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Possible Corona Virus Immunity; Origins of Penguins; College Tuition Reductions; Challenges Facing Orchestras in the COVID-19 Era

Aired August 19, 2020 - 04:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CARL AZUZ, CNN 10 ANCHOR: First week of our fall season is rolling along here on CNN 10. My name is Carl Azuz. It`s great to have you watching. I

love starting off a show with hopeful news and here is some hopeful news concerning corona virus. A number of studies are looking into our immune

systems response to the disease. Several of these studies are in their early stages and haven`t been reviewed yet but they`re giving some

encouragement that our bodies are learning to detect corona virus and work to keep people who`ve been infected from getting sick again. A couple of

these studies looked at T cells, important parts of our immune system that can attack and kill cells that are infected.

One study of blood samples found that between 20 and 50 percent of Americans in some places may have T cells that recognize corona virus even

if they`ve never been diagnosed with it. Scientists don`t know why. It might be a response to other corona viruses that we`ve caught like the

common cold. They also don`t know if recognizing COVID-19 means the cells are good at finding it, but they`re optimistic about the findings. Another

study looked at the antibodies produced in response to and protection against corona virus.

It found that our antibodies maybe good at fighting a recurrence of the disease for at least four months after people first become infected.

There`ve been a number of cases where people testing positive for COVID-19 more than once but researchers say they haven`t seen huge numbers of

reinfection even though the virus is widespread. So this suggests the body`s immune system is working to protect us from catching it multiple

times but this hasn`t been proven yet. Scientists say time will tell when it comes to corona virus immunity.

10 Second Trivia. What kind of bird is unable to fold its wings? Ostrich, penguin, condor, pelican. The penguin`s wings are more like flippers that

help it swim through the water but they don`t fold.

New research has yielded a new theory about penguins. For years, scientists have said the animals originated in Antarctica. Researchers at

the University of California-Berkley say penguins first came on the scene in Australia and New Zealand. Scientists teamed up with international

museums and universities to look at blood and tissue samples from 18 different penguin species. From this, they suggested that the ancestors of

modern day penguins first occupied tempered environments which can have warm summers in addition to cold winters. The research proposed that the

predecessors of today`s King and Emperor penguins split off from the rest in pursuit of the abundant food supply of Antarctic waters. Today,

different species of penguins can be found in very different environments from the frigid polar landscape of Antarctica to the tropical region of the

Galapagos Islands. And the study says how they got to such different places is still controversial.

We know a lot of you who usually watch this show on campus are now watching at home online. Just a small part of how your lives have dramatically

changed in this pandemic. Universities and colleges have a unique challenge in this too. They still have to pay professors, maintain

buildings, run programs but tuition may not currently include the full college experience.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So we kind of find out on their website. On the frequently asked questions said, will be getting a refund? And they said

no.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When Treia Patell (ph) launched her petition to lower tuition fees at Rutgers University in July, the New Jersey university had

just announced that most of its fall classes would be conducted online.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It just doesn`t make sense to be paying such a high amount for something that`s not being, you know, used to the full

advantage.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nearly 31,000 signatures later, she`s created a movement for other frustrated students like Jenny Supermanian (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So I think the biggest thing is a lack of transparency. We don`t know where this money is going.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The pressure from nearly half of the student body ultimately led the school to cut campus fees for the semester by 15

percent. Not enough says Jenny (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tuition reduction would be great but there`s -- so fees are what we are paying for and if we`re not going to be here than

what`s the point.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Experts like Scott Galloway, himself a university professor believes students are right to be outraged.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Universities have backed themselves into a corner and that is we have raised tuition on average two and a half fold over the last

20 years.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: More than 75 percent of the country`s 5,000 colleges and universities are expected to be partially or fully online this fall.

And some are joining Rutgers in discounting fees. Williams College is dropping tuition by 15 percent. Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Georgetown,

Spellman and Clark Atlanta University are cutting tuition by 10 percent. While other schools such as USC offer their students living at home grants

for those choosing to study from home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Interesting enough, some students will be in residence halls at the campus but their courses will be online.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But the majority of schools from states schools like Temple University and the University of Massachusetts system to elite

private schools like Harvard and Stanford are keeping tuition as is.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you surprised that we haven`t seen more offer even a small tuition reduction?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think universities have handled this about as well as they could possibly have handled it. Universities have to balance their

budgets.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Terry Hartle (ph), an advocate for higher education says ever since COVID-19 universities have lost millions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every institution of higher education in the country has suffered losses, room and board, international students, the hotel, the

bookstore. All of those have just largely disappeared.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Experts also say higher education institutions are better equipped for online learning than K-12 schools which could help

drive down tuition costs.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is time to lower costs and move education back to where it used to be.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But millions of college students like Treia (ph) still feel deprived of campus life and depleted in their bank account.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don`t think the financial well being of -- of billion dollar institutions should be compared to students who are severely

struggling.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AZUZ: College sports are another matter entirely. Many schools still have unanswered questions about the upcoming college football season.

Performance arts have been effected. New York City`s Broadway theaters have been closed since March and won`t reopen again in 2020. And what

about symphony orchestras? It`s not just the challenge of keeping distance between audience members.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Always the idea has been that musicians sit very close to -- together so there is the maximum amount of contact, the same for the

audience to have this sort of intimate feeling.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As the performing arts try to safely return to concert venues around the world much of the focus has been on distancing the

audience. But for an orchestra, distancing regulations can mean fewer musicians are allowed to take to the stage. Sometimes in different layouts

and often performing to far less people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When we add the distance with the players of course (inaudible) things change.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (inaudible)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: According to the CDC, COVID-19 as thoughts to be a respiratory virus that mainly spreads when an infected person coughs,

sneezes or even talks. One study found that playing wind instruments might not spread as much of the person`s breath as singing would. But in an

enclosed space like a concert hall, some preventative measures like air conditioning or opening windows aren`t possible and the players can`t wear

masks while performing. So a risk of transmission still exists.

For now in Paris, musicians playing wind instruments are being kept two meters apart which puts them further apart than string players. But it`s

not just musicians effected. Audience members are half what they`d normally be with spectators deliberately kept apart. Live streaming has

kept some musical groups connected with their audiences during lockdown and even offers performances to those who can`t get tickets.

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But it does not compare to the experience of a live concert.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AZUZ: Deer Creek Reservoir in north central Utah is a popular spot for lakeside recreation but it was during that kind of recreation that a woman

recently lost her wedding ring which her husband had designed using her grandmother`s diamond. She offered $100 for anyone who`d look and the

Wasatch County Search and Rescue Teams spend days and dives trying to help. Eventually they did it. They found the diamond in the reservoir but they

refused the reward.

A story with a great "ring" to it. It`s come full circle. We`re glad they were able to cut to the chase and carry it to the surface with the

"clarity" of a mission that bring some great color to CNN 10. I`m Carl Azuz and this show goes out to Grand Island Senior High School in Grand

Island, Nebraska.

END