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Connect the World
Coronavirus Pandemic Cases Worldwide Eclipse 150,000; Trump Blames Health Mishandling On Obama Administration; Coronavirus Expert Doesn't Rule Out National Lockdown; Tougher Travel Restrictions Loom; Call To Earth; Health Officials Recommend Sanitizing Mobile Phones; Tom Hanks And Rita Wilson Post Thanks And Humor. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired March 15, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The U.K. government scrambling to make sense of new regulations from the United States, that European ban now expanded to
include the U.K. and Ireland.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We got on an escalator and it was just absolutely (INAUDIBLE). There were people just piled up at the bottom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is what Spain's coronavirus state of emergency looks like in Madrid. With the restrictions the capital is like a ghost
town.
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As of Sunday morning, public gatherings will be limited to 10 people and all leisure and entertainment venues in
Israel will be closed.
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: We have not reached our peak. We will see more cases and we will see more
suffering and death.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Atlanta, this is CONNECT THE WORLD.
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Hello, I'm Lynda Kinkade. Welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm sitting in for Becky Anderson this hour.
Europe is now the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, where cases are surging. More than 150,000 cases have been confirmed worldwide, over half
in China, where the virus is thought to have originated.
Europe, though, is struggling to manage a fast-spreading outbreak, leading to a few countries entering near total lockdown. The latest to take this
step is France, joining Spain and Italy. Other countries are taking similar measures of late, including Israel.
And the U.S., of course, is turning international travel restrictions, too, as cases here multiply as a quickening pace. Tarik Jasarevic joins us now
on the line, a spokesman for the World Health Organization who is at the forefront of combating this virus.
Good to have you with us. This is unlike anything we have seen in memory.
How long could this be with us?
TARIK JASAREVIC, SPOKESMAN, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: Hello. Thank you very much for inviting me. As you have said, this is very unprecedented.
And countries around the world are really trying to protect their population based on the best analysis they can make and they're putting in
place measures to slow down the transmission of the virus.
We have seen in the past days and weeks, more and more geographical areas are being affected and that people around the world can be expected to be
exposed to the virus. This is why we have qualified this outbreak as pandemic.
However, the advice from the World Health Organization is not really changing. We want all countries to get ready to test people, to try to
contain the spread where possible and to mix those measures and combine those measures with those of trying to slow down the virus with the
measures like social distancing and trying to avoid mass gatherings.
KINKADE: We are seeing those extreme measures in so many countries now. Schools and universities shut down. Employees told where possible to work
from home. Schools shut down, so people are effectively looking after their children at home while trying to work.
Is that all enough?
Because we are now hearing from the Centers for Disease Control, saying it's possible schools should close for much longer than four weeks, maybe
eight weeks, maybe the end of the year.
JASAREVIC: Well, it's very difficult to predict where the situation will go. On one hand, we understand countries that are trying to, with these
measures, slow down the progression of the virus and try to buy some time for their health systems that, in many places, are already overburdened.
We also try to say to countries that have only a few cases or countries that have not seen cases of COVID-19 to adopt measures we know are working;
that is, to go after the virus itself and try to isolate people who are sick and look for those who have been in contact.
Examples from countries like China, South Korea and Singapore tell us it is possible to do containment. But obviously, at some point, if you have
thousands of people who are sick, then you really need to go into trying to protect the population by trying to slow down the transmission.
KINKADE: Certainly, the U.K. and their action plan is looking at asking people over the age of 70 to effectively stay in self-isolation for four
months. That decision, of course, they're going to make in the coming weeks.
Is that where we're headed?
JASAREVIC: Well, we know by now that people at risk are our elderly citizens and we need to do everything to protect them.
[11:05:00]
JASAREVIC: It's our responsibility to make sure that the vulnerable population is taken care of. Now there are different things that could be
done and countries are looking into these things.
But again, this is not to say that the young people are completely free of risk. And I think the countries are giving the guidelines of what to do.
And whatever the guideline is, because situation in different countries is different and the measures can be different.
But it's important for populations everywhere around the world to really participate and follow the advice by the national health authorities.
KINKADE: As far as I have read, it seems that no one under the age of 20 has been killed by this coronavirus.
Is that your understanding?
Because you were just sort of saying that young people are also at risk. But it seems in this instance, with this particular strain of the
coronavirus, that it seems most of the worst impact, it seems most dangerous for those over the age of 60 and 70.
JASAREVIC: You are right and this is what data we have so far is telling us. People over 60-65, are really at risk and the mortality rate among
those populations is about 20 percent.
However, there are still things we don't know about the virus. We don't know how much is being transmitted by people with very mild symptoms or no
symptoms at all.
It would be really wrong to say this crisis is touching only one part of the population because then we are risking that other parts of the
population is not taking it seriously enough.
I think everyone has to follow the advice of national health authorities and where measures of social distancing is being recommended, I think that
there is an obligation of each one of us to follow it.
KINKADE: Some countries we know are testing hundreds of thousands of people. And here in the U.S., of course, the administration in particular
has come under a lot of criticism for not testing enough, not even having enough tests available where people are coming from level 3 countries and
having symptoms of this virus.
What do you make of the United States and its response to this pandemic?
JASAREVIC: Well, this crisis is a test for every country in the world. And it's not really the time to criticize one country or another or stigmatize
a population in one place of the world or another.
As we have been saying from the beginning, where we had a majority of cases coming from China, this is a time of solidarity. This is a time where we
can do things --
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KINKADE: Tarik, with all due respect, it's not so much to criticize the United States but I'm wondering, has there been enough testing?
It's that simple.
Is there enough testing happening right now in the United States as far as you're concerned?
JASAREVIC: Well, I can just repeat what our guidance is. And then it is basically that countries that have a lower number of people being diagnosed
with COVID-19 by laboratory testing should try really to look at the virus, really try to contain the spread by finding people who are sick, what we
call case finding, looking after people who are -- who have been in close contact with them, what we call contact tracing and trying basically to
locate where the virus is and try to contain it.
Obviously, this has to be coupled with the measures of trying to slow down. But definitely, the advice of WHO is to try to test, because that will give
us the full picture of what the situation is in any of the countries.
KINKADE: We are seeing major sporting tournaments and events being canceled right around the world. We just heard this weekend that the Masters here in
Augusta in the U.S. has now been postponed. Obviously, the NBA has been put off, the Premier League.
Time and time again, we are learning about a new sports event that has been either postponed or canceled. The one thing we're not hearing from is
regards to the Olympics and the president of the Olympic Committee says they're going to rely on the World Health Organization for guidance on
whether they should go ahead.
What should happen?
Should the Olympics being postponed or canceled?
JASAREVIC: Let's be clear. It's not the role of the World Health Organization to call off any event. This is being done by the organizers.
And the role of WHO is to provide sound public health advice.
What we are saying is that every situation has to be looked at on a case- by-case basis, depending on what the transmission of any pathogen in the air, what is the capacity of the country, what is the cultural and social
context of it. So organizers have to look at it.
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JASAREVIC: We're in contact with the International Olympic Committee as we have been in many years before, trying to provide an update on the
situation. But eventually, the decision will be taken by the organizers, together with the International Olympic Committee.
We are trying to say there is no risk, we doubt, that there is no event without risk. Sometimes this risk can be managed. And whatever decision it
is, it has to be proportionate to the risk.
KINKADE: Right. But at this point in time, given we know how this virus is spreading, I would think your guidance would be that the risk would be
pretty high, to have an international event like this, where you have people flying in from all over the world for one sports event.
JASAREVIC: Well, I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself but, again, you know, organizers will have to look on a particular context. And just as countries
are doing their own analysis when they decide on closing schools or canceling cultural events, there is no blanket recommendation, really.
And what we are trying to do from our side is really try to say this is what we know about the virus. This is what we know about the transmission.
This is what we know about severity and then to see whether the risk of the transmission can be managed or it is wiser to postpone events. In that
case, try to avoid mass gatherings.
KINKADE: All right, Tarik Jasarevic, good to get you with us from the World Health Organization. Thanks so much for your time. We know you have a very
busy job right now. Thank you.
JASAREVIC: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, the pandemic has been causing confusion at the world's major airports. Salma Abdelaziz is at Heathrow outside London and Polo Sandoval
is at JFK in New York.
I want to start with you, Polo, because we are seeing what seems to be absolute chaos as people try to get back to the United States quickly from
Europe and the U.K. as a result of this Trump travel ban.
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, today is day two of the enforcement of the travel ban and accompanying health screening at airports
across the country. JFK is one of the busiest here.
Sources close to the CDC screening telling CNN that yesterday they were able to identify three passengers coming in that appeared symptomatic. They
were referred to nearby hospitals here.
On average, we reached out to Customs and Border Protection, one of the main supervisors here, who says the average wait time for the CDC testing,
the health screening required, is averaging about two hours. And the screening is fairly simple here.
According to these passengers who told us they fill out a form, what's called a health declaration. They're checked out for possible symptoms and
then referred to any appropriate action should that be necessary, a process that only takes a minute.
However, you multiply it by the many, many passengers who use this airport and others like it to enter the country and the result are these logjams we
have seen the last 24 hours.
Now as for the U.S. government, they are explaining they are fully aware that this did become an issue yesterday. However, they're working with
airlines to try to expedite this testing and also adding additional screeners to try to make this a smoother process.
Here at JFK alone, we're told there should be at least 50 medical technicians performing these health screenings. But ultimately, you have to
put yourself in the position of the passengers that are deplaning and being crammed into a space while government officials are recommending social
distancing, that you try to not get close to people.
So you can certainly imagine what the frustration has been like, the chaos, the concern and even a little bit of confusion we have seen at JFK and the
other airports that have been designated as entry points.
KINKADE: The other airport we are seeing, pretty unbelievable pictures from is Chicago's O'Hare airport, where people certainly, as you mentioned,
there's no social distancing whatsoever. People are seriously elbow to elbow and they have been complaining not only about being stuck in a
position like that for hours but also having no access to hand sanitizer.
Do we know if people that have been tested and have high temperatures, what happens to them?
Are they then going to quarantine?
What's the process?
SANDOVAL: Yes, it's a good question. We know of, again, at least three people who were identified yesterday as part of the new screening protocol.
We understand they were referred to nearby hospitals here in the New York area for further assessment and of course, one can only imagine they'll be
tested for the coronavirus itself.
But the way the U.S. government is seeing this is sort of the first chance to identify individuals who may have been exposed. They're handed a form,
that health declaration.
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SANDOVAL: And it's up to them how truthful they may want to be. But then they have a temperature check. Then they have looking out for symptoms that
could potentially flag people.
Again, to nearest medical authorities and then the rest of the passengers, of course, a majority of them, they're allow to carry on their way. U.S.
citizens, permanent residents and their families only.
KINKADE: Polo Sandoval, thanks so much.
I want to bring in Salma.
And it was only a matter of time before the Trump administration added the U.K. and Ireland to this European travel ban. But it seemed to happen
pretty quickly.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN PRODUCER: That's right, it did happen very quickly. It did seem to come as a surprise for the U.K. authorities.
We did get a statement from the foreign office saying, of course, this is an American decision for American citizens and when it comes to British
nationals, well, they should avoid all non-essential travel to the United States. Of course, that's sort of a redundant statement because new the new
restrictions on the 28 countries mean no foreign nationals can travel to the United States for the next few weeks.
What that statement does reflect is this sense across Europe and in the U.K. that the authorities in the United States are acting unilaterally,
they're not cooperating with their partners inside Europe, that in dealing with this global pandemic, when you should see global cooperation, the
Trump administration is choosing an America first policy, choosing to close its borders and not necessarily consult with its partners across the
Atlantic.
The U.K. today is also dealing with its own criticism of its handling of the pandemic, so really all of these countries reeling. And just behind me
here in Heathrow airport, we see the fallout from that, with travelers getting new information by the hour, oftentimes feeling confused.
We were speaking to American citizens inside Heathrow yesterday and they said I don't know where to find clear and concise information on what's
happening. So a lot of confusion, Lynda, as people try to make sense of all these new restrictions.
KINKADE: Certainly. Just a question without notice. We know obviously airlines in the United States are certainly cutting back on flights.
Obviously, this travel ban is going to impact the bottom line for airlines right around the world.
Are you hearing from airlines there in the U.K. about how this is going to impact them?
ABDELAZIZ: We are, Lynda. We are, indeed. There are still flights passing behind me here. We are still seeing airlines flying around Europe. But
those flights are being restricted by the day, as you know.
Some countries like Spain and Italy are in partial or full lockdowns. Advice changing for people to stop all travel and there's been an appeal to
the authorities from airlines, saying we need clearer information. We need information so we can provide passengers with details.
We have some emergency bills that have passed, some budgets that have passed from the E.U. and otherwise to help these airline services. But as
the information changes, we will expect to see more and more details on how the government will support these businesses.
KINKADE: Salma Abdelaziz, outside Heathrow airport in London, thanks so much.
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KINKADE: Let's get you up to speed on some other stories on our radar.
Starting tomorrow, Nike is closing its stores in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand to help stop the spread of the
coronavirus. The company's stores in South Korea, Japan and most of China are staying open for now.
And in the Philippines, five cities in the Manila region have announced a daily curfew. Now officials say the new policy does go into effect Sunday
from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am in the morning. Now this comes just a few days after President Duterte announced the metro Manila area would suspend all
means of transportation for a month.
And this just in to CNN. Morocco's foreign ministry is suspending all international flights to and from the country until further notice. Morocco
currently has three counted cases of the coronavirus. We'll bring you more on this as it comes to hand.
Symptom-free and still spreading the coronavirus, officials initially said it could happen but not at a significant rate. But recent studies reveal
much different results.
Reports show 80 cases in the U.S. state of Massachusetts were transmitted by people who were not showing any symptoms. For more information on how
the virus spreads, visit us online at cnn.com.
Still to come on CONNECT THE WORLD, the president of the United States doesn't have the virus, at least for now.
So what is he doing to help Americans get tested?
Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AYESHA CURRY, ACTOR, COOK AND AUTHOR: We want to make sure we rally around everyone and ensure that these kids are not wondering where their next meal
is coming from.
KINKADE (voice-over): Using their star power to feed thousands of out of school kids during the coronavirus outbreak. We'll look at more ways people
are tackling COVID-19 with good deeds.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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KINKADE: Well, the White House says President Trump has tested negative for the coronavirus and it comes after he said he was tested Friday. He
recently came into contact with two people who tested positive to the virus and faced mounting pressure to be checked for it himself.
We just learned vice president Mike Pence has not been tested. The White House says he didn't need the test, based on CDC guidelines.
President Trump's administration has been under fire for how it's handled testing for both the president himself and, frankly, for all Americans,
everyone living in this country. When asked about it on Friday, he deflected the blame.
Without offering evidence, he said the fault lies with his predecessor, former president Barack Obama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: Dr. Fauci said earlier this week that the lag in testing was in fact a failing. Do you take responsibility for that?
And when can you guarantee that every single American who needs a test will be able to have a test?
What's the date of that?
TRUMP: Yes, no, I don't take responsibility at all because we were given a set of circumstances and we were given rules, regulations and
specifications from a different time. It wasn't meant for this kind of an event with the kind of numbers we're talking about.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: To help explain what strategies might help the U.S. get through the pandemic I'm joined by Michael Bociurkiw from New York via Skype. He's
a global affairs analyst and former spokesman for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Good to have you with us.
MICHAEL BOCIURKIW, GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Good to be with you.
KINKADE: I want to start first on the U.S. response to this pandemic, because we have been reporting extensively on this virus now for months.
And even now, we're in the middle of March, we're still hearing there aren't enough tests available.
Hospitals, doctors, are saying people are coming to them from level 3 countries with symptoms and they still can't get enough tests.
What do you make of the response here in the United States?
BOCIURKIW: Well, amateur hour at the White House. I mean, we have been saying for weeks now this drip, drip, kneejerk type of approach. I have
worked for UNICEF and for WHO on disease outbreaks around the world, measles and polio.
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BOCIURKIW: And I have seen better preparation in developing countries than here, where, in those countries, you have, from the very start, all hands
on deck, all of society, all of government approach.
But I think what was missing here is very, very early, aggressive interventions like we have seen in Hong Kong and especially Singapore.
In Singapore, for example, they had widespread testing. They had very strict quarantine very, very early on. They stopped traffic from China. And
then also, very, very important, which I'm not really seeing here, is intensive tracing.
Where did the virus come from and to where did it move?
And then finally, surge capacity. WHO said recently that the problem in a lot of wealthier countries is hospitals here are operating on a very lean
and mean type of protocol. So with that, coupled with cuts in funding for pandemic outbreak, leaves the United States in a very vulnerable place.
KINKADE: Yes, it certainly does. We heard earlier from the governor of Illinois, who had some pretty harsh words for the Trump administration and
he tweeted, he needs to know what it's like to get -- this is what he said.
The federal government needs to get its act together, basically, now. He's talking about the crazy lines we're seeing at the airport. More travel
restrictions are again on the way. What do you make of the way this has played out, given that it seems like the Trump team didn't even talk to
their representatives in Europe, in the U.K., about rolling out this travel ban?
It all happened quite quickly and it seemed to catch even the airports off guard.
BOCIURKIW: Well, Lynda, nothing short of disastrous. I flew in a few days ago from Europe and there was zero screening. Now we have gone to this
intensive screening and long lineups and lack of preparation.
I think what is happening here in the United States is the local governments, the state governments, are fed up and they're acting
unilaterally. Just a few hours ago, the mayor of Hoboken nearby me has declared a curfew.
That is happening globally. There's very, very little lack of coordination. I think one of your colleagues called it an America first policy happening
in the Trump White House. So that means that we're not coordinating with the E.U.
In fact, the United States, I think, has really upset them by acting unilaterally. The other thing, just quickly, Lynda, is WHO would normally
be the global authority on these types of outbreaks.
But I think what we have been seeing happening is a lot of countries actually ignoring their advice and acting unilaterally and that hasn't
helped up in any way whatsoever either. So their moral authority, I think, has really declined. That could be harmful in future, God forbid,
outbreaks.
KINKADE: A new national poll on the virus in the United States has been released. It's the results from NBC News and Wall Street, which shows a lot
of concern. Found that most people interviewed, more than 60 percent, believe the worst is yet to come.
What do you make of that?
Because we are certainly hearing from places like the CDC, that say even though schools might be closed for the next two to four weeks, it could be
at least eight weeks, maybe the end of the year, which means you're going to have people looking after kids trying to work from home. This is going
to have global ramifications.
BOCIURKIW: Absolutely. I fall into that category of the more pessimistic approach because of the time that was lost by particularly the Trump
administration.
This will go on for a long time. We're going to see a huge upswing in cases. We're going to see, sadly, a lot of deaths.
And Lynda, my heart goes out, especially to health care workers. But I hope we don't get to that point where health workers and doctors have to make
life and death decisions on what type of equipment is deployed to certain patients.
But it really is sad to see. You know, America is respected worldwide for its ingenuity and wealth. Usually when these types of things happen, it's a
leader. But I think we're seeing the Trump playbook, blame others, don't take responsibility.
And again, previous cuts that have happened have really put the country in a bad position. So everyone needs to work together, look after each other,
strong prayers. It's going to be a very tough ride. We're all hoping for the best.
KINKADE: Yes, we often do hear about that, that, in times of global crisis in the past, the world turns to the United States to lead the world out of
a problem. It certainly doesn't seem to be happening in this case.
We did hear from the top infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, who spoke to my colleague, Brianna Keilar. And he didn't rule out putting the
entire country on a temporary national lockdown. Let's listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Would you like to see a national lockdown?
Basically, people, you can't go out to restaurants and bars.
You need to stay home?
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: I would like to see a dramatic diminution of the personal interaction we see
in restaurants and in bars.
[11:30:00]
FAUCI: Whatever it takes to do that, that's what I would like to see.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: That's certainly pretty scary to hear, given how quickly this travel ban rolled out and how quickly we saw that scramble for people to
fly home from Europe, to fly home from the U.K., to get back into the United States.
Certainly, that is going to create some fear, I think, among people once they hear there could be this mandatory lockdown.
BOCIURKIW: Yes, well, Lynda, that significant behavioral change that needed to happen earlier, not going out to restaurants, that sort of thing, isn't
happening. Here in New York City, a lot of people can't afford the luxury of having that spacing, especially in the subways.
If you're an hourly wage earner, you're not taking an Uber. So that's a big problem here. You know, we live in a different atmosphere here, where
people love and fight for these liberties. So it's going to take a government order. It needs to happen now.
Stay at home, minimum two weeks. Nothing moves, sharp and short interventions.
And quickly, Lynda, I'm often asked, why did it work in Singapore?
You know, there they have this kind of optimal balance between cutting-edge capitalism and managed paternalism, if I can put it that way. So people are
used to listening to the government. Here, I think we had a real drop in trust in government. And that's playing itself out hourly, daily, weekly
with this pandemic.
KINKADE: Michael, always good to have you with us. Thanks so much.
BOCIURKIW: Likewise, thank you.
KINKADE: We'll take a quick break. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Stay with us.
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KINKADE: Welcome back. I'm Lynda Kinkade. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD.
Lockdowns, travel restrictions, social distancing. Every day, the world moves less and worries more.
[11:35:00]
KINKADE: As governments offer new ways to put the brakes on the coronavirus pandemic. Citizens of the U.K. and Ireland are day away from the latest
U.S. measures. The Trump administration has restricted travel for 30 days right across Europe. Britain was added to that list as well as Ireland
after Britain's death toll jumped by 21.
Well, the Spanish government is imposing a nationwide lockdown after a spike in coronavirus cases there. This comes as the prime minister's wife
tests positive for the infection.
The situation is changing so rapidly that British airline Jet2 decided to turn around five flights in midair that were already en route to Spain.
It's halted all of its flight into the country.
The strict measures on public movement now in place have emptied the once crowded streets of Madrid. The head of the European Tourism Association has
a message for President Trump over his European travel ban.
He says, and I quote, "As it stands, this move disproportionately damages inbound tourism to the U.S. and punctures confidence in Europe as a
destination. Fear is more damaging and spreads faster than a virus."
The U.K. is advising against all but essential travel to the U.S. And Tom Jenkins joins me now via Skype from London.
Good to have you with us, Tom.
TOM JENKINS, CEO, EUROPEAN TOURISM ASSOCIATION: Good afternoon in London.
KINKADE: Yes, good afternoon, indeed. I want to get a little more of your perspective from you. Since in the days, just days since this travel ban
came into effect, Trump travel ban, that banned everyone flying pretty much from most of Europe and now the U.K. and Ireland, which would take effect
Monday, just give us a sense of what you make of the impact that's going to have.
JENKINS: Well, I think it's essentially something which, in some ways, reflected the market. It bans Europeans coming to America. It doesn't ban
Americans going to Europe at the moment.
All it does is puncture any confidence Americans might have in going to Europe. I think to a certain extent what Trump was doing is not different
from what, for example, the Chinese authorities are doing, which effectively quarantining people from Europe arriving in China.
I think the main point is that he really just reflected what's already happening in the marketplace and just accentuated it. We're now seeing mass
cancellations of bookings in Europe by Americans, obviously seeing no material bookings coming in.
So the demand for Europe in America, quite naturally, is tanking at the moment. And we don't foresee it coming back for at least three or maybe
even four months.
KINKADE: And it's not just Americans going into Europe. When we see, obviously, entire countries virtually shut down and we're seeing the number
of infections and the death toll rise in places like Italy, other people around the world are obviously canceling trips going into summer there.
I know my in-laws had planned a trip for a couple years. They were planning to fly in in June and July and their insurance won't even cover the trip
now. Even months out, they're told don't fly, so they're trying to work their way through canceling everything.
This is what you're going to see for quite some time, don't you think?
JENKINS: I think we're looking at -- let's be realistic, this is not anyone's characteristic shyness about traveling in a time of disaster.
Europeans are not going around at the moment.
You yourself covered the fact Spain and Italy are effectively on lockdown. There are no museums to see, restaurants are not open. Hotels are largely
shuttered and there's nothing to go to in Spain or Italy at the moment.
KINKADE: Yes.
JENKINS: And indeed, the domestic -- the domestic industry in Europe, which is by far the most important angle of any tourism industry, is local
demand. That is collapsing.
You're seeing senior people, as indeed your interlocutor early on in this broadcast pointed out, the encouragement is to stop people going out, stop
people meeting in restaurants, stop people going to cinemas, museums and attractions.
As this is happening, you're looking at effectively a hibernation of the entire service economy, of which tourism is a vital component but it is
just a component.
KINKADE: We even had a trip planned to the U.K. in July. And even if the travel ban, the Trump travel ban gets lifted, there's still that fear that,
should you go, you should then spend potentially 14 days in quarantine in a military base in the U.S. when you get back.
So you can understand that fear is going to continue, right?
[11:40:00]
JENKINS: You know, that fear is going to be there until it's lifted and it has to be formally lifted. I think we're waiting and everyone is obviously
rapidly plotting when the moment arrives, when herd immunity cuts in and people can start moving around freely.
When that is, well, if you knew that, please let me know. But the prediction at the moment is between 10 and 14 weeks.
KINKADE: Just a quick one, because we are seeing major airlines like Delta talk about cutting flights and recommending that some of their employees
take unpaid leave.
Do you expect that some of the smaller airlines, some of the smaller businesses and hospitality just might not survive this?
JENKINS: I don't know. People have said that this virus is going to kill more businesses than people. I think it's very difficult to stay in
business when there is no business out there. And I think a lot of people are facing a tough time.
I think what we need to do somehow through this very bleak period is try to concentrate on recovery. And recovery, when it comes, firstly, will be in
domestic demand and then a rapid return of confidence. As that confidence returns, it will be a fantastic time to be traveling in Europe.
KINKADE: Some bargain flights, no doubt.
JENKINS: Comparatively empty and the prices will be low and you'll never see such better time.
KINKADE: All right, Tom Jenkins, we'll leave it there for now but good to get your perspective on this. Thanks so much.
JENKINS: Thank you.
KINKADE: Still to come, your cell phone is a petri dish of microbes.
But could you get the coronavirus from it?
We'll look at the risks. Stay with us. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD.
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KINKADE: Welcome back. Call to Earth is a call to action for the environment, to share solutions to critical issues like global warming,
deforestation and plastic waste.
It's a long-term priority for all of us at CNN to work with you to drive awareness and inspire change for a sustainable future. We look at one
woman's efforts to save an endangered species in South Africa.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): High up in the mountains of South Africa Cederberg stands one of the rarest trees on the planet, the Clanwilliam
cedar.
[11:45:00]
RIKA DU PLESSIS, CONSERVATION MANAGER (voice-over): Cederberg has a very unique floral biodiversity and one of the major things is the Clanwilliam
cedar tree that occurs nowhere else in the entire world.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): This iconic species survived the last Ice Age.
DU PLESSIS (voice-over): The cedar trees developed in a period about 225 million years ago. These trees date back to when it was very, very cold.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): But today, their future hangs in the balance as the species is critically endangered. Historically, these trees
were harvested for their wood. More recently, they're facing a far greater threat.
DU PLESSIS (voice-over): Due to climate change, the whole world is experiencing higher temperatures, lower rainfall, all of this accumulates
to more frequent fires, longer summers, shorter winters. It's just a knock- on effect that is bad news to the cedar tree.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): For the past 17 years, conservation manager Rika du Plessis has been committed to saving the Clanwilliam cedar.
DU PLESSIS (voice-over): We collect the cedar seeds as needed and then, annually, we plant the trees. In some cases, you have to hike up high into
the mountain. There's no roads. So everything that we need needs to be carried in.
The staff helps to carry the trays of seedlings in. Some places, we even have to carry the water to water the seedlings when we plant them. It is
hard work but I have a dedicated team of staff.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): Du Plessis has personally been involved in planting 13,600 trees. It's a delicate and diligent process that begins
with harvesting the tree's seeds.
DU PLESSIS (voice-over): This is a clump of cedar cones. When they're ripe, they dry out and it releases the cedar seeds. The seeds take 15 months to
mature. A tree reaches seed producing maturity at about 25 to 30 years of age.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): She says this region used to be lined with avenues of cedars. Today, they're mostly found high up in the
mountains, sparsely spread out between rocks.
DU PLESSIS (voice-over): They love growing on these outcrops. They're naturally protected by the fire that is a big threat to these trees.
Another thing that's actually a threat are also rodents. They love eating the young shoots off the trees.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): She says only 10 percent of seedlings planted here will survive. But she has started pursuing alternative methods
by creating cedar tree plantations.
DU PLESSIS (voice-over): In the plantations, we use a water box to plant the trees in. A water box is just a modified plastic container that looks
like a doughnut. And then it has a cotton string that comes from inside the box that works as a reservoir. We're finding that we almost have 100
percent survival rate on the trees that we plant with the water boxes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): A leader in her field, she is paving the way for more female conservationists.
DU PLESSIS (voice-over): I think we are in some cases more passionate and we can make a positive impact at caring for the environment. I have to
believe that the efforts we are putting in is making a difference.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: We are going to continue to showcase inspirational stories like this as part of our new initiative here at CNN. Let us know what you're
doing to answer the call using the hashtag #CallToEarth. We'll be right back.
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[11:50:00]
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KINKADE: Welcome back. Medical experts say the coronavirus can live on surfaces for days but could items only touched by your own hands pose a
risk at well?
Cell phones, steering wheels, even laptops are things we may not even consider. CNN's Hadas Gold takes a look at how many surfaces she touches on
her way to work.
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HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Wash your hands. Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze. Avoid large crowds. But in addition to all
these novel coronavirus precautions, there is a crucial item missing, something we all touch over and over again every day: our phones.
Few of us can live without our smartphones. But they are often the forgotten link between public services and our face.
KENNETH MAK, SINGAPORE MINISTRY OF HEALTH: And also to be mindful the things that you commonly touch and the most common thing that you touch is
your phone and you might want to make sure you clean the surfaces of your phone as well. It is subconscious; we often do that. But these are the
important things to make sure that your protect yourself.
GOLD (voice-over): Let's take a look at just my daily commute. If I'm taking the bus, there are the handrails and the stop button. Of course all
while I'm checking my emails and tweets. Calling for the pedestrian signal and into the office, where I've got two sets of doors to open, with my pass
that I touch dozens of times a day, and a stairway to climb.
Straight off, I need some caffeine with a dash of milk before my workday has even begun. I touch public surfaces a total of 11 times and my phone a
total of four times just on my commute in.
Our phones can be hotbeds of bacteria, effectively a petri dish in our pockets.
DR. MARK FIELDER, KINGSTON UNIVERSITY: There's probably quite a lot of microorganisms on there because you are holding them against your skin, you
are handling them all the time and also you are speaking into them.
And speaking does release droplets of water just in normal speech. So there is likely that a range of microbes, including COVID-19, should you be
infected with that virus, might end up on your phone. So giving your phone a clean would be not a bad idea at all.
GOLD (voice-over): So how should we be cleaning our phones without damaging them?
GOLD: Apple recently updated their guidance, saying you can wipe your phone down with either disinfectant wipes or 70 percent isopropyl alcohol. Other
phone manufacturers recommend a mixture of hand soap and water and a soft microfiber cloth.
What they recommend is that you take one of these wipes, wipe down the hard surfaces of your phone while trying to avoid any sort of open ports, like
the charging port or headphone jack.
Or if you want to be a little bit high tech, you can try one of these ultraviolet sterilizers. You pop the phone in for about 10 minutes and let
it zap the germs. But it is not clear yet how effective these are on coronavirus.
GOLD (voice-over): Considering my iPhone tells me I pick up may phone an average of 205 times a day, the latest front in battling the coronavirus
may be in your hands right now -- For CNN, I'm Hadas Gold in London.
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KINKADE: Well, as fear over the virus spreads and the world seems to be shutting in on itself, people are turning to acts of kindness as an
antidote to the coronavirus. Well, CNN's Robyn Curnow looks at some of the good deeds.
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ROBYN CURNOW, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): 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.
In Italy, residents shuttered in their homes, broke out into a round of applause from their balconies and a show of gratitude for the doctors and
nurses caring for the sick.
Basketball star Steph Curry and his wife, Ayesha, are raising money to buy millions of lunches for children in California who may not have access to
lunch because of school closings.
CURRY: We want to make sure we rally around everyone and ensure that these kids are not wondering where their next meal is coming from.
CURNOW (voice-over): Local communities are asking people to buy gift certificate and vouchers from 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 the grocery store, so she went instead
to get their food. Her tweet has been shared over 100,000 times.
REBECCA MEHRA, GOOD SAMARITAN: It's a difficult time.
[11:55:00]
MEHRA: People are really scared. There are a lot of nerves. I see it in schools and grocery stores and other places around the community I live in.
But you know, kindness helps.
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 -- Robyn Curnow, CNN, Atlanta.
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KINKADE: Well, days after Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, announced they were both diagnosed with novel coronavirus while in Australia, Wilson
decided to try to brighten everyone's lives just a little bit.
She created a playlist for anyone in self-isolation, called Quarantunes and released it on Spotify. It includes MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" and
Queen's "I Want to Break Free."
Hanks took to Twitter to thank everyone for their support.
He wrote, "Let's take care of ourselves and each other."
Wilson joked, "The only Corona I want is the one you drink from Mexico."
Before we go, we want to ask you what questions you have on coronavirus. Let us know. You can connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. And you can
find me on Instagram and Twitter as well @LyndaKinkade. That was CONNECT THE WORLD. Thanks so much for watching. I'll see you later in the week.
Take care.
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