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NYSE Trading Resumes After 2nd Temporary Halt this Week; Trump's Europe Travel Ban Sows Confusion and Unease; U.S. Stocks Tank After Trump Travel Announcement; Italy Scales Back Airport Operations Over Flight Cancellation; EU Leaders Disapprove of Trump's Unilateral Move; Official Figures Contradict Trumps Claims of Expanding Testing; Actor Tom Hanks and Wife Rita Wilson Test Positive for Virus; NBA Suspends All Games Because of Coronavirus. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired March 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]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, U.S. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: It is ten times more lethal than the seasonal flu.
ANDREW CUOMO, NEW YORK GOVERNOR: There is only two ways that countries have reduced the numbers. Massive quarantine or massive testing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He misspoke about the intensity of this ban.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Important clarification in a statement later on saying it was going to suspend the entry of most foreign nationals, this
did not apply to legal permanent residents.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The NBA has announced that the play for the remainder of the year would be suspended.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a serious situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Wherever you are watching, hello and welcome, this is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson.
Stock markets this hour completely blindsided. Trading on the New York Stock Exchange suspended minutes into the trading day after the S&P 500
fell 7 percent, with just half an hour into that trading day. And it is the second time that it has happened this week. Trading resumed within the last
few minutes. Right now you can see the Dow Jones Industrials down just shy of 7.5 percent.
This after the American President made a very serious attempt to express that he's in control of the situation. Investors it seems unconvinced. And
so are some of his allies. Right now the world grappling with the drastic and sudden announcement from President Trump that the United States will be
suspending travel from 26 European countries.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history. To keep new cases from entering our
shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that statement left a lot of unanswered questions and succeeded in whipping up uncertainty rather than calming fears. Leaders
from the European Union issued a statement saying they do not approve. They say in a global crisis, this is a time for cooperation, not unilateral
action.
Well, let's sort through all of this now with the team around the world. Joe Johns is at the White House for you. Julia Chatterley is watching the
markets in New York. Richard Quest is at Heathrow Airport in London. Fred Pleitgen at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. And Melissa Bell at Rome's main
airport.
Let me start with you, Julia. Because as you and I talked, this market, the Dow Jones Industrial down some 8 percent. In his speech last night, the
U.S. President attempting to calm investor fears. He hasn't done so.
JULIA CHATTERLEY, CNN BUSINESS ANCHOR: I think the investor and market reaction here tells you it was a major fail quite frankly. Becky, you've
said it, in the first few moments of trading, we were expecting it this time around, trading halted for the second time in just a short few days.
Second time in a week. We had that 15-minute pause where we were held at around 7 percent losses. Now it's just a case of watching the movement.
That halt is supposed to take some of the emotion out. Allow people to breathe once again. Do you really want to continue to put pressure, to sell
stocks in the trading session today? It's going to be fascinating to watch the next few hours and see whether we can hold and continue to only and I
say only see losses like this or whether we push lower.
The verdict here simply is that the economic damage that's going to be wrought as a result of this latest move, the travel ban on those incoming
from 26 European nations, Becky, actually is going to be far worse than the benefits of trying to restrict those people coming in and allowing further
spread of the coronavirus. I think what people want to hear is what are you doing to tackle what is already happening in the United States and
investors are clearly giving you the message here, Becky. And that is this is not good enough and we need more.
The question now of course is what comes if we see this extent of losses? Does the Federal Reserve feel like they need to step up and make a comment
here again to say they stand ready? We've already discussed many times this week, but it is not really central bank thing, it's the government thing,
and more information, we're not going to get it. Expect more volatility and perhaps more pressure.
ANDERSON: Yes, there is only so much in a central bank's toolbox of course. The government can sort out a fiscal policy that just might help.
But at this stage, it does feel very reactive rather than proactive.
[10:05:00]
This is, of course, a health crisis that is creating what appears to be a financial crisis and until that health crisis is sorted out, this economic
crisis will go on. Joe, you're at the White House, let's be very clear. What did the President say last night and this morning what are his
advisers telling us he meant.
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: There's a big difference between the two quite frankly. And we'll get to that in a moment. But in
short, there was an attempt to put the President out and make him appear in charge, in control of the situation and in command if you will. And the
lack of precision in the President's words became a problem for the President and for the administration.
For example, at one point he referred to the virus as a foreign threat, as opposed to what all of us were calling it a global pandemic. And there were
a variety of other instances where the President simply did not have the words that the administration wish he's use -- can you tell me do we have
the piece or not? I don't think we have -- we had thought we were going to -- OK. Go ahead -- I've sort of summed all this up in a piece. So you take
a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS (voice-over): President Trump ramping up his response to the coronavirus outbreak but instead of reassuring the public, he caused more
confusion than calm. Like this statement.
TRUMP: We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days. The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight.
There will be exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings.
JOHNS: The Department of Homeland Security quickly clarifying, assuring that travel restrictions will not apply to U.S. citizens, permanent
residents and some of their family members. The ban instead would only apply to foreign nationals.
Still, this announcement blindsiding the officials of affected European countries. Several European ambassadors telling CNN they were not notified
of the new policy ahead of time. The travel industry reportedly was not consulted either. Trump also blamed Europe without evidence for the rising
numbers in the U.S.
TRUMP: The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hot spots. As a result a large number of new
clusters in the United States were seated by travelers from Europe.
JOHNS: Trump caused more uncertainty when he said the restriction would apply to trade.
TRUMP: Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing. These restrictions will also not apply to the United Kingdom.
JOHNS: But Trump took to Twitter to clear up that statement. Writing -- it is very important for all countries and businesses to know that trade will
in no way be affected by the 30-day restriction on travel from Europe. The restriction stops people, not goods.
President Trump further jumbled the message when he addressed the healthcare costs associated with coronavirus.
TRUMP: Earlier this week I met with the leaders of health insurance industry, who have agreed to waive all co-payments for coronavirus
treatments, extend insurance coverage to these treatments and to prevent surprise medical billing.
JOHNS: A White House official later corrected the notion saying co- payments would be waived only for coronavirus tests, not for treatments of the disease.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: Preparing as we speak for the arrival here at the White House of the Prime Minister of Ireland, no doubt, those travel restrictions even
though Ireland isn't affected will certainly be a topic of conversation with President Trump. Becky, back to you.
ANDERSON: Joe Johns is at the White House for you. That's the very latest from there. Julia, back to you, before I get into Europe. In his speech,
Mr. Trump said the U.S. has the money to respond to the crisis. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: This vast economic prosperity gives us flexibility, reserves and resources to handle any threat that comes our way. This is not a financial
crisis. This is just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: He's right. This is a health crisis, creating a financial crisis. Dow futures plunged more than 1,000 points after that speech. Right
now the market down 8.5 percent. What are people telling you at the exchange about their fears for what comes after this crisis in health is
solved?
CHATTERLEY: That's a great question, Becky.
[10:10:00]
Most of the experts that I speak to are saying we cannot gauge what the economic impact and how long this health crisis is going to go on. The
moment that we have a sense of numbers, of cases here, of simply knowing that people are being tested and then we see peak number of cases, these
markets will rebound. Coming into this crisis, on a relative basis, the U.S. economy was healthy. So that I think is the first thing.
But I think too, the President's point there, find you have the economic resources, the financial resources to tackle this problem, but can you get
Congress to agree to the measures and in what time capacity? But the other question here is this a financial crisis in terms of the strength of the
banks, the ability of the functioning of the markets, the Federal Reserve to be able to give liquidity, allow cash to function in the system. So we
have to be very careful what kind of thing we're talking about when we talk about financial crisis.
At this moment we have a crisis of trying to quantify the economics of sudden stops, the economics of the fear that's being created around the
coronavirus. At this stage financial crisis is not what I'm seeing in these markets. I'm seeing real concern, but not financial crisis and we have to
make that point very carefully -- Becky.
ANDERSON: No, I think you're absolutely right to point that out. This is a crisis of confidence a at this point. And markets go up and down --
CHATTERLEY: They do.
ANDERSON: -- that is the nature of financial markets. But I think it is absolutely right and incumbent upon us that we discuss and bring our
viewers analysis of what the experts are saying may be the sort of back draft of what is happening. And we clearly realize that the airline
industry, for example, is struggling at present. I want to talk to Richard Quest about that now.
And other industries as we see these closures and, you know, in parts of the world of cafes, bars, various other things, it is a question of what
happens after this. But we're in this at the moment. So let's stick with where we are.
The U.K. not part of the travel ban, Richard. But that's the one good bit of news for airlines. The official aviation guide says the route between
JFK in New York and London's Heathrow where you are generates $1.1 billion in revenue per year for British Airways. How much will the impact the virus
and the travel ban have for example on this billion-dollar route?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS EDITOR-AT-LARGE: I think it is going to -- the travel ban per se is not going to be the big problem for London to New
York. It's going to be the simple closing down of business. The wholesale reduction in travel across the board.
If you're talking about the ban, the real effect of the ban, well of course, it is going to be felt here in London. But it is going to be felt
by United and Lufthansa, Air France and Delta, KLN. It's going to be felt wherever there's a Schengen airport where U.S. only -- U.S. citizens will
be able to fly back to and from the United States.
On the question of whether these things work, the British Chancellor was clear this morning, travel bans are not a good idea at a time of crisis
like this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RISHI SUNAK, U.K. CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: With regard to flight bans, I say we are always guided by the science as we make our decisions here.
The advice we're getting is that there isn't evidence that interventions like closing borders or travel ban are going to have a material effect on
the spread of the infection. That's why we have taken the decisions we have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: Becky, there is a strong dose of chaos, confusion, worry, mainly because of the way this travel ban or suspension was promulgated last
night. But flights from other parts of Europe are full, heading back to the States. And it's going to be very difficult for the airlines. I mean, is it
going to push any of them over the edge? I don't think so. But not of the major carriers. I think certainly they're going to be looking for help from
government.
ANDERSON: Stay with me. I want to get to Fiumicino as I understand it is where Melissa Bell is. That is the airport in Rome. The former Italian
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Melissa says, the next two weeks are not going to be easy. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:15:00]
MATTEO RENZI, FORMER ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER: After Sunday, the last Sunday, everyone have to stay at home with the possibility of course to buy
the things important for life, for their drugs, for their food, of course, but a lot of shops are closed. And we believe for the next two weeks more
or less to live in a very strange situation for the first time after World War II
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And when you look at the boards at the airport, they are covered in the word canceled for flights. What are the short and long-term effects
of what is basically a shutdown where you are?
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Becky. I mean, already airports like Fiumicino here in Rome were -- many of the flights canceled,
so many carriers -- especially American ones -- have already announced they were simply no long are flying in or out of Italy. A number of European
neighbors as well had also canceled their flights in and out. Air Italia was one of the last carriers flying out of Italy towards United States. Its
last flight this afternoon and then that will be done.
So already things were fairly much going to a halt here. This has only added to it. So much so that terminal one is going to close down entirely
in a couple of days and Rome's second airport will shut down entirely over the weekend.
So you see another sign of this is a country grinding to a halt, even as it tries to get a handle on those numbers of the coronavirus that continues to
rise. And I think there is a sense, Becky, that where Italy has led, others are now going to follow. And I think that's something else that people are
realizing that countries are beginning to realize. We're going to hear from the French President a little later today. We're seeing the numbers of
cases rise elsewhere.
And other countries looking re closely at how Italy has dealt with it. As the Italian Prime Minister reminded us last night, when he announced that
latest level of restrictions, so all shops to be closed, apart from supermarkets and pharmacies, the restrictions getting tighter on Italian
citizens here.
He said, look, these will take a couple of weeks to show. Which means, Becky, that things are likely to get worse before they get any better. That
there is still a question mark over even these levels of restrictions, over whether these levels of restrictions will have the effect that the Italian
authorities are counting on.
And one of the lessons of the last two weeks in Italy are that this was a country, the first in Europe to ban flights to and from China, that did
nothing to into prevent this becoming the main hot spot for the outbreak in Europe -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, fascinating and a very good point. In his speech, Richard, Mr. Trump says his quick action has saved lives. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We are in a critical time in the fight against the virus. We made a lifesaving move with early action on China. Now we must take the same
action with Europe. We will not delay. I will never hesitate to take any necessary steps to protect the lives, health and safety of the American
people. I will always put the well-being of America first.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: He actually took on flights out of China was some weeks ago. What happened between then and now is a whole bunch of issues about testing
in the States and various other things. Look, and you rightly pointed out and Melissa has made the same point, you know, there is only so much you
can do by banning flights at this point. As far as the industry is concerned, what are your thoughts going forward?
QUEST: It is desperate, bordering on catastrophic. The good part is that many of the global airlines are capitalized, well-capitalized, have deep
financial buffers. But to put in perspective, United Airlines has now drawn down on part of its overdraft with its banks.
You got -- of course, some airlines will go out of business, and this latest travel ban is going to dramatically hit the U.S. carriers, as I
said, United and Delta, but American as well. All of whom have dozens of flights into the heart of the Schengen EU. As for the return, look, all the
airlines are going to be seeking help from the financial -- from the governments, either through taxes, through duties or ultimately through
bailout. This is going to put some of them toward the edge.
ANDERSON: Richard is at Heathrow. Thank you, Richard. I want to get you to the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin now where Fred Pleitgen is standing by. And
a -- I have to say headline grabbing quote from the German Chancellor yesterday, when she suggested that some 70 percent of people could
conceivably get the coronavirus. Although she made the point and we continue to do so, you know, you are to be very careful about saying, you
know, what happens when you get the coronavirus, you know.
[10:20:00]
You can get it and survive it and is absolutely fine. But it's important to point out that at least the German Chancellor clearly taking this extremely
seriously. What is going on in Germany at this point?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Becky. You're absolutely right. She's taking it extremely seriously and if
you look at our comments from yesterday. She was very matter of fact about the fact that if there aren't these measures of social distancing -- which
of course are going on in Germany as well -- then yes, it could be 60 to 70 percent of the German population that could -- or the population that is in
Germany that could contract the coronavirus.
And you can already see a lot of the things that have been playing out in other European countries now playing out here in Germany as well. If you
look behind me, the Brandenburg Gate, extremely empty. This is usually full of tourists, full of a lot of American tourists by the way as well. Right
now, very empty as people are not going into public places the way that they have before. There's already some schools that have shut down, some
football matches that have taken place without spectators. Simply because the Germans say they are taking this so seriously.
At the other end of the spectrum, they are also quite -- I wouldn't say shocked but taken aback by this new travel ban that was issued by the
United States. One of the thing that we have to keep in mind, Becky, is that this is, of course, the top industrial nation of Europe. And one of
its top trading partners outside -- the top trading partner outside of Europe is of course the United States.
And I think one of the things people are looking at very, very closely here is the fact that, of course, you have President Trump say, look, trade
won't be affected. But I think the Germans know very well that things simply aren't that simple.
You have a lot of German companies, Becky, that over the past 10, 15 years, maybe 20 years have essentially grown into transcontinental companies. You
look at the big automakers, like Mercedes, like BMW now, who have a lot of their production in the United States, and they don't just fly executives
back and forth. They also fly a lot of high skilled engineers back and form as well. So they know there's certain things you can do with
teleconferencing, but there are certain things where person to person travel simply cannot be replaced.
So I think right now they are bracing for a certain economic impact by this new travel ban from the United States. Again, we've already noted the fact
that European leaders have said that they disapprove of the travel restrictions as they put it. Saying this is something that was put together
unilaterally and without consultation.
And you certainly feel here in political Berlin that they are somewhat taken aback by these measures and what they can mean especially for the
short-term trade relations. Of course, all to the health of not just Germany but American companies as well -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Fred Pleitgen is in Berlin for you viewers. Thank you, Fred.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in charge of the country's coronavirus response in the States. He is defending President Trump's decision. Pence
appeared on CNN earlier and said he doesn't think there should be any confusion at all about the travel restrictions between the U.S. and Europe.
"NEW DAY" Alisyn Camerota also asked about discrepancies in the information that is coming from the government about coronavirus testing. Have a
listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Last night the President said test and testing capabilities are expanding rapidly day by day. We are moving very
quickly. But the numbers on the CDC, the official government website, tell a different story.
The numbers suggest that the most testing was done March 5th, that from U.S. public health labs and CDC labs, the numbers were more than 1,100.
Then, if you move forward, each day it gets a little bit less until on March 10th, CDC labs, zero, or the numbers listed, and only eight at public
health labs. So why are the number of tests going down?
MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I don't believe they are, Alisyn. One of the thing that we're working on is a central
reporting website where every state in the country and territory can let CDC and the American people know the number of tests.
CAMEROTA: But you're saying this website, these numbers are wrong.
PENCE: Your viewers should be encouraged that every state laboratory in America can conduct coronavirus tests today. We've also cleared out
regulatory barriers to university hospitals and laboratories to be able to conduct tests. And I want to commend the University of Washington for the
extraordinary work they're doing, expanding tests to the people impacted in Washington state.
CAMEROTA: Yes.
PENCE: We're also --
CAMEROTA: But just to be clear, but just to be clear, Mr. Vice President - -
PENCE: Let me say this, we're working with commercial laboratories, the President brought in companies like Quest, and LabCore last week. And
literally by the day, this weekend, both of those companies had approved new tests that are going to market, literally by the day, we're continuing
to expand because it is going to be ultimately -- it is going to be the commercial laboratories that have the capacity to get tests all over the
country. And we're making steady progress --
[10:25:00]
CAMEROTA: That's fair. If you're saying that the CDC website numbers are wrong, how many tests have you conducted in the U.S.?
PENCE: I'm not saying they're wrong, Alisyn. I'm saying that they may not be complete because we don't necessarily collect today all the information
from state laboratories about the tests that are being done.
CAMEROTA: But then they haven't been updated.
ANDERSON: Well, if there is a confusing tone coming from the Trump administration, it's been coming down from the top.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: By April, you know in theory when gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.
TRUMP: The coronavirus, which is, you know, very well under control in our country. We have very few people with it.
TRUMP: The people are getting better. We're all getting better.
TRUMP: We're very close to a vaccine.
TRUMP: We're going down, not up. Going very substantially down, not up.
TRUMP: Of the 15 people, the original 15 as I call them, eight of them have returned to their homes to stay in their homes until fully recovered.
And again, when you have 15 people and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero. That's a pretty good job we've done.
TRUMP: It is going to disappear. One day, it's like a miracle, it will disappear.
TRUMP: Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus.
TRUMP: There's only one hot spot and that's also pretty much in a very -- in a home, you know, in a nursing home.
TRUMP: We have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better, just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work. Some of
them go to work, but they get better.
TRUMP: Anybody that needs a test gets a test. They're there. They have the tests. And tests are beautiful.
TRUMP: This blindsided the world. And I think we've handled it very, very well.
TRUMP: We're doing a great job with it and it will go away, just stay calm. It will go away.
TRUMP: If we get rid of the problem quickly, everything solves itself. We don't need stimulus. That will be good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Trillions of dollars wipe off the stock exchange again today in the U.S. Sources tell CNN Mr. Trump's son-in-law is now advising him on the
coronavirus. Jared Kushner does not have a background in public health and as Stephen Collinson writes on CNN.com -- the White House didn't consult
those with the most at stake, like, for example, the travel industry or long-term American allies. You can read Stephen's in-depth analysis,
CNN.com. And he will be on the show in about an hour from now.
And before all of that, the W.H.O. special envoy for COVID-19, the man advising the organization on what to do with regard this pandemic, that is
right here on CONNECT THE WORLD. Do stay with us for that. 27 minutes past 6:00 in the UAE. This is CONNECT THE WORLD from our Middle East
broadcasting hub.
In the meantime I want to remind you of some quick tips from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. For those at high risk for the coronavirus,
stock up on supplies, keep others -- keep away from others who are sick, wash your hands often and avoid crowds as much as possible. Also, avoid
cruise travel and all nonessential air travel.
[10:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Now is a good time to get off social media and look at this. These are the top tips from the World Health Organization to reduce the
risk of getting yourself and those around you infected by this coronavirus.
Let's get you a look at the markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average down 7.5 percent. We've seen a plunge here, closely tied to the reaction on
coronavirus, a crisis of confidence. Many analysts blaming much of this on President Donald Trump's sudden announcement the U.S. will ban travel from
most of Europe, a move sure to bring chaos to travelers around the world. European leaders caught off guard by the 30-day ban with the heads of the
EU saying this pandemic requires cooperation, not unilateral action.
Meanwhile, the Vice President Mike Pence defending the travel restrictions telling CNN it is another historic step by Mr. Trump.
Well, the actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson both have the novel coronavirus. The Hollywood superstar posted on social media Wednesday
saying the couple were diagnosed while traveling in Australia.
For more, CNN's entertainment reporter Chloe Melas is live for you in New York. And this news breaking late, U.S. time, Wednesday, Hanks himself
announcing that he and his wife have tested positive. What are they doing in Australia and what do we know of their health and what happens next?
CHLOE MELAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: So in terms of how they are doing, I mean, Tom Hanks has remained calm, cool and collected on social
media. And all of his children have taken to their own social pages to tell everyone things are OK, our parents are not exhibiting that many symptoms,
they are in quarantine, in a hospital in Queensland, Australia, for 14 days.
They're working with public health officials to retrace their steps, to figure out did they contract coronavirus in Australia, where Tom Hanks is
doing preproduction on a Baz Luhrmann film about the life of Elvis Presley.
And his wife also had some concerts at the opera house among other places. And then also, everyone that they've came into contact with, many of them
going into quarantine, including a television station. But like his eldest son Colin Hanks said. They're thankful for the outpouring of support from
so many people and hopefully we'll hear more from Tom Hanks and Rita soon in the coming days.
[10:35:00]
ANDERSON: Thank you for that. That's Tom Hanks and his wife Rita in Australia. We wish them the best.
In the United States, it's not just the federal government fight fighting coronavirus, with almost every state affected. Local officials in the
private sector are responding with a wide variety of tactics and life quickly changing, it seems, for everyday Americans. CNN's Brynn Gingras
reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In New Rochelle, New York, the governor deploying the National Guard to enforce a one-mile containment
zone to help stop an outbreak.
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): There's only two ways that countries have reduced the numbers. Massive quarantine or massive testing.
GINGRAS: Washington's governor banning social gatherings of more than 250 people near Seattle. The state has the highest rate of coronavirus cases in
the country.
GOV. JAY INSLEE (D-WA): This demands a response consistent with the nature of the threat. These events that are prohibited are gatherings for social,
recreational, spiritual and other matters.
GINGRAS: And the number of cases is expected to rise as nearly every U.S. state is now affected.
FAUCI: We will see more cases, and things will get worse than they are right now.
GINGRAS: In Colorado, a drive-through testing facility launched in Denver. And for the passengers previously on the Grand Princess cruise ship, two
weeks under quarantine.
CAROLYN WYLER, GRAND PRINCESS PASSENGER: And I admit it, I want to cry, and they do, too. And the next minute, we're friendly and laughing about
stuff.
GINGRAS: Isolation a reality for many as companies shift their employees to work from home. For over a million kindergarten through 12th grade
students, schools already are preparing to close, and hundreds of colleges nationwide moving to online classes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Clearly, the game right now is a little bit of a delay.
GINGRAS: The NBA put on hold indefinitely after a player tested positive for the coronavirus shortly before their game Wednesday night.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The game tonight has been postponed. You're all safe.
GINGRAS: The league telling CNN, it will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward.
MARK CUBAN, OWNER, DALLAS MAVERICKS BASKETBALL TEAM: I'm a lot more worried about my kids and my mom, who's 82 years old, you know, and talking
to her and telling her to stay in the house than I am about when we play our next game.
GINGRAS: With March Madness just days away, the NCAA's president announcing it will still go on, but without spectators.
Daytime television shows like ABC'S "The View" suspending studio audiences over the growing number of cases in New York City.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, ABC'S "THE VIEW": This is unprecedented.
GINGRAS: Officials saying social distancing is a necessary move.
FAUCI: As a public health official, anything that has large crowds is something that would give a risk to spread.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Brynn Gingras reporting. Be sure to stay with CNN. Dr. Sanjay Gupta answering viewer questions about the novel coronavirus in another
Town Hall. Friday live at 6:00 a.m. Abu Dhabi time, 2:00 a.m. in London. Well, in the meantime, be sure to check out Dr. Gupta's new podcast,
"CORONAVIRUS FACT VERSUS FICTION" and that is at CNN.com. Learn about the virus from exactly where it came, to how to prepare for a busy travel
season.
Well, coming up, an NBA superstar reacts to the decision to suspend the U.S. pro basketball season.
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[10:40:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CUBAN: This is people's lives at stake. This isn't about basketball. This isn't about the Mavericks. This isn't about you know when do we start or do
we start or how do we start. This is a pandemic, a global pandemic where people's lives are at stake. And, you know, I'm a lot more worried about my
kids and my mom who is 82 years old, you know, and talking to her and telling her to stay in the house than I am about when we play our next
game.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The NBA's decision to suspend the pro basketball season making the coronavirus threat much more vivid to millions of Americans. NBA
superstar LeBron James tweeting that what we really need to cancel is 2020 and there are millions of people around the world who would second that
motion no matter where or whether they are sports fans or not.
Christina Macfarlane getting ready for WORLD SPORT. And, Christina, the NBA's announcement, I think, was a real wake-up call for a lot of people.
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN WORLD SPORT: I think it has sent shock waves not just through the basketball world, but through the entire sporting world,
Becky, as people are beginning to waken up to the reality of what is actually occurring in the sports world. I have to tell you, I had an
exceptional day here on sport, it feels like every hour there has been a new update in this evolving coronavirus story, not just in basketball, but
in tennis, in Formula One, in football. We have all of those updates to bring you, of course, in WORLD SPORT coming up.
But as you say, the reality I think beginning to hit home and the ramifications of this no one yet knows where this is headed. And that is
quite a scary prospect to many people.
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. You make a very good point. WORLD SPORT is up after this short break. We'll be back after that.
[10:45:00]
(WORLD SPORT)
[10:56:31]
MACFARLANE: And before we hand it back to our Becky Anderson, we just want to update you, that the ATP tour has just tweeted in the last few minutes
that it has now suspended the men's tennis tour for the next six weeks. We told you just a few minutes ago about the Miami open being called off. Now,
we can confirm we won't see men's tennis for the next six weeks. And, Becky, as I was saying before, this is a fast-evolving situation here in
sports.
ANDERSON: It is. Yes, it is and I think we should probably expect to see more events taking a similar decision, but I know at WORLD SPORT you will
keep us bang up to date on exactly what is going on for the health and safety of spectators and those taking part. Thank you for that.
When we come back, we connect you to the latest on the coronavirus. Our reporters are fanned out around the world for you with the very latest
reaction of travel bans and shutdowns.
Plus, my interview with the man leading the charge for the W.H.O. when it comes to fighting this virus. Do stay with us.
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