death toll has topped 2,000
JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT-ELECT: I know we can and we will beat this virus. America's not going to lose this war.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Millions of Americans are relying on food pantries to feed their families this Thanksgiving.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have to take it one day at a time. And as long as you have for today, you save for tomorrow.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Well, this hour, a virus doesn't take a holiday. As Americans gather around and give thanks, millions of them face hunger
and thousands are dying by the day in a pandemic that spares no one and exposes our worst inclinations.
I'm Becky Anderson. Hello and welcome to the program.
It's the start of an important day in America, Thanksgiving. Itself, the start of the holiday season for millions of people of different faiths and
backgrounds. But sadly, there is something more painful that may unite the states and many other states this year.
We can talk about the numbers in detail in a moment but how this pain will really be felt in the one empty seat at the table, it's a loss repeated
well over a quarter million times across the country. Just yesterday, almost 2,300 people died in America. It's accelerating. One expert warns
daily deaths could double in the U.S. in just a matter of days.
Well, thinking, too, about those who have to spend the day in a crowded hospital where nearly 90,000 Americans are battling COVID-19 or about the
family members who won't get to see them in person.
And there are those who don't have the luxury of a Thanksgiving meal in other ways. Right now, an estimated 50 million Americans do not have enough
to eat.
Let's begin with CNN's Rosa Flores live at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami with our top story, America's COVID crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, Becky, medical experts have been warning about this and here we are. The number of cases in the United
States is surging.
Just yesterday, the U.S. recorded more than 181,000 cases, the number of hospitalizations are nearing 90,000. The number of daily deaths is also
increasing. Yesterday, the U.S. recorded nearly 2,300 deaths.
Now, some states are reacting to this very promptly. They are beginning to roll back some of the reopening plans. That's the case in Louisiana. Others
are tightening their mask rules. That's the case in North Carolina.
And in the state of Texas, in Behr County, in the area of San Antonio, they are imposing a curfew.
Now, here in Florida, what local mayors have been asking for is a state mask mandate. It hasn't happened yet. I want to leave you with this,
because, of course, today of course is thanksgiving and medical experts have asked Americans not to travel. Here is why. Their latest projection by
the University of Washington shows that even though the number of deaths right now in the United States total exceeds 262,000, they are projecting
that number could grow to 471,000 by March 1st and, Becky, that is if Americans do not change what they're doing.
They are asking that Americans wear their mask, social distance, and also exercise proper hygiene -- Becky.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Rosa Flores for you.
And that is a look at the COVID case numbers. I need to take you through another really important topic though. How this pandemic is making the
hunger crisis in America far worse.
As millions celebrate Thanksgiving, Feeding America, the country's largest hunger relief group, warning more than 50 million Americans won't have
enough to eat this year. And this is what that looks like. A mobile food pantry is run by the North Texas Food Bank which told CNN 40 percent of
people asking for help are lining up for the first time.
Well, Ryan Young is in downtown Atlanta just down the street from CNN's world headquarters, where a nonprofit is distributing Thanksgiving meals
and other supplies to those in need.
Ryan, how is Hosea Helps Thanksgiving and other relief organizations addressing what are these huge community needs this year?
RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, they absolutely are trying to. First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to you and the crew.
It's so special to see all the people who are out here volunteering for this.
[10:05:01]
This is a massive effort. If you look here. you can see how they set it up. All these boxes are planning to go to families, and if you look up here,
you can kind of see they have canned goods, food in here. That is going to go out to one set.
But when I say this is large, it is because it stretches all the way down the sidewalk here. And what we are told today is, they served over 2
million meals since this pandemic started. They said the need has never been greater. They actually compared this to Katrina because they've never
seen a need like this since that disaster.
And it's been going on 24/7. So folks have been lining up here since 6:00 a.m. and there will be cars that will be coming down this way. They'll get
a box of food.
There is also a homeless effort here. They'll be providing meals to homeless people who have no place else to go. But again, there are people
who have been volunteering here for years who are now in this line.
I talked to one volunteer who said whatever her friend said she couldn't help this year because her family didn't have any food. In fact, listen to
this one homeless veteran who said he needed this to be able to eat today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARLOS ALANIZ, HOMELESS VETERAN: First of all, I worked a day labor job, you know, making a little money and when I need help, I go to these events.
Extremely grateful. Now, in my job field, when I'm working, I make good money. When I'm working in my job field, I pay it back. I pay it forward.
That's what I do.
Why? Because people have helped me, so when I can, I will and I do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YOUNG: We know with COVID-19, there are a lot of people who are obviously not able to come out. So, one of the things they're going to do, they're
going to deliver food to the elderly. And that's also going to go in here.
But they are checking people in and trying to make sure everyone is socially distanced. But this is a massive effort that has to happen on a
weekend like this not only because of Thanksgiving but because people are hungry and they desperately need some food for their families -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Thank you for that.
And just a reminder, Feeding America projects 50 million will go hungry this year. That is more than three times the number just two years ago.
Well, stay with us. Next hour, CNN looks at how aid groups are helping families in the Bronx, in New York. That is the borough hardest hit by the
pandemic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: Day to day, is your pantry stocked, or what does it look like?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just surviving. That's all I can say. You just have to survive it.
REPORTER: The 15th congressional district here in the Bronx has the highest food insecurity rate among children in the country. At Agatha
House, they're hoping to take the stigma out of needing a little extra help.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have to look and try to imagine ourselves in the position, what we would want for ourselves. Not just to guff them a
cardboard box but to make them feel loved, special.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That report, that full report is later in this show.
Well, that is a look at the real danger of simply having enough to eat in what is the most powerful country in the world.
Well, I want to show you how the pandemic is changing much loved traditions as well. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade isn't just another bug event.
It's iconic, watched by millions of Americans and indeed people around the world every year.
It began nearly a hundred years ago. These pictures have been almost every Thanksgiving day since crowds of people have lined the Manhattan parade
route to marvel at the giant balloons and festive floats, but this year because of the pandemic, the event is virtual and is closed to the public.
CNN's Evan McMorris-Santoro is in New York City with more on this year's made for TV event.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
EVAN MCMORRIS-SANTORO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, as you can see, it's not a great day for a parade but as one of the operators of the balloons back
there told me just a few minutes ago, it is still New York. It's still Thanksgiving. There will be a parade.
It's going to be very, very different than what we're used to seeing. Usually it's 2.5 mile route packed with people. This year, it's a TV
production with no real long march and most of it pretaped.
So people can watch at home and not gather in New York where it is dangerous to be on the streets in the coronavirus. The whole idea is to
have the parade, have the tradition, but stay safe -- Becky.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC)
ANDERSON: Well, as we've been reporting, Thanksgiving may be all about food, well not this year, and festivals.
For most people, there in the States, but American presidents often use this holiday season to issue pardons and commutations. And now, not only
the Thanksgiving turkey getting a full pardon from this U.S. president, one-time national security adviser Michael Flynn appears to be off the hook
for lying to the FBI.
[10:10:03]
The reaction on Capitol Hill is swift and loud. Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi slamming the move saying, quote, grave corruption and a brazen abuse
of power by Donald Trump. Republicans, no surprise, endorsing the pardon.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy tweeting, the national disgrace was the prosecution of the respected three-star general. Sources telling CNN,
expect more pardons soon and of course many are asking the question, will Donald Trump pardon himself for any federal crimes he may have committed?
Well, we are watching that and getting our first glimpse of how a strong conservative majority in the U.S. Supreme Court might evolve on religious
issues. That is largely due to President Trump's last appointment to the bench. Newly installed Justice Amy Coney Barrett played a decisive role in
the high court's latest ruling. It decided New York's governor could not restrict the size of religious gatherings in his efforts to curb the
coronavirus.
More lawsuits could be coming. CNN's legal analyst, Elie Honig, is a former federal and state prosecutor joining me now, connecting us to the real
world implications of this Supreme Court decision.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Elie, and thank you for joining us.
Do help us understand what this SCOTUS decision means not just legally but socially?
ELIE HONIG, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yeah, Elie, thanks. Happy Thanksgiving to you and the viewers who celebrate.
So the key conflict here is between on the one hand our First Amendment which protects the right to religious exercise and the other hand basic
public safety measures necessitated by this really unprecedented COVID crisis that we're in. The Supreme Court split as closely as they can on
this issue. It was a 5-4 ruling and the newest justice as you said Amy Coney Barrett made all the difference.
The Supreme Court actually considered a very similar lawsuit dealing with restrictions on religious places of worship out of California and Nevada
this past summer in July, but went 5-4 the other way. The difference is Ruth Bader Ginsburg was alive and on the court then. Now she has been
replaced by Justice Amy Coney Barrett and we see a 5-4 result one way, go 5-4 the other way.
And so, the practical effect is at least in New York state for now, these restrictions on religious places of worship are lifted, could lead to
further similar lawsuits from other states.
ANDERSON: Got it. OK, and thank you for that.
I do also want to talk to you about this opportunity that the U.S. president is and likely will take to pardon people. This is not something
others haven't done. It is no real surprise that Donald Trump took the opportunity to pardon his friend Mike Flynn.
He, this being Donald Trump, retweeting this message as well, that he should pardon himself, his whole administration. There's been much talk of
the potential that the president may seek a pardon for himself. Can you just explain why and how likely that is?
HONIG: Yeah. So, first of all, Becky, we don't know exactly for sure whether a president can pardon himself because it's never happened before.
No president has ever had the gall or the need to even try it. There is an interesting debate about whether he can or not.
On the one hand, people would argue, well, the Constitution gives a fairly unlimited pardon power to the president. It is one of the broadest powers
in our Constitution. It says that the president shall have the power to grant pardons. People say, well there is no limit. Why not himself?
On the other hand, the counterargument is well the framers of the Constitution despised self-dealing. It is maybe the number one principle.
You cannot be a judge in your own case. This would be an ultimate form of self-dealing.
It is also worth noting that in 1974 in the wake of the Richard Nixon scandal, the Department of Justice took a look at this issue and issued an
opinion not binding law but an opinion that it would not be constitutional and lawful for a president to pardon himself.
So, the president, President Trump certainly seems to be gearing up to do that. He certainly is talking about it and tweeting about it more than
anyone has before. If he does, we could be in for a real constitutional battle.
ANDERSON: Fascinating stuff.
Elie, however you are celebrating today, I hope you have a good one. Thank you for joining us.
HONIG: Thank you.
ANDERSON: It's Thanksgiving. Still ahead on CONNECT THE WORLD, more on football icon Diego Maradona mourned around the world today after the news
of his death at the age of 60. I'm going to talk to an opponent who was on the pitch during Maradona's controversial hand of god goal back in 1986.
[10:15:06]
Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It affected my well being, my sleeping, my marriage, because when you're isolating over and over again and you can't go out into
public, in your own home like you, you know, you feel trapped. And being trapped is not a nice feeling.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Talking about life in one region that has kept the coronavirus in check but now the safety of Canada's so-called "Atlantic Bubble" is
being tested.
It could be the beginning of the end or another escalation in the weeks- long conflict in Ethiopia. The government there taking the final offensive as they call it against Tigrean forces.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, football fans lining up in Buenos Aires today. Diego Maradona was a son of Argentina, but he also belonged to the world. His
death resonating around the globe.
Patrick Oppmann tells us he's being remembered for life that was both glorious and flawed.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Argentina will observe three days of official mourning to honor the country's greatest soccer
legend, Diego Maradona.
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez announced to the nation. You took us to the top of the world, Fernandez wrote on Twitter after the news broke of
Maradona's death. You made us feel incredibly happy. You are the greatest of all. Thank you for having existed.
(CROWD CHEERING)
OPPMANN: Even though it had been over two decades since Maradona last played, he remained both revered and notorious.
DIEGO MARADONA, FOOTBAL LEGEND: Gracias.
OPPMANN: As famous for his chaotic personal life off the field as his brilliant play on it.
A statement from the Vatican says fellow Argentine and football fanatic, Pope Francis, quote, looks back with affection to the occasions of
encounter in recent years and remembers him in his prayers as he has done in recent days since he learned of his health conditions.
According to Maradona's attorney, the football great died of a cardiac arrest. Maradona had struggled with health problems, alcoholism and drug
addiction for years, even traveling to Cuba for rehabilitation treatments. There he became close friends with Fidel Castro and later attended Castro's
funeral.
In a tweet, Cuba's foreign minister noted that Maradona had passed away for years to the day since Castro's death and that Cubans would mourn the
Argentine star they had come to think of as part of Cuba.
Crowds took to the streets in Naples, Italy, to mourn Maradona who help the team win two Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990.
[10:20:07]
The city's mayor suggested naming the local stadium after him.
Brazilian football legend Pele wrote on Twitter that he lost a friend, and that one day they would play again in heaven. Maradona's passing was even
recognized in England where football fans have agonized over their loss Argentina and Maradona's infamous hand of god goal in the 1986 World Cup.
Manchester United football club tweeting, quote: Football has lost one of its greatest icons. Rest in peace, Diego Maradona.
Despite the pandemic, Argentine fans crowded the streets of Buenos Aires to send off one of the best there ever was to play the game.
Patrick Oppmann, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And here is a look at presidential palace in Argentina where one of the greatest footballers ever is lying in honor.
Diego Maradona dying (ph) of heart failure on Wednesday, just weeks after undergoing brain surgery. He was 60 years old. He was a national hero in
Argentina and fans have been lining up here before dawn to pay their respects.
We also heard Patrick mention Diego Maradona's famous hand of god goal in 1986 when he pitched the ball into the net with his hand. That is one way
to describe it. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COMMENTATOR: Maradona again easily moving away, back over the top, and Maradona has scored! First blood to Argentina, England far from happy.
Think they've seen an infringement.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that was during the quarterfinals against England. I was watching that game. As an England fan, it was horrible to watch that.
Maradona followed it up later in the match with another spectacular solo goal. That was a real goal. It is known as the goal of the century. Let's
watch that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COMMENTATOR: Maradona brilliantly gets away from Reid and now motors up through the gears, and he's beaten Butcher (ph), and he's beaten Pettick
(ph). It is Diego Maradona and it is quite magnificent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, you just heard -- you heard the commentator there as Maradona pulled away from England's Peter Reid during that infamous 1986
match. Reid is shown furiously giving chase -- the two of them on the field together during those historic goals.
Thirty-four years later, Peter Reid joining me from Manchester today.
Take me back, sir.
PETER REID, PLAYED AGAISNT MARADONA IN 1986 QUARTERFINALS (via telephone): Hello.
ANDERSON: Can you hear me, Peter?
REID: Oh, sorry about that. Yes. I'm getting you fine now. I do apologize.
ANDERSON: It's all right. We are showing images of you being outrun on the pitch 34 years ago. Take me back. Just walk me through what happened that
day.
REID: Well, obviously, the first goal, contentious goal, disgrace, but the second goal, you've got to say pure genius. The man -- the man is one of
the best footballers to ever walk the planet.
ANDERSON: You've said, I see that goal back now, it feels like a dream where you're running against the wind and just can't get there. He goes
past all of us.
We look like we're in slow motion and Diego doesn't. I still feel massive frustration that I can't get there.
We can -- we can see the splashes at the U.K. from pages here. You know, it's strange, isn't it?
I mean, we were discussing yesterday that the most trending subject yesterday in the U.K. on social was the death of Diego Maradona, and
England fans applauding his grace, his brilliance on the field, 34 years later, it does feel as if he has been forgiven somewhat, Peter.
REID: Well, I think -- I think, you can't hide talent or genius. I mean, the first one, he's got away it, we all know --
VOICE PROMPT: Please hold. Please hold.
ANDERSON: Sounds as if I've lost Peter. Are you still with me, Peter?
Oh, let's see if we can get Peter Reid back.
Let me just though while we are trying to reestablish Peter Reid because I do want to talk to him about what it was like to play against the
brilliance of Diego Maradona.
[10:25:02]
And, Pep Guardiola, who is, of course, the coach of Man City, the city where Peter Reid is today in fact talking to us from had this to say about
Diego's passing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PEP GUARDIOLA, MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER: All the people who worked with him in the locker rooms express how his generosity, his thinking for all of
them, defending the position for the -- to make a better, better world for football and on the pitch was something unique, for one or two generations,
a player like I said, wow, what a player. He is playing right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I think I've got Peter back.
And that was Pep Guardiola just basically expressing how people feel about Diego Maradona, those who have played against him, those who have been in
the locker room with him.
I've met him, Peter, I know you have as well on numerous occasions. He was a charming, charming, charming man.
And as you reflect on his life as a footballer, what comes to mind, sir?
REID: Like I said before, just his brilliance. We know -- we know he had a checkered life. He had failings (ph).
And I just think from where he was there -- where he came from, you know, filthy shantytown just outside Buenos Aires, at the pinnacle of his
football career, I mean, you are bound to (INAUDIBLE), you know, we are human beings, we're fallible, though he was a genius on the football field.
I -- the other occasion when I was managing in England, I went to Argentina to watch football matches, and any time you talk about plays (ph), Diego
would be the one. Now, why you say that? Because he's a great Argentinian player, Lionel Messi, playing in Barcelona now. Don't forget about it, to
Argentineans, Diego is number one.
ANDERSON: And somebody was remarking yesterday because when we sort of, you know, talk about the great -- (INAUDIBLE) talked about Ronaldo and
Messi. But, you know, as you talk about the GOATs as it were in the past, as I was growing up and -- by the way, watching you, you're a great hero of
mine, sir, as I grew up in -- on the streets of Cheadle in -- just south of Manchester, supporting Manchester City, by the way, at the time.
And, you know, there were -- you know, we used to try to imitate what the - - what these guys would do on the field. And somebody remarked to me yesterday that Pele is not as sort of -- as regarded, as deified as it were
in Brazil as Diego Maradona is in Argentina.
Does that surprise you?
REID: I'll tell you -- Pele was outstanding both -- I mean, I can remember -- I can name you the Brazilian `70 side, and possibly the `58 and half of
the `62 side. You know, the '86 side I played against, Valdana (ph) and Diego Maradona, because he was -- he was that influential and I'm not
taking anything away from the memories of the squad (ph) (INAUDIBLE) but he was that influential with that side.
(INAUDIBLE) them to that World Cup win. When he went -- when he went to Naples and played at Napoli, well, I mean, (INAUDIBLE) he's revered.
I mean, I dropped off with the crews (ph) in Naples and was having a pizza and look down and all you could see was big flags of Diego Maradona
(INAUDIBLE)
ANDERSON: Amazing, amazing.
How long, Peter, just finally, how long, I want to bring up the front pages of the -- of the newspapers out of Britain today because we were remarking
on the fact that, you know, in the end, he's been forgiven. How long did it take you and the squad to get over that hand of gun moment?
REID: Well, Becky, it was quite lively (INAUDIBLE) after the game because he was singing songs. I mean, people forget, the political, there was a bit
of a political, the last four years after the Falklands War (INAUDIBLE). So, it was a lot of interest in the game.
But as time goes on and I met Diego and I've chatted with him, too, an interpreter (INAUDIBLE) and like you said, it's humor, it's humor
(INAUDIBLE) he said to me, the hand of god. I said back, it wasn't -- it wasn't my god. It might have been yours.
You know, we had -- we had a good banter, even the interpreter (ph), and I found him (INAUDIBLE) I got to say that.
[10:30:01]
And then, also, I don't think Peter Shilton is forgiven but I think that after the (INAUDIBLE) I think you just got about a genius sometimes.
ANDERSON: Yeah, Peter Shilton, of course, the keeper there, the goalkeeper for England during that match back in the day of '86.
Look, Peter, really, it's been an absolute pleasure having you on. Thank you so much for joining us here on CNN. It's fantastic.
Don't worry about it. Technology, it's cool technology. Don't worry about it. It lets us down every so often. The phone went dead on him earlier on
but we got him back. Excellent.
REID: (INAUDIBLE)
ANDERSON: Peter Reid on reflections on Diego Maradona and who, of course, died yesterday at the age of 60.
We're going to take a very short break. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: We spent the first 15 minutes of the show looking at the coronavirus nightmare in America but the rest of the world is also, of
course, fighting the pandemic. It is a global problem. It has infected more than 60 million people worldwide.
In Europe, Britain, and France about to take baby steps to ease their national coronavirus lockdown.
CNN's reporters standing by across the region to bring you the latest, begin with Melissa Bell in Paris.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Melissa Bell in Paris.
French ski resorts will be closed this Christmas period as a result of coronavirus restrictions. That's according to the French prime minister who
has been speaking this afternoon about the very latest on the government's plans to lift the partial lockdown we've been under here in France since
October 30th.
Remember, Becky, that on Wednesday, Emmanuel Macron had announced that on December 15th, that partial lockdown would be lifted. Jean Castex said
today that he believes France was on track to reach the target of no more than 5,000 cases a day that would allow for that to happen.
Over to Fred Pleitgen now in Berlin for the latest from there.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Fred Pleitgen in Berlin, as Germany is both extending and tightening its
lockdown measures. Instead of coming to an end as planned in a couple days, the measures will remain in place until at least December 20th possibly
even longer.
Germany is also expanding mask mandates and further restricting the amount of contacts people are allowed to have in a private setting. Angela Merkel
says the goal is to bring down the still very high daily new coronavirus infections and possibly ease restrictions come Christmas.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Salma Abdelaziz in London, England, where people are finding out what restrictions they'll be living
under next week when a nationwide lockdown expires and that system is replaced with a three-tier regional restriction system.
[10:35:06]
But even if you live under the country's toughest rules, all nonessential shops are allowed to reopen. Essentially, let the Christmas shopping begin,
and that's the idea behind these rules. The government wants to curb people's social behaviors by shutting down pubs and restaurants, while at
the same time reopening the economy during the holiday season.
Now, many scientists and doctors are concerned that this simply isn't strict enough with the British Medical Association saying the three-tier
strategy is full of risk.
SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Selina Wang in Tokyo.
Japan is warning of a possible state of emergency if COVID-19 cases continue to rise. Experts say that the medical system is strained in high
infection areas like Tokyo, Osaka, and Sapporo.
Tokyo's governor is asking restaurants serving alcohol and karaoke shops to close at 10:00 p.m. for 20 days starting from this weekend. Now, Japan's
government has no legal means to enforce these restrictions but say businesses who do comply will receive $3,800 U.S. dollars.
Japan's total cases are currently less than 140,000 while total deaths are just over 2,000.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm in Paula Hancocks in Seoul.
New coronavirus cases have hit an eight-month high here in South Korea, with the vast majority of cases in the capital Seoul. Now, officials say
this third wave could actually be far worse than the previous two as this time around there are lots of smaller outbreaks across the city making
contact tracing that much harder.
Now, there have been increased social distancing rules brought in this week but officials warn numbers will still rise over the coming days and
potentially by next week, they hope these restrictions will start having an impact.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, with around the world.
I want to return to North America now because there, Canada's largest city Toronto is in day four of its second lockdown. For now, the plan is to keep
it in place for 28 days to slow the snowballing coronavirus outbreak.
But a short time ago Toronto's mayor was asked if the lockdown could be extended into January. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN TORY, TORONTO MAYOR: I think we've proven that we're prepared to do that. Anything we have to do to keep public health, to protect the health
care system, to keep the schools open, protect the elderly, that's what we're focused on, and I assume as we've done throughout, that's what we'll
do if that was required. I hope not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Much of Canada struggles with COVID.
There is one region where the coronavirus has largely been a nonevent. It is called "Atlantic Bubble".
But as Paula Newton reports, that bubble is now being put to the test.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For six months, Canada's Atlantic bubble has been a sanctuary, nearly 2.5 million people living
mostly COVID free.
Just listen to Erica Baker, a child psychologist and mother of three, getting her kids ready to go to school.
ERICA BAKER, CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST: Right now, things have been very normal for them. It's been wonderful.
NEWTON: Normal. Wonderful even. The bubble has made it possible.
BAKER: Bye, guys.
NEWTON: At its outer edge, the Atlantic Bubble is a six-hour drive from Boston but a world away from the current COVID reality. It includes four
provinces. Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Going into the bubble from anywhere even the rest of Canada, you have to quarantine 14 days and then mask mandates, distancing, aggressive testing
and contact tracing have kept cases near zero or close to it for months.
BAKER: We've had exceptional leadership. They have provided us the right information so far and I don't think there is any reason to not trust
they're going to do the right things moving forward as well.
NEWTON: That leadership is about to be tested. As cases rise into the dozens even here they're acting fast.
DR. ROBERT STRANG, NOVA SCOTIA'S CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER: Yes. If you look elsewhere a small number of cases left unchecked explodes into a very large
number of cases. Your health care system starts to get overwhelmed. You have lots of unavoidable, severe illness and death. We see that in other
places. We're doing everything we can to avoid that.
NEWTON: Dr. Robert Strang is Nova Scotia's chief medical officer and so- called caretaker of the bubble. He is putting in place more restrictions to indoor dining and shopping, and now, quarantine-free travel to other
provinces inside the bubble will have to end for a while.
For this retired senior amateur musician and one of the vulnerable, the bubble hasn't burst. It's just adapting to what he calls the tsunami of
cases all around.
GORDON FLOWERDEW, RETIREE: I actually feel that the Atlantic Bubble has been moderately successful at postponing the inevitable.
NEWTON: Health experts say that has saved lives.
There is another side though to the success of the Atlantic bubble, especially because of the quarantine. Some argue the sacrifice has been too
great, the hit to the economy too severe.
[10:40:04]
We caught up with Jennifer Hutton at Montreal's airport going back into the bubble staring down her 11th quarantine. As an IT specialist she has to
travel for work and is thankful for the bubble but --
JENNIFER HUTTON, HALIFAX RESIDENT: It affected my well being, my sleeping, my marriage because when you're isolating over and over again and you can't
go out into public, in your own home, like you, you know, you feel trapped and being trapped is not a nice feeling.
NEWTON: For now though, those in the bubble are acting fast to adapt to more restrictions, hoping it will strengthen people's resolve to fight on
even when cases rise.
SARAH GOSSE, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER: I think people are just like let's get this done, get this over. Let's have, you know, Thanksgiving, Christmas,
and let's, you know, solve this problem and have a safe space in our little bubble.
NEWTON: That little bubble no matter how vulnerable now has given families like the Bakers a shot at normal life and peace of mind even during the
worst waves of this pandemic.
Paula Newton, CNN, Montreal.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: We'll take a very short break. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALLORY WEGGEMANN, PARALYMPIC SWIMMER: Paralympians far and wide, wherever in the world you find yourself, one of the unique things is that they have
taken a life that society has told them is broken and they have turned it into something extraordinary.
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Minnesota, Mallory Weggemann is training for her third Paralympic games. A swimmer
since the age of 7, Weggemann's talent in the water took her to the pinnacle of athletic success.
The journey to the podium started with a tragic accident.
Twelve years ago, Weggemann became paralyzed after receiving an epidural injection to treat her back pain. She was 18 years old.
WEGGEMANN: Some days I can talk about it and I'm totally fine. Some days I get choked up when I talk about it. It is just one of those moments where,
like, everything you know changes.
I call January 21st, 2008 my sudden moment of impact. But the reality is, our society is facing a sudden moment of impact right now. Everywhere in
the world we are living it. And it makes that day for me so much more emotional because my heart feels the depths of it.
MACFARLANE: With the encouragement of her family, Weggemann decided to find out more about the Paralympic movement.
[10:40:06]
WEGGEMANN: On April 8, 2008, just two and a half months after my injury I got back in the water for the first time. And it was my bridge. It bridged
my past and who I was to my present and where I was at in that moment and it led me toward something in my future, something that could be hopeful.
And that was a game changer.
MACFARLANE: Christina Macfarlane, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: An incredible story. Sports can inspire us to do the incredible, the unimaginable.
As it did for the legend Diego Maradona who rose from the slums of Buenos Aires to stardom. You are looking at a somber night for football's Champion
League games on Wednesday as they remembered him from Milan to Liverpool to Athens players bowing their heads in remembrance of a man who was a hero to
so many, fitting tributes for a football legend.
I'm joined by Amanda Davies of "WORLD SPORT" -- Amanda.
AMANDA DAVIES, WORLD SPORT: Yeah, Becky, these tributes literally haven't stopped since you and I were talking yesterday and those immediate moments
as the news of Maradona's death was emerging.
For so many players on the pitch last night, he was the player. He was the inspiration that for them in their earliest days of their career set to be
an incredibly emotional night for Napoli later on Thursday. That, of course, the club where he made his name. That's what we'll be talking about
in "WORLD SPORT" in just a couple minutes and of course heading live to Buenos Aires where thousands of fans are flocking to pay their respects.
ANDERSON: And have been doing since dawn, Argentina Time. Thank you.
After this short break I'll be back with you after that. Stay with us.
(WORLD SPORT)
END
