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Connect the World
Tougher Travel Restrictions Loom; Vatican Cancels Easter Public Events; France Holds Elections Despite Lockdown; UAE, Saudi Arabia And Egypt Pledge $46BN To Help Economy; Iran Reports Nearly 14,000 Cases And 700-Plus Deaths; Acts Of Kindness Spread Hope As Virus Impacts Daily Life. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired March 15, 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]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: This hour, the world going all out to avoid a worst-case scenario. Hello and welcome to connect the world. I'm
Lynda Kinkade in for Becky Anderson. Good to have you with us. Well, right now, many places are taking drastic measures with everyday life on hold,
and the world is waiting to hear what will happen next with coronavirus cases, especially amid warnings that we are far from the peak.
The major development this hour is more looming travel restrictions. Citizens of the U.K. and Ireland adjust a day away from the latest U.S.
measures. The Trump administration has already suspended travel for 30 days from 26 Schengen countries in Europe. Britain was added to that list after
its death toll from the pandemic jumped to 21.
In Italy, the hardest-hit country in Europe, the death toll jumped by almost 200 on Saturday alone, and its total number of cases is now more
than 20,000. While the country washes its hands, its authorities are ringing theirs and moving to put even more restrictions in place. Now one
step includes holding civilian flights at major airports. And that's set to take effect on Monday.
Well, on this side of the Atlantic, we've been following the travel chaos overnight in some of America's largest airports as the impact of the White
House travel ban starts to hit home. Take a look at this. This is the scene in Chicago's O'Hare Airport.
Now thousands of passengers coming in from multiple international flights - - now obviously, if you get any sense of social distancing, this is the same people shoulder to shoulder passengers described being in line there
for hours before being screened for the coronavirus at least having their temperatures checked. And no one, not even the staff knew what was going
on.
Well, America's top infectious diseases experts is not ruling out support for a temporary U.S. lockdown. And just a short time ago, Dr. Anthony Fauci
spoke to CNN about getting to grips with the spread of this virus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, U.S. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: The challenge we have right now is how do we blunt that. You
know, I've said many times, if you just leave it alone and let the virus to its own devices, it'll go way up. And then it will come down naturally over
a period of several weeks.
Unfortunately for our colleagues in Italy, and in France, and certainly in China, that's what happens. Our challenge right now is to do two things.
It's to prevent the new influx of cases. Hence, the travel restrictions.
And for what we're dealing with right now is to know that we're going to get more infections but blunt it so that we don't have that sharp peak,
that we have more of a smaller hump. Even with that, we're going to have people getting infected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, from Washington, to Madrid, to Jerusalem, and Abu Dhabi, the impacts of the coronavirus hitting nearly every place on the globe. We have
our CNN reporters fanned out across the world to bring you the latest on the travel restrictions and measures different countries it's taking to
fight the spread of COVID-19.
Right now, our Polo Sandoval is standing by JFK Airport and Salma Abdelaziz is at London's Heathrow. I want to start with you, Polo. We are seeing what
seems to be absolute chaos at the airports here in the U.S. People rush to get back from the Europe and U.K. worried about obviously avoiding Trump's
travel ban, which seems to have caught many even the airports by surprise.
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Chaos is one word. Confusion and just concern is also another way of describing what many of
the passengers at about 13 airports across the United States have been experiencing since yesterday. It was sort of the first start of this latest
travel ban and accompanying wellness checks that we've seen at airports including here at JFK.
And when you hear the U.S. government, of course, recommending people practice social distancing, just to be safe, and then you see those
pictures, they certainly don't match because what we see here are all of these passengers at airports across the country essentially forced to wait
in cramped quarters to go to the customs process and eventually go through these checks, these health checks that have been provided by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
And we hear from some of the passengers, Lynda, there's certainly a sense of frustration and a surprise of the way U.S. officials, especially at some
of these airports, have handled this.
[10:05:27]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATHERINE ROGERS, PASSENGER: We got off our plane and we're directed, you know, down the hall in the international terminal and we got on an
escalator and it was just absolutely big. There were people just piled up at the bottom.
JULIA BAZAUK, PASSENGER FROM LONDON: I spent three hours I think, maybe a little bit more, waiting to first get to customs and then waiting to get
the second step where I'm not sure what's happening.
EMMA REUSCH, PASSENGER FROM PORTUGAL: It's very crowded, which is not ideal considering what this contagion is. It's the worse system I could think of.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: And today could bring yet another day of frustration. So let's remind viewers, Lynda, how we actually got here. Your recall that just a
couple of days ago, the Trump administration announced this new travel ban for nearly two dozen countries in Europe, allowing however, U.S. citizens,
U.S. permanent residents and some of their family members to travel into the United States.
However, they would have to fly into 13 established airports -- 13 established airports that can receive these passengers to be able to have
these health screenings. We did hear from one of the top health officials here in the United States a little while ago and says look, we understand
this mad rush to travel over the Atlantic right now to make it home. However, it's important to perhaps pace yourself.
There is, however, a concern that some of those major U.S. carriers that handle and fly those cross Atlantic routes will begin scaling back on their
offering so that could possibly explain why there are many people trying to get from Europe, here to the states as soon as possible.
KINKADE: All right, Polo, I want to go to Salma Abdelaziz who is at Heathrow Airport, just outside the airport there. And Salma, it was only a
matter of time really before we found out that the U.K. and Ireland were going to be added to this European travel ban by the U.S. When does that
effectively apply?
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN PRODUCER: Well, Lynda, that's going to go into place Monday at midnight Eastern time, but it's so kind of came as quite a
surprise here. I think many were expecting to see the U.K. and Ireland added at some point, but not quite so soon.
And we did hear from the Foreign Office on this today. They said this is a decision for Americans. And in terms of British nationals, they should
avoid all non-essential travel to the U.K. That is redundant, of course, because the 28 countries that are on this list, foreign nationals from
those countries cannot travel to the United States for the next few weeks.
And really here in the U.K., the government is dealing with its own criticism of its handling of the pandemic. We're hearing today from the
health secretary, Matt Hancock in an op-ed saying that our generation has never been tested like this, defending a prime minister Boris Johnson's
response to the pandemic saying our policy is not herd immunity.
And that is because many people here have felt that the government's policy has simply been to relax. Those kinds of social distancing measures that
we've seen other countries take on simply haven't happened here in the U.K. The health Secretary went on to say that in the coming week, we will see
emergence -- an emergency bill rather rolls out.
This legislation is expected to include measures for those over 70 to self- isolate, for the banning of public gatherings and for the rights to the -- for the police rather, to detain anyone who breaks quarantine and might
endanger the public. But really, the vision still here from the U.K. government is that a gradual approach is better than those drastic
measures. There's partial lockdowns and full lockdowns that we've seen in Italy. They are moving towards a gradual approach.
KINKADE: All right, Selma Abdelaziz outside Heathrow airport, our thanks also to Polo Sandoval at JFK, good to have you both with us. Thanks so
much. Well, it's been about a week since all of Italy went into a dramatic total lockdown, but coronavirus cases there as still spiking. The Count has
even surpassed South Korea.
Now Italy is the largest known hotspot outside of China. Well, I want to go straight to our Melissa Bell who joins us live from Rome. Melissa, the
death toll there continues to climb by the hundreds every single day. How are people feeling there?
MELISSA BELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is very quiet. Obviously in Italy, as you'd imagine, people really respecting that
lockdown, even if it does lead to some tension, and of course, an awful lot of psychological strain. I mean, staying entirely confined to your house is
a difficult thing to imagine. If you're not inside Italy, it could, of course, be coming elsewhere, but it takes its toll.
We see it and I think we really understand it in those moments when they have those flash mobs, the musical moments when people come to their
windows to sing and sense that connection. You can really feel the emotion there. So of course, it's taking its toll. We've seen some evidence of
scuffles breaking out as well outside some of the place -- the few places people are allowed to go to buy their bare essentials after people have not
respected that social distancing.
So people are taking it very seriously, but there is a tension about it. This is not an easy thing for a country to go through. And yet, as you say,
Lynda, for the time being, those efforts are not paying off in terms of the measures of whether this outbreak is being contained.
[10:10:30]
Once again yesterday, that death toll rose by nearly 200, and a record number of new cases. We were at nearly 3,500. That is a huge jump, Lynda.
So it's going to take some time for the efforts of the entire people of Italy to pay off. And that's something that Giuseppe Conte, the Italian
Prime Minister, had warned off of early on.
So it's going to take patience and resilience and it's going to take, no doubt, another couple of weeks for us to start seeing those figures come
down. And we can measure that Because when you look at the figures around that initial town in which the outbreak began, where the measures were
brought in early, the area of Lodi which is around the town of Codogno, those figures there are now beginning to stabilize.
So it suggests that these measures do work, but they are difficult to bear and they're going to have to be born for some time yet nationwide, Lynda.
KINKADE: Exactly. And we are just learning, Melissa, that Easter in the Vatican, while it's still a month away is going to be essentially canceled
for the public. This is obviously the most significant day on the Christian calendar. Has this ever happened before?
BELL: And it's -- and it's several weeks away, Lynda. It gives you an idea of how long this is going to last. Vatican experts say that it's simply
unprecedented. All those key moments around Easter weekend is so important to the Catholic faithful. The washing the feet, the Way of the Cross
procession, the Sunday masses themselves canceled to the public. They will be live-streamed, of course, but that is not the same thing.
This Sunday throughout Italy for the first time, masses have been canceled. And after some controversy with the Pope coming out to say that he felt
that perhaps extreme measures weren't always the wisest, there has been a slight rolling back. And whilst masses were not held throughout Italy this
morning -- this Sunday morning, Lynda, some churches were open to those who wanted to come in and have individual prayers.
So that is a massive disruption in a country as Catholic as this one is. And of course, looking ahead to Easter, that will be another massive
disruption. People will only be able to watch the live stream services of the pope as they have been able to listen to him on Sundays and Wednesdays
over the last couple of weeks.
So big changes for a lot of people not least of which their Sunday habits, their Sunday moment of reflection and prayer. That purely for the time
being very much on hold.
KINKADE: Yes, certainly. All right Melissa Bell for us in Rome. Thanks so much. Well, I want to go to Spain now which is also on lockdown after
drastic emergency measures were put suddenly into place. Nationwide, people are banned from leaving their homes except for essential reasons like going
to the hospital, the work -- going to work, or pharmacy, or simply buying food.
Now, journalist Al Goodman joins me now live from Madrid. So, we saw this huge spike in the number of infections in Spain in just 24 hours. What are
authorities putting that down to? Is it -- is it the spread, the rapid spread or is it simply that they're doing more tests?
AL GOODMAN, CNN MADRID CORRESPONDENT: There's both of that going on, Lynda. And let me just give you the latest figures. Now more than 7,700 cases
confirmed cases in Spain. That's almost double since just last Friday, a few days ago, which was the day that the Spanish Prime Minister warned the
nation that Spain could soon be at 10,000 cases. They're getting there.
But only five percent of those confirmed cases are in the intensive care ward, a little less than 400 people. And there have been less than 300
deaths, only 288. Madrid, the capital, has got the brunt of both the number of cases and the deaths right here in the Spanish capital.
So that's why the Spanish police this day are really picking it up in terms of trying to enforce the rules that everybody stays at home. They have
fines that they can issue of $110 up to $30,000. We've been out taking the pulse of the city. Here's our look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GOODMAN: This is what Spain's coronavirus state of emergency looks like in Madrid. A city of 6.6 million people told to stay home, like the whole
nation. With the restrictions, the capital is like a ghost town. This gourmet food market which would normally be packed is closed like all the
other bars and restaurants in town. But it does make it easy to get one of these tourists tuk-tuks.
Spain suddenly has the second-highest number of infections in Europe after Italy, and Madrid is the hardest hit with more than half of Spain's cases
and fatalities. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wants to slow down the pace of new infections that officials say could overwhelm hospitals.
Under the state of emergency starting late Saturday, the government banned people from leaving their homes except for a few essential activities. They
can still go to food stores and pharmacies but they have to go alone. People can go to work, but driving must be only for essential activities
not for leisure.
This man out shopping for food is a medical doctor and a cancer specialist. I am reasonably concerned, he says, but also reasonably optimistic that
this situation could be controlled more quickly than what's being predicted. This butcher says clients are buying extra meat just in case,
and there are still supplies for now.
As quickly as we open, we might have to close, he says. The government says it will get worse. Many people don't know how this will play out.
This couple just arrived from Britain for a birthday celebration weekend. Now they're out searching for food.
[10:15:54]
KEVIN MEEHAN, BRITISH TOURIST: I think the virus is spreading and all cities are going to be getting worse, maybe on lockdown sooner than we
think.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he'll be the same all over Europe very quickly.
MEHAN: But the Spanish Prime Minister says, not so fast. It will take weeks, he says, but Spaniards working together will stop the virus.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOODMAN: And Lynda, here in the Puerta del Sol, the very center of the Spanish capital, normally crowded with people, you can see what it looks
like. People confined to their homes. This is the view across the -- across the country. Lynda?
KINKADE: Yes, quite surreal, I imagine there. All right, good to have you with us. Al Goodman, thanks so much. We will check in with you again very
soon. We've got some news just in to us. We just learned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been tested for the coronavirus. Now, it
comes as Israel is banning public gatherings of more than 10 people as it tries to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
Now the Prime Minister announced restrictions late Saturday saying that all cafes, restaurants, and theaters would close, and urged people to work from
home if possible. Well, our Oren Lieberman is in Jerusalem where that ban has been in effect. Just for a few hours now, Oren, firstly, just give us
some indication of what we know about why the prime minister who we know is 70 years old was tested for the virus and when we will know all of those
results.
OREN LIEBERMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his office put out a statement a short time ago
saying that not only was Netanyahu tested, but all of those around him were tested as well. The statement said, this was a precautionary measure. There
were no indication anyone was showing symptoms. It was essentially just done just to be safe.
Let's not forget that just a few weeks ago, Israel was in another election campaign. And during the course of that campaign, Netanyahu was holding
nightly events, multiple nightly events with hundreds of people in attendance, and for that, that may be part of the reason here why Netanyahu
decided to have this coronavirus test.
We don't quite know when to expect a result. But again, at this point, the statement says that neither Netanyahu nor anyone close to him are showing
symptoms at this time. This comes as Netanyahu has put in place some of the most stringent restrictions we've seen as Israel tries to stay ahead of the
coronavirus.
It used to be that gatherings were limited to 5,000 people then 1,000, they're now limited to 20 people in a statement recently from the Prime
Minister's office and Netanyahu who appeared on primetime television to deliver that statement. In addition, restaurants, cafes, leisure and
entertainment venues, those are all closed as Israel tries to do what it can to try to make sure that coronavirus doesn't spread anymore.
There are about 200 confirmed cases in the country right now, which may not sound like much but that basically doubled or so in the last 48 hours.
Netanyahu also said they may start using counterterrorism tools if he has the permission of the justice ministry and the Attorney General. He said
that would allow Israel to monitor suspected coronavirus cases, see where they were and who they came into contact with.
He acknowledged that this is incredibly controversial, and may even constitute a violation of privacy which is what critics said was one reason
it should not be done. But he said, that is the level of essentially tools that need to be used here in what he called a war against an invisible
enemy.
KINKADE: It certainly is an invisible enemy. Oren Lieberman, thanks so much. We will check in with you again soon. Thanks. Well, in France, voters
are headed to the polls Sunday despite the lockdown to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The election seems to be taking a backseat to the
virus as the numbers of confirmed cases has doubled in the last 72 hours.
Now, the Prime Minister says the lockdown applies to all places that do not perform an essential function. That includes restaurants, theaters, and all
clubs. Well, journalist Catherine Norris-Trent joins me now live from Paris with more on this.
And Catherine, I was quite surprised that these nationwide mayoral elections are still going ahead as planned despite the lockdown. I imagine
the turnout has been impacted especially from those who are older people that are most vulnerable.
[10:20:06]
CATHERINE NORRIS-TRENT, SENIOR REPORTER, FRANCE 24: Yes, that's right, Lynda. We know that turnout in these local elections so far as of midday
French time, was down markedly, down around five percent on the last day of elections in France held in 2014. But there have been people turning out at
the polling stations. It's not a complete lockdown. There are special precautions put in place at the voting centers.
Voters are being asked to stand at least three feet apart, to bring their own pens where they can ballot papers to vote with them. And they've been
regular disinfection of the polling stations and indeed the ballot box is in between people voting. President Emmanuel Macron was out voting himself.
He said people could still come out to do that if they respected the hygiene measures in place. But there's been a lot of controversy about his
government's decision to maintain this first round of voting in local elections and not to delay it. A last-minute call from opposition
politicians saying that the government should put this off in view of the new sweeping restrictions in place across France. We've even had doctors
coming forward saying that they considered it dangerous and it might increase the spread of infections.
Nonetheless, that voting taking place amid this backdrop of further restrictions in France. So the governments on Saturday night, ordered all
cafes, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and theaters to close taking quite a lot of people by surprise. In fact, people learn about that decision on
Saturday night on cafe terraces here in the French capital.
Now France is not on complete lockdown. There are still people out on the streets on what is a beautiful spring, Sunday. Here in the French capital,
people are going for a stroll, are going for a jog, and many people seen at food markets in France. So clearly people are still adapting to the new
security measures in place and to the habit of social distancing, which is quite a change here in France.
They're going to have to get used to it though going forward because travel restrictions are going to come into play. Services of planes, trains, and
coaches in France are going to be reduced in the next few days. And as of Monday, all schools, colleges and kindergartens in France will be closed as
well.
KINKADE: All right, Catherine, we will check in with you again soon. Catherine Norris-Trent in Paris, thanks so much. We have brought you to
London, New York, Jerusalem, Madrid, and Rome. The impacts of the virus hitting nearly every place on the globe. Our reporters across the world
will continue to bring you the latest this hour and next.
And as France and Spain shut down, the United Kingdom is taking a different approach to fighting the virus. Nina de Santos writes on CNN.com that Prime
Minister Boris Johnson has largely kept Britain open, implementing health measures to delay the viruses peak in the U.K. You can read more about the
reasoning behind that decision online. Just go to CNN.com.
Well, next hour, I'll be speaking to a spokesman for the World Health Organization. There are obviously so many questions as the virus spreads
right around the globe. We'll get you answers right from the source. That interview right here on CNN CONNECT THE WORLD next hour.
Well, still to come. Countries in the Middle East are slowly catching up to Europe by enforcing lockdown, shutdowns and the complete suspension of
travel. We're going live in the region with all the details for you. And should you stay or should you go? Those are the questions many people are
asking about upcoming vacations. We're going to look at some of the factors to think about before you take to the skies. Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: If you look at those curves, I mean they kind of go like this. And then all of a sudden like this.
That's what you're preparing for here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent gets an exclusive look at how the hardest-hit town in New York is working to curb the coronavirus
pandemic. Stay with us. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD.
[10:25:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. Well, in combating the spread of the coronavirus, countries around the world have been impacted financially. And for some
countries in the Middle East, they're being forced to inject cash to keep their economies going. And over the weekend, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab
Emirates, and Egypt all announcing stimulus packages worth more than $46 billion to combat the economic effects of this pandemic.
CNN's John Defterios is based in the UAE and can help break down the numbers for us and the details. Good to see you, John. So, we are seeing
this stimulus packages now being rolled out throughout the Middle East. Just take us through the details and what impact they are hoping they will
have.
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Well, there are two forces or dual forces at play here, Lynda, and they both lead back to oil and forcing
the hand as you suggested in the lead in here, by regional governments. Number one, we have a price war underway here between Saudi Arabia and
Russia when it comes to oil supplies, and oil prices hovering just over $30.00 a barrel.
The second thing is that demand is collapsing for oil and gas because of the coronavirus. We have South Korea come out on Sunday, saying their
demand in the last month dropped by 10 percent. And it's a similar tale across all the major importers around the world, particularly in Asia,
China, South Korea, and Japan.
So let's take a look at what we've seen in the oil market. It's not just a bear market. If you look at the start of the year, we're down better than
50 percent from the tensions that we had with Iran in early January down to the shock of the oversupply we see now because of that price war I was
talking about.
And this is forcing the hand of some of the regional governments, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, all chipping in a total of $46 billion put on the
table over the weekend. I think the most surprising element here is that the UAE put in the majority of the money. And that gives us an indication
about the slowdown of tourism in the United Arab Emirates and also the shock during the reforms to the 2030 plan by Saudi Arabia, perhaps being
slowed down because of the price of crude hovering over $30.00 a barrel.
We have Sunday stock market trading as well. And despite the bailouts you see on the screen here, Dubai was down better than three percent and Saudi
Arabia down better than one percent, giving us an indication after that rally on Wall Street on Friday, expect more turbulence in Asia and other
global markets on Monday.
KINKADE: Yes, no doubt. And of course, much of Europe, especially inland France relies so heavily on tourism, for their -- for their economies. If
those countries remain on the lockdown for the foreseeable future, weeks going into months, what impact is that going to have?
DEFTERIOS: You know, it's a trade-off between the health of society and the wealth of society at the same time. And that's what the governments are
trying to balance. But they have to put the health of society first, Lynda. But it's interesting that France, Spain, and Italy are all extremely
dependent on international visitors, and they rank very high.
Let's take a look here. Number one, two, and five as global destinations. And as a benchmark, you usually see that tourism receipts make up 10
percent of the GDP of each country in terms of employment and total revenue that's coming in. So this will be a shock not just domestically of what we
see now with the limitations on the movement of people, but global receipts when people don't start traveling to these major destinations in the
future.
[10:29:56]
And this is hovering like a cloud over the equity markets. Whether it's Asia, Europe, or the United States. We saw a huge rally on Wall Street,
kind of a relief rally after the big sell-off we saw earlier in the week and the oil market crash. But the indications are for Dow Futures and S&P
500 Futures is a drop of one to 1-1/2 percent when the opening bell hits on Wall Street.
It's also worth reminding our viewers after that gain of nine percent on Wall Street, we're hovering just around bear market territory of 19 to 20
percent losses in a month that we've seen on Wall Street because of concerns about the recession and all these measures that have been taking
place in Europe as well.
KINKADE: Absolutely incredible. John Defterios, as always. Good to have you staying across that all for us. Thank you.
DEFTERIOS: Thanks.
KINKADE: Well, Iran is accused of doing too little too late to stop the novel coronavirus. How recommendations from health officials that
interfering with tradition as communities bury their dead?
Plus, we'll speak to perhaps the most important international body working to stem this outbreak. My conversation with a spokesman from the World
Health Organization will be coming up at the top of the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Welcome back. I'm Lynda Kinkade, you are watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Good to have you with us. Well, the coronavirus has led to disruptive changes on
a global scale. I want to go to O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.
Take a look at these pictures, these are pictures of Americans returning from Europe, waiting for hours upon hours to go through customs, and then
through health screenings. And as you can see, passengers there pretty much elbow to elbow, no social distancing to speak of.
Well, Europe also is taking drastic measures. France is closing on non- essential businesses like restaurants, and people in Spain are being ordered to stay home.
[10:35:08]
KINKADE: Easter events also at the Vatican have now been canceled. Well, the reason for the urgency is clear in the numbers. According to John
Hopkins, more than 150,000 people have now been infected. And the virus has claimed more than 5,000 lives.
Well, the White House's President Trump has tested negative for the coronavirus. This comes after a surprise announcement from the president
that he took the test on Friday. He recently came into contact with two people who had tested positive for the virus. Sarah Westwood joins us now
from the White House.
And Sarah, we saw the president give a press conference two days ago where he was shaking everyone's hand and touching the microphone, and he was
criticized for that. He seemed to be a little bit more subdued yesterday after taking that coronavirus test. Do you think he's taking this pandemic
a little bit more seriously?
SARAH WESTWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Certainly, the people around him are, Lynda. And the president has now had his own personal brushes with
coronavirus. As you've mentioned, he interacted with people who subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. And he himself has now undergone
a test. That testing has been the focus of his administration's efforts right now.
And we've seen President Trump gradually shift his tone to be more serious about it. But now you're also seeing the White House takes more
precautions. Yesterday, before that briefing where President Trump revealed that he had been tested, reporters were actually admit -- they had their
temperatures taken before they were allowed into the briefing room.
So that just gives you a sense of how cautious White House officials are being now with the people who are in the same room as President Trump. And
you're right that Trump has been criticized by observers for not practicing the kind of social distancing measures that his own administration has been
advising people to take.
KINKADE: All right, Sarah Westwood at the White House. So, we'll have to leave it there for now, but good to have you with us as always. Thank you.
Well, the U.S. Democratic presidential candidates will address the coronavirus pandemic among other topics at tonight's debate. Former Vice
President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders will go head to head. Our coverage starting at 8:00 p.m. in New York, midnight in London,
right here on CNN.
Well, some places in the United States are using drive through testing facilities. The state of New York opened this one on Friday in the hard-hit
town of New Rochelle. Now, it's home to one of the largest clusters of infections in the country. And nearby hospitals are preparing for a spike
in new patients.
CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta got an exclusive look at one facility at the epicenter of that state's outbreak.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. THERESA MADALINE, EPIDEMIOLOGIST, MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER: I am concerned when we use the word pandemic I think that tells us all that this
is very serious.
GUPTA: Dr. Theresa Madaline is the epidemiologist who manages New Rochelle hospital and the 10 other hospitals that make up the Montefiore healthcare
system.
She gave us an exclusive look at the hospital, which is now at the center of one of the country's largest virus outbreaks.
On March 2nd, the first positive patient in Westchester County appeared right here in New Rochelle, a 50-year-old attorney, who works in Manhattan.
On March 4th, two days later, his two children and wife tested positive, and so did his neighbor.
By March 6th, the New Rochelle hospital received its first confirmed patient. To give you a sense of how fast this is all moving, not even a
week later, there now, at least, 148 positive patients in the county.
If you look at those curves, I mean, they kind of go like this. And then, all of a sudden like this.
MADALINE: That's right.
GUPTA: That's what you're preparing for here?
MADALINE: That's right.
GUPTA: You're ICU is full.
MADALINE: It is.
GUPTA: So how do you -- how do you -- how are you going to handle this part of things?
MADALINE: Well, we have plans for transferring patients to different places if we need to. We have plans for setting up different units and areas of
the hospital if we have to do that. It's just a matter of keeping our eye on the situation all day every day and being ready to push the button at
any moment.
GUPTA: Right now, the hospital has one confirmed coronavirus patient. And six others with symptoms, they are closely monitoring.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It just started as a cold. I mean, I still don't know if I have it or not. But it just started as a cold and you know, just want to
be safe and just get checked out.
GUPTA: But here is the thing, with every new or suspected patient, it comes down to resources.
So, this has become a pretty precious commodity.
Ventilators, machines that can help patients breathe are now in high demand. And you can't just move them to any room. You need a backup power
supply. And of course, you need an oxygen line.
MADALINE: I think sharing of resources and thinking really creatively as not just monitor your health system. But, what about nationally? I think
we're really going to need to begin collaborating together and thinking about this on a larger scale.
[10:40:00]
GUPTA: Are you able to keep up?
MADALINE: Right now we are. But certainly, things change quickly, and we're preparing for if resources get tight, or it gets to be a surge capacity
situation.
GUPTA: And so, that means keeping things even like masks under lock and key. Stocking up on gowns and cleaning wipes in warehouses. All of this at
a premium, during an outbreak, down to every last swab.
We saw what happened in China. We hear about hospitals being filled to the -- to the brink, really in Italy and tough decisions being made about
patients and patient care over there. Do you anticipate that happening here?
MADALINE: We certainly hope that we won't need to make tough decisions like that, but we have to be prepared to do so.
GUPTA: I imagine because, at some point, it comes down to somebody needs one may not be able to get it because someone else is deemed to be more
likely to survive, or younger, or healthier, or whatever. It's just got to be -- I just -- that's the hardest part, I think, in all of this.
MADALINE: It's heart-wrenching. Were caregivers, we took an oath to take care of people and to have to ration resources is a very painful decision
to make. But when we're given no choice, we tried to collectively together make the best decisions that we can.
GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, New Rochelle, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Still to come on CONNECT THE WORLD, Egypt pledging billions of dollars to stem the economic impact of the novel coronavirus. Our own Sam
Kiley spoke with the World Health Organization's representative in Egypt. We'll have to tell you what officials had to say there in a live report.
Plus, travel chaos over the coronavirus is spreading. But what are your risks if you decide to keep your travel plans? We're going to look at some
of the pros and the cons later.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. I'm Lynda Kinkade, we're going to return to our top story now. As we mentioned, the novel coronavirus pandemic is prompting
Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia to pledge $46 billion to help the economic impact in the region.
Our Sam Kiley is in the region. He joins us now from Abu Dhabi. Sam, good to have you with us. So, I want to start first on Egypt, because we are
seeing numbers there increase over 100 cases, two deaths. They are now shutting down universities there.
You spoke to the World Health Organization representative in Egypt. What did they have to say?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, very interestingly, Lynda, the regional head of the local head of the WHO, Jean
Jabbour, said that Egypt was doing pretty well. And that's on the back of a lot of social media criticism within Egypt, of the Egyptian authorities,
because there is a deep distrust of the authoritarian regime that rules that country to deal with this sort of event.
But as far as the WHO is concerned, that 110 figure for the numbers in -- of infections sounds credible. This is what he told me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:45:02]
JEAN JABBOUR, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVE IN EGYPT: We can -- we can say and very well guided by with the Word Health Organization. They
have -- they practice well in order to contain the clusters from the beginning of -- from the occurrence or the infection of -- or the
occurrence of symptoms in tourists, and then tracing the contexts, and then, controlling within the community in order not to spread on a wider
scale in the -- in the community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KILEY: Now, the spread on a wider scale is the key issue, and that, of course, is something that has been highly problematic in terms of Iran.
Because Iran has been traced as not the source, that was China, of course, but a -- an onward exporting nation for the early stages of this virus.
And the high death toll there, 113 in the last 24 hours, Lynda, 14,000 people officially infected there. But experts at the University of Toronto
believe that figure may be out by a factor of some four times, some 400 percent, and there is mounting evidence that this may be true.
Here's our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KILEY: Images of tragedy visible from space. Mass graves believe to be for coronas virus victims in the Iranian holy city of Qom. Revealed by a
satellite, the pit about 100 yards long. A source who has witnessed the process, tells CNN that they are dug especially deep and away from other
graves. The work is done at night.
Piles of white powder can be seen, most likely quicklime used on victims to sterilize their remains.
The government's official infection rate in Iran is now over 10,000, with more than 450 dead. The figures climb daily, but maybe a catastrophic
underestimate.
DR. ASHLEIGH TUITE, EPIDEMIOLOGIST, UNIVERSITY OFF TORONTO: What we found was that at the time that we did this initial estimate, Iran was reporting
less than 50 cases. And based on our best estimates, we were estimating something around 18 to 20,000 cases. So basically, 400 fold more cases than
the official estimates would suggest.
KILEY: That was last month. Today, the experts say the real number of Iranian infections is likely in the hundreds of thousands. Iranian
officials have admitted that separate treatment needed for corona victim's bodies was causing backlogs in mortuaries income.
Iran is mobilizing against the virus. The Cabinet now meets in masks. Is president sounding hopeful?
HASSAN ROUHANI, PRESIDENT OF IRAN (through translator): Dear and honorable people of our country. We are having a difficult time. But we will leave
these days behind us.
KILEY: Iran has been accused of doing too little too late to this infected streets and isolate the population, a warning to other nations as the
pandemic spreads.
These images of suspected mass graves in Iran, perhaps a worst-case example, or a glimpse into the near future.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KILEY: Now, Lynda, I think what all of this shows us is that assumptions about relative levels of economic development in the different countries,
and that the poor would be less able to deal with these issues is not borne out by reality. The difficulties in the Anglo-Saxon world, United States,
United Kingdom, highly problematic responses, a lot of criticism there.
And yet, a poor, impoverished country like Egypt, World Health Organization, saying doing pretty well. And of course, Iran has a very new
unique set of problems, Lynda.
KINKADE: Sam Kiley for us in Abu Dhabi. Thanks so much for staying across it all in the region. We will speak to you again soon.
Well, still to come here on CONNECT THE WORLD, it is important to remember, in anxious times like these there are also moments of joy.
These are Italians in locked down, keeping each other company, singing, dancing, playing music from their balcony while in self-isolation. That
story coming up later on CONNECT THE WORLD.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:51:36]
KINKADE: Welcome back, with the pandemic is creating a dilemma for travelers, especially if they've booked in advance. And not everyone is
rushing to cancel their flights. CNN's Anna Stewart looks up whether it's still safe to take that trip.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Coronavirus is continuing to spread fast around the world. And some governments have placed travel bans on
passengers coming from session areas.
So, for some globetrotters, that dream vacation may have to be put on hold, but for others, there's still the option to go. And with many train
stations and airports still packed with travelers jetting off to various destinations, you may be wondering, should I stay or should I go?
The answer, well, it's something of an equation. Where are you going? Who are you? What would happen if for some reason you get stuck at your
destination? And what will the impact be on your return?
Let's take the first of the equation. Where are you going?
LIAM SMEETH, PROFESSOR OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE AND TROPICAL MEDICINE: The situation is really fast-moving and changing
almost every day. So, then, keeping if you're going to travel is check government web site both of your home country and where you're going to see
if it's a high-risk area.
There are certain areas we know people shouldn't be traveling to at all, such as Wuhan province, in Iran.
STEWART: Some countries have closed their borders, while others have issued bans to and from specific regions of the world. The U.S. State Department
has most recently warned its citizens to reconsider traveling abroad. Then there's the question of who you are?
SMEETH: I mean, no, there are certain risk groups people with bad underlying illnesses and an older people.
STEWART: Underlying health conditions known to put people at risk include heart disease, lung disease and diabetes. What happens if you get that bus
due to the spread of Coronavirus? You can't get home? Are you covered by insurance? And if not, can you afford an extended trip?
SMEETH: Certainly, people shouldn't be traveling to areas that, that governments -- or the governments of they're trying to visit. Those
countries are saying they don't want visitors and people shouldn't be traveling to, because there's no way they'll be insured.
Otherwise, people should be speaking to their insurers to see what is covered. But it is a possibility you could be stuck somewhere for two
weeks. And that you need to consider that.
STEWART: And then the last factor to consider, will you need to self- quarantine on your return? Depending on where you travel or connect through, there are varying degrees of risk. And you also need to consider
how easy it would be to work from home and whether your employer will pay you to do that.
SMEETH: I think they return like from certain areas, very high risk areas, indeed, returners are asked to phone health authorities and to self-
isolate, even if they're well. But for most areas, where there's an outbreak, as long as you're well, get home, get home safely. If you don't
have any symptoms and things should be OK.
STEWART: So, should you stay or should you go? Well, it will be different for everyone and you have to work out that risk. Do remember there's always
next to you and your health is much more important than a holiday.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: There is always next to you. Well, even in the worst of times, we can find the best of humanity as my colleague Robyn Curnow, shows us, if
you look there are everyday small tokens of kindness all around us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN ANCHOR CORRESPONDENT: One of the most insidious effects of the coronavirus is fear. But when times feel as if they're at their
worst, we can see hope through the actions of others.
[10:55:04]
CURNOW: In Italy, residents shuttered in their homes, broke out into a round of applause from their balconies in a show of gratitude for the
doctors and nurses caring for the sick.
Basketball star, Steph Curry and his wife are helping to raise money to buy a million meals for children in California, who may not have access to
lunch anymore, because of the school closings.
AYESHA CURRY, RAISING MONEY TO REPLACE SCHOOL MEALS: We want to make sure that we rally around everyone and ensure that these kids are not wondering
where their next meal is coming from.
CURNOW: And local communities are asking people to buy gift certificates and vouchers to their favorite restaurants to keep revenue coming in as
fewer people are choosing to dine out.
A woman in Oregon tweeted about an elderly couple too afraid to go into a grocery store. So, she went instead to get their food. Her tweet has been
shared over 100,000 times.
REBECCA MEHRA, HELPED ELDERLY COUPLE: It's a difficult time. You know, people are really scared, there's a lot of nerves, I see it in schools, and
you know, grocery stores, and other places around the community that I live in. But you know, kindness helps.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CURNOW: People have been using the #coronakindness on Twitter to spread positive stories of how communities are coming together as more and more
people are isolated and sick.
Robin Curnow, CNN, Atlanta.
KINKADE: You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Coming up next, we are going to hear from the World Health Organization. So, stay
with us for that very important interview. We back with another hour of news in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
