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Connect the World
Prince Charles Tests Positive for Virus; U.K. Asks for Thousands of Volunteers; Italian Authorities Report More than 6,800 Deaths; Spain's Death Toll Overtakes China's; U.S. Lawmakers Agree on $2 Trillion Stimulus Package; Aid Organizations Prepare for COVID-19 in Conflict Zones; Task Force Working to Pick New Date for Summer Olympics; Global Stocks Rally on Looming U.S. Stimulus Package; Germany's Death Rate Much Lower than Other Countries. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired March 25, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
ANNOUNCER: Live, from CNN London, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: This hour, the man set to be the next king of England infected with coronavirus. It's 2:00 p.m. here in London, 3:00 in
the afternoon in Milan, it is 6:00 in the evening back at base in Abu Dhabi. Welcome to the show.
Right now, a small glimmer of hope. Scientists say the coronavirus is not mutating, at least not quickly. But it's still causing an enormous amount
of turbulence around the world.
Britain's 71-year-old heir to the throne Prince Charles now has mild symptoms. And the army is mobilizing in the U.K. along with thousands of
volunteers to help the most vulnerable.
Italy's death toll explodes to more than 6,800 due to the virus, the highest in the world. Spain's death toll now second highest, overtaking
China's. Its cases are expected to rise. And in the United States, Capitol Hill Senators finally shaking hands on a war time level of investment. An
historic $2 trillion stimulus deal reached just hours ago.
But Mexico and Brazil playing down the crisis. Mexico even telling its citizens to go out to eat, as Mexico City disinfects its streets.
Well, we have correspondents the world over, and we will take you everywhere that matters this hour and next.
The coronavirus then hitting Britain's royal family. Buckingham Palace released a statement earlier today announcing that Prince Charles tested
positive for COVID-19. The statement says the heir to the British throne is showing mild symptoms but remains in good health. Here is Prince Charles
and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall at one of their last big public events this month. It was March 9th, at the commonwealth service held at
Westminster Abbey. He was there, alongside the Queen, his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, and their wives. He briefly interacted with the
Queen three days later.
Well, our royal correspondent Max Foster is following this story from Windsor in England. And what do we understand to be the details on this --
Max?
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, he started developing symptoms over the weekend. He is up in Scotland, currently. So at a safe distance
from the Queen, who is currently holed up here at Windsor Castle in the south of England. He developed symptoms and was tested on Monday and the
positive result came through on Tuesday.
He is self-isolating up at a private home in the middle of nowhere really in Scotland and the Duchess of Cornwall who was tested because doesn't
appear to have contracted the illness is self-isolating separately in the same house. And the staff aren't allowed anywhere near them, a small group
of staff there and no members of the public life near the house at all.
But as you say, he had had a very busy period meeting members of the public and we're now looking at that probably at time when he contracted this.
Because he only got the symptoms last weekend and according to sources close to Prince Charles, all the medical advice tracks his contagious
period back to the 13th of March and the day after he met the Queen.
Although Buckingham Palace telling us that whilst the Queen is in good health, they're not confirming whether or not she's had a test or indeed
what the result of that test might be. So there's still some questions here that -- they're saying they're not going to say any more on this, this
might be them trying to close down the very idea that the head of state may have the virus. Or that they are keeping information in a very controlled
way. We just don't know. We have to rely on what we're being told. She's well, he's well but he does have mild symptoms.
ANDERSON: Yes, and I know that sources have told you that the medical advice he is being given is that this is unlikely to escalate into a more
serious case for the Prince, from now on. The question is who has he met, who has he been in contact with and what is Buckingham Palace and Clarence
House doing to ensure that those he was in contact with are located and, you know, told to get tested themselves?
FOSTER: So he went from that event with the Queen, straight over to Gloucestershire where he where he has a home in the West of England, and he
did interact with staff there on his estate -- also tenants on his estate.
[10:05:02]
So they are being spoken to and they are being asked to report any symptoms and they're given advice and support, we're told. Then shortly after that
he went to Scotland, where he was in touch with many less people effectively. So they are tracking who he has been in contact with. There
also trying to track back where he might have got this from as well but he had had this very busy period. He does meet a lot of people as you know,
Becky, you've reported on him. He does have a huge amount of engagements. He needs a lot of people. He's a very busy person. So it's going to be very
difficult to work out where he got it from.
And the one positive we're getting from this is that the Duchess doesn't seem to have picked it up. So that does suggest if the person closest to
him hasn't picked it up, it suggests that other people he has spoken to are relatively safe. But they're not taking any risks, we're told. We're also
waiting to hear actually, confirmation from the Cambridges whether or not they had any contact with Prince Charles. We're expecting to hear something
about that this afternoon.
Max is in Windsor, thank you, Max. And of course, as a member of the royal family and heir to the British throne, it is Prince Charles' duty meet and
greet people. Here you can see him offering to shaking hands twice before rather embarrassingly switching to a namaste greeting quite recently.
Well, the nightmare getting worse for Spain, overtaking China in COVID-19 deaths. Spain is only second to Italy now with a death toll higher than
3,400 and health official also reversing an earlier prediction, now telling us the number of cases in Spain will keep rising.
Scott McLean standing by live in Madrid. And is it clear, Scott, at this point why the numbers are so high in Spain compared to other places?
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is a great question, Becky. Just a couple of days ago, one of Spain's top officials had said that he expected
the curve to start flattening in the coming days. A regional official said perhaps the peak might be today because today marks 14 days since the
schools closed in Spain and 14 days is obviously the maximum incubation period.
If today is in fact the peak, it is a high one. The number of deaths increased by more than 700 in just the last 24 hours as you said. Spain has
now surpassed China in terms of the number of dead.
The Spanish police have done a pretty good job of enforcing this order for people to stay home. They have handed out thousands of tickets to people. I
have personally been stopped on the street, maybe 10, 12 times since I've been here for about a week and a half. But the system is not completely
airtight. There are some weak spots. Chief among them perhaps is testing. Up until recently it has not been widespread, especially amongst people
with only more mild symptoms. They are trying to change that.
People are still going to work, Becky. They're trying to keep people spaced out on the trains, but as we saw at the train station that we went to hear
in Madrid a couple of days ago, that's not always happening.
And the hospitals are really, really under resourced in terms of protective equipment and also mechanical ventilators. Some nurses are having to resort
to making medical gowns out of garbage bags. A doctor we spoke to said that he is having to tell families that their loved one will have to die so that
the ventilator can go to someone else.
Spain is now asking NATO for help getting some of those medical supplies in. Right off the bat, they're asking for 1.5 million masks, .5 million
tests, and 500 mechanical ventilators. There is some good news, though, they have made a contract with China to buy about a $0.5 billion worth of
supplies. They'll start arriving this week and they'll arrive weekly until June.
But, a couple of days ago I asked this country's foreign minister why she hadn't actually taken the step to enact Spain's version of the defense
production act, which would essentially compel a private company to make these types of medical supplies. And she said that the private sector was
responding on its own, it didn't need the government at least yet to make that decision. So it'll be interesting to see whether that thinking changes
today or in the coming days -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, no, and a similar conversation going on in the United States at the moment. At this stage, it is important to try and understand
what other countries can learn from those that are in this situation with such high numbers. What do you think the rest of the world can learn from
Spain's situation at present?
MCLEAN: Yes, well, I think some of the biggest issues are the ones I mentioned earlier, the testing. Clearly the officials think that it's quite
important to get the tests out. They now have a test that can return results in 15 minutes. But they're trying to manufacture enough of those
tests so they can do five times the testing they were doing a couple of days ago. So about 80,000 tests per day. That is one of the weak spots in
this country.
[10:10:00]
The other big thing is clearly medical supplies. They simply do not have enough. Doctors say that it is hampering their ability to do their jobs.
They're having to re-use single use masks as I said. Some nurses are making gowns out of garbage bags and obviously, the respirators or the
ventilators, I could say, is also a big problem. Perhaps contributing to that large, large death toll. So probably the lesson that the world can
learn from Spain is you need to get ready and you need to get ready right now.
ANDERSON: Yes. Scott McLean is in Madrid in Spain for you, where the time is 10 past 3:00.
As the number of cases surge in Italy, authorities hoping stricter rules will clamp down on the rapid spread of the virus. Those who are infected
could now face steep fines and even jail time if they violate quarantine.
According to Johns Hopkins University, nearly 7,000 people have died in Italy, that is more than double the number of fatalities in China.
And here you can see a convoy of military trucks lining up to take coffins away. The bodies will be cremated as the country struggles to keep up with
the growing number of dead. Well, now some Italian officials are taking to social media to urge residents to just stay at home. Here is Delia
Gallagher.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Italy is enforcing one of Europe's strictest lockdowns. No one is allowed outside unless it's for an
essential reason. But not everyone is sticking to the rules.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Ping-pong is not allowed. Go home and play on the PlayStation. You cannot stay here.
GALLAGHER: Mayor of the southern city of Bari is not in the mood for excuses.
ANTONIO DECARO, MAYOR OF BARI, ITALY (through translator): Don't look at me like that. You should be respectful. There is a decree. I'm the mayor of
this city. And as the mayor of this city, I will make everyone respect this decree. Go home now. The police is coming.
GALLAGHER: He's one of several officials mainly in southern Italy who have taken to social media to cajole or even threaten their citizens to comply
with restrictions.
MASSIMILIANO PRECIUTTI, MAYOR OF GUALDO TADINO, ITALY (through translator): This is like a war bulletin, because we are in a real war. And now I turn
to you. You need to stay home. Do you understand that people are dying?
VINCENZO DE LUCA, PRESIDENT OF CAMPANIA, ITALY (through translator): Hundreds of students will be graduating soon. I hear that some want to host
a party. We will send the police and we will send them with flame throwers.
GALLAGHER: The majority of Italians are taking the lockdown seriously. But over 92,000 of them were reported for breaking the emergency restrictions.
GIANFILIPPO BANCHERI, MAYOR OF DELIA, ITALY (through translator): How is it going to be OK with people lining up to buy fuel? What is that fuel for
if you have to stay at home? How is it going to be OK if people are asking for their hair to be done at home? Hairdressers are coming to homes. What
is a hairstyle for at this moment?
GALLAGHER: There are some concessions for going out, for example, to walk a dog. But mayors are cracking down on those they think are exploiting
this.
GIUSEPPE FALCOMATA, MAYOR OF REGGIO CALABRIA, ITALY (through translator): This morning I came across one of our citizens who was jogging with his dog
that was visibly exhausted. I said to him, hey, this is not a film and you're not Will Smith in "I am legend." Therefore, go home.
GALLAGHER: With the coronavirus outbreak in Italy the deadliest in the world, authorities want to leave no doubt about what's at stake.
DE LUCA (through translator): And if we go on like this, we will just be counting the dead. We won't have hospital spaces for your fathers and
mothers. Is that clear?
GALLAGHER: A direct message that these officials hope will hit home.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well that's Delia Gallagher reporting. At last, travel restriction for some 60 million people living in China's Hubei province is
being lifted. This woman and her 3-year-old son are finally able to travel back to their hometown to see their family. It has been two months since
Hubei went on lockdown. She says she has never felt so happy. Well the city of Wuhan will have to wait a bit longer. CNN's David Culver reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the original epicenter of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China, there is now a countdown to freedom
for those living under lockdown with Hubei province relaxing restrictions starting Wednesday and its capital Wuhan set to relax its rules on April
8th.
DELA EFIFANIA, PH.D. STUDENT: I think it is amazing, finally I've been at home for two months.
CULVER: Ph.D. student Dela Efifania video chatted with us from her cramped dormitory. It's been two months under Wuhan city lockdown. Her life like an
increasing number of us requiring a creative balance.
EFIFANIA: If you practice it in the positive way, that you get rest. You get to try to cook or you can learn how to cook more or you can exercise at
home.
CULVER: She's been doing all of that, working out indoors, lots of cooking, plenty of eating.
EFIFANIA: I can't stop eating.
[10:15:00]
CULVER: Watching movies and keeping connecting with her family in back in Indonesia. While excited to see signs of progress, she's also hesitant
about stepping back out into the city.
EFIFANIA: I'm anxious. Because the lockdown is working, right? So there is no more people getting infected. But when they open, now what happens?
CULVER: Chinese state media shows images of Wuhan preparing for that moment. Intercity traffic checkpoints coming down. Buses disinfected,
gearing up for the return to rush hour. Sanitation crews working to clean mass transit centers like the Wuhan railway station. And medical teams like
this Shanghai-based crew packing up to head home, leaving the front lines. It's reassuring for residents like Iris Yu.
I was not always positive, she told us. I could get bored and scared, but I'm particularly thankful to my friends in other cities where the epidemic
situation was not as serious. They often called me and chatted with me which could help ease my emotions.
When we first touched base with Bo Hanlin a few weeks ago, both his wife and mother were undergoing treatment for the virus. And Bo was critical of
the local government's handling of the crisis. But now --
Because the condition is under control, the supplies have kept up, he says. Life is fine now, I can't go out, but overall it is getting better and
better. And so too are his wife and mother. He says both have since fully recovered.
These residents have been living under some of the most extreme lockdown measures and they now offer some advice to others around the world entering
self-isolation.
EFIFANIA: Yes, maybe, OK, I clear up everything. Your schedule, you have classes, you work, you get up -- do anything, you standup inside. So maybe
you can talk to God.
CULVER: She and others left with a lot of time for talking and listening.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Fascinating. David Culver in Shanghai there.
More on what you should and perhaps even more importantly what you shouldn't do to help stop the spread wherever you are in the world. What we
can learn, for example, from China and what could be in store elsewhere, all online, at CNN.com. Live updates and breaking news on the deadly health
crisis threatening lives wherever you are in the world. Online, at CNN.com.
Well, the normally bustling streets of New Delhi are completely clear. We go there to take a look at life under India's three-week lockdown.
And the number one way to stop the spread of COVID-19 is to stay at home. What if war has taken your home away? We'll speak with the International
Red Cross about how they are preparing for a potential outbreak in refugee camps.
And we'll also hear from the head of the Paralympic games who doesn't yet know when they will next be played. His reaction is coming up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: You came up with the idea that ultimately became MOBO, when you were really quite young. Just take me back to that period. How difficult
was it?
KANYA KING, FOUNDER, MUSIC OF BLACK ORIGIN: It was very challenging, trying to get support for a platform that was going to celebrate and
champion black music and culture.
I remember, you know, becoming quite frustrated with the injustices I saw around me because, you know, black music and black artists were making
waves that were reverberating around the world, but didn't seem worthy enough to be celebrated in their own rights. And I just wanted to do
something about it, but I didn't feel that I had any resources or networks or contacts. Basically it's now or never, and I'm not -- I refuse to fail.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[10:20:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Let's get you bang up to speed, and what some other countries are doing about this coronavirus as we move around the world.
Mexico's President had been downplaying the threat of the virus, encouraging people on Sunday to continue living life normally. But that
changed on Tuesday as he asked families to take care of their elderly and fight the virus from home.
South Africa has announced a three-week lockdown, the country faces the highest number of infections on the continent. And with more than 7 million
people living with HIV, at least one in five people is considered high risk. CNN's David McKenzie is in Johannesburg for you with the very latest.
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: South Africa is rapidly approaching a 21-day lockdown. The President says this is necessary to save lives. South
Africa is a very vulnerable population to this virus, many people suffer from HIV and TB.
There's also a big challenge for people to stay in their homes. There are millions informal settlements, they don't often have homes. And sometimes
many different households share a tap. So it's even impossible to wash their hands frequently. The South African President says everyone must do
their bit to avoid a catastrophe. They're bringing out the military to help enforce the rules I've in fact seen members of the military assembling in
barracks here in Johannesburg.
David McKenzie, CNN, Johannesburg.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: India also facing a 21-day lockdown and people there rushing to prepare. You can see how busy pharmacies and grocery stores are as one
fifth of the world's population stockpiles for the next three weeks. CNN's Vedika Sud is on the ground in New Delhi.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VEDIKA SUD, CNN PRODUCER: It's close of the total lockdown for 1.3 billion Indians here in India. This after Prime Minister Modi made a speech on
Tuesday evening. Now there are about 600 cases according to the Indian government of confirmed coronavirus in the country, along with ten deaths.
Moments after the Prime Minister made a speech, people went into panic buying mode. It was then that the Prime Minister had to urge them through
Twitter to remain calm and promise that essential goods and commodities would be made available to them. Now, with this lockdown in India, one
fourth of the country is under partial or total lockdown.
Vedika Sud, CNN, New Delhi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, it feels like it's a matter of time before the coronavirus strikes the world's most vulnerable, refugees. Aid organizations like the
international Red Cross are preparing for this possible nightmare. My next guest is the organization's new director general, Robert Mardini, who is
leading the COVID-19 crisis response.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MARDINI, DIRECTOR GENERAL, INTERNATIONAL OF THE RED CROSS: The hand wash challenge. We're doing a lot of this these days, aren't we?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well he's starting by encouraging people to wash their hands. Robert Mardini joining us now live from Geneva, and it's extremely good to
have you with us, sir. As you know, Syria reporting its first case of COVID-19 on Sunday. That's according to the W.H.O. and, of course, Syria
considered a, quote, very high-risk country, due to the ongoing war, its fragile healthcare system and its high number of vulnerable individuals.
How do you envision an outbreak in Syria, looking and how concerned are you?
MARDINI: Well, we are very much concerned. COVID-19 is just one additional challenge coming on top of so many others in countries for people and
communities that are living in war zones. In Syria, you have 50 percent of the health facilities that are not working today for whether being
destructive or totally not functional. And you can imagine people who have been on the move for many times. You can imagine people in Idlib, northwest
Syria, fleeing bombings and shellings.
You can imagine also how it is difficult for people living in camps or people or detainees in prison whereby definition social distancing, washing
hands is a big challenge. Let alone if cases start to skyrocket in places like Syria. We have a taste now in the U.S., in Europe, in China how health
system can be overrun. So you can have a taste of how difficult it will be to be able to treat the disease there.
[10:25:00]
ANDERSON: You make a very good point. Because the advice to stop the spread of coronavirus is obviously to stay at home, avoid social contact,
wash your hands as you had pointed out in that social clip. But refugees in camps don't have homes. Displaced people are constantly on the move. How
are they supposed to stay safe from this pandemic when safety is effectively a luxury for them?
MARDINI: Maybe the good news is that as we speak, the level of infection is relatively low still in those countries. So this is why it is so
important to invest and beef up all prevention measures to avoid that the virus enters and spreads in the first place. And this is what our teams,
Red Cross, Red Crescent, volunteers, staff are doing and are leading this fight on the very front lines of this additional war. And this is where I
think it's really a global fight that needs a global response and coordination and joining forces with national authorities, with
humanitarian organizations and whoever is able to help.
ANDERSON: Yes. Well, the W.H.O. warning the spread of COVID-19 in Yemen, another war zone, would be, quote, catastrophic. What is the Red Cross
doing to prevent an outbreak there and in Syria and any other conflict- ridden region. What are you saying at present?
MARDINI: We are stepping up our response. We are reconfiguring our activities to focus on prevention. We are supporting more water authorities
to boost water production, water supply production in cities and camps. We are stepping up our advice to prison authorities in order to come up with
the good policies. To, for instance, avoid or restrict to a certain extent physical family visits to prisons to avoid the risk of having the virus
entering detention facilities. Also increase all measures for ventilation and for hygiene inside the prisons. We are doing all we can to avoid and
reduce the risk of the virus spreading in these super vulnerable places.
ANDERSON: Iran, of course, one of the hardest hit countries with this pandemic. The Red Cross doing anything to help Iranians curb the spread of
the virus?
MARDINI: We are now acting as a neutral intermediary. We have been channeling some medical supplies, working hand and hand with the Iranian
Red Crescent Society. But of course, this is a very modest contribution if you compare it to the magnitude of the challenge.
But, of course, much more needs to be done there and elsewhere. In Afghanistan, in Somalia, where for instance we are providing more tents to
allow for social distancing in places where we can in the words of hospitals and displaced person camps. But of course, you cannot have a one
size fits all solution and we need also a great deal of creativity and thinking out of the box because many of the solutions will be found
locally.
ANDERSON: Yes, and the U.N.'s humanitarian -- sorry, the U.N.'s human rights chief has been calling for an end to what he calls sectoral
sanctions. And one assumes alluding to a country like Iran and indeed others. That's a massive call, you know, moratorium on sanctions. So that
those who are most vulnerable can get the supplies and the support that they need. And what can the international community and the humanitarian
community do in order to face this unprecedented crisis. What is your message at this point.
MARDINI: We have a very simple message because there are now everywhere around the planet more restrictive measures that are decided by states that
are most of them legitimate and understandable. But I think the humanitarian community and people working underground and fighting this
global fight against the virus needs some exemptions in order to be able to ship supplies in order to have the people on the ground and able to be --
in order to be able to travel. So we are trying to sensitize governments and also parties to the conflicts -- don't forget that there are also armed
groups, controlling populations. We are trying to reach out to them and sensitize them on spreading the right messages among the communities they
are supervising in order to minimize the spread of the virus.
ANDERSON: And what that we are going to leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us. A new man in the job and what a job you have,
sir. Thank you. We wish you the best.
[10:30:00]
Nearly everyone involved in the postponement of the summer Olympic games is in favor of it. But did organizers take too long to make the decision?
You'll hear from two of the executives involved.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, as the pandemic tightens its grip on the world, the virus has reached the height of royalty. Britain's Prince Charles testing
positive. A spokesman from his office says the Prince is now self-isolating at home in Scotland.
Also, in Europe, Spain has surpassed China's virus death toll, becoming second only to Italy for fatalities.
And in the United States, the White House and Senate have reached an agreement to boost the economy. They approved the $2 trillion stimulus
package, the biggest such deal in American history.
Well, here we go. That is the name of a new task force deciding when the Tokyo summer Olympics will take place. The group was announced earlier on
Wednesday by International Olympics Chief Thomas Bach. This comes a day after the decision was made to postpone the 2020 games. Well, Sebastian Coe
is the President of World Athletics. He backs the decision to postpone the games and even played a role in making that decision. I asked him if the
Japanese government and the IOC, the International Olympic Committee, waited too long to take the action.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEBASTIAN COE, PRESIDENT, WORLD ATHLETICS: We reached the conclusion over the course of the weekend that it was untenable to stage these games,
certainly on the date it was being given. And we reached that conclusion because we had reached out to the athletes. We had looked -- I'd spoken to
many of our federations. I spent pretty much all my waking hours managing my way through this. And we got to the point where it was just impossible
to maintain as I said the integrity of the competition. Athletes in many countries now in lockdown conditions. And we felt that we needed to remove
that stress from them, and to give them at least some certainty in these unprecedented and frankly uncertain times.
ANDERSON: So was it ultimately pressure from the athletes, and indeed the national committees that finally forced the IOC's hand?
COE: Look, I'm not sure whether this is a force of hand. I thought -- I delivered again, I know how complicated the games are. I know how difficult
this decision has been for many (INAUDIBLE). There is a complexity around this which does not make this particularly easy decision.
[10:35:00]
And, look, you know, I think it is absolutely the right decision and primarily because the only people that really matter in this landscape are
the athletes and it was the athletes that we felt were being put under intolerable stress and strain. And they were -- every training session,
even if they were able to do a training session, had to have been tempered by the thought that not only they themselves could get sick, by getting
sick they could infect their parent, grandparents or even their own children. So we wanted that uncertainty removed as quickly as possible. And
I'm pleased that the decision has been taken.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: The head of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe speaking there.
Well the delay of the games not only affects the Olympic athletes but the Paralympic athletes of course as well. Joining us now to talk about that is
Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympics Committee. And let's just start with getting your take on whether that was the right
decision, eventually taken by the IOC and the Japanese, of course, to postpone these games until no later than the summer of 2021.
ANDREW PARSONS, PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE: I think it was the right decision. We were consulted. We had a call in what they IOC
executive board. We were in agreement with that and of course we are in support of that decision. We know it's unfair with the athletes but at the
same time it was not fair what the Japanese authorities and the organizing committee to try to pursue something that was absolutely unfeasible. It's
not (INAUDIBLE) can't even imagine to organize the games and deliver International Paralympics under the current circumstance and ask the
athletes to train for something that will be in 4 1/2 months' time or 5 1/2 months' time. It's just not possible. So we are in agreement.
ANDERSON: What are your Paralympic athletes telling you?
PARSONS: Well, we have our last week, we started the consultation process with the athlete representatives around the world, with the with the
national Paralympic committees and all of them and said they were asking us to try to push for the postponement of the games. We were in close dialogue
with the IOC. And then after the announcement of yesterday, many of them -- or I would say the vast majority who came out with some statement or
opinion, they were in favor of the postponement of the games.
Give them some clarity in this uncertain times like the fact that they don't need to train for a high-level competition that is going to be in the
summer. They know that's not going to happen. Of course, we have some certainty around the date. The specific date of the Paralympics. But at
least they know that it's I would say nine months they will not have to -- they don't have to plan their 2020 competition that's going to be out in
2020.
ANDERSON: Yes, OK. We do know from Thomas Bach who spoke to my colleague Christiane Amanpour yesterday that these games are going to be restricted
to the summer of 2021. Where does that leave you? I mean, this uncertainty he describes putting the games on, I'm talking across the board here, the
Olympic games and the Paralympic games as like a huge jigsaw puzzle. And I'm sure people around the world will sympathize with the organizers. This
is an enormous event. It's the world's biggest event. Where does that leave the Paralympics? What is your best guess at the moment?
PARSONS: Well, we need to work very closely with the IOC. Now they have passports. We are in involved with the passports. We know Paralympic games
are organized, that is our (INAUDIBLE) tradition. After the closing of the Olympic game and the closing of the Olympic Village, and the opening of
Paralympic village and then the opening of the Paralympic games. So we are very much aligned with the IOC in I would say in the (INAUDIBLE).
But of course as I say, it's a huge enormous jigsaw puzzle. There are so many suppliers involved. There are the village itself, all the different
nations they need to start their planning from scratch now. And the planning that they need to train for next year but wanting to -- knowing
the date, to be challenged. So it will require a lot of flexibility and commitment of everyone involved.
And of course, I think the Japanese government, they said they are ready to step in because some of the costs associated with postponement are going to
be huge in terms of any suppliers and contractors and many people who are involved in the delivery and the preparation and the actual delivery of
Paralympic games.
ANDERSON: And I wanted to talk to you about that. Because this doesn't come at zero cost, of course. And many of the organizing committees
nationally have been up against it financially. I'm talking about on the Olympic side. In what kind of financial position are the Paralympic
organizing committees around the world.
[10:40:00]
And do you worry that the postponement of this, as you rightly pointed out, that comes with a financial cost. Are you concerned that there will be
athletes who just won't be able to make it in 2021, not because they are not going to be ready, because they can't afford now to go.
PARSONS: No, we don't have that fear that it is going to happen. We always had in the history of the Paralympic games that the smaller nations that
they struggle financially to get the athletes to the games. And normally what we do we involve the local governments. Of course, we understand the
local governments will now be facing huge problems, initial problems. But also when it comes to smaller nations normally the IOC steps in and
supports the different programs and so that they can attend the games.
The big nations they will face some loss and some financial challenges. You know, I was (INAUDIBLE) with the National Paralympic Committee in the past.
I know what is required from nations to send athletes to the games, to the best of their performance. But, so, yes, some of the competitions have been
canceled now. They are ready, making some (INAUDIBLE) committees lose some money with all of the ups and downs like all (INAUDIBLE) with the others
already there.
I think the number one priority to help and we will find solutions with the National Paralympic Committee so we can support them. But of course, also
the International Olympic Committee has its limitations when it comes to finances. We are trying to understand now and together with the IOC exactly
what is the dimension of the loss that we will have by postponing the games. Of course that is something that is manageable, something that is
under control and it's always a decision possible to be taken that was the postponement. But again, we need to understand exactly where we are in
terms of what we need to address on the financial side and the operational side and also on the legal side.
ANDERSON: Yes. I mean, what you are saying makes total sense. We wish you and the athletes the very best. Thank you, sir.
Coming up, Germany's coronavirus death rate is much lower than many other countries. Could that change? We're going to take a look at that later this
hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, now as China slowly returns to normal, the government is urging companies not to discriminate against workers from Hubei province.
Guidelines urging employers to hire Hubei residents and offer leeway to anyone trying to report to their jobs.
Well, China's Shanghai Exchange, and other Asia-Pacific markets, are part of a global stocks surge after the U.S. Congress and White House agreed on
a $2 trillion stimulus package. The world's top economies all moving aggressively now, offering hope for recovery in a post pandemic world.
[10:45:00]
But this crisis also exposing a big risk when it comes to stimulus funding. I want to bring in John Defterios from Abu Dhabi. And just explain what you
mean by this.
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN BUSINESS EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Well, Becky, there's a huge risk here, but let's cover what we have seen so far from the United
States, for example, coming out with such a huge package of $2 trillion. If you go back to the Bush Jr. or 43 and the Obama administration, they had a
package worth less than a trillion dollars back then and plus bailing out the automakers.
I think what is different this time around, it's $2 trillion up front and very targeted. And what I mean here, it is a bailout for various industries
like airlines and the hospitality sector. Small and medium sized enterprises which represent 80 percent of the economy in the United States,
the healthcare system which will be strained inconsiderably going forward and even checks going out to average taxpayers.
So what does this tell us, Becky? There's plenty of money in the mainstream of America and then there's also Wall Street. Larry Kudlow was suggesting -
- the chief economic adviser to the White House is going to be another $4 trillion going into the Federal Reserve and into the global economy to
support U.S. bonds, support liquidity for the banks and also the liquidity for the U.S. dollar going into emerging markets which are dependent on the
dollar around the world.
So if you take a step back, the G-7 countries, the major industrialized countries are doing what they're supposed to be doing right now, and that
is stepping up. The United States, Germany, the U.K., the European central bank we're looking at $4 trillion by the G-7 countries already. And there's
more to come, for example, in Japan next month.
I would classify this, Becky, as a solution for the advanced economies and not the emerging markets. And this is where the haves and the have-nots
come through and I think it's going to be the next major challenge for world leaders.
ANDERSON: Yes, that is fascinating. We are just hearing that the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke to arguably the most powerful man in
the Middle East, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad bin Salman. And the State Department tells us, and I quote, the secondary stress that as a
leader of the G-20 and an important energy leader, Saudi Arabia has a real opportunity to rise to the occasion and reassure global energy and
financial markets when the world faces serious economic uncertainty.
Now we do know at that -- the G-20 have now promised a virtual meeting effectively. So we are beginning to see what many have been calling for,
which is sort of worldwide collegiate effort on this. You know, more coordinated action, not less going forward. In what position does this
leave Saudi Arabia as the head of OPEC, for example. We do know that oil prices are on their knees at present and the straightened times, the demand
isn't out there. What are they expected to do at this point?
DEFTERIOS: Well, you raise a number of key points there. Let's cover Mike Pompeo, the Secretary of State, not pulling any punches against Mohammad
bin Salman. He's talking about the price war here between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. They've added nearly 4 million barrels a day starting next month.
That's the target.
But the latest that we've seen in terms of demand to your point is a collapse of 15 million barrels a day. So you're looking at almost a 20
percent swing and Pompeo is concerned that every large U.S. oil company and even the midsized players right now are cutting their capital expenditure
and cutting back production and it is going to cost them a lot of jobs. There're 10 million jobs related to the energy sector in the United States.
So that's one point.
When it comes to the G-20, it's going to be held about this time tomorrow according to sources in Saudi Arabia, we're waiting for a final timing. I
don't hold high expectations, Becky, and I'll tell you why. You had a G-20 finance ministers meeting Monday and the statement talked about greater
collaboration, putting together a task force for the coronavirus. It seems very late in the game for that discussion right now. I know the W.H.O. is
going to be in that virtual meeting. But they need to step up that game.
And I'll tell you why. I talked about the emerging markets. How about these strained developing countries. I picked out five ranging from India,
Brazil, Nigeria, and all the way across here, around the world, but even the Philippines, these are populations of 2 billion people, Becky. They're
not enjoying the stock market rally right now. Their healthcare systems are under strain, will be strained even more right now, and currencies are near
all-time lows. Because the dollar has been rising due to this bailout package. And this flight to safety by global investors.
Again, it rings home on the haves and have-nots around the world. But this will be a global problem. It's not a problem for the G-7 and the G-20
alone, but they're going to have to deal with it because the countries don't have the funding.
[10:50:00]
ANDERSON: Yes. Well, we will see what happens. Thank you on the G-20 info. And John will join us with more as and when he gets it. And just to point
out -- and I don't think I need to do this -- but clearly some of our staff are working from home, the technology may not be as good as it would
normally be, so apologies for the quality of that shot. But getting John up with the information that he had for you is obviously really important.
Coming up, this is not a holiday. It is a test of the U.K. police force, how they are politely trying to get Brits to obey. That's up next.
And relatively good news out of Germany, where the mortality rate is much lower than most other countries. What can we learn from them and why is
this? That's up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, SHEPHERDS BUSH GREEN POLICE: You can't sit on the grave. Can you all go home? Can you all go home, please? It is not holiday.
It is a lockdown. Which means you don't just come in. Can you please just leave?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Police in west London, relatively politely telling people to please take this seriously. You can see it was a very pretty day and people
were enjoying the sun. Offices said the problem was people were gathering in groups.
Well, in the Netherlands, the coronavirus outbreak does seem to be slowing down. A Dutch health official says the exponential spread of the virus has
been likely been brought to a halt. But he cautions that the numbers could go back up if people stop following isolation measures. This is the story -
- isn't it -- around the world.
Germany reporting a coronavirus death rate of .4 of 1 percent. That is much lower than most other countries. But it may be too early to declare a
victory. You can see the near empty streets of Berlin here where the country recently banned gatherings of more than two people. German
authorities are concerned that a spike in confirmed cases could happen soon.
Senior international correspondent, Fred Pleitgen, is live in Berlin with more. Now, what is it that the government has? What sort of data evidence
do they have for this concern that they could see this spike?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, one of the things the centers for disease control in Germany, the Robert Koch
Institute, told us, Becky, is that they needed to remind everybody that they are also still just at the beginning of this epidemic. But the same
time, while they have a lot of confirmed cases here in Germany, I was looking at the numbers a couple of seconds ago. It's about 35,000 confirmed
cases. But they still only have a little over 180 fatalities. And that's .4 percent as you mentioned, which is very low.
We asked them today why that's the case. Why so far so few people have died in Germany while a lot more people appear to be dying in Spain and France
and Italy as well. They said they were quite surprised by it. But they say they believe that on the one hand they been testing a lot. They started
testing very, very early in early January. They say now they have the capacity to test 16,000 people every week, that in a population of about 80
million people. So about a quarter of the size of the United States. And they just think that they're missing fewer cases and therefore are able to
isolate people that are (INAUDIBLE). Have a listened to a little bit of what the disease control had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:55:00]
LOTHAR WIELER, PRESIDENT, ROBERT KOCH INSTITUTE (through translator): We don't know exactly why this is the case, but we think here are some of the
factors that underlie this very clearly. In Germany we tested widely from the start and that's why we discovered the virus early. And we also
discovered many mild cases through it. Among other things in the clinical cases, more than 50 percent have a cough and around 40 percent a fever. So
that's why we also cover many mild cases. In addition, not many old people are old in Germany yet, which is a factor that results in deaths and age
fluctuations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: So as you can see, a lot more mild cases. In Germany. The other big factor in Germany as well, Becky, is that the Germans do have a lot of
ICU beds and a lot of ventilators. And so quite frankly, they say their medical system isn't as overwhelmed as it is in other places and the
doctors here simply aren't having to make those very tough and sometimes tragic decisions about who gets a ventilator and who doesn't. But again,
Becky, as you very rightly pointed out, the German authorities will say this again and again and again, they are still at the beginning, this could
get a lot worse than it is right now -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Protect those health services around the world if they exist, of course. And we report on so many countries that simply do not have the
infrastructure should this virus hit their countries. All right, thank you for that. More coming up in next hour of the show including the details of
the stimulus package that the United States Congress has finally agreed on, whether $2 trillion will go is after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: This is the 100 club, our look at companies that are 100 years or older.
100 years ago businessman Conrad Hilton traveled through dusty Cisco, Texas looking to buy a bank. But when that fell through the stop at the bustling
Mobley hotel prompted a detour. Hilton had a head for business early on. And by forming Hilton Hotels in 1919 he began one of the world's largest
hospitality companies. Today it boasts 17 brands. There's only blue sky on the horizon.
CHRIS NASSETTA, PRESIDENT AND CEO, HILTON: We're opening more than a hotel and day in the world. As much as it's really fun to look at the impact
we've had over the last hundred years, I think what we do in the next hundred years will be far greater than anything that we've accomplished in
the past.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One of our most popular teas is the famous Earl Grey blend.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the drink that built a nation, the best tea may be produced in China or India, but there are few countries that enjoy a cup of
more than London. And in London there is one company which has been brewing up for more than 300 years.
STEPHEN TWINING, DIRECTOR, TWININGS: With or without milk, it's your cup of tea. You must drink it the way you like it. And, yes, a day without Earl
Grey is not a good day.
Well, the company started when Thomas Twining bought an existing London coffeehouse. Within the city of London there were over 2,000 coffeehouses.
So, intense competition. So having trained in tea, he introduced fine quality tea to his coffeehouse as a point of difference.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
END
