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Coronavirus` Potential Impact On The Olympics; A Possible Global Recession; Government Stimulus; Everyday Heroes Making A Difference
Aired March 23, 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: Hi, I`m Carl Azuz kicking off a new week and a new edition of CNN 10. It was not an eventful weekend for tens of millions
of Americans. The governors of five states told people to stay home unless they worked in areas considered essential like law enforcement, sanitation,
grocery and food production and of course medical care.
On Friday we told you that more than 200,000 cases of corona virus had been confirmed worldwide. Last night there were roughly 320,000 cases. We said
last week there were over 10,000 cases in America now there are roughly 30,000. The numbers come from Johns Hopkins University.
Part of the reason it increased so much obviously because of spreading. Another part is because more people are getting tested though in many areas
of the world, including parts of the United States, there aren`t enough testing kits to keep up with demand. Tests are crucial to help medical
officials keep track of how and where the disease is spreading and to isolate those who have it. COVID-19, the novel corona virus, first broke
out in the city if Wuhan, China in mid-December. One question that`s been coming up since it started spreading internationally, what about this years
Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan? They`re scheduled to be held starting on July 14th and Japan has spent more than $12 billion to
host the events.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Olympic Torch is now on the ground here in Japan but even though it`s a sunny day here in Tokyo, a dark cloud hangs over the
future of the summer games. This is not what Japan was hoping for, a scaled down ceremony as the Olympic flame arrived at Matsushima Air Base. No
crowds, just a few officials and two of Japan`s most famous Olympians lighting the Tokyo 2020 torch.
The games are still set to begin in late July, in just over four months. Japan is hoping for a comeback from a catastrophic earthquake, tsunami and
nuclear meltdown at Fukushima nine years ago this month. Japan`s spirit and economy desperately needed a revival. Tokyo 2020 was on track to be just
that. The novel corona virus pandemic changed everything.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE TRANSLATED: It`s possible that the Olympic games will be canceled despite Japan`s efforts says Japanese lawmaker Shakira Ashiba
(ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach tells "The New York Times" the Summer games will not be canceled for
the first time since World War II. But he now admits postponing the games is on the table. Last week Japan`s Olympic minister quickly shot down
President Trump`s idea to postpone the games for a year. But a recent poll says 70 percent of Japanese have doubts the games can go on as scheduled.
Do you think it`s going to be safe to host the Olympics in July?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE TRANSLATED: Under the circumstances, I don`t think it`s safe says Tokyo resident Kyoko (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE TRANSLATED: As an athlete, I really want to host the Olympics in Tokyo Kanichi Hayakawa (ph) says but thinking of all the
athletes, their families. I`m not sure it`s a good idea.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Tokyo 2020 organizers say they`re doing everything possible to host the games on
schedule. Inside Japan`s Olympic Committee, signs of dissent, 1988 Olympic bronze medalist, Kaori Yamaguchi told the Nikkei Newspaper the games should
be postponed because athletes can`t train. Dr. Mike Ryan with the World Health Organization says much will depend on how the virus evolves in the
coming weeks.
DR. MIKE RYAN, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: Obviously the -- the government of Japan and (ph) the IOC (inaudible) will not make a decision to go ahead
if there`s danger to athletes (inaudible) danger to -- to spectators.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Japan was expecting to host 90 million visitors this year. That was before global travel ground to a halt. Analyst Keith Henry
says the economic damage could be devastating. The emotional toll could be worse.
KEITH HENRY, ANALYST: In some ways there`s a dark cloud over the whole world and Japan is a part of that. So wherever that torch goes it`s not
necessarily going to be a happy occasion.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Japan`s Olympic torch relay begins in devastated Fukushima Prefecture. Nobody knows what will happen by the time it reaches
Tokyo.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: 10 Second Trivia. Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Rolling Adjustment are all the names of what? White House rooms, recessions, amendments or streets
in D.C. There are all the names of historic American recessions, decreases in economic activity that lasted for months.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: America has pressed the pause button on the economy. Social distancing, closed schools, canceled events, curfews, it will have
an economic cost. A recession may already be underway. Some estimates for second quarter economic growth to shrink five percent. Lay-offs, eminent.
The tip of the spear is small business. Many don`t have big bank accounts to cushion them. They have to pay their employees, pay their vendors and
suppliers, pay their own rent, even when their customers stop coming.
Big business has deeper pockets but may need big help too. Airlines are seeking up to $50 billion in aid from the government. A dramatic change in
fortune from what had been record airline profits, tax cuts, stock buy backs from its shareholders. U.S. airports are seeking $10 billion in
government assistance to offset losses spurred by this outbreak that`s according to one industry source. Tourism, hotels, cruise lines, their
businesses collapsing. So what has been done?
Well the Federal Reserve has slashed benchmark short-term interest rates to near zero and pledged to help the banking system by buying $700 billion in
securities. Congress has already passed $8.3 billion in emergency spending to help increase capacity for things like testing and is working on relief
for some but not all workers to have unemployment benefits and paid sick leave. But many economists say a large targeted stimulus needs to come
together and soon. A little over a decade after bailouts for banks, workers and the auto industry divided this nation. Here we go again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: Health officials say most people who catch corona virus will recover. But as the disease spreads and impacts hundreds of millions of lives in
some way or another. It can be easy to focus on all the bad news surrounding it. That`s why those who are making a positive difference are
all heroes in our book.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At a time of social distancing, empathy and compassion are alive and well. Around the world people are coming up with creative
ways to stay connected, to share resources and to stay healthy. As healthcare workers risk their own lives battling the virus on the
frontlines, innovative citizens are turning passion projects to potentially life saving ventures. One teenagers Web site has been tracking the virus
since December.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was really hard to just get straight facts so I decided it would be kind of cool if I made a Web site to make the data more
accessible for other people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And in Italy, a company used their 3D printers to build life saving respirator parts that were dangerously in short supply. For
those who`s work can`t be done from home, many CEOs and leaders are providing financial support.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is people`s lives at stake. This is not basketball. This is not about the Mavericks.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How many? You said two. There is two.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Across the globe, communities are making sure people have food and stores and restaurants are doing what they can to help
others.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNTRANSLATED)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here in the U.S., World Famous Chef Jose Andres has transformed some of his restaurants into community kitchens just to serve
those in need.
CHEF JOSE ANDRES: We need to be part of the solution.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Strangers have become shopping angels to support those who can`t leave their homes. Even though we`ve been told to stay apart, the
rallying call for prevention and detection brings us together on social media.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SINGING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As the country and the world navigate daily life during a pandemic, it`s good to know that compassion continues to live on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: Isoperimetric is a word you don`t hear very often and that`s just the kind of robot this is. It`s made of air filled tubes and machines that
change its shape by moving its corners. That makes it able to hold up a basketball or do this. Its engineers say it could eventually help with
space exploration. I think they ought to apply it to those inflatable dancing tube characters you see outside car dealerships, because they`re
already full of hot air.
The machines could give them a bit of "Gangnam style". Nobody ever "PSAW" something like that before. Of course they do a great robot until they
started "breaking" and then they`d be left in "limbo". It would take a "Lindy" hop, skip and a jump to the nearest "track dance". Because like
they say, here today, "conga morrow". Alice Deal Middle School, you know the deal in Washington, D.C. Thank you so much for watching. If you`d like
to get your school mentioned, the place to make your request is to comment at YouTube.com/CNN10. I`m Carl Azuz.
END
