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First Move with Julia Chatterley
Americans are Giving Thanks as the Pandemic Rages in the United States; COVID Cases are Rising to their Highest Levels Since March in South Korea; Disney has Announced more Coronavirus Layoffs. Aired 9-10a ET
Aired November 26, 2020 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:00:45]
RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS ANCHOR: Live from New York, I'm Richard Quest in for Julia Chatterley today. This is FIRST MOVE and here's your need to
know.
It is a holiday like no other. Americans are giving thanks as the pandemic rages in the United States.
Concern in South Korea. COVID cases are rising to their highest levels since March.
And counting the economic cost. Disney has announced more coronavirus layoffs.
It's Thursday. Let's make a move.
A very good day to you and a warm welcome. Happy Thanksgiving, if that is what you are celebrating. Because it is Thanksgiving in the United States,
the U.S. stock markets are closed for the National Holiday. They will reopen on Friday and then it will just be a half day's trading through
until the weekend.
Before traders went home, the NASDAQ closed at a record. It was the best part of half a percent. The Dow and the S&P 500, they moved away from their
records. The Dow closing under 30,000 and ended the day just a touch lower. Numbers were relatively small all things considered.
And so the markets that are trading and doing business in Europe and Asia, the markets opened as normal, of course, on Thursday. In London, it is the
FTSE which is the laggard. It is down nearly half a percent against the Paris CAC 40, which is almost unchanged and the Xetra DAX which is up just
a smidgen.
In London, the British government has announced details on restrictions that will be put in place in London and elsewhere in England when the
National English lockdown ends next week.
To Asia, the Nikkei had a solid session rising a 30-year high. That's the markets. Those are the way they are looking. Now, back to the drivers.
Millions of people will be giving thanks here in the United States, whilst at the same time grappling with the reality of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nearly 90,000 Americans are to spend this holiday in hospital suffering from the virus, and there are more than 262,000 people who have died since
the outbreak began.
The C.D.C. is projecting another 60,000 lives likely will be lost over the next three weeks. From Miami, Rosa Flores reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Thanksgiving is a holiday typically spent together, but as the coronavirus cases and hospitalizations
reach record levels across the United States, health experts are urging Americans to stay apart this year to help prevent the spread of the
disease.
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: We all know how difficult that is because this is such a
beautiful traditional holiday, but by making that sacrifice, you're going to be preventing people from getting infected.
FLORES (voice-over): Millions taking to the skies, anyway, ignoring warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and those
decisions are expected to spark a massive spike in new infections.
MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA: People have to stop swapping air, it's
just that simple; and if we don't, we're going to see many, many of our friends, colleagues and loved ones ending up in a hospital and
unfortunately, some of them not making it.
FLORES (voice-over): Nearly 90,000 people are now hospitalized with the coronavirus. And on Wednesday, over 2,100 people died from the disease for
the second day in a row, the highest since May.
One health expert fearing the death toll will keep increasing.
DR. JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Though I expect that the daily death rate will double in the next 10 days. So we'll be seeing close to
4,000 deaths a day.
FLORES (voice-over): With new coronavirus deaths rising in at least 39 states this morning, a last chance plea from some political leaders asking
residents to make smart decisions.
MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, HOUSTON, TEXAS: Unless, they are family members who have been with you, with you every single day, we're asking people not to
congregate in large numbers.
GOV. LAURA KELLY (D-KS): Strict adherence to these protocols will be more critical than ever in the coming days.
FLORES (voice-over): But after emphasizing avoiding travel to Denver residents --
MAYOR MICHAEL HANCOCK (D), DENVER, COLORADO: I am asking, my urging, I'm pleading with everyone, please stay home.
FLORES (voice-over): Mayor Michael Hancock now asking for forgiveness for flying out of state to celebrate Thanksgiving with family members.
And for many, food insecurity is their reality this Holiday season. With long lines at food banks stretched thin, helping those struggling from the
economic fallout of the pandemic.
[09:05:14]
KELLIE O'CONNELL, CEO, LAKEVIEW PANTRY: We're seeing thousands of people, many of whom have never had to go to a food pantry before.
FLORES (voice-over): In a year with so much loss, President-elect Joe Biden giving this message to the nation.
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: Every decision we make can save lives. None of these steps we are asking people to take are
political statements. Every one of them is based on science.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: Joe Biden there finishing that report from Rosa Flores.
Now to South Korea where health officials are reporting the highest number of new COVID cases since the first of March. Paula Hancocks is with me.
I guess, what I'm always keen to understand from countries that did relatively well and are now suddenly suffering, what's believed to be where
they went wrong?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Richard, it's important to put it in context when it comes to South Korea. Yes, this is
the worst it's been in eight months, 583 new cases for Wednesday, but of course, when you compare that to other countries, that is still minimal,
but it is high for South Korea.
Health officials are concerned at this point because they believe that this wave, they say this is the third wave, could actually be worse than the
first two waves.
One of the issues, of course, is we're coming into winter. South Korea has a cold winter, so everybody is moving indoors. And they say the issue with
this time around as well is that there are many different small outbreaks across the capital, Seoul, this is where the majority of the cases are.
In the previous two waves, you had one or two main epicenters and that makes it a lot easier to contact trace and try and contain that outbreak.
It's much more difficult when there are little fires everywhere around Seoul, trying to contact trace and trying to put that into perspective, but
of course, health officials have increased social distancing.
They've increased -- they have actually announced an emergency period until the end of the year, but they say that things will get worse before they
get better.
It could be next week at least until they see whether those restrictions have actually had the desired effect -- Richard.
QUEST: And the next set of restrictions would be what? If this doesn't work, what's the next in the cards?
HANCOCKS: Well, we're level two at the moment, which means clubs and bars are shut. Cafes are takeout only. Everyone who is in an inside facility has
to wear a mask, otherwise, you're be fined around $90 if you're caught, although most people do wear masks in South Korea.
If it goes up another level, there are five tiers within South Korea. That's when the economy really starts to suffer. That's when you see
restaurants, for example, having to shut down. At this point, only after 9:00 p.m., have to go to a takeout or delivery system only and you've got
the public transport starting to shut down from 9:00 p.m. onwards.
Now, the one thing it will mean as well, of course, for churches, religious services, they can only have 20 percent capacity at this point and they are
urged to go completely online, but they're not forced to at this point.
Now, remember, the past couple of waves, that has been where some of these big epicenters has been, when it comes to religious services, that, of
course, would go to mandating the services that have to be online completely -- Richard.
QUEST: Paula Hancocks who is in Seoul in South Korea where it's late into the evening.
We've looked at the situation in the United States and in Asia, now to Europe where Germany's coronavirus restrictions are likely to continue into
next year according to the Chancellor, Angela Merkel. Germany has imposed a partial lockdown, a mini lockdown, a lockdown lite, as they call it, a
month ago.
The Chancellor says that led to 40 percent reduction in contacts. Fred Pleitgen is in Berlin who joins me now.
Fred, it is not perhaps surprising that the restrictions or some restrictions will obviously go into next year since we're already just
about at December, but how serious will those restrictions need to be in the New Year?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think, Richard that they are going to be fairly serious and they certainly are
going to be very serious until the end of the year because one of the things, I think the Chancellor is finding out is while you're absolutely
right that the new infections are not rising as quickly as they did before, I think she said, yes, 40 percent less than they were rising before, they
certainly not going down either.
I took a look at the numbers earlier this morning and the amount of new daily coronavirus restrictions was about 22,500, exactly the same number as
one week ago and of course, as the Chancellor said yesterday after those long negotiations, that simply isn't good enough.
Now, those light lockdown restrictions are going to be extended until at least December 20th and then you're probably going to see a little period
of easing around Christmas, if things go well, and then they are going to go back into force at the beginning of the New Year. That's currently
somewhat the plan of the German government.
Meaning the lockdown restrictions you currently have and then additional things, like for instance, additional mask mandates in highly frequented
areas, fewer contacts between people. Only five people being allowed to meet together in a private setting, and also, fewer people allowed in
stores, which, of course, is very important, especially as we're looking to folks now possibly trying to go shopping for Christmas, if they're not
doing it online -- Richard.
[09:10:25]
QUEST: Fred, briefly, has Germany now put in place its final version of its Christmas plan? I'm seeing everywhere, you know, Ireland, I was hearing
yesterday, Leo Varadkar, the Deputy Premiere in Ireland summed it up. He says, we have to do these Christmas reductions because people will just
ignore us anyway.
PLEITGEN: Well, you know what, it's a very interesting question. I think a very important one and I think one of the things you talking about is
absolutely correct.
The one thing a lot of European governments keep talking about is Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. We somehow have to save Christmas and
that's exactly the case here in Germany as well.
If you heard Angela Merkel speak yesterday, she said, we have to put more restrictions in place to be able to somehow salvage Christmas. One of the
things, however, they did say is that they are going to take a look at these numbers again in the middle of December and if they significantly
have gone down, then maybe there are certain easing that could take place, but she really wasn't confident that that was going to happen.
So, right now, it looks as though at least until December 20th, a couple of days before Christmas, things seem to be fairly set right now as to how the
restrictions are going to be and of course, Angela Merkel hopes to ease them a little bit for Christmas itself to give people at least some
semblance of a Christmas.
But again, if the numbers do stay the way they are right now, if they don't go out, things could stay even more restrictive than planned.
QUEST: Fred Pleitgen who is in Berlin, the German capital and it is from Berlin to Paris where we go next.
The second French COVID-19 lockdown has been hitting the restaurant sector particularly hard, but some businesses are finding ways to survive. CNN's
Melissa Bell reports from the French capital.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Paris may be locked down, but you will find the doors of some of its restaurants open. Take Le
Baratin, a bistro in the east of the city loved by the late Anthony Bourdain.
ANTHONY BOURDAIN, FORMER CNN HOST: Imaginative food and fantastic wine.
BELL (voice-over): These days, you can't drink and eat here as Bourdain did. Restaurants have been closed by the second partial lockdown this year,
but this time around, Raquel Carena is back in her kitchen.
RAQUEL CARENA, CHEF, LE BARATIN (through translator): This time, we decided to do takeaway to try and be close to the people of the neighborhood, also
to avoid sitting around doing nothing.
BELL (voice-over): Raquel says that the first lockdown saw her turnover fold by 60 percent. The lunchtime takeaway she has put in place this time
should help a little, but that's not the only thing she is looking forward to the end of this lockdown.
CARENA (through translator): When we cook, we have to look at the people, and that's changed now. When I used to see my customers, I ask them to tell
me the truth. It's a bit dry, they would say, so I'd make something else. We've lost that luxury now.
BELL (voice-over): Still, Raquel is one of the lucky ones. Unions say that two out of every three establishments in France's hotel and restaurant
sector could be forced out of business by the pandemic.
According to France's Health Minister, restaurants will not be opening in December, which means that Raquel's carefully crafted dishes will continue
to be served in cardboard boxes and paper bags for a while longer.
Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: What this all actually means in terms of the economy and what happens with jobs? Pandemic-related job losses are continuing to mount,
certainly as second and third lockdowns now are introduced.
Disney says it will lay off 32,000 employees in the coming months. Thirty two thousand, that's 4,000 more than the company had previously announced
and CNN's John Defterios with me.
What part of the Disney Empire will most of these jobs be? If I recall, it's the parks, really, isn't it, where there are large numbers? But now
we're getting more job losses, so where are they going to be from?
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN BUSINESS EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Well, you're right, Richard. In the theme parks, but also, you have to remember, this is a
company that has exposure to the cruise line business and also hotels, right? So anything consumer-based is going to suffer, as you said, a boost
up from the 28,000 to 32,000.
Let's not forget though, they furloughed 37,000 workers just over a month ago in October. So all of this enthusiasm, Richard, we had over the last 10
days about the vaccines coming out from Pfizer and Moderna and Oxford, we already have it in China and Russia. Why don't we have this momentum coming
forward with Disney?
We had this march to 30,000 on the Dow on Monday and we had this rotation into consumer-facing stocks like Disney, it was up almost five percent on
the day. That looks premature.
But if you lift up the hood here, look at the numbers carefully, they're talking about suspending pension payments, holding off medical payments for
employees. They already suspended the dividend and that may be extended even longer.
So they are suffering in the cruise line business, beyond the theme parks, of course, and finally, in the cinema business, it's suffering. They had to
hold back "Black Widow," which was supposed to be a major blockbuster, a lot of investment. They are having to delay it because there's nobody in
the cinemas or where can you find a good division for Disney at this stage is the real question.
[09:15:31]
QUEST: Well, I suppose Disney Plus arguably, because there are all sort of people who watch it at home, as you say. But John, when you hear these job
losses and these numbers from companies like Disney, I'm sort of not surprised.
I mean, it is only so long that a company can continue to employ people when the business just isn't there, unless, in the United States' case,
there's another stimulus package or governments come to the rescue elsewhere around the world.
DEFTERIOS: Well, that's the other question, Richard. We have more legs or more fire into the stimulus packages here in 2021. The argument would
probably be, it's necessary, but I think, actually, to your point here, I think the bar is too high on expectations with regards to the vaccines
coming to the market.
The travel sector, tourism, the hoteliers are all suffering in such a radical way and I think the rule of thumb that has been in 2020 for the
pandemic, you have to trim your workforce 25 percent or 30 percent.
Perhaps Disney thought with the experiments they did in Asia and Hong Kong and Shanghai and Japan, it worked, their state opened, but they don't have
the COVID spikes we see in Europe with Disney Paris shutting down, the theme park, the fabled one in Southern California, suffering as well.
So it's not too surprising. What does surprise me though, as I said, you bring up this idea of pensions. Medical payments, holding back dividends
for even longer, Richard, that's rather alarming for a company that is in the Dow 30 with expectations that we were going to be past the worse of it
when the vaccines start to roll out to the market.
It doesn't seem so at this stage.
QUEST: John, Happy Thanksgiving as we welcome you on the program this morning.
DEFTERIOS: Thank you.
QUEST: Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for coming in doing duty this morning. John Defterios joining us.
Now to the stories making headlines around the world. Fans are forming long lines at the Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires, they are paying tribute
to the Argentine football legend, Diego Maradona. The 60-year-old is lying in honor after he died from a suspected heart attack on Wednesday.
World Sport's Alex Thomas joins us. Alex, the fingers of one hand and possibly half of them not working due to the number of football players
around the world that would get this sort of response when they pass.
ALEX THOMAS, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes, indeed. Any sort of sporting icons, Muhammad Ali passed away four years ago, Richard, and I'm not sure there
was quite the global reaction we've seen over Maradona's death, which, considering Ali's many achievements away from the boxing ring, as well as
what he did in it, is quite something.
Yes, you're saying and you're quite right to say, queues, hours of queues outside the presidential palace where Maradona's body is lying in honor
there. There are three days of national mourning taking place in Argentina. His burial may take place, we are hearing in the last hour as soon as later
on Thursday.
All the flags in the nation are flying at half-mast. Astonishing when you think it was for someone that was born to relative poverty in Villa Fiorito
on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Maradona retaining that working class hero status throughout his career, really, an anti-establishment figure, a
street brawler, who was nonetheless balletic on the pitch with some incredible achievements, the most notable being, leading his country to
World Cup glory in 1986.
They got to the final again four years later. Twice he was sold for world record transfer fees and he brought to the City of Naples in the south of
Italy Napoli, their football club, two Italian championships.
They've never won before or since then and he was voted the greatest footballer of the 20th Century jointly with Pele, who he had a slightly
fractious relationship with at times, they seemed to made amends in recent years though.
QUEST: It was the astonishing way in which even in later years and certainly in failing health, he still kept managing teams, he still kept
with the game.
THOMAS: His love of the game, I think, is one of the reasons he was so popular despite being a man that had very much two sides of his personal
coin.
On the field, a talent without equal, you could argue, and many will. And away from the field, problems that started when he moved to Napoli, which
is a city with an edge, I've heard it described earlier today. Beautiful but with an edge, organized crime, Maradona started having problems with
cocaine addiction then, alcohol addictions followed later on in life.
After the end of his career as well, his weight ballooned. He had a heart problems, in and out of hospital, but as recently as Russia 2018, the World
Cup there a couple of years ago, you saw him in the stands cheering on Argentina as passionately as any fan would and I think it's that love of
the game that has inspired love in those that loved to watch him play -- Richard.
[09:20:36]
QUEST: Alex. Alex Thomas for us on Diego Maradona. As we continue on FIRST MOVE, a German firm is trialing a vaccine that can be stored at room
temperature for up to 24 hours. Now that is a considerable benefit. The CEO of Curevac is with me after the break.
Also, Canada's new coronavirus challenge. Cases are spiking despite the safety plan called the Atlantic Bubble. We'll explain in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: German biotech, Curevac is working on a COVID-19 vaccine. It's in mid-stage testing. Unlike Pfizer and Moderna, Curevac's candidate uses the
mRNA technology. However, unlike its rivals, it can remain stable for up to 24 hours at room temperature.
Joining me, Franz Werner Haas, the CEO of Curevac. Update me please on where you are and where Curevac is in the testing process, please.
FRANZ WERNER HAAS, CEO, CUREVAC: Richard, so we are just in front of starting our pivotal trial, which is a Phase 2B-3 clinical trial which is
the relevant trial before approval -- emergency approval most probably first.
QUEST: Realistically, from your experience, you would say that puts you going through approval assuming all goes well, go on, I'll throw in all the
caveats, assuming all goes well and there are no problems, that would put you on track for emergency use approval authorization when? Spring, middle
of next year?
[09:25:08]
HAAS: Well, we are now starting to recruit up to 36,000 vaccinees and we are planning to file this emergency submission into the first quarter of
next year and then we expect in the beginning of the second quarter that there should be this emergency approval depending on the data of course.
QUEST: To those of us who are not familiar with the vaccine world, which I certainly count myself, I hear Moderna has got there, I hear Pfizer has got
there, I hear now, of course, Oxford and AstraZeneca has got there. And I think, well, the race is over.
I mean, what are all these people like Curevac carrying on for? We've got the winners. We have got two or three or four of them. Why do we need more?
HAAS: Well, first of all, the winner is the entire global society, if there is enough vaccine at the end of the day to fight this pandemic outbreak.
Therefore, it is much more a race against the virus and the time and even in the beginning, even with Pfizer and Moderna, and all the others who have
started and hopefully all of them make it, there needs to be mass immunization so everyone needs to be all closed, everyone needs to be
immunized, have a vaccine.
And there is not enough vaccine in the beginning. It's like a journey. You saw it with the first, there is not enough vaccine available globally.
That's one thing. The other thing is most probably the vaccines will have different properties, therefore it is good that you have got more than only
one shot or two shots or three shots on goal.
QUEST: So the ability of Curevac's COVID vaccine -- prospective vaccine -- to be transported at refrigerated, not deep cold temperatures, and this
interesting idea of it being able to remain at room temperature for 24 hours. That gives you the sizable improvement on the mRNA over your
competitors.
HAAS: Yes, that's true. Also, it comes to your first question, if there is even enough vaccines, how are you going to distribute it if you have got
such a deep freeze material, you need to have all the facilities there; and most probably, you have to deal with centers, because this is exactly
there.
But to vaccinate more and quickly, then it is certainly advantageous to have fridge temperature to go to the different kind of even private
practices and then to have a syringe lying out there for vaccine campaigns, for example, and then for 24 hours, even at room temperature, it gives you
really the property to vaccinate as fast as possible.
QUEST: So the relationship with Elon Musk and the printing of the vaccine, the test he was proposing to do, how significant -- you talked -- you just
mentioned there about the significance of distribution. You've got to make it and you've got to make it in large numbers, even before you transport
it. How important is the Musk link?
HAAS: Well, you're absolutely right. At the moment, you know, RNA, there is no product approved for mRNA, and therefore, the capacity when all of this
started, we are producing now mRNA since 2006, but certainly not in kind of volumes what we are needing and in need right now.
So everyone is scaling up with the use of facilities which are going to stay even after COVID and therefore, the other idea is what if you can
produce exactly these quantities and we are talking produce only one microgram, one microgram is just one millionth part of a gram.
So if you can produce every week one gram in cities like Wuhan or in other cities in university hospitals with these kind of mobile manufacturing
units, that's the idea behind it. So then you can even shortcut the logistics.
QUEST: Good to have you, sir. Thank you. Let's talk more as this goes on. I'm grateful for you coming on this morning's program. Franz Werner Haas,
the CEO of Curevac.
In a moment, after the break, reasons to be thankful, there are plenty of them. President-elect Joe Biden has called for unity in an opinion piece on
cnn.com. You'll hear the message and we discuss it after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:32:27]
QUEST: Welcome back to FIRST MOVE. I'm Richard Quest in for Julia Chatterley. It's Thanksgiving, so there is no opening bell.
Markets in the United States are closed and it will be a short day tomorrow, on Friday. Just half a day's trading.
President-elect Joe Biden is urging Americans to come together in a different way and fight the pandemic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: I know the country has grown weary of the fight. We need to remember, we're at war with the virus,
not with one another, not with each other.
This is the moment where we need to steel our spines, redouble our efforts and recommit ourselves to the fight. Let's remember, we're all in this
together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: Now, Joe Biden echoed that message in a new op-ed on cnn.com. Arlette Saenz is with us from Delaware with more. Happy Thanksgiving to
you, and thank you for doing duty this morning, obviously, as the transition moves forward.
The speech yesterday or the address yesterday was very measured. It was a fireplace address without the fireplace, and this morning's op-ed, again,
very focusing, the Biden family traditions.
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Richard, what you have President-elect here is issuing this call for unity, but also putting it in
very personal terms. And in that CNN op-ed that he wrote in addition to a video they just released, the Biden family talked about the shared
sacrifices that they are also making this Holiday season, that it's a different Biden-style Thanksgiving than normal, which is what everyone
across this country is facing right now as they've adapted their Holiday plans due to the coronavirus pandemic.
And you heard Biden talk about how there's millions of Americans across the country who are spending this Thanksgiving in a much smaller environment
than they have before, and he also, in this op-ed, expressed gratitude for the frontline healthcare workers, for teachers who are teaching in virtual
formats, for parents who are trying to balance their families in the middle of this pandemic, and it really presents a stark contrast to President
Trump who has not really offered any empathy for those that have lost loved ones as coronavirus cases are spiking across the United States.
And also, while the President continues to cast doubt about this election, you heard Biden yesterday say that one thing that Americans should be
thankful for is democracy. That ability to vote and the power of a vote, and Biden today in that op-ed just once again talking about this shared
sacrifice, that collective fight that Americans need to wage in order to combat the pandemic.
[09:35:20]
QUEST: Arlette, thank you. Arlette Saenz in Delaware for us. Michael Osterholm is a member of the Joe Biden COVID advisory team. He was with me
last night with me on "Quest Means Business" and I asked him whether or not on how the team was going to move forward with grim warnings.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, MEMBER OF BIDEN COVID-19 ADVISORY TEAM: We are entering the very darkest days of this pandemic. In fact, the most dangerous public
health moments since 1918 and the swine flu pandemic, but we also have a very bright light at the end of the tunnel with these vaccines.
We need to get from where we are at today where we are in a raging pandemic to where we can get to vaccines in the next several months and actually
reduce that risk dramatically with those vaccines.
So I think what he laid out was one of science-based approach and one of, if I had to say it, and I'm a non-partisan guy, I've served roles in the
last five presidential administrations, this was an FDR moment, I think.
QUEST: An FDR moment for fireside chat and the delivery was certainly that today, and we can expect more.
You talk about 1918. Let's look at the charts of 1918, which I just happen to have just close to me here. If we look at it, look, they got it right in
the sense of they dealt with the first bit in Philadelphia, and then it went horribly wrong in the middle of '19 because they just didn't follow
through.
Have we made exactly the same mistake again?
OSTERHOLM: No, we haven't made the same mistake again. There is one slight difference because in 1918, the virus would come into a community and be
gone within six to 10 weeks, with another wave to appear months later. They didn't understand the epidemiology or the way the virus was transmitted.
We're in a different kind of pandemic. We have not really had this virus let up attacking us since it first emerged in Wuhan back in December. And
so here right now, literally, in our 11th month of this pandemic, causing great pandemic fatigue. People are tired. People felt like they have
already done everything they could.
And now, what we need to do is just get them to the finish line where we have a vaccine. We need to try to keep people with us and understand why
are we trying to reduce transmission? Not just to save our hospitals, which we're trying to do that, but also because the promise is they will these
vaccines at the end.
They didn't have that in 1918. We do have that and that's what makes this all the more reason why to prevent transmission so that we can get people
to a healthy state without having to be ill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: Canada's so-called Atlantic Bubble has allowed 2.5 million people to live almost coronavirus free, I say almost. It is a pact between four
provinces on the Atlantic Coast and the nub of it was to allow free movement between the provinces, with strict restrictions on anyone coming
from outside the area.
However, as COVID cases have spiked in Canada, that bubble could be about to burst. CNN's Paula Newton reports from Montreal.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For six months, Canada's Atlantic Bubble has been a sanctuary. Nearly 2.5 million people living
mostly COVID-free.
Just listen to Erica Baker, a child psychologist and mother of three getting her kids ready to go to school.
ERICA BAKER, PSYCHOLOGIST AND MOTHER OF THREE: Right now, things have been very normal for them. It's been wonderful.
NEWTON (voice-over): Normal, wonderful even. The bubble has made it possible.
At its outer edge, the Atlantic Bubble is just a six hour drive from Boston, but a world away from the current COVID reality. It includes four
provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Going into the bubble from anywhere, even the rest of Canada, you have to quarantine for 14 days, and then mask mandates, distancing, aggressive
testing and contact tracing have kept cases near zero or close to it for months.
BAKER: We've had exceptional leadership. They have provided us with the right information so far and I don't think that there's any reason to not
trust that they are going to do the right things moving forward as well.
NEWTON (voice-over): That leadership is about to be tested. As cases rise into the dozens, even here, they are acting fast.
DR. ROBERT STRANG, NOVA SCOTIA CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER: Yes, because if you look elsewhere, a small number of cases left unchecked explodes into a very
large number of cases. Your healthcare system starts to get overwhelmed. You have lots of unavoidable severe illness and death, and we see that in
other places and we're doing everything we can to avoid that.
NEWTON (voice-over): Dr. Robert Strang is Nova Scotia's Chief Medical Officer and so-called caretaker of the bubble. He is putting in place more
restrictions to indoor dining and shopping and now, quarantine-free travel to other provinces inside the bubble will have to end for a while.
[09:40:20]
NEWTON (voice-over): For this retired senior, amateur musician, and one of the vulnerable, the bubble hasn't burst, but just adapting to what he calls
the tsunami of cases all around.
GORDON FLOWERDEW, RETIRED SENIOR AND AMATEUR MUSICIAN: I actually feel that the Atlantic Bubble has been moderately successful at postponing the
inevitable.
NEWTON (voice-over): Health experts say that has saved lives.
NEWTON (on camera): There is another side though to the success of the Atlantic Bubble, especially because of the quarantine. Some argue the
sacrifice has been too great, the hit to the economy too severe.
NEWTON (voice-over): We caught up with Jennifer Hutton at Montreal's airport going back into the bubble, staring down her 11th quarantine. As an
I.T. specialist, she has to travel for work and is thankful for the bubble, but --
JENNIFER HUTTON, HALIFAX, CANADA RESIDENT: It affected my wellbeing, my sleeping, my marriage, because when you're isolating over and over again,
and you can't go out into public, in your own home, like you feel trapped and being trapped is not a nice feeling.
NEWTON (voice-over): For now though, those in the bubble are acting fast to adapt to more restrictions, hoping it will strengthen people's resolve to
fight on even when cases rise.
SARAH GOOSE, OWNER, LUMINATE CO. WELLNESS MARKET: I think that people are just like, let's get this done, let's get this over, let's have, you know,
Thanksgiving and Christmas and let's, you know, solve this problem and have a safe space in our little bubble.
NEWTON (voice-over): That little bubble, no matter how vulnerable now, has given families like the Bakers a shot at normal life and peace of mind.
Even during the worst waves of this pandemic.
Paula Newton, CNN, Montreal.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: As we continue on FIRST MOVE, Paradise lost or is it a case of, Paradise reclaimed. The Minister of Tourism for the Maldives joins me as
the industry faces unprecedented challenges, but how are they managing to keep the borders open as they have since July.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:45:23]
QUEST: We have spoken a great deal about how badly travel and tourism has been hit. Now with those, imagine the impact on a country that gets two-
thirds of hits its revenue from tourism.
The Maldives was closed to overseas visitors from March to mid-July. The economic damage has been colossal. Now, it offers packages including
working vacations or workcations for people who can work remotely.
It also has in place a robust testing plan. Abdulla Mausoom is Tourism Minister for the Maldives. The Minister with me now. It is good to have
you, sir. I appreciate it.
If we just take the requirement of testing, a 96-hour requirement limit before departure from the first point of embarkation, these pre-departure
tests are complex. They are forever changing and I'm wondering what's the way forward for you?
ABDULLA MAUSOOM, TOURISM MINISTER FOR THE MALDIVES: Richard, thank you very much. We are hoping the testing regime changes soon, but at the moment, the
96 hours kind of guarantees that the safest destination in the world, Maldives, is even safer.
We get tourists from all over the world now. So with 15 airline connections from different parts of the world. We want to make sure that all the
tourists in different resorts are safe so that 96 hours at the moment is good, but we hope that the testing regime changes and we can change it.
QUEST: Right, but if I look at the latest numbers, of course, they are small in comparison to elsewhere, but percentage-wise, of course, if you
look at the graph, you still are having a sizable spike at the moment. And as winter comes and Maldives is an extremely popular destination, do you
think you might need to tighten, never mind loosen, tighten the restrictions?
MAUSOOM: Richard, we are doing extremely well. It has been four months and 10 days since we started. We have an over 67,000 tourists and the
positivity rate, even with the exit screening we do, it is as low as 0.23 percent and thank God, we haven't had any serious case and even those
people who get the test positive, they still continue their holiday.
QUEST: We talk a lot on these programs about travel and tourism. How badly has the industry been affected and by that, obviously, the ability of
government to help is relatively limited, but do you believe there's permanent damage to your tourism infrastructure?
MAUSOOM: I think, Richard, as you rightly said, our economy depends very much on tourism, and when tourism stops, the country stops. That's why we
started the tourism. That's why President Solih decided to start the tourism with necessary safety measures for the tourists, staff and the
community.
The economic impact is huge, but we just had our budget for 2021 and nearly 50 percent of that at the moment is on deficit financing, but we have got
ways to get the financing done.
QUEST: And finally, we do look forward to next year. Will your country be one of the first to require either through travel pass, common pass or
whatever, the certificate of vaccination? Because that's the answer, this time next year, do you expect every visitor will either have to have tested
in or have a certificate of vaccination?
MAUSOOM: I think the Maldives geography, because of our geography, the Maldives is very safe, but I think the vaccine is the way forward. The
whole Maldivian community will hopefully be vaccinated, that's the way forward. So our visitors are going to be vaccinated, too.
QUEST: Finally. I do think about it, a working vacation, a workcation. Now, lots of places are trying it. It is a lovely idea if you can make it work.
Have you gotten many people who set up for short-term in the Maldives and are working pretending they are being from -- in the middle of Manchester
or Berlin?
MAUSOOM: The Maldives has been many popular and many of the visitors we are having, now, they are staying even longer, so we have recently introduced
the residency visa, so the way forward is even more smooth now.
Soon, Richard, you'll be able to lease a whole private island for your stay in Maldives. That is the new amendment that is coming your way and we are
also introducing real estate tourism, so the longer stay and work in the Maldives, I think that's the way forward.
And now the Maldives is offering various packages and resorts and also, the island communities where we have smaller hotels.
QUEST: Thank you. I just have to convince CNN that my workcation needs to be in the Maldives. Thank you, Minister. I appreciate your time, sir.
MAUSOOM: Richard, the Maldivian smile is waiting for you.
QUEST: Thank you. Now, we will continue this theme later in the special edition of "Quest Means Business." We will talking -- it is a two-hour
show, it begins at the usual time of 3:00 New York time.
I'll be speaking to Wavel Ramkalawan, the President of the Seychelles who has just recently taken office.
In the meantime, after the break, the Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Well, it's a parade gym, but not as we know it. Major changes have made it
COVID-secure.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: The New York Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, it will take place with major changes. The traditional 2.5 route has been shortened and there
will be far fewer participants. Evan McMorris-Santoro is in Manhattan.
Well, the balloons will still be there sort of, but what sort of parade will it be?
EVAN MCMORRIS-SANTORO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, Richard, it is a very different parade than we're used to seeing. It is New York, it is
Thanksgiving. There is still going to be a parade. You know, it is raining, and there is coronavirus.
As you can see, the Boss Baby is making his way down the shortened parade route. It's usually a 2.5 mile route packed with spectators. But this year,
because of the pandemic, they have shortened that route. They have done most of the parade for TV only. A lot of it was pre-taped and there are
very much fewer people than we're used to seeing, only about 90 percent fewer people that are usually in this parade are out there today including
operating those balloons.
You see actually much smaller crews operating these balloons, but there's still some stuff to see and the people who have come down here to see it. I
have a very festive woman with me, Megan. Megan, you came from Philadelphia to see this.
MEGAN: Yes, I did.
SANTORO: So, what do you think?
MEGAN: I think, it doesn't matter, coronavirus pandemic or whatever, I'm just grateful to be here. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is something
that been on my bucket list my whole life.
I can remember watching it when I was three years old. My mom cooking turkey and I don't know, like, just living my best life. It doesn't matter
what's going on in the world. I needed to be here today. Hi mom. I love everybody. Hi, family.
SANTORO: Well, let me ask you because you mentioned Thanksgiving. How does Thanksgiving feel this year? It is a different type of Thanksgiving than we
are used to. How are you feeling? How does it feel to you?
MEGAN: It does feel different. You know, there is so much going on in the last year for 2020 for all essential workers, nurses, doctors, police,
firemen, but I think we're coming to some kind of solution. We have a new President coming in office, a new Vice President who is a woman.
You know, girls like me that sat in front of the TV, like little girls could be the President. You know we could dream, we have hopes, dreams and
one of my dreams was to be at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and here I am. 2020.
[09:55:31]
SANTORO: Got it. Well, thank you so much. So Richard, that's the kind of attitude we're seeing out here. They worried about having this parade in
the pandemic, but they didn't want to not have it, so they found ways to do it and one of the ways is to have this smaller parade you're seeing on TV.
People are still coming out and enjoying it -- Richard.
QUEST: Thank you very much. And that is it for FIRST MOVE for today. I'm Richard Quest. I'll be back here five hours from now. It's "Quest Means
Business."
Between now and then, whatever you're up to, I hope it's profitable.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
