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Governors Of U.S. States Impose Tighter Responsible Measures; Spain, Italy, Germany, And Other Impose Lockdowns; Italy Records 368 Deaths In Last 24 Hours. Aired 11:00-12p ET
Aired March 16, 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]
PAULA HANCOCK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Of course they have no idea where this pandemic is going. Trading had to be halted briefly. Now that is
why while U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in fact postponed announcing new guidelines until later in the day.
We are hearing a possible curfew for the entire country is on the table and that includes border closures between Canada and the United States. Now the
U.S. states continue to take matters into their own hands, with multiple governors ordering places to close and bans on gatherings elsewhere in the
world. Entire countries remain on lockdown. It's all part of measures imposed to try and slow down the spread of the virus.
We have teams of course covering this right around the globe watching as governments try and respond effectively to this pandemic. Melissa Bell in
Rome, Scott McLean is standing by for us in Madrid, Fred Pleitgen is on the German-Polish border. And Vanessa Yurkevich in the heart of New York City.
I want to thank you all for joining us. We're going to go first to you, Melissa. And again, all eyes on Italy because really it is Italy in terms
of the virus moving west that taught us what this could look like what life could look like. And yet there the death toll continues to climb. What can
you tell us?
MELISSA BELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Paula. We've just been hearing from the Italian Prime Minister confirming the details of
how some of that 25 billion Euro stimulus package is going to be spent. And he spoke really, in those terms, Paula, insofar as Italy being ahead of
many other countries that appeared to be following in its wake in Europe, United States possibly provided an Italian model when it came to healthcare
trying to help the healthcare system which is extremely stretched as you would imagine to cope.
But also to Italian model economically that is trying to help people to get through these economic sacrifices that they're obliged to make ordinary
families, businesses, the entire economy, for the public good in the name of bringing this outbreak under control. So people have been offered all
kinds of help to get through that. Still, the question is, of course, you're quite right one, one -- when will we start seeing a change in those
numbers.
And that's important both for the healthcare system and for the economy. We've been speaking to a doctor in the north of the country, he said, look
as things stand for the time being, and if the numbers continue to rise as fast as they've been rising, we could run out of beds in Lombardi, which is
where he was speaking from by the end of the month. So it is an extremely stretch system.
And it is because it is so stretched, the government is really doing everything it can and urging people to stay at home. There are indications
that in some of those parts, the country that were locked down early on three weeks ahead of the rest of the country, there could be some
turnaround in the figures, the stabilization of them, at least in the whole world right now. We'll be watching those towns in a Lombardi and Veneto to
see when these sorts of sacrifices, when this sort of lockdown begins to pay off and the answer to that is probably at least a couple of weeks,
Paula.
HANCOCK: Yes. Which should give everyone around the world a pause. Melissa, thank you. I want to go now Vanessa Yurkevich. She is in the heart of New
York City. Scenes that really haven't been seen in New York City for quite some decades. I have been stunned by empty shelves. And we now have word
that in New Jersey, in Connecticut and in New York as of 8:00 p.m. tonight, it looks like restaurants and bars will close down. It will be takeaway
only is that what is starting to settle in for New Yorkers right now?
VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Paula. And a lot of the burden is going to fall on these grocery stores.
Here is a new product that just came in this morning, badly needed for a lot of the barren shelves. At this grocery store here in Manhattan. There
has been such a demand, such pressure on the supply chain to get more food into these stores as they're now having to order three and four more times
what they would normally order.
We asked the co-owner of this grocery store chain here in New York, is there going to be a food shortage? This is what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVEN SLOAN, OWNER, MORTON WILLIAM: Everything's OK right now in terms of supplies, I think it's just an incredible add demand on the system. It's
not that we're not getting products, it's just that we're having to order three and four times as much as we normally would on an order. And it's
hard for people to catch up with those kind of orders. So we are getting product in, it may not be the quantities that we want but it is coming in
and it is coming in on a daily basis.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YURKEVICH: So he's reassuring folks there that there'll be no food shortage, just be patient, just take what you need. Don't buy the whole
shelf, you need to leave some stuff for your neighbors. Also precautions around shoppers. In some of these stores there could be more than 50 people
at one time. So they're sanitizing everything from the shopping carts, to the baskets to the credit card machines where you put in your PIN number.
They're taking this very seriously asking their employees if they're not feeling well to please stay home, but also really relying on Americans to
practice social distancing.
[11:05:03]
YURKEVICH: Staying away from shoppers as far as you can as these stores get very crowded as Americans are really trying to stock up with as many
groceries as possible, Paula in these very, very uncertain times here.
HANCOCK: Yes. With even the President yesterday making a plea, look, don't buy so much the food is not going to run out. He's assured everyone that
the food supply remains good and strong and will continue. Vanessa Yurkevich for us on the streets of New York. Appreciate it. I want to go
now to our Scott McLean, who is in Central Madrid there and unbelievable scenes, you know, as we've been looking to Italy, Scott, some people have
kind of forgotten that Spain has been impacted by the coronavirus as well.
And in the last 24 to 48 hours, the Spanish have really dealt with a lot more draconian measures.
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You're absolutely right. And that's because the number of cases has really been shooting up dramatically
today, we learned that the number of confirmed cases is more than 9000, about half of those are here in Madrid alone. Obviously, you mentioned
these draconian measures, schools are closed restaurants, businesses, they are all closed with very few exceptions.
You're not even allowed to leave your house, unless it's to go to work or it's to go to the grocery store. We're at the main train station here. And
these are folks, by and large, who are going to and from work. We've talked to a whole bunch of people who have concerns that, yes, this station would
normally be much busier than it is. But even right now, at times, you get some trains that are quite busy that are quite packed.
The train schedule right now is running at about half of what it usually is, the authorities have said that they're trying to run these trains at
about 30 percent capacity so that people have enough space to be about a meter away from other people. But we are hearing from passengers that that
simply is not happening. No one is immune to this virus. We know that the prime minister's wife has tested positive for it.
Today we got confirmation that the President of the Madrid region also has a positive case of the coronavirus. And the authorities are worried about
the amount of supplies that they might have. The health minister saying that any company that has the capacity to produce anything like surgical
gloves that I'm wearing or a mask, you must let the government know that you can do that.
Also if you have any supplies like that, it -- for sale any companies that have them you have to turn them over to the government so that they can
supply the hospitals. Even just today, the civil guard in Spain uncovered a truck that was carrying 150,000 masks, presumably for sale that will now be
turned over to the hospitals. One other thing to mention, Paula, and that's that branch of the military, the equivalent of the U.S. National Guard has
been brought in typically after disasters.
You see them say, you know, removing rubble search and rescue, manning checkpoints, things like that. They are here to do whatever is needed, and
in this case, what is so desperately needed is for these members of the military to be cleaning trains, cleaning buses, cleaning, you know, any
well used part of the public transportation system, because that is really among the most dangerous jobs right now, Paula.
HANCOCK: And yet so essential, really frontline workers at this kind of pandemic really starts to spread around the globe. Our Scott McLean for us
in Madrid. Appreciate it. And now to Fred Pleitgen who is on the Polish- German border. You've been there for several hours. Now, Fred, this is new, right? In the sense that who would have thought in the last few decades
that you would see, once again, that kind of a dramatic scene at a border?
FRED PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think you're absolutely right, Paula. I think it's new. It's unprecedented. It's certainly
something that you're not going to only see at the Polish-German border, but of course have borders right now across Europe. And it really is
something that many Europeans hadn't thought they would see once again in their lifetime. What we've been seeing throughout the day here is that a
lot of people have been turned back from this border.
So on this border right here, it's the polar side that closed it down. And we've seen a bunch of German cars, Lithuanian cars that have been turned
back. Essentially what happens is that -- there's folks here who are checking in with the cars that were in respiratory masks. The people who
are in those cars get their temperature taken. And they also have to fill out one of these forms, all the ones that are actually let into the country
that includes truck drivers and also other Polish motorists where they have to put down their address, the address of the company that they work for,
and any way that they can be contacted.
What the poles are trying to do, the Germans are trying to do on their borders as well is try to make sure that friendly people cross the border
who absolutely have to. So people who work on the other side of the border, but then also of course, truck drivers. And if we look around, you can see
that there are a lot of trucks in this line. And this is I think, Paula, really one of those places where you can see a continent economy almost
screeched to a halt because the traffic here has been almost as a standstill all day.
It took a very long time for every truck to cross the border. And then of course in an environment as you said, we're normally people wouldn't even
notice that they're crossing a border.
[11:10:02]
PLEITGEN: In the past decades really here in Europe, crossing a border between two countries has been like crossing the border between two states
in America.
HANCOCK: Yes.
PLEITGEN: The tarmac might change color, that might be assigned. But you really don't even have to go any slower.
HANCOCK: Yes.
PLEITGEN: Right now, that's not the case. And within a matter of a day or so, as you can see the polar side has put up controls here, the Germans
have on a lot of their borders right now. It's really brought things to a crawl on these borders and made some of these motors of course quite angry
who aren't used to seeing something like this stuff, Paula.
HANCOCK: I can only imagine. I don't have a lot of time for it. But before I let you go, I want to talk to you about a controversy happening both in
Europe and here in the United States that has to do with a company called CureVac and a vaccine. And whether or not the President of the United
States tried to entice this company financially so that the vaccine would end up in the United States first. You I know have been alerting that the
company is now denying that?
The company has denied. Actually -- I actually filmed that company about two weeks ago and they -- for their part were saying, look, we are in the
process of trying to develop a vaccine. And they were pretty sure that they were going to be able to get it done in a pretty quick amount of time for -
- the amount of time would normally take to make a vaccine. Now the company is denying that they received any official offers from the United States.
However, yesterday, Germany's interior minister, when asked about whether or not this was true, he said to his knowledge, he's heard from several
members of the German cabinet that the story is accurate, and that in fact, this had taken place and the German government wanted to talk about it
today in a crisis meeting. Now, we haven't heard back from the German government yet.
But as you can see, there are sort of different versions of this. But one of the things that we do know is that the man who was CEO of that company
until last week, he was actually in a meeting between President Trump and members of the pharma industry and he was one of the people who had also
told President Trump that he believes that his company or that company CureVac is going to be able to make a vaccine or is working very heavily on
a vaccine and believes that it can make one in a very short period of time as far as vaccine is concerned.
They were telling us when we were filming at that institution that they could probably do it within a year, within the certification process which
is an extremely quick period of time trying to get a vaccine going. So certainly, it's something that is causing a big stir, obviously, here in
Germany, it's obviously causing big stir in America as well. It's unclear to what extent it all is the case but you can see that it really has
reached the highest level of the German government, and they certainly are taking it very seriously, Paula.
HANCOCK: Absolutely. Good news that they are working on that vaccine. Yes, to see politics. In fact, all of this process has been disheartening, Fred.
I know you'll stay on top of it. I appreciate it. We want to just take a quick check of the markets. I promise it's OK to look the major indices
really are off their lows. They plunged the start of trading you'll remember even though the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates to zero
that's quite a firm floor, I kind of like that, they're well off their lows.
Julia Chatterley will tell you the same thing. She's our anchor of "FIRST MOVE." And for us at the New York Stock Exchange. Julia, what's going on
here? Is it more of this G7 meeting meaning the promise of fiscal stimulus here?
JULIA CHATTERLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: I think we can hold on to that some form of hope. But I think, Paula, as you well know, when you've seen a
plunge in the instant moments of trading, we were down some 11-1/2 half percent, just a bit of a pause here, realizing where we are with wipes a
third of the value of these markets in just a short space of time. So to see a bit of claw back, I think here makes sense.
It's cross asset to earlier on in the session oil dipped below $30.00 a barrel. We're back above 30. So it's happening everywhere, where people are
looking around and saying, is it -- does it make sense to be selling so indiscriminately at this stage? We'll wait and see for that -- for that
call. The bigger reaction here I think was looking at what the Federal Reserve did yesterday and through all measures at the market.
And a lot of people coming out and saying slashing interest rates, throwing more cash at the system is perhaps not what we need at this moment. It's
targeted. What I just listened to you is building a picture of what is effectively economic blackouts around the world in certain spots, and it's
spreading. And there is no rulebook for this, there is no model to gauge what the economic impact is.
And what's undeniably needed now is for governments to step up and say, we need to make targeted efforts to support certain parts of the economy. The
airlines is a great example here, individual workers that might lose benefits, their job in the coming months. It's only expected to be for a
certain short space of time on a relative basis. The problem is action is required now, so yes, we look ahead to that G7 meeting, but we need to see
far more response from government's here, Paula.
[11:15:00]
CHATTERLEY: And I think until we see that wake up and that dawning realization that more is needed. Markets are going to remain incredibly
fragile.
HANCOCK: I can imagine, Julia. Thanks so much for following all of it and for continue to follow it the markets certainly at -- even at seven
percent, hard to believe, doing better than they were.
Now we want to get you right up to speed on some other stories that are on our radar. India announced plans to combat the coronavirus with the travel
ban for people flying from the European Union, the U.K. and Turkey. The ban will also include Indian nationals and will be in place until the end of
the month. Now certain tourist sites such as this monastery that you see there have been closed and across the country, other sites have been closed
as well.
State media reports that Jordan has imposed a compulsory 14-day quarantine on all airport arrivals to the kingdom over the coronavirus pandemic. The
sudden decision has caused huge disruptions you can imagine at the airport, the Ministry of Health says there are now only 16 cases in Jordan. The
coronavirus pandemic may force the cancellation of this year's European Football Championship.
The association governs European football, the UEA -- EUFA we'll say, EUFA, pardon me, is holding an emergency meeting. Video via video conference we
should say that's a specific detail to discuss the coronavirus epidemic. Also worth noting, the U.S. military is scaling back a major drill called
defender Europe 20 over COVID-19 concerns. It was set to be one of the biggest military exercises in Europe since the end of the Cold War.
The U.S. stopped moving personnel and equipment to the continent as of Friday. OK. Coming up next here. We'll talk about President Trump's string
of coronavirus miss truth, CNN's chief media correspondent.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HANCOCK: And now a closer look. U.S. President Donald Trump's strained relationship with the truth. Perhaps no time in his presidency has exposed
the potential danger of spreading falsehoods quite like this pandemic that we're all living through right here. Here are just a few of his troubling
moments over the last few months.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: By April, you know, in theory when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.
The coronavirus which is, you know, very well under control in our country. We have very few people with it, the people are getting better, they're all
getting better. We're very close to a vaccine.
We're going down, not up. We're going very substantially down not up. Of the 15 people, the original 15 as I call them, eight of them have returned
to their homes to stay in their homes until fully recovered. And again when you have 15 people and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down
to close to zero. That's a pretty good job we've done.
[11:20:03]
TRUMP: It's going to disappear one day, it's like a miracle it will disappear. Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus.
There's only one hotspot. And that's also pretty much in a very, in a home. As you know, in a nursing home.
We have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work. Some of them go to
work, but they get better.
Anybody that needs a test gets a test, we -- they're there. They have the tests. And the tests are beautiful.
Is blindsided the world. And I think we've handled it very, very well. We're doing a great job with it and it will go away, just stay calm, it
will go away. If we get rid of the problem quickly everything solves itself. We don't need stimulus, so that'll be good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCK: CNN Chief Media Correspondent Brian Stelter joins me from New York. A man-made evermore busy you are Brian Stelter after comments like
that from the President, I have to tell you, I am annoyed. I have had so many friends just even coming to me asking for me what is the real deal? I
tell them go to source information. And part of the reason is the (INAUDIBLE) that we just put together.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Yes. The Trump administration has aggravated this crisis in the United States. There's no doubt about it.
And that is largely because the President hasn't wanted to face the facts, the scientific facts and the medical facts about how severe this could
become and now every day is becoming. He is not out there talking about the hospital surge.
He is not out there giving advice to Americans who are worried and anxious about what to do. Every step of the way he's been like three or four steps
behind. And I don't say that lightly or any joy in my voice. It is incredibly disappointing and scary that the President has not shown
leadership but the state's governors have in many cases, local officials and mayors and county councilman.
We've seen a lot of leadership in the United States, from other elected officials just not from President Trump. I would say though there's a
couple exceptions to that comment. There have been some really disappointing and scary comments from some Republican election officials.
For example, Congressman Devin Nunes, who was out there on Sunday telling people to go visit restaurants. Here's a clip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. DEVIN NUNES (R-CA): I will just say one of the things you can do if you're healthy, you and your family, it's a great time to just go out, go
to a local restaurant. Likely you can get in -- get in easily. There's, you know, let's not hurt the working people in this country that are relying on
wages and tips to keep their small business going.
MARIA BARTIROMO, FOX BUSINESS NETWORK ANCHOR: You know, we're very --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STELTER: A lot of small businessmen are going to be in trouble in the coming months. They are going to need help when the restaurants are closed.
But the reality is he's on television saying that kind of comment at the exact same time the head of the CDC and other officials are saying do not
patronize restaurants, do not go out in public. And as you've been reporting, numerous states are closing down bars and restaurants.
If they haven't already. They're starting to today here in New York City. They'll be closed as of 8:00 p.m. tonight, and the only options will be
takeout or delivery. And you have elected officials like Nunes out there contradicting the health and the scientific officials. That's a disturbing
situation.
HANCOCK: Yes. Having been on conference calls with medical experts since the end of January, I would say if he had been on some of those conference
calls with you and I, he would kind of know what was up. Brian, I have to ask you. And this is something we always get criticized for, right? It's
coming from my own friends and family saying the media is making too much of this. You're scaring everyone.
From what you've seen, what is that fine line between telling it like it is, giving the facts, but not panicking, everyone? Because I, you know,
we've all kind of gone through a lot of criticism for that in the last few weeks. And we hate to have told everyone. Yes, we were right. But that is
what happened, not because we were right, but because we listen to the experts.
STELTER: And that's what this is about, not the media, but about the scientists and the public health officials who know what is happening and
know what is coming and our job is just to facilitate them. And I think ultimately to empower the public with accurate information. That's why when
President Trump is out there, misinforming people as he did again on Sunday, we should probably just do -- spend our time talking to the local
and state officials and officials and other countries and scientists, you know, and kind of almost weave around what the President says.
That is a very sad state of affairs but it's true. The President of the United States to their lead or get out of the way. And we should hear more
from scientists and from medical experts who know what is really happening. I think are dropping the presses to be aware of but not alarmist, you know,
it is to help people be informed without scaring them to death. But this is scary. And I also think we should be honest with viewers about how scary it
is.
HANCOCK: And Brian, I'm going to cut you off right there.
STELTER: I think many of our viewers are feeling the exact anxiety.
HANCOCK: Your governor, Andrew Cuomo is about to speak about the situation in New York State. There you go.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO, (D-NY): Significant number of people tested positive. We will do everything we can, but we need Federal assets and we need federal
assistance. I am very proud of this state government and what it can do.
[11:25:00]
CUOMO: And we have done things that no state government has done before. We built bridges. We build airports, we've responded to emergencies. But know
what you can't do. We don't have the billions of dollars that you would need to implement an immediate emergency hospital construction program.
This state can't do it, no state can do it.
To increase hospital capacity of the existing hospitals in the meantime, DOH is going to be suspending its regulations to allow existing hospitals
to increase their space and capacity. DOH's regulations about how many beds per room, how much space between beds et cetera, how wide hallway has to
be. Those are going to be suspended. So hospitals can actually use their physical space with more efficiency.
We're leaving it up to the hospitals for their discretion and prudence in making these decisions. But we do have to get very aggressive about them
better using their existing space. I want the private hospitals to be on notice that we may soon be canceling elective surgery. We are not doing it
now. Elective surgery is between 25 and 35 percent of the beds. Some of the elective surgery is critical. Some is not critical.
The non-critical elective surgery may be canceled on a mandatory basis. I'm asking them now as a precaution to start the plan. To cancel elective
surgery that is not necessary. We will need that capacity in the hospitals when those numbers peak. Michael Dowling, who was the former health
commissioner for the State of New York, phenomenal fellow, he worked with my father and was in my father's administration who was health
commissioner.
He was deputy secretary. He's just a jewel of a human being. And he's one of the best healthcare professionals in the United States of America. He
runs Northwell now, which is a magnificent organization. But Michael and Ken Raske. Ken Raske Greater New York Hospital Association. They coordinate
all the hospitals. I asked them to convene all the hospitals and now start developing the maximum surge coming capacity.
So if a hospital's capacity is 500. OK. What if we bring in more beds? How many more beds can you hold? What if we brought in more staff? Et cetera.
We also have a number of efforts going on on finding more staff, more doctors, et cetera, not just for the surge capacity, but also for the
additional facilities we may open. These are the new number of tests. We're up to 7000 tests. So it's a dramatic increase, 1600 new tests.
What happens when the testing capacity increases? The number of positives increase by definition. So the number of new cases has gone up 221 to 950
cases. And you can see New York City is increasing, Westchester still disproportionate to the population of Westchester that still represents the
New Rochelle cluster. NASA 109, Suffolk 63, Rockland, 16, Albany, 12, Orange, 11, Dutchess 10, Monroe nine, Ulster seven.
Number of new cases, New York City and Westchester. Some in Nassau, some in Suffolk, but you'll see the cases rise in the most dense areas because
that's where people are transferring the virus among themselves. Counties with new cases today, Allegheny Onondaga, Ontario and Wyoming. So you see
the spread continues. Most impacted states in the United States. We are now 950, number one in the country. 676 for Washington State.
[11:30:11]
CUOMO: Again, these cases are more a an example of how many tests you're doing and who you're testing. Rather than a raw number of cases in that
area. Our deaths have increased to seven. Washington is the next highest at 42, total deaths in the United States 67. Hospitalizations 158 out of 950.
That's 70 percent of the cases when we talk about hospital capacity, just take that 17 percent and as always, if you notice 14 percent, 15 percent,
16 percent, 17 percent run that 17 percent against whatever you think the total infected population will be.
And then compare that to our hospital capacity. And that will keep you up at nights. Hence the situation, a Dr. Zucker and myself and my colleagues
are in. Again, perspective, perspective, perspective. I went through the numbers in Italy, I went through the numbers in South Korea and China last
night. You look at all these numbers, they're the same story. You look at the deaths in New York, it's the same story.
People who had underlying illnesses if they got the flow in a normal season, they would be in grave trouble. Instead, they got the coronavirus
and they had existing illnesses and they passed away. Remember, before any of this, somebody would pass away in hospital, an older person. And you
would say how did they die and they say pneumonia. You say pneumonia. Well, how did they catch pneumonia?
Well, it wasn't really pneumonia. It was they had heart disease, they had emphysema, they was struggling with cancer, and then the pneumonia becomes
the accelerant to a bad situation. And that's what's happening here. Any of my colleagues, additional points. What do you make (INAUDIBLE) Melissa?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
CUOMO: Questions.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Gyms will be closed. Can you elaborate on that? And also, did you confer with city hall or Mayor de Blasio on this because he
was at the gym this morning and just wondering if he knew about the fact that you're going to create --
CUOMO: He can be in the gym this morning. You can be in the gym this afternoon. You can be in the gym this evening. You just can't be in the gym
after 8:00.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- in the gym already as this the social distancing?
CUOMO: Yes. Yes. You can use the gym.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have been using the gym?
CUOMO: Are you asking me if I go to a public gym?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. You do? Or in general.
CUOMO: I have my own workout routine that I have developed over a number of years that I do along. So I don't do it in gymnasium.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, Sorry. Governor, have you heard back from the White House about the matter of deploying the Army Corps of Engineers?
CUOMO: We're having ongoing conversations and none have been conclusive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's the overall prediction or projection for the number of people who could potentially get this in New York and what's the
overall projection for the need for hospital beds? I mean, I know we've got like a cap of like 50,000 or so beds, but what's the need looking like at
this point?
CUOMO: Yes. That's an unfair question for Commissioners Zucker because it's anyone's guess, but I'll recommend this to you. Google that question and
you will get a range from 40 percent to 80 percent of the population. Merkel said what, 70 percent?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sixty percent.
CUOMO: Sixty percent of her population. 40 percent to 60 percent. So take 40 percent or 60 percent of 18 million. Take a hospitalization rate of our
sample of about 17 percent. And then compare that to 50,000 hospital beds. You will then break out in a sweat maybe hives. You will feel great
anxiety, panic attack and you'll be right.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's the -- what are the plans in place --
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[11:35:03]
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: A warning and a call to action and an announcement of a lot of measures and action being taken by New York's
Governor Andrew Cuomo right there. He's going to continue taking questions. But we've got a lot of work -- lots of work through as these are just more
announcements rolling in from New York's governor as well as honestly other governors throughout the state while we were -- throughout the country
while we were watching this press conference.
Let me get over to Brynn Gingras. She's been following the very latest on these new announcements coming from New York, coming from New Jersey and
Connecticut. Brynn, we just heard new restrictions and new actions being put in place just now from Andrew Cuomo. What's the top line?
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and this has been how the governor has acted essentially, really, it's important to know, OK, he says
that we have to do this because criticizing the federal government saying they're not doing enough. And really the big headlines have come out of
this, Kate, is the fact that the three states, the tri states, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut have banded together and sort of said that they are
now going to shut down a lot of places in order to really get control of this coronavirus.
So essentially restaurants that sell food they'll be able to take out only orders, bars that don't sell food just alcohol. Well, they're going to
close as is -- as our gyms, movie theaters, casinos. And the idea here as Cuomo nicely put it was that, you know, someone in New York if they don't
like the fact that the bars are closed in New York, they can just head on over to New Jersey and go drinking there.
So they want to really mitigate that process. And they said that's the next phase of this and honestly, at this point, Kate, I've been on this for over
a week. I feel like each day is a new phase. Really, we're just seeing more and more restrictions. New Jersey actually taking an even further step,
essentially saying that they're going to have a curfew in place for the entire states.
That means non-essential employees who don't have to go to work between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. everyone must stay in their homes. And
really the governor there, Cuomo saying that, you know, we need a lot more states to participate. It needs to be united effort in a sense during his
phone call with the tri state governors.
We're hearing that Governor Murphy from New Jersey is going to ask the Pennsylvania governor to possibly participate in this as well. So is this
the beginning now of just sort of a rolling effect? We shall see but a lot of restrictions now put in place a certainly for the tri state area.
BOLDUAN: And it certainly seems like a snowballing effect already seeing announcements coming in in regard to shutting down of restaurants and bars.
A lot more coming in from other states just as we were on air listening to Andrew Cuomo announced these new measures. Brynn, thank you so much. Let me
bring in for some --
HANCOCK: OK. We have been watching coverage from CNN U.S. talking about new restrictions there in what they call the tri state area just outside of New
York. You know, this is something that in Italy they've already been dealing with, right? They're on lockdown. But here's the thing. Italy is
reporting still close to 400 more coronavirus deaths in just the last 24 hours bringing the total death toll there to more than 1800. CNN's Melissa
Bell filed this report from Rome.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BELL: The pictures become a symbol in Italy of a system in the north of the country that is stretched to its limit. Hospital workers, nurses, doctors,
the heroes of the fight against coronavirus themselves. Near breaking point.
DANIELA CONFALONIERI, NURSE (through translator): We are united and we will fight this forsaken virus.
BELL: At a hospital in Milan, hallways and offices have been turned into makeshift intensive care units. In Prussia tents are used to treat the
sick, Rome too beefing up its capacity. When you lock down the country, the Prime Minister explained.
GIUSEPPE CONTE, ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): We live in a system in which we guarantee health and the right of everyone to be cured.
BELL: Italy's healthcare system is facing a challenge like no other by its nature. This is an epidemic that spikes quickly and in clusters requiring
urgent and expensive treatment for some. So far the system here has delivered free tests, intensive care, emergency treatment all free of
charge. So is Europe's often criticized public health system now showing its true strengths?
ALAN FRIEDMAN, ITALIAN-BASED AMERICAN WRITER AND ECONOMIST: Seeing x-ray somebody who wants to get treatment, they can wait weeks or months for
appointment. That's the inefficiency of national health. But the plus side is that at a time of crisis, the test for coronavirus are free for
everybody. They take care of all their citizens and there's no worrying about insurance.
BELL: So how does the system stack up against America's private profit driven healthcare system? First, on capacity as the crisis hits? The United
States has 2.8 hospital beds per thousand people fewer than Italy's 3.2 beds per thousand people according to the OECD. Then once the outbreak
begins, there's the question of the response. And here the more fragmented American model could make coordination harder.
DR. CARLO PALERMO, HEAD, ITALY'S PUBLIC SECTORS DOCTORS ASSOCIATION (through translator): To deal with an epidemic which affects the population
globally. The response must be centralized. There must be one crisis you need that gives a unanimous response.
[11:40:09]
BELL: As infections continue to rise here at record daily rates. Italy is a country where everyone fears getting the virus, but no one need worry about
being treated for it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HANCOCK: For more on this, we're joined by Piotr Kramarz is the second in command at the Disease Programs Unit at the European Centre for disease
prevention and control. And we thank you for your time and joining us via Skype from Stockholm, Sweden. I mean, look, we've been covering so much
it's been going on through Europe. And of course, the restrictions continue every day. But unfortunately, the spread continues and the death toll
continues.
I see now that the European Union is considering ever more travel restrictions. Does this give you relief when you hear this?
PIOTR KRAMARZ, DEPUTY CHIEF SCIENTIST, ECDC (via Skype): Actually, what -- what's happening now is that indeed we see the increase in cases as of
today, there are more than 50,000 cases in the European Union and more than 2000 deaths. And what we see is actually that injury situation differs from
region to region. And there are still countries, which are in the scenario where there are multiple introductions of the virus and clusters, local
clusters.
But in general, when you look at the curve, epidemic curve, it follows that of the Chinese epidemic in January and February. So it's moving rapidly
towards the widespread community transmission. So in this situation, actually, we issued a rapid risk assessment where we recommend a number of
measures that can be undertaken by the member states and they are undertaking them.
Of course, this depends on the local situation of the country and some other factors that they have to consider. But the country's rapidly
implementing a number of these measures.
HANCOCK: You say they're rapidly implemented it now. Would you have liked to have seen them implement this the longest time ago? Let's say 14 days
ago.
KRAMARZ: It's difficult to say, because it's a completely new virus. So there are no studies that can guide us here in terms of how effective it
would have been. There is some -- there are some modeling studies from China showing that the Chinese measures that they introduced if they have
been introduced a week or two weeks earlier, they would have some effect on the number of cases.
However, it's important now that the countries consider the situation and choose the measures to introduce because what we are feeling is that when
these communities spread intensifies, there, will be increasing pressure on hospitals and especially intensive care units. So what we are trying to do
now is to slow this down and delay the peak and flatten the peak to preserve this capacity.
HANCOCK: And people have heard a lot about that, right? Flattening the curve and we saw some dramatic numbers in a report there. Every country has
a different number of ICU beds and facilities. They want to make sure that the healthcare is there whenever anyone needs it and does that infected
with this virus. I want to ask you though, the U.K. right now seems to be the odd man out following really a very different script.
You know, schools remain open there. There aren't the travel restrictions as of yet. They are claiming that perhaps there could be some kind of a
herd immunity through all of this, although they seem to be retracting that almost by the hour, when you heard of that, did you think it could be a
viable plan?
KRAMARZ: What -- maybe I should explain what is the mandate of ECDC? I work for ECDC in Atlanta, but this is a national agency where we are --
HANCOCK: I totally understand. I'm asking -- just -- I'm asking you as an expert. I'm asking you as an expert, not -- this is not -- it's a
scientific question, not a political one. In terms of herd immunity, is that something can it work?
KRAMARZ: With herd immunity? It's difficult to say because we don't know if how long lasting the immunity would be. As a result of an infection, but in
general the countries are introducing the measures according to the local epidemiological situation. And there are these other factors when you think
about school closures, the countries are taking into account the fact that, for example, if you do this, then some of the healthcare workers may have
to stay at home and they -- actually they have to be preserved. This is a rare commodity and also some countries -- in some countries.
HANCOCK: And we've seen that firsthand.
KRAMARZ: Yes.
HANCOCK: We've seen that firsthand for Italy. Yes.
KRAMARZ: Exactly.
HANCOCK: Yes.
KRAMARZ: The children may stay with grandparents and they are in at a high risk of severe outcomes. So this has to be really considered very
carefully. And in a range of other measures. It shouldn't be one measure, but about a range and we give it in our risk assessment. We give a range of
measures with pros and cons and the implications of it.
HANCOCK: Is there one thing right now, do you believe though, that these countries could be doing that is more helpful that you have haven't quite
seen yet?
[11:45:02]
KRAMARZ: I think -- as I said, it's always a layered approach. You know, it's a combination of measures, they range from social distancing through
raising the awareness among the population. On the one hand of the severity of the illness. On the other hand of the -- why these measures are
introduced, because we need a lot of solidarity acceptance, understanding, also the measures should focus on hospital sector. So it should be a
combination, there is no one single answer here in this situation.
HANCOCK: Yes. And that's been the problem everyone really trying to parse what is the answer, as you pointed out in their own specific circumstances,
their own specific jurisdiction. I thank you, though, again, for reminding us that is the public health services that we need to protect in each and
every country. I thank you so much, and we'll continue to check in with you. Appreciate it.
KRAMARZ: Thank you very much.
HANCOCK: And we'll be right back with more news here on CONNECT THE WORLD.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: 30 miles east of Cairo, Egypt's latest mega project is taking shape.
With the help of companies from around the world. It's a brand new city built entirely from scratch. And this will be its crowning glory. It's
called the Iconic Tower. Mahmoud Youssef is the lead architect on site.
[11:50:06]
STEWART: Currently the building is 20 storeys high but once complete, it will be nearly four times that size. Making it the tallest structure in
Africa.
MAHMOUD YOUSSEF, DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT, DAR AL-HANDASAH: The Iconic Toad would have retained podium, fine office spaces, service
apartments, five-star plus hotel and the viewing deck at the top.
STEWART: The towers' design is a nod to Egypt celebrated past.
YOUSSEF: The Iconic Tower itself is inspired by the obelisk of the ancient Egyptian civilization.
STEWART: Down below, the city's master plan is taking shape.
YOUSSEF: You can see on the south side these are the residential towers.
STEWART: Once complete, there'll be a green space twice the size of New York Central Park, luxury villas and five-star hotels. Critic spokesman
Khaled el-Hosseiny has been here since construction began three years ago.
KHALED EL-HOSSEINY, SPOKESPERSON, NEW ADMINISTRATIVE CAPITAL: It was just over the area, desert and was full of buildings and projects and
engineering workers from everywhere.
STEWART: This city will accommodate more than six million people, government ministries and agencies including state of the art facilities
for the cabinet and parliament. Construction for the city is broken down into three phases. The Iconic Tower is part of the first phase. Mahmoud and
his team are working to finish it by 2022.
YOUSSEF: We were very proud. I'm very excited about this project. We do trust that it will be a great achievement for the Egyptian people and for
the peoples of the region.
STEWART: Anna Stewart, CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCK: And some news just in to CNN. The European Union is in fact announcing that it will introduce temporary restrictions on non-essential
travel to the European Union. That's according to E.U. officials, the restrictions will be expected to last at least 30 days. Stay here with CNN.
We'll continue to give you more details on that because that is pretty big news out of Europe.
Now as we continue to follow this coronavirus pandemic, a cruise ship, with at least five confirmed cases on board has been five days just on -- at sea
trying to find a place to dock in the Caribbean. It's been refused entry at multiple ports. But now Cuba says it will allow the ship to dock out of
humanitarian concern. Our Patrick Oppmann is in Havana. Patrick, I'm interested to hear from you just kind of where does that work in terms of
Cuba's thinking.
And if they're prepared given the fact that they know what they're dealing with here, people who are infected, many more than just the five cases
could end up in Cuba for quite some time.
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN HAVANA-BASED CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. Those are just the five confirmed cases that we've heard from passengers aboard their ship
that there are many more people that have been put in isolation because they're showing some kinds of sickness and some symptoms that could be
coronavirus. We hope not and that they are now in isolation aboard this cruise ship.
So what a relief it must be for the passengers aboard this British cruise ship, the Braemar to be now told that they are heading towards Cuba because
they've been turned down by islands throughout the Caribbean. Nobody wanted to take these passengers aboard. What we are told will take place most
likely early tomorrow --
(CROSSTALK)
HANCOCK: Update from the World Health Organization and we will go right now live to their press conference in Geneva.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- we have Dr. Maria van Kerkhove and we have Paul Molinaro, who is our chief operations support and logistics. We also have
Dr. Mike Ryan on the phone who will be able to answer some questions. Before I give the floor to Dr. Tedros, just two small announcements, WHO
has activated its business continuity plan and this is in order to adhere to good health, public health guidance as well as to deliver on its
mandate.
From today all staff is performing their functions to teleworking arrangements, only stuff whose critical functions can only be performed on
the site will have access to this campus. Therefore, there will be no media presence on WHO campus as of today. WHO immediately will continue to
provide normal services through Skype, e-mail, and phone. Our regular briefings will be virtual press conferences and our audio-visual team will
continue to provide necessary support.
So from now on, we will not have a journalist in the room and then we will inform you if that changes. The second information is that we already sent
you the media advisory for tomorrow.
[11:55:05]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: WHO European office will convene a meeting, online meeting tomorrow 17th of March about COVID-19 representatives from the
health ministries of the 53 member states of WHO European region. After the meeting, WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr. Hans Krueger, and emergency
experts will brief the press on the current situation in the region. And they will be answering generalist question on COVID-19.
That first conference will be at 2:00 Central European Time. And in the media advisory you have details how to access this press conference again
tomorrow at 2:00, WHO office for Europe. I'll give the floor to Dr. Tedros for his opening remarks.
TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: Yes. Thank you. Thank you (INAUDIBLE) and good afternoon, everyone. In the
past week, we have seen a rapid escalation of cases of COVID-19. More cases and those have now been reported in the rest of the world than in China. We
have also seen a rapid escalation in social distancing measures, like closing schools, and canceling sporting events, and other gatherings.
But we have not seen an urgent enough escalation in testing, isolation and contact tracing, which is the backbone of the response. Social distancing
measures can help to reduce transmission and enable health systems to cope. Hand washing and coughing into your elbow can reduce the risk of for your -
- for yourself and others. But on their own, they're not enough to extinguish this epidemic.
It's the combination that makes the difference. As I keep saying, all countries must take a comprehensive approach. But the most effective way to
prevent infections and save lives is breaking the chains of transmission. And to do that, you must test and isolate. You cannot fight a fire
blindfolded. And we cannot stop this pandemic if we don't know who is infected. We have a simple message for all countries.
Test, test, test, test every suspected case. If they're -- if they test positive, isolate them and find out who they have been in close contact
with up to two days before they developed symptoms and test those people too. Every day more tests are being produced to meet the global demand. WHO
has shipped almost 1.5 million tests to 120 countries, we're working with camping companies to increase the availability of tests for those most in
need.
WHO advises that all confirmed cases, even mild cases should be isolated in health facilities to prevent transmission and provide adequate care. But we
recognize that many countries have already exceeded their capacity to care for mild cases in dedicated health facilities. In that situation, countries
should prioritize all their patients and those with underlying conditions. Some countries have expanded their capacity by using stadiums and gyms to
care for mild cases, with severe and critical cases care for -- in hospitals.
Another option is for patients with mild disease to be isolated and cared for at home. Caring for infected people at home may put others in the same
household at risk. So it's critical that caregivers follow WHO's guidance on how to provide care as safely as possible. For example, both the patient
and their caregivers should wear a medical mask when they are together in the same room.
The patient should sleep in a separate bedroom to others and use a different bathroom. Assign one person to care for the patient. Ideally,
someone who is in good health and has no underlying conditions. The caregiver should wash their hands after any contact with their patient or
their immediate environment.
[12:00:07]
END
END
