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CNN 10
Update On The New Coronavirus; Discussion On Possible Recession In the U.S. Due To Coronavirus
Aired March 16, 2020 - 00:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN 10 ANCHOR: This is CNN 10. We are a 10 minutes objective explanation of news from around the world and I`m your host Carl Azuz.
Thank you so much for watching today. We know that thousands if not millions of you are watching from home right now. Obviously I`m not in our
studio at CNN Center.
Canceled, postponed and closed are three of the words being used worldwide for events, flights, businesses and schools. COVID-19 is the technical term
for the new coronavirus we`ve been reporting on and that`s the reason for the shutdowns that are taking place. Last Friday U.S. President Donald
Trump announced a national emergency. The goal to quote "unleash the full power of the Federal government to address the coronavirus pandemic".
What this means is that government funding will be sped up to the state and local leaders who are working to stop the spread of this disease. Relaxed
rules for hospitals are also part of this effort. There haven`t been enough testing kits to keep up with demand in many parts of the country and
critics have blamed the Trump Administration for not doing enough to increase testing. The White House says it plans to work with private
companies to get more tests out there. Drive thru coronavirus testing sites will be part of that. The government also announced more restrictions on
travel from Europe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We`ve recognized our health experts tracking global data that the epicenter of the coronavirus
has shifted from China and South Korea to Europe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: France, Italy and Spain have told people to stay home. Restaurants, cafes and movie theaters have been closed in these countries. Officials are
hoping that by keeping people from gathering in large groups, there`ll be less of a chance that those who have the disease will spread it.
There are roughly 3,000 coronavirus cases in America and there`ve been more than 60 deaths. The age group in the greatest danger from this disease is
the elderly. As of Sunday, coronavirus cases have been confirmed in every state except West Virginia. This is why so many schools are closed this
week.
Health officials say COVID-19 is not the deadliest disease in the world but because the virus is so new no one really has an immunity to it. The Food
and Drug Administration says there are no vaccines or drugs that it has approved to fight the coronavirus. In a recent CNN town hall event on
Facebook, doctors teamed up to answer of the questions being asked about this pandemic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you think you`re infected, you`re symptomatic, fever, cough, headache and so you self-quarantine. How soon before you can return
to social situations? Is it safe to say that when you`re no longer symptomatic than you`re no longer potentially shedding the virus?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can get infected, become symptomatic resolve the symptoms, feel well and still shed virus. You can go back to your normal
life when you have two consecutive tests for the coronavirus that are negative separated by 24 hours.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it reasonable to expect COVID-19 to die down during the summer months or is that just wishful thinking?
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: And something the president sort of said that this may just disappear.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I wish that were the case but at this point we just don`t know. I mean, it`s possible but I don`t know that we know for certain
either way.
COOPER: Possible because other viruses in the past have done this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, including other coronaviruses, right? Even if you look at the SARS coronavirus, it did have sort of its peak. Correct me if
I`m wrong late in March, early April as the weather started to get warmer.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That`s right but we don`t know and I don`t know if we can count on this either.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My question for you is that I`m taking a direct flight from Delhi to New York City on Tuesday. Is that a good idea and also what
can I expect when I land at JFK?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Really good questions and I know that the CDC has come out with guidance saying that those who are older, who have chronic medical
conditions should avoid these long haul flights. I don`t know what the questioner what other conditions she might have but I think for everyone
who`s abroad, it`s a question of what else is going on in their lives. As then if their whole families are here and if their medical care is in the
U.S. Even if they have these chronic medical conditions, they may still want to fly back and be with their families.
COOPER: It`s also for -- for travel stuff, it`s not just the question of, you know, is this safe for me to fly. If by flying, am I endangering
anybody else? It`s also just logistically might I get caught somewhere that --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
COOPER: -- that suddenly goes into lockdown and then I can`t get back to my home country.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well I`m wondering if you can be a bit more specific about what constitutes a pre-existing health condition that would have
someone be at greater risk regarding the severity of course and the possibility (inaudible) fatality of COVID-19. So, for example, as we know
that we have 25 million people or more who are impacted by this disease. Is this the type of disease that we`re taking about would have -- cause more
complication?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I mean, as obviously there are different degrees of asthma. I mean, if someone who whenever they get an upper respiratory
infection really dramatically exacerbates their asthma. I think you would say that person would be at a higher risk. The classical ones are things
like chronic congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes and anybody who really is on any immunosuppressive regimen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Since all the cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer is sold out everywhere can you make your own?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`ve heard so many stories of people looking for any product that they can use to clean their house and hand sanitizers. People
are going all over the place and not getting them. Do not make your own hand sanitizer because there`s something that`s even more effective which
is soap and water.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: 10 Second Trivia. Who is the current U.S. Treasury Secretary? Jack Lew, Steven Mnuchin, Mike Pompeo or Jerome Powell. Since 2017, Steven
Mnuchin has served as the 77th Secretary of the Treasury.
With so many closures worldwide related to coronavirus, business in some areas has ground to a halt and this has some economic analysts asking are
we headed for a recession. That`s a decrease in economic activity. It could last for months. It could last longer.
Yesterday on ABC`s program "This Week", Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was asked if the U.S. is in a recession and he said he did not think so. He
added that later this year, economic activity would pick up as the U.S. confronts the virus. But for the time being, some analysts are saying a
recession caused by coronavirus is possible.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The U.S. economy is grinding to a halt on purpose to fight the spread of coronavirus. Something that could -- could tip the U.S.
economy into recession. Notable economist Mohamed El-Erian tells us a global recession is very, very likely.
MOHAMED EL-ERIAN, ECONOMIST: First I think the global recession is unfortunately very, very likely.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here`s how that could happen. Let`s use sports as an example. The NBA, the NHL, March Madness, baseball cancelled or delayed.
That`s not just players and fans, it`s the hotel cancellations. It`s the empty restaurants.
It`s the supply chain before big events, the vendors, the ushers, the other hourly workers who may have to go without pay. They in turn have less money
to spend. This hurts the economy far and wide. Social distancing has the travel industry in a rough patch not seen since the days after 9/11.
Airlines are slashing flights as demand disappears.
Hotel and cruise line bookings have collapsed and some cruise operators are cancelling cruises through May. Airlines have hiring freezes. Norwegian Air
is temporarily laying off up to half its workers. Thousands of schools are closed. Millions of Americans working from home. Avoiding public places
will hurt sales at restaurants, retailers, malls, other public venues and idle millions of Americans who work there. In short, a stopped economy
cannot grow and that will likely lead to a recession.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: These are not normal times worldwide but they are bringing out the best in those people who are willing to help. These folks in Italy, for
example, who are under lockdown are applauding all of the medical workers out caring for the sick.
One woman in Oregon went into a store and did the grocery shopping for an elderly couple who were afraid to go inside. And with schools out, there
are concerns that students on free or reduced price lunch programs might not get enough to eat. Basketball star Steph Curry and his wife are among
those people helping raise money in relief for that.
The hash tag corona kindness is being used in social media to draw attention to stories like these and we think those who are participating
are kind of like Fridays, they`re awesome. It is this kind of kindness when kind people help others in kind of the kindness of their hearts. That kind
of makes this kind of situation almost kind of bearable.
We hope all of you stay healthy and that you`ll check back here for more updates as we continue to produce episodes of CNN 10. One more thing,
Emerson High School in Emerson, Arkansas. You guys are pi-radical. Thanks to you and everyone around the world for watching us today. I`m Carl Azuz
for CNN.
END
