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France Reports Same Daily Case Level As When Lockdown Eased; Health Care Workers In Brazil Volunteer For Vaccine Trial; Final Journey Of U.S. Congressman And Civil Rights Icon; Israel, Hezbollah Trade Fire Across Lebanon Border; How The NFL Plans To Keep The Players Safe. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired July 27, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.
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BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Cases are rising around the world faster than ever. I'm Becky Anderson as you just heard, it's your world.
We're just connecting it so here are the biggest stories for you.
Right now it would be tough to find a single person on earth whom the COVID-19 pandemic hasn't affected in some way. In Asia where it was sole
things were under control. Millions are being impacted by fresh restrictions. If you are in Hong Kong and you're in public, you're now
required to wear a mask even outdoors. Forget about eating at restaurants. The city there has imposed a temporary ban.
If you're a UK citizen and you decided to take a holiday in Spain, well, now you will face two-week quarantine back home. And if you're in the
United States, you are in the middle of the world's number one COVID-19 hot spot, and every time you venture out in public, you may be worrying that
you'll become one of the 60,000 people being infected every single day.
Even people who have not contracted the virus are seeing their lives turned upside down by politicians in Washington trying to help by offering a new
round of economic aid. But the process of putting money into the pockets of people who are hurting is never easy.
After a weekend of negotiations, Republicans are set to unveil their $1 trillion stimulus package in the next few hours. It puts $1200 checks in
the hands of many households but sharply cuts payments to unemployed Americans. Democrats want to do more and have proposed a much larger
stimulus package.
Let's bring in CNN's John Harwood from Washington. And let's just talk about that stimulus bill first. What do we know and what can we expect,
John?
JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know, Becky is that a couple of months ago, House Democrats passed a $3 trillion bill. That bill
did various things including extend those federal unemployment benefits that $600 a week through January.
It also included a lot of money for more testing, for states and local governments whose revenues have been destroyed by the coronavirus, and
that's slowed down the economic activity. Also money for election security, because coronavirus is affecting the way people are going to cast their
ballots in the 2020 election.
Republicans were hoping not to have to pass any bill. They didn't do anything about this legislation for two months. They hope that the signs in
the springtime that the coronavirus was waning were going to be persistent, and they wouldn't have to pass another bill.
Now they say that the virus has resurged, they have got to do something else. They want to do the minimum amount possible, but they know they've
got to do something. And so, Larry Kudlow yesterday was describing an approach that would retain some of that federal unemployment top off to
state unemployment benefits but not the whole thing. Here's his formula.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KUDLOW, DIRECTOR, U.S. NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL: It won't stop the assistance; it's going to cap the assistance at a level that is consistent
with people going back to work. That's what we said from day one. First of all, state unemployment benefits stay in place. Second of all, we will try
to cap the benefits at about 70 percent of wages.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARWOOD: Now, Democrats say that's not enough, they want the whole thing, but this is where the negotiation starts. But it's up against a deadline,
Becky, because these unemployment benefits run out at the end of this month. So that's just this week.
If Congress does not act this week to extend those benefits, tens of millions of Americans are going to see their amount of disposable income
decline significantly, which is not going to be helpful to anyone, especially to President Trump who is running for re-election.
ANDERSON: That's right, and how do people view Donald Trump's handling of this COVID-stricken economy, John, given that we are now less than - just
less than 100 days out from the November election?
HARWOOD: Becky, the President is in deep, deep trouble, both nationally and in battleground states. Just a new poll out this morning from NBC and
Amherst that showed in the State of North Carolina, a traditionally red state that the President carried four years ago, he's down by seven points
to Joe Biden.
His approval rating is deep under water and people prefer Biden over Trump on handling of coronavirus. We've seen that pattern repeated in a series of
battleground state polls. We had three yesterday from CNN other news organizations showing the same thing. The President is down by about 10
points nationally.
[11:05:00]
HARWOOD: That is a very difficult hole to come back from. Not impossible, but not easy.
ANDERSON: Finally, another top Trump official testing positive, John. Who is it and what do we know?
HARWOOD: It's Robert O'Brien. He's the President's National Security Adviser. He was in Europe last week, meeting with European counterparts,
photographed without wearing masks, came back to the White House went to work on Thursday abruptly left to go home.
We presume that's because he tested positive at the White House on Thursday. They say he is quarantining. He has mild symptoms. They do not
believe that there is a risk to President Trump from this of course President Trump gets tested a lot.
But this is going to have a political impact in addition to the health impact, and we all hope that Robert O'Brien gets better. But what this does
is at a time when the administration is trying to talk down the threat, saying it's not a serious thing, yes, we need to do more testing.
But it's going to go away, this is the President's recurrent message, to have one of his closest aides contract coronavirus is a message to
Americans that the Trump White House doesn't know what it's doing on this, and that's a further political danger from this pandemic.
ANDERSON: John Harwood is in Washington for you. John always a pleasure, thank you. Once the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic Europe has been
slowly getting back on its feet but now there are fears that a widespread second wave is on the horizon.
Case in point Spain, Germany and France these countries are now seeing new spikes of infections following the lifting of lockdown measures. Let's
focus on France for the moment. The Health Ministry there says a good chunk of the progress the country had made has simply been erased.
The Health Minister, Olivier Veran tells Le Parisien Newspaper the country is not yet in a second wave of the outbreak, but there have been a massive
rise in cases. He said we have seen for a few days, the number of positive cases rise sharply while it has been falling for 13 weeks.
It has reached the same daily level today as when the confinement was lifted. CNN's Cyril Vanier is live for you in Paris. Cyril?
CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky, this was, in many ways, entirely predictable and it has now come to pass. When the government eased
the confinement restrictions two and a half months ago and life started going back to normal, the scientist who advised the French government said,
look, as things go back to normal, the virus is going to start circulating faster.
It's going to be a question of how much faster and whether we can contain that and so, that is what the numbers are now bearing out, that scenario is
occurring? So more than 1,000 new cases every day that is where we were mid-May before it dropped and now suddenly spiked back up.
The government has made it clear that as life went back to normal, the French essentially got lazy. That's not the word they used, but they say
the French are not respecting mitigation measures, social distancing and health measures as much as they once were, even just a few weeks ago.
So they're now calling on everyone not only to wear your masks, especially in indoors spaces where that is now mandatory, but they're calling also
people to respect the distancing. Don't get so close to one another, avoid unnecessary contact, don't go to work if you absolutely do not have to.
The French government is also deeply aware of the economic cost of re- confining. So we are not there, Becky, yet in France. I want to make that very clear. The French government does not want another round of national
confinement.
They are hoping that with increased mitigation measures, that with increased distancing measures, and if need be, local confinements, they are
going to be able to have a handle on this thing, Becky.
ANDERSON: And it's not just France, as I suggested, ahead of speaking to you. We are seeing a spike in cases in Spain and in Germany. It was only
less than a week ago that the European Union and its leaders agreed on a rescue package, effectively, a COVID fund.
We know that that is now at a trillion dollars, including some of the budget that had to be sorted out over the next seven years. The question
is, is that going to be big enough if we continue to see these spikes and a second wave across the continent?
VANIER: Well, that speaks to what I was saying earlier. That's why the government is so afraid of having to re-confine. No country wants to re-
confine at a national level. They are willing to do it at a local level, and they have shown this in Germany, they have shown this in Spain in the
Catalonia region recently.
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VANIER: It doesn't have to happen on a regional level in France, but it could before the end of the summer, if the number is continued trending in
the wrong direction. Governments had deeply aware of the cost of re- confining. They want to avoid that scenario, so the answer is test, test, test they've been saying this for three months.
Not every country is at the same level in terms of testing. In fact I want to show you where we are Becky this is a mobile testing lab in the heart of
Paris on the banks of the river Seine. So people are coming here to do the nose swabs that is to say to know whether they have the coronavirus right
now, and they're also coming here to do the blood work to know whether they have had it and might have some degree of immunity to the virus.
Testing is very hit and miss in Paris, you can go to some labs and have to wait 14 days for an appointment, you go to some labs and you can get it
done immediately. That is the key point of what's going on, not just here in France but in Germany and Spain as well, because that is how government
and health authorities can keep eyes on the spread of the virus and re- confine or apply mitigation measures if need be, Becky.
ANDERSON: Cyril Vanier is in Paris for you. Thank you, Cyril. On a global effort to resolve this pandemic, there are many vaccines now in the works
around the world. The World Health Organization says there are already 25 clinical trials underway globally.
There was one here in the UAE we've been talking a lot about the Oxford University vaccine, which has trials taking place in the UK, South Africa
and Brazil. Health care workers in Sao Paulo's hospitals are one of the groups contributing to that Oxford Vaccine Trial.
CNN has gained access to the first participant in the trial there, a dentist working in ICU. Nick Paton Walsh reports.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR: There is an extra bit of bravery here you can't see. Denis is a dentist doing for five months of
coronavirus in Sao Paulo, the not too pretty job of cleaning infected mouths. Like everyone here living away from her family, death around her
daily.
But she's the first Brazilian to be given a trial vaccine from Oxford University, carrying the hopes of pretty much all of us, that this front
runner vaccine works. Being a volunteer is an act of love, she says, donating a little bit of yourself.
All the staff here have been offered if they want to take part in the Oxford Vaccine Trial, putting them on another front line the world's urgent
hunt for immunity from this disease. Denis was subject one and her boss, Flavia, was roughly subject 1,000 in the hearts, the memory of a fellow
doctor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FLAVIA MACHADO, PROFESSOR OF INTENSIVE CARE MEDICINE, UNIFESP: He was my friend for 23 years. He worked here for 23 years.
WALSH: I'm so sorry for that.
MACHADO: Yes, it was a year, it was quite bad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: Their eyes betray exhaustion, yet here they still give what they have left. The vaccine trial needs more people like us at high risk of
contamination. Being away from the people you love is very difficult.
Across Sao Paulo, there is a race between powers raging in one of the worst hit cities on earth over who can prove first that their vaccine works.
China last week sent its Sinovac Vaccine for trial here among the city's frontline workers, but it's rollout was met by an angry fringe railing of
what they call the "Chinese virus" and so, also railing at the China vaccine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ESPER KALLAS, HEAD OF SINOVAC VACCINE TRIAL IN BRAZIL: That concerns amongst your staff here for the safety of people who participate in this
because of that right wing rhetoric. This is the number one concern. Some people may react oddly in these days to a volunteer who participated in a
vaccine that was conceptualized in a Chinese company.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: Dr. Stephanie Texieira Porto is the only Chinese trial subject to go public yet and this is the easy bit of her painful pandemic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHANIE TEXIEIRA PORTO, DOCTOR AND VACCINE TRIAL VOLUNTEER: I was really, really anxious and I would cry a lot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: While she's not had any threats since she had the job here, she says she's been warned by the trial to be careful.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PORTO: They told me to not expose it too much, to try not to tell everybody how this is going to be?
WALSH: Isn't that strange?
PORTO: Yes, it's very strange, all of it. I don't understand why they hate China?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:15:00]
WALSH: As if this wasn't enough, the Americans are coming Pharma giant Pfizer looking to test its vaccine which the U.S. has paid $1.9 billion for
in Brazil's make a city hot spot, too, all hoping to be first, all finding Brazil wants access to their vaccine in return, and all feeling the heat
and anguish of the months ahead. Nick Peyton Walsh, CNN, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
ANDERSON: In the U.S., phase 3 of a clinical vaccine trial there has begun. The investigation vaccine, as it's known was co developed by biotic firm
Moderna and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. 30,000 adults are expected to take part in this final phase. The first
volunteer to receive the vaccination spoke with CNN's Elizabeth Cohen about the trial.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Now, you don't know if you got the vaccine or the placebo, but either way you're helping to find a
cure.
DAWN BAKER, PHASE THREE VACCINE VOLUNTEER: Either way it's a really important role to have and to be part of that research. I never thought
that I would do something like this.
COHEN: You are the first person in the United States to get a shot in a phase 3 COVID trial. What does that feel like?
BAKER: It is very exciting. I'm very anxious about it. I just hope that they're really, really good results. I know a lot of people are doing a lot
of different vaccine trials and things are going on, but I feel more and I feel so proud.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Elizabeth's colleague, Health Reporter Jacqueline Howard joining me now from Atlanta with more on the Moderna's Phase 3 Trial. Jacqueline,
what can the volunteers in this trial expect and how bigger role does trust play, do you think?
JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: Trust plays a big role, but here's what volunteers can expect. So like you said, we are expected to see up to
30,000 volunteers in this Phase 3 Trial. Half of the volunteers are going to receive a placebo, and the rest are actually going to receive the COVID-
19 vaccine.
And the vaccine is going to be administered in two doses, 100 microgram dose right now, and then 28 days later, they'll receive the second dose.
And that's how researchers are really going to gauge how this vaccine works? What we'll see in the volunteers? How safe and effective it is? And
this is really seen as the last step before we can determine, yes, this vaccine is ready to be available or not.
So this is pretty important, and it's moving really, really quickly. I actually just got off a Tele-briefing phone call with the National
Institutes of Health, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
He said that this is the fastest the United States has ever really moved in getting to a candidate vaccine from January, when the coronavirus sequence
was first put out, and now about six months later we're already in a phase 3 Trial. Things are moving quickly and this is really a record for the U.S.
and it's a historic moment for the U.S. as well.
ANDERSON: And it's fascinating. I'm seeing other trials around the world, and we're keeping one eye on those as we keep the other, of course, on what
is going on in the U.S. One of Donald Trump's top advisers on trade promising some big news tomorrow with regard to supply chains and vaccines,
what do we know at this point?
HOWARD: Right, well, there's a lot we still don't know and there's a lot we do know. So, right now when it comes to vaccines, like you said, when we do
have one available which the goal is still to have one hopefully by the end of the year or early next year, there are a lot currently in clinical
evaluation, so we'll likely see more than one vaccine when one comes out.
And right now there is discussion about, okay, prioritization as the vaccines roll out. Who gets it first and so forth, that's in discussions
right now. But really, we're waiting to hear more about this and to receive more news about this.
So things are moving quickly. Like I said, we're expecting to hear more and learn more in the days to come, and as the trials continue, that will
really help us understand and gauge what to expect?
ANDERSON: Just as a primer for this, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said this. Let's have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP0
PETER NAVARRO, WHITE HOUSE TRADE ADVISER: One of my prime missions for the President, and he's asked me repeatedly to remain focused on this, is to
continue with efforts to bring home, bring onshore the supply chains for our essential medicine. So we'll have nice announcements about that
tomorrow.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: Peter Navarro. Jacqueline how about doing this for us, just finally, one-on-one for our viewers, what are the most basic facts that we
today need to know about? I know things change. We were doing this with Sanjay Gupta six months ago when we first heard about this disease or
infection from China. Six months on, what do we need to know?
HOWARD: Yes, isn't that fascinating, just six months ago we were doing this, and now six months later there is still a lot we don't know. But
here's what we have learned in the past months.
Actually, just last week CDC released new data on how even in younger otherwise healthy adults with no underlying health conditions, if they get
the coronavirus infection and show symptoms, those symptoms can last for weeks.
Even in mild cases, and again, even in younger adults who are otherwise healthy who have no underlying health conditions. So that's been emerging
as a concern. And then, as we all know, we're learning more and more about if children do get infected, and in very, very rare cases, there can be a
severe illness and complications, the multi-system inflammatory in children syndrome, that syndrome has emerged in our understanding of the virus.
It's rare, but we're learning more about it. And then again, overall, we're just learning more about how the antibodies can wane over time? So if you
have been infected, those antibodies, we have learned, might not last as long as we thought or can wane over time.
So those are just some of the key points that we've learned here, and we're learning more as time goes on, but there's still a lot left to learn, which
is why, going back to the race for a vaccine, that's playing a big, big part and helping us really address this pandemic. So we'll see what comes
in the months ahead.
ANDERSON: Which is why we rely heavily on our health team and on you and your colleagues? Thank you. School's out for South Africa's kids again.
We'll take you to the fifth largest coronavirus outbreak in the world. That is up next.
And for decades, U.S. military bases have protected Japan. But now the Japanese say those same bases are dangerous. The reason, local officials
are concerned, when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Students in South Africa are on their first day of a month-long break from school today. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Thursday
that all public schools will be closed for the next month as the country battles peak infection rates.
South Africa has confirmed more than 400,000 cases of COVID-19, the fifth highest case count in the world. CNN's David McKenzie joining us live from
Johannesburg. What is the latest, David?
[11:25:00]
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the latest, as you say, is that students across the country are not going to public schools for sure,
mostly for a month or some grades will come back of it sooner than that. They also have extended the academic year.
Now it's not without controversy, Becky. There have been calls for schools to stay in session, including from the official opposition which says it
will take the government to court about this decision. They say that the transmission risk is lower than in other parts, so even in the communities
where students reside.
And so, children should have a chance to learn. But the President said, as you said, Becky, that they don't want transmission to be in schools, and
the case count certainly is surging as South Africa is at the peak of its pandemic. Now they believe this will last through August, but possibly say
some models into September. Becky?
ANDERSON: The W.H.O says that rising numbers in South Africa could signal greater spread across the continent. Are we seeing evidence of that? It
sounds as if - oh, we've lost him. I thought he was just listening intently to my question. We can't get that answer because we've lost the link.
All right, coming up on "Connect the World," two months into the Black Lives Matter protest in Portland, Oregon, crowds are facing off against
federal law enforcement, protesting what the Mayor calls an unconstitutional occupation?
And Japan is worried that U.S. military bases could be spreading the coronavirus. CNN has got its exclusive access to one of those bases. And
we'll show you what we found after this.
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ANDERSON: The man known as the moral conscience of the United States Congress crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama on Sunday for the last
time. Civil Rights Icon John Lewis marched across that bridge in 1965, defining his role in the nonviolent movement for racial equality.
He was severely beaten in the process. The body of the beloved Congressman is scheduled to arrive at the Capitol Building in Washington in about two
hours' time. He will lie in state there over the next two days before returning home to his Congressional District in Georgia.
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: And do be sure to keep it right here on CNN. Our special coverage of John Lewis's final journey continues at 1:30 pm eastern time. You're
watching "Connect the World" with me, Becky Anderson.
The coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe has now infected more than 16 million people. The U.S. leads with the most infections, topping 4 million
like other countries. It is rushing for a vaccine with a massive Phase 3 Trial now underway.
The UK now quarantining travelers from Spain because that country is seeing a spike in cases parts of Germany and France also seeing increases causing
concerns about a potential second wave across Europe.
COVID-19 rapidly spreading in parts of Asia, India reported close to 50,000 cases Sunday, its highest daily total. China is also planning to help build
a makeshift hospital in Hong Kong to help with the city's rising number of infections.
Well, 64 new infections were reported across multiple U.S. military bases in Okinawa in Japan over the weekend. In a CNN exclusive, our teams were
given access to one of those military bases to see how personnel are responding. Have a look at this.
KAORI ENJOJI, JOURNALIST: Hundreds wind up at this Community Center in Okinawa to be tested for the coronavirus. All of them work inside the two
U.S. marine core bases hit hardest by COVID-19. - runs the food court at Camp Hansen. He tells me he is scared that so many servicemen are testing
positive.
By the time he hands over his saliva sample, the parking lot is full of worried people just like him. There are more cases inside the ranks of the
U.S military in Okinawa then there have been on the whole island during the course of the pandemic.
Local residents say they want the bases locked down. They fear servicemen arriving from the mainland where the virus is raging could spread the virus
further.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COL. RAY GERBER, CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA: The rotation of personnel and is a tremendous concern for us here at Camp Hansen and from the Marine core in
Okinawa, a - large. It's why we have some very stringent measures in place.
Anytime someone lands on Okinawa via military chartered aircraft, they are taken directly to a residence where they then spend two weeks essentially
in isolation. Their symptoms are monitored, they are checked up on and they are also completely isolated to prevent their transmission of potential
COVID-19 from the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENJOJI: Still, the possibility of contingent permeates through Chatan town, a popular hangout for off duty servicemen and their families before the
pandemic hit. It's also the short drive from Futenma Air Base, the side of another cluster outbreak among the marines.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MASAHARU NOGUMI, CHATAN, OKINAWA MAYOR: From experience, we feel the U.S. servicemen are in the end always protected by the status of forces
agreement. They do not follow Japanese laws, nor do they work within our system. That is the biggest reason we do not fully trust each other.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENJOJI: This hotel symbolizes the latest mistrust. The military has rented it out to find space for personnel rotating out on masse at this time of
year. With more than half of Chatan's land already taken up by U.S. bases, many resent having to give away more and risk being exposed to a virus they
had under control until July.
Japan has depended on the U.S. for its security ever since it lost World War II. And half of all of the military bases in Japan are located on the
Island of Okinawa. Futenma air base is one of them has long been the controversial with plans to relocated over decades. And residents say, they
bare an outsized burden and locked some of these bases relocated somewhere else.
The Okinawa's want more information that just the number of cases. With infections among servicemen rising in the U.S. and around the world, their
pleas this time may resonate far beyond the chores. Kaori Enjoji for CNN, Okinawa, Japan.
ANDERSON: Well, South Korea reporting its biggest daily jump in new virus cases since March. Health officials there say Saturday's tally so past 100
new infections. That includes workers returning from Iraq and crew members of a Russian freighter. Authorities have warned South Koreans to expect to
spiking cases from those coming in from abroad.
Well, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un called an emergency meeting over the weekend this after Pyongyang reported its first suspected coronavirus case,
infection being connected to a defector who crossed back into the north illegally about a week ago. Police in South Korea say the man was fleeing
arrest. Paula Hancocks has with more from Seoul.
[11:35:00]
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is the close just North Korea has come to admitting that they may have a case of coronavirus
within the country over the weekend, so the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un convened an emergency politburo meeting saying that a defector who defected
three years ago to the south had then returned to North Korea and showed symptoms of coronavirus.
Now according to state run media, that individual was quarantined, and we understand from KCNA also that areas along the borders of Kaesong City,
some areas have been isolated as well.
From the South Korean side of things, the military admits that they do believe that an individual defected back into North Korea just recently,
and South Korean police also admit that this man may have been fleeing arrest, that they were investigating him and that he had been accused of a
sex crime.
Now, up until now, North Korea had claimed they had zero cases within the country, which many officials around the world questioned, given the fact
that it shares a border with both China and South Korea.
And this could be a convenient way of Pyongyang admitting that it does have cases within the country, while at the same time blaming South Korea for
introducing it. Paula Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.
ANDERSON: Well, we are coming to you live from our Middle-East Broadcasting Hub here in Abu Dhabi where we are tracking the latest developments from
the Israeli/Lebanese border. Israeli defense forces and Hezbollah have traded fire. What sparked the tensions is up next?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: We are connecting you to the Israeli/Lebanese border next where the Israeli army and Hezbollah have traded fire. Now, the Israeli defense
force or Israel's defense forces say the exchanges come after several Hezbollah militants crossed the border into Israel.
CNN's Oren Liebermann is standing by in Jerusalem. Just how significant are these moves, Oren?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the final answer for that question comes only over the course of the next 24, 48 hours where we see
if this develops. As of this moment, which is about three hours and ten minutes or so after all of this started, the border appears to be quiet.
I would never call it peaceful, but it seems like the exchange of fire was limited and may be over. And I say that because the Israeli military lifted
civilian restrictions on those in Northern Israel. That's normally a pretty strong indication that the military believes, at least, that this is over.
But let me take you back this where this began. It was 3:30 in the afternoon when the IDF said there was a security incident which they later
say was a group of Hezbollah militants crossing the blue line which demarcates the frontier between Israel and Lebanon.
The military says they spotted them as they approach the border or as they approach the blue line and tracked them as they crossed a few meters past
the blue line, that's when the IDF says they opened fire with small arms fire and with tank fire and through their observations saw Hezbollah cell
returning into Lebanon.
That's generally where this ended. The IDF said they did use some artillery fire what they call defensive purposes and smoke screens, but since then
and fairly quickly after this in fact, the idea of lifted civilian restrictions which again is a pretty strong indication that the fighting,
the exchange of fire may be over.
[11:40:00]
LIEBERMANN: We haven't yet heard from Hezbollah at this point, they have been mum so far, but we are expecting a statement perhaps even soon. It's
worth noting that Israel was expecting something, some sort of retaliation by Hezbollah because there was a strike last week in Syria blamed on Israel
that killed a Hezbollah militant.
Over the weekend, the IDF Chief of Staff and the Defense Minister visited the northern border and there was additional troop deployment there, but it
wasn't until this began that the idea of putting the civilian restrictions.
And as I said Becky, those were lifted fairly quickly still obviously tense as it always is on this border. And we'll see how and if this develops from
this point?
ANDERSON: Yes. And there have been concerns now for some time that this border, the Israeli/Lebanon border could be the next big conflict in this
region. I'm talking about concerns before the pandemic sort of stole the global headline, as it were. What chance that things will ratchet up and
get out of hand at this point? Where is this headed, potentially?
LIEBERMANN: Again, we'll have a better sense of that answer in 12 or 24, certainly in 48 hours. I would say at this point a further escalation
certainly a massive escalation is unlikely at this point. It's not in Israel's interest it's not in Lebanon's or Hezbollah's interest to start a
massive fight because of the pandemic, because of the economic situation in Lebanon.
And we've seen fighting before along the border, but it's very uncommon. The border is tense. Not peaceful, but tense, and yet it remains quiet. The
last exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah was last September, so nearly a year ago. The exchange of fire before that was five years ago.
So even if there is always talk of an escalation, and it certainly is possible with few miscalculations of responses on either side, at this
stage and this could change, but at this stage some massive escalation does not appear likely.
ANDERSON: Oren Liebermann is on the story for you. Thank you Oren that is a very latest on that. We want to turn to an ongoing protest standoff in the
Northwestern United States now.
Portland, Oregon has now seen 60 straight nights of protests since George Floyd's killing in May. Protesters are clashing nightly with local police
and with law enforcement officers who were sent in by the feds, the federal government.
Portland's Mayor has made it clear that those federal agents are not welcome, even calling their presence an unconstitutional occupation.
Overnight the City's Police Department tweeted a picture that illustrates the seriousness of this situation saying officers found a bag in the
protest area containing loaded rifle magazines and Molotov cocktails a dramatic day there.
A dramatic day in the English Premier League with big clubs vying for a top four finish. I'm going to tell you about the massive job done by Manchester
United as they denied the foxes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HANCOCKS: As you come in, gone are the days of flashing your ticket and walking in. You have to have a temperature check to make sure you have no
kind of fever. And if you do, there is actually a quarantine area just outside of the stadium in case there are those who have a high temperature.
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: Well, Paula Hancocks there. Among the fans finally being allowed back into the stands for professional baseball in South Korea, the nation
has gone through two waves of coronavirus, so it's not taking any chances with its safety rules.
We want to mark the return of American Football as NFL players head off to training camp. There will be a new set of coronavirus protocols. So how
exactly does the league plan to keep the players safe amid rising cases of COVID? CNN's Sanjay Gupta finds out in an exclusive interview with the
NFL's Chief Medical Doctor.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You're getting an exclusive look at an NFL training facility. It's been essentially a ghost
town here since March. The training camp is now about to begin for the Atlanta Falcons.
There is a real schism. There are some people who say, here's what you do, here's the plan. And there are other people who say it's absolutely
ludicrous to even try this. The country is in the middle of a pandemic. Football is great, but you got to sit this season out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ALLEN SILLS, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, NFL: I think people are trying to be really thoughtful about this and I think people do look at risk and risk
mitigation in different ways, but I feel like it's the right thing to do to try to learn to live with this virus.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DR. GUPTA: Dr. Allen Sills is Chief Medical Officer for the NFL. We're both Neuro surgeons and we've known each other for several years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SILLS: And we find ways to do that safely. That's our challenge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DR. GUPTA: The last NFL game was February 2nd of this year. Super Bowl 54, the Chiefs Beat the 49ers, 31 to 20. Two days earlier, the U.S. declared a
public health emergency because of coronavirus.
Since then millions of people have become infected, more than 140,000 have died, and now the NFL wants to do the seemingly impossible, bring back some
sense of normalcy to one of the largest sports leagues in the country.
Some of the changes indoors are going to look very familiar lots of masks, near constant sanitizing and physical distancing everywhere in treatment
rooms, weight rooms, even mealtime and on the field.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SILLS: There are actually three regulation size football fields here side by side, so the first thing that jumps to your mind is how we can do
physical distancing here, right? So as players start stringing conditioning activities, for example, you're talking about each individual or each very
small group having a lot of space to work with.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DR. GUPTA: There will even be this new space age-looking technology, a bubble of sorts for those who want it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SILLS: A number of our players have worn eye shields over the past years for protection or performance reasons. So it's basically an extension
of that device, but it's a multi-layered device so that you've got ventilation holes and you've got some filters in it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DR. GUPTA: There are these proximity tracking devices that will beep or flash when players or staff get too close to one another. Then that data is
collected, making contact tracing easier if someone does become infected.
Now, unlike the NBA bubble that's isolated the entire league in Orlando, the NFL has more of what they call an ecosystem. People will still live in
their own homes, they'll be with their own families, and they will travel with their teams for games.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SILLS: Players, coaches, staff, if they're around each other each day, they're going to share risk. They also share a responsibility to each
other, which means that they're each making good choices when they're away from the facility, all around the building or--
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DR. GUPTA: But that also means the entire ecosystem is only as strong as its weakest link.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. GUPTA: How are the players doing? Are there worried as there is a way to describe the mood?
RICH MCKAY, PRESIDENT AND CEO, ATLANTA FALCONS: Yes, I would say, yes sure. They have the same anxiousness that you would have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DR. GUPTA: Rich McKay is CEO of the Atlanta Falcons.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCKAY: They're relying on us and they're relying on the union to make sure that all the protocols we do, everything that we can is done at the highest
level that we can.
DEMAURICE SMITH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NFL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION: Everything that we do is going to have an impact on families at home and it's going to
have an impact on first responders, community service and other people in the community. And to believe otherwise is sheer fantasy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DR. GUPTA: DeMaurice Smith is Executive Director of the NFL PA, that's the union representing players on the field this year. There have been some
pretty tense negotiations between the union and the league about how to play in the age of COVID19?
And Smith pointed out something that I hadn't heard before. About 70 percent of NFL players could be considered vulnerable themselves or at
increased risk.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: What we've done is tracked the CDC risk guidelines, made decisions on which ones put our players in high risk, and players can rely on those
risk factors to make decisions about whether they're going to play or not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:50:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. GUPTA: I was actually surprised by that. Because you think of athletes just being the superhuman sort of perfectly healthy people, but there are
these various conditions. How does that play into your thinking?
DR. SILLS: We still do not know a lot of the basics about this disease and where it's going to be headed? And I think it hearkens back again to those
conversations that each individual has to have, and they have to, in their mind, make what's the best decision for themselves? And this is where they
would come in for testing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DR. GUPTA: The league and the union have agreed to test every player daily for at least the first two weeks of training camp, eventually moving to an
every other day schedule once the team reaches a 5 percent positivity rate and then maintains that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. GUPTA: Does that make sense to you because there is an incredible shortage of testing right now? And we did some rough math, and if you look
at the testing plan here, it's about, just for the players, about 18,000 tests per week. I mean, how could that not have an impact on the
availability of more widespread general testing?
DR. SILLS: Clearly there are procedural issues with that around the country. So we went with a company that was outside of market that would
have a national platform. They actually opened up some laboratory capabilities that weren't being used just for this project, and also set up
again supply and distribution and testing reporting that's completely separate from any health care work that they do.
And that company has given us their assurance that any work that they do for health care applications, meaning for hospitals, for emergency rooms,
things of that nature, that's a whole separate business for them that will remain their number one priority.
DR. GUPTA: Did you ever think, look, maybe this season is going to be a wash. We'll get back to it this year, but this isn't essential. As much as
I love football this isn't essential compared to the essential things that are needed in the country.
MCKAY: Yes, I would say that probably those thoughts went through your mind three months ago. I think as we moved forward and we saw, hey, basketball
is going to do this, baseball is going to do this and soccer is going to do this. We get to go last, we can learn from them.
We can do this in a really safe way, we think. And so, I think for us, we got the message that people wanted football. That's not the reason to play,
that people want it, but if we can do it in a way that's safe as it possibly can be then, sure and we will. And that's what we're going to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DR. GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Flowery Branch, Georgia.
ANDERSON: Sanjay Gupta reporting there and there were a lot of hearts and mouths across England on Sunday as the Premier League season came to a
close. And Aston Villa avoided the dreaded drop only just the team from Birmingham had just returned, of course, to the top flight year and now get
to enjoy at least for another 12 months.
Our Don Riddell joining us now and Don, there is nothing quite like watching a number of struggling teams looking to pull off that Houdini
escape from relegation on the final day. I certainly watched that Villa match. It was gripping.
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes, I agree a great achievement.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: It wasn't the best football, but it was gripping.
RIDDELL: Yes, great team for them, but you're absolutely right, Becky. If your team isn't involved and if you're a bit of a sadist, it is great fun.
On the final day of the Premier League season so much at stake. Places in the Champion's League and the Europe League were up for grabs, and there
was also the desperate fight for survival at the foot of the table.
At the start of the 38th and final game, Watford knew that a win against Arsenal would have probably been good enough for them, but they made it
really half of themselves following three nail down after barely half an hour.
At half time, Watford must have thought it was all over, but they staged a fight back after the break. Danny Welbeck made the score 3-2 and the former
Arsenal striker then had a golden opportunity to level the scores. But as you can see there, his back heel was saved. 3-2 is how it stayed, and that
result was great news for Aston Villa.
Their final game was against West Ham in London. And Villa were hoping to complete an incredible act of survival. Two wins and a draw in the lead up
to this game and when Jack Grealish scored laid on, it seemed as though they were going to do it. However, West Ham's really quick equalizer from
Andrea Milanco made for an anxious finale.
The Villa got the draw, that's how it ended at full time and that was good enough to keep Aston Villa up. Bournemouth Watford and Norwich in the final
analysis were all relegated. Here is confirmation of the final table.
Watford and Bournemouth took it to the last day, and it was tight. But Villa finished a point ahead of them. And it's quite a story they didn't
win a league game from the end of January until the 12th of July. But then eight points from the last four games is how they managed to beat the drop?
Drama too, at the top of the table two massive clubs managed to secure Champions League football for next season. And there was a personal triumph
for their managers. Manchester United finished third, Chelsea finished fourth. At the bluish Chelsea needed the result against Wolves at home to
be sure of a top four finish and they won the game. Thanks to a superb free kick from Mason Mount.
[11:55:00]
RIDDELL: That came right at the end of the first half, but there was a little bit more injury time for Chelsea to score another goal before the
break. This time it was a tenacious Olivier Jehu who put it into the back of the net, and that was enough to give Chelsea a 2-0 win.
It means that Lampard stay at the blues into the Champion's League in its first season in-charge and he has done it with limited investment in the
transfer market and by giving their clubs young players lots of opportunities to grow and develop and that can only benefit Chelsea in the
long run.
Manchester United claimed third place in a high states win against Leister City, either of these teams could have clinched Champions League football
but United edged it with a 2-0 win. Bruno Fernandez wrapped up his brilliant debut season with a penalty, and then Jesse Lingard pressured
Kasper Schmeichel into a mistake right at the desk scoring his first goal for the season in the 97th minute of the very last game.
The result vindicates United Manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who had his critics this season, but they've lost only one since the last week of
January in the end, a great day for two managers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER: We had a chat with everyone this morning on no matter what's happened today. We've come so far
as a team, we're building a culture, and very proud of all their efforts. I'm pleased with their efforts.
FRANK LAMPARD, CHELSEA MANAGER: It's always a team effort, a collective effort of staff and players, and I have to say that I'm proud. I always put
- small brackets around that because it's Chelsea. And we want to be challenging for titles and league titles. But we're not at that position
now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIDDELL: Before we go, Becky, just a quick mention of Juventus who clinched the last of the outstanding league titles out of the top five leagues in
Europe. This is how they celebrated with a 2-0 win on the final day.
And a great achievement for them, nine consecutive titles in Syria, believe it or not, they went entirely through with how they played the season, but
they did it. And of course all eyes now for them on the Champions League, a tournament they haven't won since 1996.
ANDERSON: Wow! Good luck to them. I wouldn't write them off at this stage. I have to say, and I hope you agree with me, you feel your age when two
coaches, Ole Solskjaer and Lampard of Chelsea are two players that you remember, easily remember playing.
And we watched them week in and week out. John Terry, Aston Villa, in the coaching line as well. Literally at the end of yesterday I thought,
goodness gracious, I am feeling it a little bit. There you go.
RIDDELL: Yes.
ANDERSON: You're not going to agree with me.
RIDDELL: It is what it is.
ANDERSON: He's trying to make out that he's much younger than me right now. All right, I'll leave it there. Before we leave you, we want to take one
last look at the commemorations plan for the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis.
The body of the Civil Rights Icon has arrived at Joint Base Andrews and will soon leave for the Capitol building in Washington, where lawmakers and
the American public can pay their final respects. He will lie in state for two days before heading to Georgia where he will be laid to rest later this
week. It is a very good evening from us.
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END
