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1,100+ Coronavirus Deaths and 45,100+ Cases; 40 New Cases on Quarantined Cruise Ship; Sanders Narrowly Beats Buttigieg in New Hampshire; Biden and Warren Fail to Win Delegates in New Hampshire; Prosecutors Quit After Justice Department Push for Lighter Sentence; U.K. Making Strides to Slow Virus as New Cases Emerge; Turkey Threatens to Hit Syrian Regime Forces; Comedian Larry David Uses Trump Campaign Hat as "People Repellant"; Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix Postponed . Aired 10-11a ET
Aired February 12, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Atlanta, this is CONNECT THE WORLD.
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN HOST: Welcome. This hour the coronavirus slowing but far from stopping. And they are feeling the Bern in New Hampshire. Also we are
along the Turkish/Syrian border. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Welcome to two hours of CONNECT THE WORLD. Good to have you with us.
Well of course, the big story today is the number of new coronavirus infections. It is growing. That even as Chinese officials insist that the
rate of infections is slowing. Now there are currently more than 45,000 confirmed cases worldwide with more than 1,100 deaths. The vast majority of
cases, almost all the deaths, are in mainland China. Scattered new cases are popping up elsewhere and the virus has been reported in more than two
dozen countries and territories.
So just how deadly is this strain of the coronavirus? Well you can see here, the estimated 2 percent mortality rate much higher than the seasonal
flu here in the United States but far lower than the SARS and the MERS epidemic earlier this century.
Well in the past 24 hours another 40 cases have cropped up on board the quarantined cruise ship in Japan. And that brings the number of confirmed
cases on the Diamond Princess to 175.
Now crew members are pleading for outside help. They say they've been forced to interact with potentially infected passengers without the
protection they need.
Well it's a very different mood on this ship. You hear the clapping there. Passengers on board the Westerdam held a party after they found out that
they'll be allowed to disembark in Cambodia. Now no one on board that ship is showing any symptoms of the coronavirus but several countries denied
entry to the ship after it departed from Singapore last month.
Well let's bring in the team. David Culver is in Beijing for us. He's been on this story since the first reports of this outbreak. Also Matt Rivers is
in Yokohama with a look at life on board that quarantined cruise ship. Good to have you both with us.
Matt, I want to start with you because this is the biggest cluster of cases of the coronavirus outside China. And we're not talking about another
country, we're talking about a cruise ship. And thankfully, for those on board, it seems that that quarantine will end next week.
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it will be, but it's interesting, Lynda, because we're talking about all these people on the cruise ship and
talking a lot about this quarantine. But there are some 1,400 people or so on this cruise ship right now who are not under quarantine.
That would be the crew who are taking care of the roughly 2,500 people who are under the quarantine. Those people are remaining in their rooms. They
need to be fed. Things need to be cleaned. Laundry needs to be done and that's falling on the crew. And the crew has told us that they are scared
that because they're not under quarantine, they're not receiving the same protections, Lynda. It seems like there's a tale of the have and have nots
on board this ship.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CPT. STEFANO RAVERA, DIAMOND PRINCESS: We are doing everything in our power to maximize your comfort during your extended stay with us.
RIVERS (voice-over): A Wednesday announcement for passengers aboard the Diamond Princess as the captain seeks to reassure them all is OK. Saying
the air on board is clean. But amidst his crew there is palpable fear that the virus is spreading.
CNN spoke with a crew member aboard the ship, Sonali Thakkar, speaking behind a mask, her message is urgent.
(on camera): Are you concerned that the virus is spreading amongst the crew right now?
SONALI THAKKAR, DIAMOND PRINCESS CREWMEMBER: Yes. Because the number of crew members who are infected is also increasing now.
RIVERS (voice-over): At least five crew members have already tested positive for the virus. Sonali said she's had a fever and chills since
Monday. She says her boss told her to stop work and stay in her cabin. She's scared she's got it, too.
(on camera): And how does that make you feel?
THAKKAR: We just want to get back home safe without this infection. That's all we want.
RIVERS (voice-over): When we talked, she'd been waiting to see a doctor for two days. Meanwhile, about 1,000 of her colleagues kept working because
there's over 2,600 passengers on board that have been put in mandatory quarantine by Japan's government, forced to stay in their rooms most of the
day. But the ship still needs to run. So the crew works side by side wearing masks and gloves. Though Sonali says mealtime is most dangerous.
THAKKAR: We all remove our masks and gloves when we are eating. So we are all sitting in the same place, having food and it can spread.
RIVERS: CNN has spoken to multiple infectious disease experts who express skepticism that the current quarantine system is the best way to contain
the virus.
[10:05:02]
DR. PETER HOTEZ, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE: I think a lot of thought went into what to do with the passengers, but it puts the crew at increased
risk.
RIVERS: Japanese authorities continue to defend their actions saying they believe anyone who tests positive contracted the virus before the
quarantine went into effect. Anyone who tests positive is brought off the ship and sent to local hospitals. Earlier this week, we asked a Japanese
health official if the crew was safe.
(on camera): Is everyone on board the ship being treated the same way? What do you say to their concerns?
GAKU HASHIMOTO, JAPANESE VICE MINISTER OF HEALTH (through translator): We are trying to treat all the people equally. However, we also know that crew
members don't have private rooms like the passengers have and they still have to work and help people on the ship. So it's not all equal. However,
we're giving everyone on the ship guidelines for prevention.
RIVERS (voice-over): Princess cruises is saying it's following Japan's quarantine guidelines saying, we quote, Japan Ministry of Health has been
the lead defining the testing protocols for all guests and crew. But the fact is, as long as Japan continues to insist on quarantining passengers on
board the ship, the danger will remain because the crew has to keep working.
There is mixed reaction from passengers on board.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The crew are being so good, and I know they're worried as well.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I do not feel the quarantine is working. It's a failed quarantine.
RIVERS: During our phone call with Sonali on Wednesday, she had to hang up.
(on camera): Are you still there?
(voice-over): A doctor had finally come to test her for the virus. She'll find out soon if she tests positive.
(on camera): How do you feel now that the doctors came to your room?
THAKKAR: I'm still scared because I don't want it to be positive.
RIVERS: The Diamond Princess will remain in quarantine until February 19th. Until then, the crew will keep working, more exposed to the virus than the
passengers they're taking care of.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIVERS: And so, we don't know exactly when she'll get her test results back. But you know, we were texting earlier tonight, and Sonali was saying,
look, even if it comes back negative, that means I have to go back to work and then I'm working with people who might be positive. And as long as I'm
not quarantined, I'm still scared. So you can understand, Lynda, the difficulties facing this crew and their situation here. It's really tough.
KINKADE: Yes, certainly frightening for the crew. No doubt very difficult conditions. If you stand by for us, Matt, I want to bring in David. Because
we know in China that people that took the lunar new year holiday got an extended break. They are now set to return to work next week. Some 160
million travelers are set to return. What sort of measures will be undertaken to ensure we don't see a surge in cases?
DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, that's a huge concern, Lynda, because you've got to put this in context as to when all of this has
started and it's continuing. And that is around the lunar new year. So this is when you have the largest human migration annually and you've got
hundreds of millions in this region who generally travel.
Well that was the case right before the holiday. Many of those people left major cities like Beijing, like Shanghai and went to their home provinces
and then the lockdown measures started to go in effect. And after that we realized many people were still stuck in their home provinces, some quite
literally still in the lock down zones. Others just simply don't have the transportation to get back.
Well now that they are starting up again with businesses -- they say February 18th is likely when everything will come back online, though it
will likely be a trickle -- you are going to have 160 million, as you point out, flooding back into those cities. And so the concern is going to be the
congregation of masses, right. Because that obviously is putting people close to one another. It's possible exposure of this virus from one person
to another. It raises those concerns.
And one thing they are doing is popular to get around here by rail, but they'll cut some of the tickets that generally people use, the standing
room only ones which are quite popular. They're saying that's not going to be allowed because they simply don't want people face to face for that long
of a duration.
And they're also going to be having a lot of businesses still continuing with the reality of working from home. I mean, that's something that they
simply have not gotten rid of altogether because folks, quite frankly, are a bit terrified about that.
But there's also going to be a trickle of some of the migrant workers back in. It's not going to happen all that once, Lynda, because some of these
workers, many of whom we've spoken with, they don't have a job to come back to right now. In fact, one says that the family she worked for, they were
evacuated. They're not around. So she has nowhere to go.
And the folks here, the local authorities in particular are actually outside of some of these residential complexes and they are checking to
make sure whether or not you have a permanent residence go back to. And you have to prove that in order to go through. Otherwise in some cases, Lynda,
they won't let you stay. And in some cities, we're hearing, even if you are a renter and you've signed a lease, well if you aren't an owner, you can't
go back to that dwelling.
KINKADE: David, I'm wondering what sort of impact this is this having on the economy?
[10:10:00]
Because it's not just the big businesses that have been effectively shut down, factories shut down, supply lines impacted. But we're also seeing
major tourist destinations closed and flights canceled.
CULVER: You are and this is the frustration that has been expressed by the foreign minister in particular. And a lot of blame early on was placed on
the United States even because the foreign ministry felt as though they led the way in isolating mainland China, if you will. By cutting off the travel
to and from for a lot of folks, issuing these strict travel restrictions that many other countries jumped on board with. And so China feels as
though they're losing a lot of that revenue which is, in fact, the case. And they are also trying to push back against that.
And it's clearly a priority because we saw earlier this week, Lynda, President Xi Jinping who was on the front line, so to speak, albeit here in
Beijing wearing that mask and talking with hospital workers. And sure, he was stressing the need to continue to battle this virus and to contain it
as best as possible. But in the same breath he stressed stabilizing the economy.
That shows you just how crucial it is for them here. Because in many ways, that is social stability. So he's asking companies, please don't move
forward with mass layoffs. If you're having issues with production, reach out. The country will step in and help you where you need that assistance.
KINKADE: And, of course there is more concern as this has spread throughout Asia. We have seen now the largest bank in Singapore with a confirmed case.
And their reaction there, David, certainly there are ramifications right across the region.
CULVER: And that's recognized here as well. In fact, that is something that the foreign ministry has tried to make well known, if you will. And state
media has put that out there. That this is not just about mainland China hurting. A lot of these Chinese tourists are needed in other countries,
quite frankly, from a financial perspective. They bring in billions around the world as they travel out and a lot of those tours have come to a stop.
We know that flights have come to a stop. And until that resumes, that money is not flowing outwards.
KINKADE: Absolutely. All right, David Culver in Beijing and Matt Rivers in Yokohama. We know that you and your teams have been getting very little
sleep working day and night for weeks to bring us your reporting. And we really want you to know we appreciate it here at CONNECT THE WORLD. Thanks
so much, we'll speak to you again very soon.
Well coming up later in the show, the coronavirus outbreak reaches the world of sports as China is forced to postpone the anticipated Grand Prix
which is scheduled for April. We're going to have more on that in about 30 minutes time. And of course, you can keep up with all the latest
developments on the coronavirus. That's on our website. Just go to CNN.com. We are tracking the latest numbers in the outbreak and despite that
reported drop in the infection right in China, one health minister in Europe says the tipping point has not yet been reached.
Well in Afghanistan, a suicide bomber has killed five people and wounded a dozen others in the capital of Kabul. The blast occurred at the entrance to
a government-run military university. This is the first major assault in several months but there have been small-scale attacks on police and U.S.
security forces recently. Well the United States and Taliban militants are in talks to finalize a peace deal.
We have a winner in the Democratic primary in New Hampshire. Bernie Sanders scored a narrow victory, tightening his grip on the progressive wing of the
party. We're going to break down the results when we return.
And is Trump confident Roger Stone's sentence is going to be reduced thanks to a tweet. Well it might look that way, but the President says he had
nothing to do with it.
And in Syria, deadly clashes in the last rebel-held enclave putting people on high alert. We're going to bring you all the details when we come back.
Stay with us.
[10:15:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. The race to the White House is becoming increasingly unpredictable. Some of the Democrats running for President are surging.
While others who are perceived or were perceived to be front-runners are now struggling. New Hampshire is the second contest of this election year
and the nation's first Democratic primary. And Senator Bernie Sanders narrowly won the state solidifying his status as a national front-runner.
Former mayor Pete Buttigieg came in a close second following hot on his heels.
Well Sanders' win is not a surprise. He is from neighboring Vermont and he defeated Hillary Clinton there in the 2016 primary by more than 20 points.
Buttigieg is carrying the momentum from his win in Iowa, while Senator Klobuchar finished third, stronger than many expected.
Well the race now moves to Nevada and South Carolina where the candidates' popularity will be tested further. Sanders lost in both those states in
2016, though this year he's hoping the Latino voter base will back him.
But all the candidates are scrambling for wins in the next two contests. Riding high after reaching a third place in New Hampshire, Amy Klobuchar's
campaign is spending more than $1 million on ads in Nevada.
Despite claiming that it ain't over, Joe Biden headed straight to South Carolina Tuesday night. Now he is hoping for some support from African-
American voters will help his chances in the coming weeks. For the latest, let's go to Manchester, New Hampshire, and bring in CNN's Jessica Dean.
Good to see you, Jessica, out there in the cold for us. So Senator Sanders --
JESSICA DEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Lynda, how are you.
KINKADE: Good to see you, good. Senator Sanders, of course, he was expected to win this, but he just scraped ahead of Pete Buttigieg. Certainly a great
deal of momentum for the mayor from Indiana.
DEAN: Yes, it really is. And you know, what was interesting, it's kind of, what you were saying. Look, Bernie Sanders is from a neighboring state
right across the border here in New Hampshire. And he also ran and won here back in 2016. So there were some high expectations on him to deliver a
first-place win. And he did. And his team is happy about that. They are pleased to see it. It's good news for Bernie Sanders.
But also, you're right. Pete Buttigieg, to come in that close and be right nipping at Bernie Sanders' heels, here he is a mayor of a -- was a former
mayor of a small town in the middle of the country, to do so well in New Hampshire is pretty remarkable.
What it will be interesting to see is as we move to Nevada -- which is the next contest -- that you have as you mentioned, the Latino vote and also
unions. And there is one particularly powerful union out in Nevada, the culinary union there.
And we've learned that they've been passing around flyers talking about healthcare. Talking about health insurance. And on those flyers, they say
that they point to one candidate, Bernie Sanders, is that he's going to take away health insurance. That union members should not be supporting him
for that reason because "Medicare for All" would produce this overhaul of the health care system.
So does that present an opening for Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Joe Biden? Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar have both struggled with more
diverse populations within the Democratic Party. They really struggle with African-American support. They are in the low single digits.
And that is where Joe Biden really does well. He has long maintained very strong support within the African-American community. So after Nevada, they
go to South Carolina. That's where a large population of African-Americans make up the Democratic electorate there. So course, the Biden campaign
really pinning their hopes on South Carolina and then going into Super Tuesday.
But the bigger takeaway for where this race is going is that we've now had Iowa and New Hampshire vote. These are predominantly white, more liberal
states here in the United States. This now the next phase of all of this opens this up to a much more diverse population. Super Tuesday is going to
take us into the south. Which will be -- you know, we haven't really seen anything from out of there yet.
[10:20:00]
Nevada, of course, takes us into the southwest. California, we'll go out west as well.
So it's going to be interesting to see where this all goes. And, remember, at this point, it's going to become a math game because you have to get
that number of delegates to become the Democratic nominee. And so far, Lynda, we've got a tiny little portion of those delegates that have been
allocated.
KINKADE: Right, yes, just two states so far. But the biggest surprise really is how badly the former Vice President, Joe Biden, did in the polls.
I just want to bring up those numbers again. Because the front-runners, both Sanders and Buttigieg tripled his figures. I mean, Biden got 8
percent. What's is going to take for him to come back and remain viable?
DEAN: Yes, I mean, that is -- it's just astounding to see a two-term Vice President with very high name recognition not be able to break into double
digits. He's not even going to walk away with any delegates from New Hampshire which is truly remarkable. His team had anticipated that he maybe
wouldn't be as competitive here. But even still, this is lower and more disappointing than even what I think they had anticipated or let's say
hoped for.
And you could definitely see the writing was on the wall when he packed up and headed out of here before the polls closed. It was still daylight in
New Hampshire and he headed south for South Carolina last night looking really for a reset. They really have to keep -- the thing for the Biden
campaign is we've got a couple weeks now. I think it's 17, 18, 19 days between now and South Carolina. We've got Nevada in there as well.
They're going to have to keep this momentum going. They've got to keep their cash flow up. Got to keep donors engaged, volunteers engaged and
convince them and the electorate that he is still the guy to beat. That he's the guy that can take on Donald Trump in 2020. So we'll see if they're
able to do that.
KINKADE: Yes, certainly a lot of work to do for his campaign. All right, Jessica Dean, good to have you out there for us. Thanks so much.
DEAN: Yes, thanks.
KINKADE: Well more now on how the candidates are spinning the New Hampshire results and looking ahead to Nevada and South Carolina and the other races,
as Jessica mentioned. Well CNN's Abby Phillip has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT) DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump.
ABBY PHILLIP, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With a win in New Hampshire, Senator Bernie Sanders taking control as the Democratic
frontrunner.
SANDERS: No matter who wins -- and we certainly hope it's going to be us -- we are going to unite together and defeat the most dangerous president in
the modern history of this country.
PHILLIP: But not too far behind him, Pete Buttigieg.
PETE BUTTIGIEG (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Here in a state that goes by the motto, "Live free or die," you made up your own minds.
PHILLIP: The former South Bend, Indiana, mayor earning a strong second- place finish, once again saying he's a great alternative to voters who may see Sanders as too progressive.
BUTTIGIEG: Vulnerable American do not have the luxury of pursuing ideological purity over an inclusive victory.
PHILLIP: Despite winning the popular vote in both Iowa and New Hampshire, Sanders is behind in the overall delegate race by two.
SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Hello, America. I'm Amy Klobuchar, and I will beat Donald Trump.
PHILLIP: Amy Klobuchar seemingly appealing to the state's moderate and independent voters.
KLOBUCHAR: Donald Trump's worst nightmare is that the people in the middle, the people who have had enough of the name calling and the mudslinging,
have someone to vote for in November.
PHILLIP: The Minnesota senator ending Tuesday's contest with a surprisingly strong third-place finish and a new attitude.
KLOBUCHAR: We've been strong, and we've never quit.
PHILLIP: Senator Elizabeth Warren, who placed fourth, praised Klobuchar for her performance.
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I also want to congratulate my friend and colleague Amy Klobuchar for showing just how
wrong the pundits can be when they count a woman out.
PHILLIP: With a fifth-place finish, Joe Biden left the state even before the votes were counted for South Carolina.
JOE BIDEN (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It ain't over, man. We're just getting started.
PHILLIP: Eager to quickly put his dismal showings in the first contests behind him.
BIDEN: We just heard from the first 2 of the 50 states. Now, where I come from, that's the opening bell, not the closing bell. And the fight to end
Donald Trump's presidency is just beginning. Just beginning.
PHILLIP: But Biden isn't the only candidate looking ahead. Sanders is setting his sights on the next states and Super Tuesday.
SANDERS: We're going to Nevada. We're going to South Carolina. We're going to win those states, as well.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[10:25:00]
KINKADE: Well U.S. President Donald Trump suggests prosecutors in the Roger Stone case may have gone rogue shortly after congratulating the U.S.
Attorney General for taking over the case. The four prosecutors quit after the Justice Department overruled their recommended sentence which Mr. Trump
called ridiculous. Laura Jarrett has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR EARLY START (voice-over): A stunning development as four federal prosecutors withdraw from Roger Stone's case after top
Justice Department officials overruled their sentence recommendation calling it too harsh.
Stone, a longtime confidante of President Trump, was convicted last year of lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing the House
investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia. A case that stemmed from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.
Prosecutors originally told a federal judge that Stone should serve seven to nine years in prison, but then the President expressed his outrage on
Twitter, calling it a very unfair situation. Adding, cannot allow this miscarriage of justice.
Hours later, Justice Department leaders intervened. One senior Justice Department official tells CNN that the sentencing recommendation that
prosecutors made was not communicated to leadership at the department before it was submitted.
ELIE HONIG, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: This seems to be a full-scale reversal in a politically charged case by the Department of Justice. I've never seen
anything like it.
JARRETT: The official went on to say, quote, the department was shocked to see the sentencing recommendation. The department believes the
recommendation is extreme and excessive and is grossly disproportionate to Stone's offenses.
Ultimately, the presiding judge in the case will have the final say on Stone's sentence.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN CHIEF LEGAL ANALYST: The idea that this was just adjustments on the sentence that are somehow routine, nonsense. This is
nothing routine about this. Now the one thing I would add is that I do think that the seven to nine years recommendation was very high. I was
surprised by it.
JARRETT: A Justice Department spokeswoman insists that the White House was not involved in overruling the prosecutors.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you ask the Justice Department --
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I thought it was ridiculous that --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you ask the --
TRUMP: No, I didn't speak to the Justice. I'd be able to do it if I wanted. I have the absolute right to do it.
JARRETT: Still in a series of tweets overnight, the President continued to rail against the prosecutors, the judge and the case. Saying it's all
starting to unravel with the ridiculous nine-year sentence recommendation. Democratic leadership in Congress outraged by the President's rhetoric.
SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT): I have called for an investigation by the office of inspector general. This political interference by the President
of the United States using the Attorney General as his henchman is not only an insult to the career dedicated prosecutors, but also to the jurors,
ordinary Americans who served on that jury and convicted Roger Stone of nine serious felonies.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well still ahead -- take a look at this. This is what Syria looks like today after a bloody nine-year war. The violence is still ongoing.
We're going to bring you some analysis just ahead.
Also the spread of the coronavirus caused China to postpone its highly anticipated Formula One Grand Prix. CNN "WORLD SPORT" will join us with
more on that in just a moment.
[10:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Good to have you with us. I want to give you a quick update now on
our top story.
The global effort under way to stop the spread of the coronavirus. China says the rate of new infections is dropping even as the number of deaths
has increased to more than 1,100. The total confirmed cases topped 45,000. The World Health Organization has launched a global research forum and a
team of scientists in the U.K. have begun testing animals for a possible vaccine.
Our Scott McLean has more now on the search for a medicine to stop this virus in its tracks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The coronavirus epicenters is in Wuhan China, bit for the City of Brighton and Hove in England south
coast might as well be a sales conference in Singapore. That is where Steve Walsh first contracted the novel coronavirus. The mayor he unknowingly
brought it on vacation to the French Alps, before bringing on an EasyJet flight back to England two weeks ago.
Back home, he has spent time at this pub in Hove where it's still business as usual. Only after all of that was Walsh told he may have the virus.
Today, he says he's fully recovered, but still in hospital quarantine. Walsh says his family, which does not share the virus, has also been
isolated.
On Monday, the U.K. announced four new cases of the coronavirus, France announced five over the weekend. The World Health Organization says all of
them linked to the same ski chalet in the Alps, and Steve Walsh.
DR. MICHAEL RYAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WHO: People are not fault, they are never at fault in this situation. So, let us be extremely careful here,
it's really, really important that we don't attach unnecessary stigma to this.
MCLEAN: Two of the British cases where healthcare workers, authorities said they were urgently working to trace their contacts they believed are just a
few.
(on camera): On Monday, patients of this clinic in Brighton showed up to find this sign on the door. Closed for extensive cleaning as a
precautionary measure. Though none of the British health authorities will definitively confirmed that the closure is due to the coronavirus.
(voice-over): Meanwhile, at London's Imperial College, Professor Robin Shattock is in his lab leading a team developing a vaccine that may put an
end to the outbreak. Several other labs around the world are doing the same.
ROBIN SHATTOCK, PROFESSOR, IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON: We consider this a vaccine race, and I think actually it's important that there are many
different groups around the world that have started this race.
MCLEAN: On Monday, Shattock's team injected a droplet size dose of their vaccine into mice. He is confident it will work. If it does, it will still
need to be proven safe in humans. Compared to previous outbreaks, Shattock's team is moving lightning fast. But the vaccine ready for market
is still likely a year away.
SHATTOCK: We are always challenging ourselves to go faster. And each time something like this happens, the global vaccine community is challenged to
do -- go faster and do better. And you know, we are still hopeful that this epidemic may well be contained by the measures that are being put in place.
And it's still not, you know, implausible that the virus may actually go away during the summer months.
MCLEAN: An ideal scenario the World Health Organizations said Tuesday, now has a realistic chance of becoming a reality.
[10:35:00]
DR. TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, W.H.O.: If we invest, now, in rational and evidence-based interventions, we have a realistic
chance of stopping this outbreak.
MCLEAN: Scott Mclean, CNN, Brighton England.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Let's go to Syria now where a bloody geopolitical game of you strike me hard, I'll strike you even harder is raging between the Syrian
regime and Turkey. The Turkish defense minister says at least 51 Syrian forces were killed in Idlib province Tuesday in retaliation for the killing
of five Turkish soldiers.
Earlier this week, the Syrian military says it will continue to respond to, quote, Turkish occupation forces attacks while Turkey's President says he's
prepared to set aside past cease-fires and strike anywhere.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, TURKISH PRESIDENT (through translator): By the end of February, we are determined to push the regime forces to the lines of the
Sochi agreement to beyond our observation posts. We will do this by any means necessary by air or ground without hesitating, without stalling.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Wednesday, clashes erupted in the northern city of Qamishli between civilians and U.S. military forces. According to Syrian state news,
one civilian was killed, another was wounded in those attacks.
CNN's Arwa Damon is at the Turkish/Syrian border following the developments and joins us now live. Turkey's President says he's not going to back down.
We're hearing the same from the Syrian regime, but Turkey says the more they attack our soldiers, the heavier price they will pay.
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Lynda. We heard from President Erdogan earlier today. A very harsh message from him,
but also an expression of how frustrated Turkey is at this stage. Ever since Turkish forces were first attacked -- and bear in mind they've been
attacked twice, in total, 14 Turkish troops killed inside Syria.
Turkey has been beefing up its military presence there sending in a significant amount of military hardware saying that they are going to now
actively partake in this effort to back the rebels to push this Syrian regime to the lines of the previous agreements that were drawn up. These
lines that were meant to create what was supposed to be, in theory, a de- escalation zone inside the rebel-held enclave of Idlib province. None of that has materialized.
And what we have been seeing over the last two months is an escalation of this crisis that frankly many who are experiencing it and many who are
observing it find difficult to put into words. Since the beginning of December, Lynda, over 700,000 people have been forced from their homes
because of the bombing. Because of the violence.
These people are being forced into a space that is shrinking by the day. These -- this rebel-held area inside Syria has shrunk by about one-third.
Home to 3.5 million people who don't have anywhere to go. These are people, many of whom have been displaced more than once.
I was speaking earlier today to a woman who actually runs a school for disabled children. And she was telling us that in her village, the school
was bombed. Luckily nobody was injured. But then they had to flee. She managed to flee to one area just a short distance away but that area was
coming under bombardment. And when these people flee, where do they go? They tend to find themselves out in the open with a severe lack of
humanitarian assistance. And it is freezing cold, Lynda. The conditions inside Idlib right now of nightmare scenarios.
KINKADE: Yes, we have seen those pictures. Ice on the ground, people trying to flee. Arwa Damon, good to have you on the case, this story for us. We'll
speak to you again very soon. Thank you.
Well still to come here on CONNECT THE WORLD. Trump supporters have been wearing their red MAGA hats to make their allegiances clear since the 2016
campaign. But comedian Larry David has found an unlikely use for them.
[10:40:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. Donald Trump's red "Make America Great Again" hats have been popular since the first time he ran for President in 2016. One
comedian is giving them a new unintended meaning. Our Jeanne Moos explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Who knew that a "Make America Great Again" hat could be a protective device. Larry David knew. In
a scene tweeted out by President Trump, Larry cuts off a biker.
BIKER: What the (BLEEP) are you doing? What the (BLEEP) are you doing?
MOOS: Amid a torrent of profanity, Larry reaches for a MAGA hat.
BIKER: You little (BLEEP).
LARRY DAVID, COMEDIAN-ACTOR: I am sorry I didn't see you.
BIKER: Just be careful next time. OK.
DAVID: Will do.
MOOS: Turning the biker into a pussycat. The fact that President Trump tweeted this prompted fans to say so refreshing to have a leader with a
grand sense of humor. While critics lashed out, it's a joke on you, idiot. It's not in favor of you.
(on camera): About five minutes after that scene, came one President Trump didn't tweet. One that wasn't a feather in cap. The hat has come in handy.
DAVID: It's a great people repellent.
MOOS (voice-over): Larry uses it --
DAVID: Hey, Phil. Good to see you.
MOOS: -- to cut short a lunch he didn't want to have in the first place. This is L.A. where the rarely sighted MAGA hat might be a magnet for dirty
looks.
DAVID: Phil --
No, no, we'll -- we'll something.
MOOS: At a sushi bar, it keeps the empty seats beside him unoccupied.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know what, actually I think we'd prefer to sit at a table, please.
MOOS: In a real interview, Larry David was asked if he was worried about alienating MAGA hat-wearing fans.
DAVID: Go and alienate. You have my blessing. No, I could give a (BEEP).
MOOS: After all this is a guy who has been playing Bernie Sanders on "SNL" for years.
DAVID: Oh, Hillary, I'll miss that lack of charm.
MOOS (on camera): No one would expect him to be charming to President Trump. When it comes to controversy, seems like this never gets old hat.
TRUMP: This is the hottest thing out there.
MOOS: Oh, it's hot all right. Jeanne moos --
DAVID: Sad. Very sad.
MOOS: CNN.
BIKER: You little (BEEP).
MOOS: -- New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: You've got to have a laugh.
Well we do have some bad news I'm afraid for Formula One racing fans. This year's Chinese Grand Prix has been postponed due to the spread of the novel
coronavirus.
Well I want to bring in "WORLD SPORT" Amanda Davies for more on this. So, Amanda, this was set to start April 19. It's been postponed but at this
point in time not canceled.
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Exactly, Lynda. This is the first time since the Bahrain race in 2011 that F1 had actually taken the decision to
postpone a Grand Prix. They've done so on the request of the Shanghai sporting bodies and the race promoters. But the question now, what chance
they'll be moved elsewhere on the calendar in the sport's busiest ever season. That's what we'll be asking in "WORLD SPORT" in just a couple of
minutes.
KINKADE: All right, sounds good. We will be watching. Amanda Davies, thanks so much.
I'm going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:45:00]
(WORLD SPORT)
[10:57:54]
Davies: -- That's it for me and the World Sport team for now. Back to you - - Lynda.
KINKADE: All right, Amanda. Thanks so much for that. We will speak to you later this hour. And CONNECT THE WORLD returns and just a couple of
minutes. Don't go anywhere.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
