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Connect the World
"COVID Warrior" Connects Patients With Oxygen; Japanese Health System in Crisis as Olympics Approach; UK Withdraws Patrol Boats After French Protest Ends; Grieving Families Lash Out At Medical Workers; Colombian Officials: 26 Dead, 390 Plus Hurt in Clashes; India's Vaccine Delays Impact Rebel-Held Idlib in Syria. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired May 07, 2021 - 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)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: This hour India facing a seemingly endless struggle the country moving into the weekend with new
lockdowns and growing desperation. Since this time yesterday nearly 4000 people have lost their lives to Coronavirus and more than 414,000 new cases
have been reported that is the most ever in a single day.
The pandemic has been spiraling out of control in India part of a relentless second wave while there's been a lot of focus on the Capital,
the virus is ravaging the country from the inside out battering places far from New Delhi, for example, in the tourist hotspot of Goa, over half of
those who've been tested over half have been tested are positive.
A curfew there is now being declared for two weeks with all public activity canceled. I spoke with Goa's Public Health Minister last hour. With
positivity rate higher than New Delhi and every other state in India. I asked him whether the government should be held accountable for this COVID
catastrophe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VISHWAJIT RANE, GOA MINISTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: There is no question of shying away from accountability that because the people hold you
accountable being a democracy, if you do not, you know, take care of the people and do not fight the pandemic in a very aggressive and very proper
manner.
The people are going to - there's no need for anybody else to hold us accountable. It's the public that is going to hold us accountable. We are
accountable. We have to be held accountable. And I'm sure we will live up to the expectations of the people of the State of Goa.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that's the Health Minister of Goa. Supplies are so short in India some people are going on to the internet to find them. CNN's Vedika
Sud introduces us to a man who was tirelessly working to save lives by connecting COVID patients with oxygen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VEDIKA SUD, CNN REPORTER (voice over): A grieving daughter says her final goodbye before her father's body burns to ash in this electric crematorium.
The daughter who asked for her identity to remain private during this emotional time says she'll never forget how he collapsed in arms the night
before?
Suffering from COVID-19 her father's oxygen levels started falling. After frantic calls, a colleague reached out to Sreenivas Vivi (ph), who leads
the Youth Wing of an opposition political party for what most of Delhi has been desperately looking for an oxygen cylinder, which was soon delivered
by his team to her house. But later that night, when the cylinder ran out of oxygen, her father ran out of breath.
PRASHANT MUKHERJEE, COLLEAGUE: We could have saved the father easily. He would have got oxygen he could have got a bed, he would have got an ICU
bed, we could have saved a father easily.
SUD (voice over): Alone, fragile and COVID-19 positive she asked Sreenivas to help cremate his body and he willingly did along with his team. While an
unwell mother and an inconsolable brother who lives overseas looked on. Sreenivas has barely slept.
The phone doesn't stop ringing. Desperate relatives beg for help with beds, medicines and oxygen. People call through the night at 2 am at 3 am begging
for a small oxygen cylinder he says.
But he must soldier on despite criticism from an Indian government official that this is all a public relations ploy but at a time where the government
is still getting its act together thousands in social media reaching out to this group for help.
Sreenivas says he often cries at night. I can't sleep at night. We've seen so many heartbreaking cases. Parents have left behind young children who
will take care of them he asks. His support staffs back in the war room help prioritize pleas through social media, which is then forwarded to
teens in Delhi and states across India.
We segregate bed plasma medicine and ICU requests here and forwarded to our teams says Sreenivas. A desperate plea for help interrupts our
conversation.
[11:05:00]
SUD (voice over): A father begs for an oxygen cylinder for his three year old son. Team Sreenivas set off with a cylinder. A visibly week college
professor Alok Kumar (ph) waits outside his house for his son's lifeline. He asks us to keep some distance.
He's COVID positive. He can't thank Sreenivas enough. The boy's father says Sreenivas's service is service to humanity. He did not ask me which
political party I support or caste I belong to? This is how people should help.
Inside his home his toddler bundled under covers with a Pulse Oximeter clipped to his toe, breathe shallowly, through an oxygen mask. Every day is
a new challenge for these people. Their resources are limited, but expectations are not.
I have seen three people from the same family die before my eyes. Many patients are not treated in time that breaks my heart he says. With a heavy
heart, but a determined mind Sreenivas goes back to work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Vedika joining us now from New Delhi an excellent report once again from you. The government insists as you report it, that it is getting
its act together. What though are the facts Vedika as we understand them?
SUD: I think Becky the numbers speak for themselves, don't they? This is the third time that we've seen 400,000 new cases of COVID-19 in the last
three weeks being reported on a daily basis. Even the death toll is only getting higher by the day. Today it was a bit lower than yesterday. But
that's no consolation, really.
And these are just the reported numbers. And like I said earlier, you even spoke to the Goa Health Minister and he did say that accountability lies
with us. I really wish we could hear that from the Indian government here in New Delhi. I don't think anyone's come out yet saying yes,
accountability does lie only with us.
And that's why you see so much of anger on the ground as well, Becky, and that's why people are relying on people like Sreenivas. And at the very
outset, let me just tell our viewers that he does belong to a political party, the opposition party, the Congress, but his work has saved so many
lives, Becky otherwise we would see the numbers go higher than what they are reportedly right now, in New Delhi.
There is anger on the ground like I mentioned, the government says they're doing all they can the distributing the global aid coming in, they've
strongly denied any kind of delay in distributing that aid. And what I found quite frustrating as an Indian more than a journalist is when today
the Chief Scientific Adviser here in India, if you remember when we spoke yesterday, he mentioned a third wave is inevitable today during the health
press conference by the Health Ministry.
He says well, maybe there will not be a third wave if we control all the extraneous factors involved. So this mixed messaging is also confusing
people within 24 hours, you've changed your statement. And within those 24 hours, we've reported 400,000 new daily cases twice over Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. And these are just the reported numbers as you rightly point out. Vedika the U.S. Infectious Diseases Expert Dr. Anthony
Fauci who our viewers will be, you know, well aware of. He spoke about India's current COVID crisis and I want you and our viewers just to have a
listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: I think it's clear that you have to take the step of shutting
down most of the country, particularly the involved areas, and I don't mean, shutting down for six months, you don't need to do that.
That long, you just need to break the chain of transmission. And one can do that by shutting down to the extent possible for two, three weeks, four
weeks, and then as soon as the cases start coming down, and you vaccinate more people, then you could get ahead of the trajectory of the outbreak.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And Vedika we are now seeing states go into statewide lockdowns in some areas of India, but a national lockdown is not what the Prime
Minister seems prepared to implement at the moment. And there is an argument that a complete lockdown nationwide might save people from dying
from COVID-19, but could effectively be a death sentence for the hundreds of millions who live hand to mouth in India. Is there merit in that
argument?
SUD: Becky, that's an ongoing debate, isn't it all over the world where you have to decide between economy and the lives of people. Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi took that decision last year and there were about three successive lockdowns, national lockdowns, one after the other.
[11:10:00]
SUD: But this time over this second wave has been more than brutal. Becky we all know of people we've lost we know of people who are really, you
know, gasping for breath in hospitals. And there are so many medical experts who have come out and said perhaps a national lockdown is the road
ahead.
But the Indian Prime Minister in his last address televised address did mention that should be the last resort a national lockdown saying that it
is true that a lot of states across India have been going ahead and announcing partial lockdowns, complete lock downs.
You just mentioned the Western State of Goa we know that Northwestern State of Rajasthan has also put a temporary lockdown in place. And that's
something that Dr. Fauci has also been saying that you need to do this temporarily. And when you do get ahead of the trajectory is when you can
really get back on the ground.
And you know, just get going. But that seems to be eluding us for now, because it's very clear. And this is something the Finance Minister of
India also said some time ago there will be no national lockdown. That debate persists, Becky, economy versus lives, but compared to the first
wave, we've really seen a lot more deaths this time.
Well when it's not stopping anytime soon. So that accountability, that transparency of talking to the people of India, and explaining why the
country shouldn't go under that national lockdown is something that the Prime Minister should do at some point, Becky.
ANDERSON: Vedika Sud is on the story always a pleasure Vedika. I know this isn't an easy story to cover for any Indian. But you are doing a superb
job. Thank you very much indeed.
Well, I never signed up to live in a war torn area and now I am, that the view of the CEO of the Aid Group LabourNet which is running a helpline to
get medical supplies to informal workers. The informal sector as Vedika and I've just been discussing has - is huge, and it's been hit particularly
hard by this second wave in India. I'll be speaking to Gayathri Vasudevan ahead on the program.
We've been talking about the case spikes in India and those that we are seeing across Asia now. Indonesia perhaps reported its highest daily number
of infections in four months, and the government has banned domestic travel ahead of the Eid celebrations. You can see police here checking to make
sure people leaving Jakarta have special permission.
Well, people caring for patients bearing the brunt 366 Indonesian medical doctors have died from COVID since March, and only 8.5 million out of the
country's 267 million people have been fully vaccinated. Vietnam meanwhile, had the pandemic largely under control for most of the past year and a half
but it is now extending its mandatory quarantine period to 21 days.
This is for people who have traveled in from abroad and came in close contact with COVID-19 patients and the decision came as Vietnam found tens
of local infections linked to people who had tested positive after completing the shorter 14 day quarantine period.
And the COVID state of emergency in Tokyo has just been extended until the end of the month. Japan's Prime Minister made that announcement during a
government task force meeting earlier today and those emergency measures will also be in place in perfect chose of Osaka Kyoto and Hyogo.
Well, in parts of Japan the UK variant so called of the Coronavirus has brought hospitals, doctors nurses close to a breaking point and that is
putting Japan's hosting of the Summer Olympics in question of course, again. Blake Essig has this update.
BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky nationwide, Japan's case count has been going down. That's the good news. Bad news the number of patients with
serious symptoms is climbing. In fact, a new record has been sent nearly every day this week pushing Japan's medical system to the breaking point.
Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Hideaki Oka is making his rounds. For now it's relatively calm here in the COVID ward at Saitama Medical University
but all that can change in an instant.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. HIDEAKI OKA, INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST: Two patients entered today, and another two patients are admitted tomorrow, and all cases turn out to
be severe. The day after tomorrow will already be in a crisis.
ESSIG (voice over): A crisis that has the potential to explode in just a few months, when tens of thousands of people from more than 200 countries
enter Japan to participate in the upcoming Summer Olympic Games. It's a frightening scenario for Chief Nurse, Kyoko Ioka, who has been treating
COVID-19 patients since the beginning.
KYOKA IOKA, CHIEF NURSE, SAITAMA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY: I'm sorry for the athletes, but I'm terrified that the Olympics are going to happen. Is it
really worth it? We are in the middle of the fourth wave and what is the point of having the Olympic Games now?
ESSIG (voice over): Despite overwhelming concern from medical professionals and the Japanese public Olympic organizers remain determined to hold the
already once delayed games this summer.
[11:15:00]
ESSIG (voice over): Pointing to COVID-19 countermeasures outlined in a series of playbooks.
ESSIG (on camera): It was only just a few months ago that a third wave of infection pushed Japan's medical system in some spots to the breaking
point. Here in Saitama medical staffs say they still haven't recovered.
ESSIG (voice over): Well, Japan's medical system as a whole is strained. The UK variant has brought the system in Western Japan to its needs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's really like a natural disaster hit our hospital. But it's a disaster that people on the outside can't see.
ESSIG (voice over): Unlike previous variants, Dr. Hiroo Matsuo, an Infectious Disease Specialist at Amagasaki General Medical Center in Hyogo
says the current virus variant is spreading faster and seriously impacting younger people with nearly 1800 people waiting to be hospitalized.
DR. HIROO MATSUO, AMAGASAKI GENERAL MEDICAL CENTER, HYOGO: Amid this fourth wave hospitals are finding they can't admit patients or even treat them,
some of whom are dying at home. We are confronting a situation where we want to take more patients, but we just can't.
ESSIG (voice over): The same situation is unfolding in neighboring Osaka according to the government website the hospital bed occupancy rate is
maxed out at 103 percent and nearly 3000 people are waiting to enter a treatment facility. The result doctors like Ku Kurahara are left to
repeatedly make a heart wrenching choice.
DR. KU KURAHARA, KINKI CHUO CHEST MEDICAL CENTER, OSAKA: We are forced to make decisions on which lives to choose to save by providing respirator or
not?
ESSIG (voice over): With hospitals already struggling to cope with the sheer volume of sick patients lacking enough beds and adequate staff
experts feel the Olympics could take the entire Japanese medical system past its breaking point.
DR. MATSUO: I think if we did allocate help for the Olympics, then our medical system would totally collapse. We're living through a disaster at
the moment. So we firstly have to find ways of overcoming this. It's so difficult to be thinking about the Olympics while we're living through this
disaster.
ESSIG (voice over): A disaster Dr. Matsuo says with no end in sight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ESSIG: The International Olympic Committee is not mandating vaccinations but does encourage it. But the IOC says it expects a significant portion of
participants to be vaccinated. Some countries like South Korea and Australia have already planned to vaccinate their delegation.
As for Japan, the vaccine rollout is underway, but it's going very slowly. Less than 1 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated, Becky?
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely Blake Essig on the story for you. Still to come on "Connect the world" I'm Becky Anderson; of course, we'll look at the
impact of India's COVID catastrophe on its rural hospitals.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Its little hospitals like this that really formed the backbone of the public health structures right across India. They're very
much on the forefront of the COVID pandemic dealing with the patients, but also dealing with the emotional fallout.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yes, doctors were forced to hide in one hospital after public anger grief turned violent. Also, this hour have more on those troubled
waters of the Island of Jersey the first post Brexit dust up between Britain and France. Jersey's Chief Minister tells CNN he is on the case.
Plus, calls for dialogue in Colombia with more than two dozen demonstrators' dead and hundreds hurt. We look at other countries hopes to
stop the violence.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: The Chief Minister of Jersey speaking out about the fishing feud between France and Britain. John Le Fondre tells CNN he is determined to
resolve the issue and is confident the misunderstanding with French fishermen as he called it will be cleared up. More from him in a moment I
just want to show you those some of Britain's newspapers first.
Running with tales of so called gunboat diplomacy in the waters of Jersey both countries send patrol boats there yesterday during a daylong blockade
by angry French fishermen. Well, for decades, they've had free access to the waters around the island now they say their rights are being unfairly
restricted by Jersey's new post Brexit decision making powers.
The UK crown dependency of Jersey is only about 20 kilometers from the French Coast. But now it gets to decide which European Union boats can fish
in its waters. And that's the rub. As CNN's Nic Robertson explains take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (voice over): Outside Jersey tiny St. Helier Port, dozens of French fishing boats swarm the sea a
blockade, not say the French nothing more menacing than a maritime protest.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We come today because we have always fished in the waters there. We have always fished here and then overnight, they take away
all our fishing rights. These are agreements we have had for a very long time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not happy with the licensing restrictions they handed out to us. We should have had licenses to fish as we wished without
any restrictions, restrictions on the species.
ROBERTSON (voice over): The sudden escalation and tensions is the most serious test yet, but post Brexit fishing rights since the deal came into
force four months ago. Last week, Jersey authorities issued new licenses to French fishermen today's dispute over records proving eligibility.
IAN GORST, JERSEY MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS: While we saw after we issued the first licenses on Friday, disproportionate threats emanating
from a French Minister and then a proposal to blockades Helier's harbor today. To outline they were completely disproportionate to the technical
issues, which still needs to be resolved and we are committed to resolving them.
ROBERTSON (voice over): France has been trying to force concessions threatening to cut power to the near 100,000 people on the tiny island.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know in the deal there are retaliatory measures. Well, we're ready to use them. Europe/France has the means which figure in
the deal. Regarding Jersey I remind you of the delivery of electricity along underwater cables. And so we have the means and even if it would be
regrettable if we had to do it will do it if we have to.
ROBERTSON (on camera): The intimidating threads have come as a shock here Jersey is a quiet well heeled haven more use the welcoming in boatloads of
tourists than fending off angry French fishermen.
ROBERTSON (voice over): Gunship diplomacy has begun. The UK sending two warships Wednesday, France responding early Thursday with two of its own.
Islanders are venting their frustration, a member of a militia reenactment group firing off a musket, the solitary short symbolic the EU's - island to
backtrack on the licenses is not accusing Jersey of not respecting the Brexit deal. Both sides are calling for calm. The forecast their head here
unsettled.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I'm connecting you to Jersey's Capitol St. Helier earlier and to our International Diplomatic Editor, Nic Robertson. What are people telling
you specifically, Nic, where you are?
ROBERTSON: Yes, specifically the fishermen here who are really the ones who are being affected by this they're saying number one, they respect the fact
that the French fishermen are trying to earn a living and they say any of those of course who, by the new regulations should get a license should
happen have been and should come and fish historically.
[11:25:00]
ROBERTSON: They've shared these waters here. They're very close to France. They like that bond. But they're caught up in the outfall of this. The
island as a whole has been threatened with having its electricity cut by France. But France has slapped really severe sanctions, essentially
sanctions on the fishermen here.
They're not allowing the fishermen to send any of their products to France 95 percent, approximately, of all the sort of fish and lobster and crab
that's caught here goes to France or the rest of Europe. So you know, down at the harbor, today, very few of the fishing boats were actually out.
It's a beautiful day, you would think that they would all be out mostly trying to earn a good living, they can't earn a good living right now they
say, Becky, because there's essentially nowhere to sell their fish and crabs and lobsters.
They were fishermen town, they're showing us that their pots that they keep in the water were and they were full of crabs and lobster, they got nowhere
to sell them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD LE BRUN, JERSEY FISHERMAN: They were a big nation, of people who liked to eat fish and shell fish was Great Britain isn't really it's an
island, but it's not a fish loving country. They're going to - they're going to push very hard.
ROBERTSON (on camera): And they've got all the cards because they control the main market.
BRUN: That is the other problem. You know, what's sold locally, probably two fishermen went to catch.
ROBERTSON (on camera): Really.
BRUN: It's always been a case of probably 95 percent of the island's catches exported, discovered, basically, but--
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Yes, they're saying as well, but what's happening to them here in Jersey or something that can happen to the fishermen on the English
Channel as well. They could find themselves also located in a tight spot with the French.
ANDERSON: Nic, I mean, I'm sure, you probably feel the same way but as long as I can remember, and both of us are British. The UK and France have been
embroiled to varying degrees in arguments over fishing rights. I think back to the, you know, way back when I mean, as long as I can remember what
happens next at this point.
ROBERTSON: You know, talking to the Chief Minister here, he says, a lot of this seems to be a misunderstanding that, you know, one thing that the
French need to understand, or the French fishermen need to understand is that the new Brexit deal means that there are things that they have to do.
They have to apply for their licenses. And if they fished in the waters here before, whether it's 10 days a year, or 50 days a year, as long as
they crossed that 10 day threshold over the past - over the past three years, then they're going to get their licenses.
But he says that it's such a complicated process, that there's been bad communications, that messages that have gone from the French fishermen to
Paris to Brussels, the EU Headquarters to London, have sort of filtered back incorrectly here to Jersey, this is how he explained it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN LE FONDRE, CHIEF MINISTER OF JERSEY: What seemed to happen is that the data that has been provided to us under the agreement is either incomplete
or incorrect in certain instances. And that seems to be part of the problem. So we think from a practical point of view, a number of these
issues could be fairly easily resolved.
ROBERTSON (on camera): So you were misinformed?
FONDRE: With information that we received does not seem to be either complete or correct in certain instances.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: What is the headline from the politicians here is that we can resolve this. The reality for the fishermen is their income to the island
is relatively small, almost minuscule, you can say compared to that that comes in from tourism, even compared to the money that comes in from French
tourists coming here.
France and Jersey have huge history together shared heritage and in some ways, so you know, politically, they're really sort of trying to put a lid
on this and bring the temperature down Becky.
ANDERSON: It's fascinating, isn't it? And I wonder whether they can put a lid on this and that will suit those in Jersey. But whether we will see
more fractious, sort of behavior between the UK and France when it comes to fishing going forward is another question of course? But while I'm sure you
will keep your eye on. Thank you, Nic.
This just into CNN, the United Nations Special Rapporteur of Human Rights in Myanmar is welcoming a call for an arms embargo against the military
junta there. More than 200 civil organizations took the proposal to the UN Security Council. Tom Andrews applauded the effort and encouraged states to
take their own actions immediately.
Well, just this week we brought you an exclusive report about protesters training to fight the military, showing just how desperate the situation is
for many in Myanmar. Coming up this hour, two choices work and get COVID or stay home and go hungry.
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: The disturbing reality for India's informal sector workers. Up next, we'll connect you to an aid group trying to ease that pain.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to the program. I want you to take a deep breath for me in and out the ability to do just that to fill one's lungs with oxygen
has become a luxury for COVID patients in India thousands of people still suffocating to death every day, due to a lack of oxygen supplies.
Sky high case numbers are once again breaking records further straining an already collapsed healthcare system. Well, on the front lines the
desperation for medical supplies are at times causing an uproar of anger from grieving families with medical workers often bearing the brunt as my
colleague, Sam Kiley now report. Some hospitals have been forced to order doctors to hide in some cases to avoid being attacked.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Frantic knocking on the door to an intensive care unit for COVID patients. There's
confusion among relatives and police. When they push inside, what they find is horrific?
The ICU has been abandoned except for its patients. And they're all - 6 dead before the doctors left. A voice says everyone ran away there no
medicos here. There's no one here no doctor, no guard. How can doctors run away leaving patients? A crime has been committed here. How can you leave
them yells at a police officer?
There's been no crime. There has been a tragedy. Medical staffs were ordered out of the ICU and to hide when the oxygen ran out.
KILEY (on camera): Its little hospitals like this that really formed the backbone of the public health structures right across India. They're very
much on the forefront of the COVID pandemic dealing with the patients but also dealing with the emotional fallout.
KILEY (voice over): It's that fallout that caused them to briefly flee. Here's why? Four days earlier bereaved relatives of another deceased COVID
patient attacked staff, forcing calls to the police from doctors. When the oxygen ran out in the ICU a couple of days later, another attack on the
doctors began.
DR. SWATI RATHORE, MEDICAL DIRECTOR, KRITI HOSPITAL: 15 people attacked us in a setting and then I asked I requested my doctors and staff you please
run away and hide on the third floor until I manage the situation because I don't want to get them hit at any cause.
KILEY (voice over): COVID cases have soared past 20 million in India with the official death toll climbing towards 4000 a day.
[11:35:00]
KILEY (voice over): Many people have died through lack of oxygen. There is growing anger at state and national governments. But it's often medics who
bear the brunt.
DR. RATHORE: Please help us understand us, love us respect us because everyone can be on the ICU bed any hour of the day. You have to need
doctors to supply the oxygen to the patient. If you'll hit them then who will take care of your patients?
KILEY (voice over): Her staffs are back at work in the ICU again filled with patients. There is ample oxygen here, at least for now but as
scientists are warning of a third Indian pandemic wave before the second is even peaked anger and fear will continue to grow. Sam Kiley, CNN, Gurugram.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: As Sam mentioned, it is small hospitals, small hospitals bearing the brunt of what is this unimaginable suffering. My next guest is the Co-
Founder and CEO of LabourNet which is an aid group that works to organize medical help for informal sector workers.
Gayathri Vasudevan says and I quote we might as well be in a gas chamber. Everyone is helpless. We are trying to take the burden away from the
medical staff but my own staffs are falling sick. It is visceral. Well, he joins me now from Bangalore and sir sorry - she joins me now from Bangalore
apologies. Thank you for joining us. Just describe the situation in Bangalore at present, if you will?
GAYATHRI VASUDEVAN, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, LABOURNET: How? I think this is very close to a warzone that we are in. There is a - I don't even know how
to describe it anymore? Every hospital is overburdened. There are people just waiting outside, call lines are blocked. There are almost 60, 70 calls
on every line which comes every few minutes.
There are no beds and I say this both from the help desks we are managing as well as personnel. It doesn't matter whether you have money or you don't
have money. There are absolutely no oxygenated beds. There is a huge shortage of ICU beds.
The doctors and nurses are stretched there is - they're handling volumes that we haven't heard of there is no medicine, oxygen cylinders, oxygen
concentrators, swabs, medicines everything is in short supply. I feel we're in a war zone. I had always thought Bangalore is Tech City is a developed
city. But today the Bangalore that I have to say my city is not the same.
ANDERSON: Well, I'm so sorry. And of course we've heard stories for days now about the international aid that India is receiving. I mean, you've
talked about the shortages, where you are? Are you getting aid either from the state or federal government or any of this international aid that is
arriving? Have you have you seen any of that?
VASUDEVAN: To be very honest, not yet. The state here, several of the bureaucrats, the doctors are trying their best. They are on WhatsApp. They
are arranging also. But has it arrived? I don't know if it has arrived and it has been swallowed up by the huge need that is there.
You know, let me just give you statistics that we're seeing right? 250,000 COVID positive cases in the City of Bangalore alone even if we say 20
percent need hospitalization; we've reached a very large number. We just have 1000 ICU beds.
We're all fighting for ICU beds as I derived - I can't say. I'm not seeing it on the ground. The honest answer is it's not - it's not there where I
see it.
ANDERSON: Who's responsible for this disaster? I mean, many, many are now pointing the blame squarely at the government. Do you agree? And if so,
should it be held accountable? Should the Prime Minister be held accountable at this point?
VASUDEVAN: See, for sure the government is accountable. I wouldn't say no. But I think it's such a huge structural problem. It is not this government
alone - you know the kind of we never paid attention to the health infrastructure.
The only infrastructure we took care was you know was minimal. It was touched - a few tertiary care hospitals and that's it. So the entire system
has crashed. So if you look at it, it's end to end there's - we don't have enough oxygen generation, we don't have enough trucks which are cryogenic
trucks which are bringing oxygen.
[11:40:00]
VASUDEVAN: The oxygen cylinders are not enough that means production is not enough. Oxygen concentrators are not there. ICU beds are not there. Doctors
are not there. Nurses are not there. So it's not about six years, that means we've had decades of ignorance which has caused this.
So in my opinion, is the government responsible? Answer is yes. Is it have we all - also, are we responsible for not really seeing what was on the
ground? Wherever we are living? This is my city. This is my country that I've lived in. I've worked in this area for a very long time. But why
didn't we all open our eyes to this problem?
And we had one year, forget the last seven - we had one year, what were we doing? You don't understand? And today we're drinking hands and
helplessness, which is unacceptable? I think we need to change that's the only answer I have. As I speak to you--
ANDERSON: Sure. The questions about accountability, of course will come and we must ask them, we absolutely must ask them. But clearly, the very short
term issues are how does India prevent more death? There's so much sorrow at present. There is mounting pressure on the Prime Minister to impose a
national lockdown. It's something he did back in March of 2020.
There is a counter argument that says that the economic impact that that would have on so many people who live hand to mouth could almost be worse.
Just talk me through the story of Bangalore, where you are?
VASUDEVAN: So last year, when the national lockdown was imposed, I for one really didn't agree with it and for exactly the reasons that you said. We
had workers who were doing highway construction work was stranded. Workers were completely lost and we had to, you know, literally, help them feed
themselves once a day and get back.
It was helpless and it was hopeless situation. We had the biggest migration crisis that we saw. So lockdown in my mind is not the answer. And now also
lock down is not the answer. The answer is for us to actually wake up and fix systems fast. Not tomorrow, today, while not having a lockdown ensure
people understand what it means to live in this new world?
I don't think we've done that, that awareness we didn't create and that is our fault. That I think is what it is, but lockdown is not the answer. I'm
very clear about that.
ANDERSON: Fascinating work and get COVID or stay home and go hungry. That is the disturbing reality for so many in India's informal work sector. It
has been a pleasure having you on please stay in touch. We do hope that the peak of this second wave comes soon people desperately need that. We must
stay in touch and we will continue to provide platform for this story. Thank you.
CNN has learned that the U.S. State Department has carried out a medical evacuation for some diplomatic staff in India. A source tells us that more
than 200 people tested positive within the department's India mission. It's unclear how many people were evacuated and from where? Last week CNN
reported that two locally employed staff members died from the virus.
Well, frustration over the pandemic fueling deadly anti government protests in Colombia. As the mourning continues the government there wants to hold
talks with protest leaders. We'll be live from Bogota up next.
And UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson may be a controversial politician, but his party just flipped a staunch Labor Party's stronghold. We'll look at
what Thursday's election results mean for the Prime Minister?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: Colombia's violent clashes between anti government protesters and police have led to the deaths of at least 26 people. You see people
gathering here to mourn those who've lost their lives. The Ombudsman's Office said at least 354 civilians and 38 policemen have been hurt
recently.
Now these protests began on April the 28th, ostensibly over a tax reform bill that has now been scrapped. Polo Sandoval is there in the Capital with
the very latest. These protests, Polo has been happening now for over a week what on earth is going on?
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They have Becky and I do want to bring you up to speed on what's happening right now really here in the heart of
Bogota? And that is one of the parks where many of these students and many of these protesters gathered to organize before some of these protests that
we've been seeing on a daily basis.
I'll step out of the shot. So you can actually see it. Right now these are a lot of young students. These are protesters who are essentially preparing
right now, essentially, where we could see as another medic protests here.
Now, when it comes to the actual demands, they are hoping that the government will address that economic inequality that it continues to
worsen, especially because the pandemic. Just considered this number alone, Becky, about 3.6 million Colombians slipped back into poverty during the
pandemic.
And that's the number that continues to rise as infections continue to rise. So one of the key items here that protesters want address is not only
that growing inequality, but also address what they continue to describe as a heavy handed approach by police and also by the military.
Of course, as you mentioned is a while ago, some of these protests have resulted in lives lost many of those that actually happened in the city of
Cali. Here in Bogota, again, the daytime, these protests do remain as we traditionally see them have remained peaceful, but it's more of the evening
hours.
And then when some of those other options, there's other elements that attach themselves to these movements, that things do take a violent turn.
So we're getting not only from the Colombian government, but also from many of these organizers of these protests are they doing not want their message
drowned out.
And that is that this country is still dealing with extreme poverty and it seems to be getting worse as COVID maintains its grip on Columbia, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, Polo, thank you for that and apologies to our viewers for the quality of the sound there. We are having some technical issues, but
you were - I'm sure hard enough to get the atmosphere there from Polo.
Well, the results are in from Thursday's regional and local elections in Britain and it seems Prime Minister Boris Johnson does have some staying
power despite scandals and blunders Mr. Johnson's Conservative Party has made some big gains.
Let's bring in Bianca Nobilo who to break these races down for us. Let's start in the north the Town of Hartlepool coming up with a lot of political
conversation - coming up in a lot of political conversations at present Bianca why?
BIANCA NOBILO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, all eyes of political nerds like myself have been on Hartlepool for the last week or so and that's because
it's a constituency that has been labored since its creation back in 1974.
And the fact that Boris Johnson's Conservative Party took that seat, as was announced this morning is an astonishing victory for the Conservative
Party, because they didn't just win it Becky, they won it with a margin of 16 percent swing.
I mean, that is huge for a party that's been in power for over 11 years. Usually at that stage in the electoral cycle the incumbent takes a real hit
in elections such as these, but that didn't happen. So a 16 percent swing for the conservatives and they've taken that seat.
[11:50:00]
NOBILO: Now there's so much to look at across the United Kingdom because two years of elections were rolled into one because of COVID. So not only
do we have the by election, we have 5000 local council seats up for grabs, and crucially, we also have Scotland.
Now, everyone's focused on whether or not the SNP are going to be able to capture that majority, they need 65 seats out of the 129 available in
Scotland to be able to get a majority. Now the SNP have flirted with that over the last decade or so, at the moment, they have 63.
So if they can cross that threshold, Becky into 65, it does give an added push to that campaign for Scottish Independence, which is not going away.
So what we're seeing on the whole is these aftershocks that we witnessed after the Brexit referendum, namely that Boris Johnson's Conservative
Party, then under David Cameron and Theresa May became more popular in unexpected areas such as the Northeast and the Midlands.
We also saw this uptick of support for independence in Scotland because of course, Scotland did not vote to leave the European Union, they voted to
remain. So everybody was wondering for some time afterwards, these just momentary convulsions that we're seeing after Brexit or these political
trends that are here to stay in the United Kingdom.
What we're seeing so far is confirmation of that fact, of Boris Johnson's electoral success and staying power and the fact that he's now winning more
areas that his party has never been able to in the past the fact that independence in Scotland has more vigor than ever and the fact that Keir
Starmer the Labour leader is facing his biggest test as leadership since he took on the role last year, Becky?
ANDERSON: Yes, it's fascinating, well done. These are elections that we might otherwise won't have necessarily spent too much time on a global
channel like this, but they have such huge implications and as you rightly pointed out. And we are seeing some trends now, thank you.
In the next few minutes, the UK's Transport Secretary is expected to release his so called Green List, now this is a list of countries people
can travel to without quarantine. Right now people in England are fined for traveling abroad without a valid reason. And when they return, they have to
quarantine. We'll bring you updates as we learn more from that live press conference. Well, a lot of a tension on that we'll be back right after this
break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, our top story is and has been now for the past two weeks India. It is the world's largest vaccine manufacturer but it's had to turn
its supply chain inward during what has been this devastating second wave of COVID-19 and that has left places most in need of vaccine struggling to
keep up.
Case in point Idlib an enclave in Syria's last rebel hold stronghold. Arwa Damon reports on the challenges of vaccinating a region that has endured
years of war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Opposition held Northwest Syria is according to doctors at the start of its second
COVID-19 wave. Not that you would know that to look in the streets where social distancing doesn't seem to exist, and masks are barely visible.
Compliance with public health recommendations has been one of the biggest challenges here. A bombed out region whose population is mostly the
displaced too accustomed to trying to outrun death to take an invisible threat seriously.
DR. YASSER NAJIB, INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST: This is Carlton Hospital. It was affected by air strike.
DAMON (voice over): And that light at the end of the tunnel, that relief that vaccination is meant to provide it's petering out.
[11:55:00]
DR. NAJIB: Of course situation in India regarding COVID will affect all the war as India is a biggest source of vaccine in the world.
DAMON (voice over): And is the source of the AstraZeneca vaccine that just arrived here. Dr. Yasser Najib, an Infectious Disease Specialist in Idlib
heads out to oversee the rollout of the initial doses. This first batch is only enough for around 1 percent of the total population here to get the
two dose regimen.
DR. NAJIB: What happened in India, unfortunately, maybe makes doubtful about the program of offering the vaccine to the countries in need. We hope
the next shipment will not be delayed.
DAMON (voice over): In all likelihood, it will be. These vaccines were provided by Covax, a global initiative to militate against vaccine
inequality that sources or rather was sourcing most of its vaccines to be distributed to low income countries from India home to the world's biggest
vaccine manufacturer, the Serum Institute of India.
The Covax initiative was already struggling to provide for some of the most vulnerable as withdrew nations for limited vaccine supplies. With India now
crushed by its own rampant devastating COVID-19 crisis, vaccine exports from there have understandably now ground to a halt. So, where does that
leave war torn places like this and other people in need of production?
DR. NAJIB: Each country wants to afford the vaccine for their own population and the poor countries unfortunately, will receive the vaccine
but with delay and this will make the number of cases and the deaths will be increased.
DAMON (voice over): And so for now, they make do with what they have. There is no other choice. Arwa Damon CNN, Istanbul.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Such an important story, isn't it? Thank you so much for joining us. See you on Monday. Up next, "One World" with Zain Asher, stay safe and
stay well wherever you are watching.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ZAIN ASHER, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: India is once again shattering.
END
