SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU STARTING YOUR DAY WITH US.
HODA, GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING TO YOU,
SAVANNAH.
SAVANNAH. WE’RE GOING TO GET RIGHT TO THE
LATEST ON WHERE THINGS STAND
WITH THE CORONAVIRUS.
THE SENATE NOW PASSED THAT NEW
$484 BILLION RELIEF PACKAGE THAT
WILL SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES,
HOSPITALS, AND MORE CORONAVIRUS
TESTING.
TESTING. MEANTIME, DURING TALKS AT THE
WHITE HOUSE, PRESIDENT TRUMP AND
GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO OF NEW
YORK AGREED TO INCREASE TESTING
IN HARD HIT NEW YORK STATE WITH
BOTH MEN CALLING THEIR
CONVERSATION PRODUCTIVE.
CONVERSATION PRODUCTIVE. >>> ALSO OVERNIGHT, OFFICIALS
FROM CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCED THE
EARLIEST KNOWN CORONAVIRUS DEATH
IN THE U.S., AN AUTOPSY
REVEALING A PERSON WHO DIED ON
FEBRUARY THE 6th WAS INFECTED.
THAT’S NEARLY THREE WEEKS BEFORE
WHAT WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE
NATION’S FIRST FATALITY.
SAVANNAH.
SAVANNAH. >> SO WHERE THINGS STAND THIS
MORNING, HODA, CASES OF THE
VIRUS HAVE NOW TOPPED 809,000.
MORE THAN 44,000 PEOPLE IN THIS
COUNTRY HAVE DIED.
WE’VE GOT COMPLETE COVERAGE FOR
YOU.
YOU. LET’S START WITH BLAYNE
ALEXANDER ON THIS BATTLE OVER
WHEN AND HOW TO REOPEN STATES.
PLAIN, GOOD MORNING TO YOU.
>> SAVANNAH, GOOD MORNING.
MANY OF THESE BUSINESSES HAVE
NOT OPENED THEIR DOORS IN WEEKS
BUT MUCH OF THAT WILL CHANGE IN
THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
WITH COVID CASES ON THE RISE
HERE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY,
THERE’S NEW CONCERN ABOUT TAKING
THE FOOT OFF THE BRAKES TOO
SOON.
SOON. AS SOME STATES GET BACK TO
BUSINESS, IT’S ANYTHING BUT
UNUSUAL.
UNUSUAL. SOUTH CAROLINA LOOSENING
RESTRICTIONS BUT THE MOST
AGGRESSIVE ROLLOUT IS IN
NEIGHBORING GEORGIA.
NEIGHBORING GEORGIA. STARTING FRIDAY ALL HAIR SALONS,
BARBER SHOPS, TATTOO PARLORS,
EVEN BOWLING ALLEYS ARE CLEAR TO
OPEN.
OPEN. SAFETY MEASURES MUST REMAIN IN
PLACE, INCLUDING 6 FOOT
DISTANCING AND WEARING MASKS.
>> I WOULD SAY I WOULD IMAGINE
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN GYMS THAT
WOULD BE A LOT SAFER THAN THEY
WOULD GOING TO THE DPROSHT.
>> BUT CRITICS SAY THE NATURE OF
THOSE BUSINESSES MAKES SOCIAL
DISTANCING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
>> THERE’S NOTHING ESSENTIAL
ABOUT GOING TO A BOWLING ALLEY
IN A PANDEMIC.
>> I BELIEVE PEOPLE IN ATLANTA
WILL UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEIR
CASES ARE NOT GOING DOWN, THEY
NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE SAID,
SOCIAL DISTANCING, WASHING YOUR
HANDS, WEARING A MASK IN PUBLIC.
SO IF THERE’S A WAY PEOPLE CAN
SOCIAL DISTANCE AND DO THOSE
THINGS, THEN THEY CAN DO THOSE
THINGS.
THINGS. I DON’T KNOW HOW PEOPLE ARE
CREATIVE.
CREATIVE. >> IN ALBANY, GEORGIA, IT LEADS
THE STATE IN COVID-19 DEATHS.
>> ARE YOU READY TO REOPEN?
>> WE ARE NOT READY TO REOPEN.
WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS.
IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE FOR THE
GOVERNOR TO TAKE THESE MEASURES.
>> FELLOW REPUBLICAN AND SENATOR
LINDSEY GRAHAM.
LINDSEY GRAHAM. >> I WORRY GEORGIA IS GOING TOO
FAR TOO QUICK AND IT COULD
AFFECT US AT HOME.
>> IN SAL SUN SEEKERS HAVE
ACCESS TO PARKS AND GOLF
COURSES, BOTH BACK OPEN WITH
MODIFICATIONS.
MODIFICATIONS. AS SOME STATES SCALING BACK
RESTRICTIONS, OTHERS TIGHTENING
THE REIGNS.
THE REIGNS. IN ALABAMA THESE PROTESTS DID
LITTLE TO CONVINCE GOVERNOR KAY
IVY TO LIFT THE STAY-AT-HOME
ORDER.
ORDER. >> WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL AND
CAUTIOUS WHAT WE’RE DOING.
>> MORE PROTESTS IN NORTH
CAROLINA, A PUSH TO NOT EXTEND
THE SHELTER-IN-PLACE ORDER SET
TO EXPIRE NEXT WEEK.
BACK IN GEORGIA, SOME BUSINESS
OWNERS SAY ORDER OR NOT, THEY
ARE GOING TO STAY CLOSED.
>> I PERSONALLY THINK IT’S
INCREDIBLY IRRESPONSIBLE TO OPEN
AT THIS POINT.
>> OTHERS TRY @FIND WAYS TO
SERVE THEIR CUSTOMERS SAFELY.
>> FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET
BACK TO DAY-TO-DAY LIFE, THAT’S
WHY WE’RE HERE.
>> HODA, ONE OF THE BIGGEST
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GOVERNOR’S
ACTIONS IN GEORGIA, WHY CHOOSE
TO REOPEN BUSINESSES WITH CLOSE
CONTACT, HAIR AND NAIL SALONS.
THE GOVERNOR SAYS UNLIKE MOST
BUSINESSES, THESE ARE ONES THAT
CANNOT OPERATE FROM HOME SO THEY
HAVE BEEN CLOSED COMPLETELY FOR
WEEKS.
WEEKS. WITHOUT ANY INCOME, HE SAYS,
THEY RISK LOSING EVERYTHING.
HODA.
HODA. >> ALL RIGHT, BLAYNE, THANK YOU.
WE’RE GOING TO GO TO THE FEDERAL
RESPONSE AND KRISTEN WELKER WITH
MORE ON WHAT THE SENATE IS DOING
WITH THE NEW BILL PASSED, $400
BILLION BILL.
BILLION BILL. HEY, KRISTEN, GOOD MORNING.
>> Reporter: HEY, HODA, GOOD
MORNING TO YOU.
WASHINGTON IS NOW ONE STEP
CLOSER TO HELPING MILLIONS OF
SMALL BUSINESSES IN NEED.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS
MAKING IT CLEAR, LARGER
BUSINESSES AND UNIVERSITIES NEED
NOT APPLY.
NOT APPLY. IT COMES AFTER BIPARTISAN
BACKLASH AFTER INITIAL FUNDS GOT
INTO THE HANDS OF SOME OF THE
WEALTHIEST.
WEALTHIEST. >> THIS MORNING NEW RELIEF IS IN
SIGHT FOR AMERICANS HIT HARD BY
THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK.
>> THE BILL AS AMEND IS PASSED.
>> PASSING A $500 BILLION AID
PRACTICE.
PRACTICE. FUNDING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
CRIPPLED BY THE SHUT TOUP.
IT INCLUDES $75 BILLION FOR
HOSPITALS AND ANOTHER $25
BILLION FOR CORONAVIRUS TESTING.
PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNALING HE’LL
SIGN THE BILL WHEN IT REACHES
HIS DESK AS EARLY AS TOMORROW.
>> I URGE THE HOUSE TO PASS THE
BILL.
BILL. THEY WILL BE VOTING ON IT, I
IMAGINE, VERY SOON.
>> THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION
PROGRAM IS DID HE SIGNED TO HELP
SMALL BUSINESSES WITH FEWER THAN
500 PEOPLE BUT A NUMBER OF
LARGER COMPANIES WERE ABLE TO
RECEIVE SOME OF THE PROGRAM’S
INITIAL FUNDS BEFORE IT RAN OUT
LAST WEEK.
LAST WEEK. NOW THE TREASURY SECRETARY SAYS
LARGE FIRMS WILL BE BLOCKED FROM
THE PROGRAM.
THE PROGRAM. >> CERTAIN PEOPLE ON THE PPP MAY
NOT HAVE BEEN CLEAR AND
UNDERSTANDING OF THE
CERTIFICATION.
CERTIFICATION. WE’LL GIVE PEOPLE THE BENEFIT OF
THE DOUBT.
THE DOUBT. >> ONE OF THOSE BIGGER
BUSINESSES, FAST-FOOD CHAIN
SHAKE SHACK VOWING TO RETURN THE
MONEY.
MONEY. NOW PRESIDENT TRUMP SINGLE OUT
HARVARD UNIVERSITY SAYING THEY
SHOULD FOLLOW SUIT AND PAY BACK
$8.6 MILLION IN RELIEF.
>> HARVARD SHOULDN’T BE TAKING
THE MONEY.
THE MONEY. WHEN I SAW HARVARD, THEY HAVE
ONE OF THE LARGEST ENDOWMENTS
ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, MAYBE
THE WORLD, I GUESS, AND THEY ARE
GOING TO PAY BACK THAT MONEY.
>> HARVARD SAID THE MONEY WAS
RECEIVED AS PART OF A DIFFERENT
STIMULUS PLAN AND WOULD BE USED
TO HELP STUDENTS WHO NEED
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. A SPOKESPERSON READING A
STATEMENT IN PART, HARVARD DID
NOT APPLY FOR, NOR HAS IT
RECEIVED ANY FUNDS THROUGH THE
U.S. SMALL BUSINESS PROTECTION
PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES.
SMALL BUSINESSES. REPORTS SAYING OTHERWISE ARE
INACCURATE.
INACCURATE. STILL, BANKS ARE DEALING WITH A
BACKLOG OF APPLICANTS INCLUDING
CRYSTAL WHO OWNS A CALIFORNIA
COFFEEHOUSE.
COFFEEHOUSE. >> I BOUGHT THIS BUSINESS A YEAR
AGO.
AGO. WE WERE JUST STARTING TO MAKE A
PROFIT.
PROFIT. >> SHE APPLIED FOR A SMALL
BUSINESS LOAN BUT SAID SHE NEVER
HEARD BACK.
HEARD BACK. >> WE’RE JUST STUCK.
IT’S VERY DISHEARTENING.
>> NBC NEWS CONFIRMED OVERNIGHT
THAT THE SMALL BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION HAS ALERTED
NEARLY 8,000 SMALL BUSINESSES
WHO APPLIED FOR LOANS THAT THEIR
INFORMATION MAY HAVE BEEN LEAKED
DUE TO A BUG IN THE SYSTEM.
FTA SAY IT WILL MONITOR FREE FOR
A YEAR.
A YEAR. AS FOR THE RELIEF BILL, THE
HOUSE WILL VOTE ON IT TOMORROW
AND THEN IT HEADS TO THE
PRESIDENT’S DESK.
PRESIDENT’S DESK. SAVANNAH.
SAVANNAH. >> ALL RIGHT, KRISTEN, THANK
YOU.
YOU. NOW TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS,
THE NEW WARNING FROM THE HEAD OF
THE CDC, THE CORONAVIRUS COULD
HIT THE U.S. HARDER LATER THIS
YEAR.
YEAR. TOM COSTELLO THIS MORNING WITH
THAT PART OF THE STORY.
HEY, TOM, GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, SAVANNAH.
WE HAVE SEEN PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY WHERE THEY ARE STARTING
TO SEE SUCCESS WITH THE
CORONAVIRUS.
CORONAVIRUS. OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY,
INCLUDING WHAT THEY CALL THE DM
V DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, MARYLAND
AND VIRGINIA, WE HAVE NOT SEEN A
SIGNIFICANT DECLINE.
SIGNIFICANT DECLINE. WE’VE NOT SEEN A SIGNIFICANT
FLATTENING OF THE CURVE.
NATIONWIDE -- NATIONWIDE THERE’S
NOW TALK THAT NEXT FALL, NEXT
WINTER, THE NEXT WAVE OF THIS
COULD BE EVEN WORSE.
THIS MORNING A NEW WARNING FROM
THE DIRECTOR OF THE CDC SAYING
IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE
"WASHINGTON POST" THAT THERE’S A
POSSIBILITY NEXT WINTER WILL
ACTUALLY BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT
THAN THE ONE WE JUST WENT
THROUGH, CITING CONCERNS ABOUT
THE NEXT WAVE OF CORONAVIRUS
BEING COUPLED WITH THE SEASONAL
FLU.
FLU. DR. BIRKS ASKED ABOUT THOSE
COMMENTS DURING YESTERDAY’S TASK
FORCE BRIEFING.
FORCE BRIEFING. >> WE’RE ALSO HOPING BY THAT
TIME THAT WE HAVE ADDITIONAL
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE
WITH COVID-19.
WITH COVID-19. I DON’T KNOW IF IT WILL BE
WORSE.
WORSE. THIS HAS BEEN PRETTY BAD.
WHEN YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN
NEW YORK, THAT WAS VERY BAD.
>> IT COMES AS THE TIME LINE FOR
THE DISEASE IS CHANGING HERE IN
THE U.S. OFFICIALS IN SANTA
CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, NOW
SAY TWO RESIDENTS THERE DIED OF
CORONAVIRUS IN EARLY AND MID
FEBRUARY.
FEBRUARY. WEEKS BEFORE THE UNITED STATES
FIRST CORONAVIRUS DEATH
REPORTED.
REPORTED. THOSE OFFICIALS POINTING OUT THE
RESIDENTS DID NOT HAVE ANY KNOWN
TRAVEL HISTORY THAT WOULD HAVE
EXPOSED THEM TO THE VIRUS AND
ARE PRESUMED TO HAVE CONTRACTED
IT IN THE COMMUNITY.
MEANTIME AS THE FDA CONDUCTS
TREATMENT TRIALS, A PANEL OF
DOCTORS WITH THE NIH IS ISSUING
A NEW WARNING ABOUT A DRUG
TOUTED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP,
HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE.
HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE. >> WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE?
THEY HAVE BEEN TAKING IT FOR 40
YEARS FOR MALARIA.
>> IT COMES AS A SMALL ANALYSIS
AMONG V.A. HOSPITALS FOUND A
HIGHER MORTALITY RATE AMONG
PATIENTS GIVEN
PATIENTS GIVEN HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE AS WELL AS
THOSE WHO RECEIVED THE DRUG IN
COMBINATION WITH THE ANTIBIOTIC
KNOWN AS Z PACK.
RESEARCHERS INVOLVED DID NOT
FIND THE DRUG TO BE EFFECTIVE
HIGHLIGHTING WAITING FOR ONGOING
CONTROLLED STUDIES BEFORE
WIDESPREAD ADOPTION OF THESE
DRUGS.
DRUGS. ON THE TESTING FRONT, NEW
DETAILS ON AT-HOME NOSE SWAB
FROM LABCORP.
FROM LABCORP. FOR NOW THAT TEST IS FOCUSED ON
THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND
FIRST RESPONDERS.
FIRST RESPONDERS. >> I WOULD EXPECT OVER THE NEXT
SEVERAL WEEKS IT WILL BECOME
MORE AND MORE AVAILABLE TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY
THOSE THAT HAVE SYMPTOMS.
>> A LOT OF FOCUS RIGHT NOW, A
LOT OF FOCUS ON REOPENING PARTS
OF THE ECONOMY.
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT’S
PAID CLOSE ATTENTION.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID SOME
STAY-AT-HOME ORDERS ACTUALLY
BORDER ON HOME ARREST, WHICH
BORDERS ON WHETHER IT’S
CONSTITUTIONAL OR NOT.
BUT HE ALSO SAYS IT WOULD BE
JUSTIFIABLE IN SOME CASES BUT
NOT FOR THE LONG-TERM.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WATCHING
ALL OF THIS CLOSELY AS WELL.
SAVANNAH AND HODA, BACK TO YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, TOM.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. JOINING US NBC SCIENCE
CONTRIBUTOR DR. JOSEPH FAIR,
VIROLOGIST ON THE FRONT LINES OF
THE EBOLA OUTBREAK.
GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT CDC
DIRECTOR’S NEW WARNING THAT
POTENTIALLY IN THE FALL AND
WINTER THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
COULD BE EVEN WORSE BECAUSE IT
WOULD THEN BE COMBINED WITH THE
FLU SOAP ASEASON AS WELL.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?
>> IT’S ABOUT TIMING.
THE FALL SEASON, THAT’S WHEN WE
HAVE THE WORST FLU SEASON.
FLU SEASONS CAN VARY YEAR BY
YEAR.
YEAR. IN THE LAST YEAR WE SAW
APPROXIMATELY 34,000 DEATHS DUE
TO INFLUENZA IN THE UNITED
STATES ALONE.
STATES ALONE. IF YOU COUPLE THAT WITH ONGOING
OUTBREAK OF COVID-19 IN PEOPLE
WHO HAVE NOT HAD COVID-19, STILL
NAIVE TO IT, BY THAT TIME FRAME
WE’LL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF
OUR POPULATION THAT WILL BE
NAIVE TO THE VIRUS, IF YOU
COUPLE THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER
IT’S GOING TO MAKE FOR THE
PERFECT STORM OF INFECTIOUS
DISEASE AND OVERLOADING OF
HOSPITAL WARDS.
HOSPITAL WARDS. THE GOOD NEWS IS HOPEFULLY BY
THAT TIME WE’LL HAVE ENOUGH
TESTING AVAILABLE, IN-HOME
TESTING, WE’LL HAVE TESTS
AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME.
THAT WILL GIVE US TIME TO CATCH
UP ON VENTILATORS AND PPE
PRODUCTION.
PRODUCTION. >> DR. BIRX SAID HOPEFULLY AT
THAT TIME WE WOULD HAVE
SOMETHING IN THE WAY OF
TREATMENT.
TREATMENT. NOT A VACCINE BUT A WAY TO TREAT
THE CORONAVIRUS, WHICH
THEORETICALLY MEANS FEWER
DEATHS, BETTER OUTCOMES, LESS OF
A CATASTROPHE.
A CATASTROPHE. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I THINK WE HAVE TWO VERY
PROMISING AVENUES TO GO FORTH
WITH ON TREATMENT RIGHT NOW, AND
THAT’S JUST RIGHT NOW.
I’M SURE THERE WILL BE MORE SO
IN THE NEXT MONTHS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST IS
CONVALESCENT PLASMA, WE TALKED
ABOUT THAT ON THIS SHOW.
YOU’VE RECOVERED FROM
CORONAVIRUS AND DEVELOPED
PROTECTIVE ANTIBODIES AGAINST
THAT CORONAVIRUS.
THAT CORONAVIRUS. WE CAN TAKE YOUR BLOOD, SEPARATE
THE PLASMA FROM IT AND LITERALLY
TRANSFER THAT INTO A PERSON
CURRENTLY INFECTED WITH COVID-19
AND THAT WILL IMPROVE THEIR
OUTCOME TYPICALLY AND IT’S A
VERY TRIED AND TRUE HUNDREDS OF
YEARS OLD.
YEARS OLD. THE DRUG FROM GILEAD REMDESIVIR
HAS SHOWN PROMISE IN A COUPLE OF
TRIALS AND I THINK WE’LL ONLY
SEE MORE OF THAT.
>> WHAT’S THE IMPLICATION OF AN
AT-HOME TEST.
AT-HOME TEST. THEY ARE STARTING TO ROLL IT OUT
TODAY.
TODAY. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE
SCALED UP AND REALLY MAKE A
DIFFERENCE HERE?
DIFFERENCE HERE? >> I’M BIASED MY BACKGROUND IS
IN DIAGNOSTICS.
IN DIAGNOSTICS. OUTBREAKS BEGIN AND END WITH
DIAGNOSTICS.
DIAGNOSTICS. IT’S WHEN WE HAVE DIAGNOSTICS
AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE, VERY EASY
AND CHEAP AND AS RAPID AS
POSSIBLE, THAT’S HOW WE’RE
ACTUALLY GOING TO STOP THIS
OUTBREAK, COMBINED WITH SOCIAL
DISTANCING AND ULTIMATELY A
VACCINE.
VACCINE. BUT HAVING THAT DIAGNOSTIC OUT
THERE BOTH FOR THE ACUTE
INFECTION AS WELL AS RECOVERED
FROM THE INFECTION ARE GOING TO
BE KEY FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> REAL QUICKLY, THERE’S THIS
ITEM THAT IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY
IN CALIFORNIA, THERE WAS A
CORONAVIRUS IN EARLY FEBRUARY,
WHICH WAS WEEKS BEFORE THE FIRST
PREVIOUSLY KNOWN DEATH OF
CORONAVIRUS.
CORONAVIRUS. WHAT IS THE IMPLICATION OF THAT?
IS IT THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN
COMMUNITY SPREAD FAR BEFORE WE
THOUGHT?
THOUGHT? >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY, FIRST
OF ALL, THAT’S NOT UNCOMMON FOR
ANY OUTBREAK WE’LL GO TO.
WE’LL ALSO END UP -- ONCE WE
KIND OF SLOW DOWN FROM THE
INITIAL RESPONSE, WE’LL ALWAYS
END UP LOOKING FOR WHAT WAS THE
INDEX CASE.
INDEX CASE. YOU ALWAYS KNOW THE FIRST ONE
THAT WAS REPORTED BUT THAT’S
JUST THE ONE THAT MADE YOUR
RADAR SCREEN.
RADAR SCREEN. WE ALSO LOOK FOR THE ONE THAT
DIDN’T MAKE OUR RADAR SCREEN.
ULTIMATELY BACK TO INDEX CASE.
THAT’S TELLING US THE VIRUS WAS
IN THIS COUNTRY AND COMMUNITY
SPREAD WAS ONGOING MUCH BEFORE
WE INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS AND
WE EVEN HAD PEOPLE DYING FROM IT
AT THAT TIME, NOT JUST IN THE
COUNTRY BUT PEOPLE WERE DYING
FROM IT AT THAT TIME.
I’M SURE WE’LL FIND EARLIER
DATES FOR THAT AND THE SAME WILL
BE TRUE FOR CHINA.
>> WOW, OKAY.
DR. FAIR, ALWAYS GOOD TO GET
YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
YOUR PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HODA, WE’LL SEND IT TO YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE DO HAVE A LOT MORE TO GET TO,
SAVANNAH, INCLUDING
SAVANNAH, INCLUDING UNCERTAINTIES SURROUNDING THE
HEALTH OF NORTH KOREAN LEADER
KIM JONG-UN WHO HASN’T MADE A
PUBLIC APPEAR ANSANCE IN TWO WEE
RICHARD ENGEL IS FOLLOWING THAT
STORY FOR US.
HEY, RICHARD, GOOD MORNING.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, HODA,
IT IS A MYSTERY.
ON
ON SO FAR MUM IS THE WORD FROM
NORTH KOREA, NO OFFICIAL WORD
ABOUT HIS WHEREABOUTS, HIS
HEALTH, AND THAT’S JUST FUELING
SPECULATION ABOUT HIS CONDITION.
IT’S BEEN A WEEK SINCE KIM
JONG-UN MISSED HIS GREAT
GRANDFATHER’S COMMEMORATION.
GRANDFATHER’S COMMEMORATION. THIS MORNING HE REMAINS OUT OF
SIGHT
SIGHT SIGHT.
SIGHT. SEVERAL U.S. OFFICIALS SAY
AMERICAN OFFICIALS KIM,
OVERWEIGHT, OFTEN SEEN SMOKING,
RECENTLY HAD CARDIOVASCULAR
SURGERY WITH SOME INTELLIGENCE
SUGGESTING HE’S INCAPACITATED.
PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHO HAS MET
REPEATEDLY WITH KIM, SPOKE OUT
YESTERDAY.
YESTERDAY. >> THESE ARE REPORTS THAT CAME
OUT.
OUT. WE DON’T KNOW.
I WISH HIM WELL.
>> SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS SAY
KIM IS AS ACTIVE AS EVER,
WORKING.
WORKING. THEY SAY THERE’S NO INTELLIGENCE
ABOUT CLAIMS OF HIS FAILING
HEALTH.
HEALTH. MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT THERE ARE
DEMANDING MORE INFORMATION AND
SOUTH KOREAN MEDIA IS FULL OF
SPECULATION ABOUT WHO MIGHT TAKE
OVER SINCE KIM HAS NO CLEAR
SUCCESSOR.
SUCCESSOR. OFTEN MENTIONED IS HIS YOUNGER
SISTER, THE MOST POWERFUL WOMAN
IN NORTH KOREA AND AN
INCREASINGLY VISIBLE ADVISER.
SHE MADE HER PUBLIC DEBUT
REPRESENTING PYONGYANG AT THE
2018 OLYMPICS BILLED AS A PEACE
GAMES BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH
KOREA.
KOREA. IMPRESSING HER HOST WITH HER
EASY GRACE AND CHARM, SHE’S ALSO
UNDER U.S. SANCTIONS IN RESPONSE
TO THE REGIME’S HUMAN RIGHTS
ABUSES.
ABUSES. KIM JONG-UN’S OLDER HALF BROTHER
AND FORMER RIVAL IS NO LONGER A
CONTENDER.
CONTENDER. HE WAS ASSASSINATED IN 2017 AT
MALAYSIA’S MAIN AIRPORT WHEN A
WOMAN SNEAKED UP BEHIND HIM AND
SMEARED A CHEMICAL WEAPON IN HIS
FACE.
FACE. BEFORE HIS DEATH SHORTLY
THEREAFTER, HE HAD OFTEN SPOKEN
OUT AGAINST KIM JONG-UN CALLING
HIM A DICTATOR.
>> A POWER STRUGGLE WOULD CALL
INTO QUESTION THE COUNTRY’S
THEM. I KNOW A LOT OF SPORTS FANS ARE
CHAMPING AT THE BIT, LET’S GET
IT GOING ALREADY.
>> PLAY BALL, RIGHT, HODA?
LET’S GET OUR FIRST CHECK OF THE
WEATHER.
WEATHER. FOR THAT WE SAY GOOD MORNING TO
MR. ROKER.
MR. ROKER. HOW ARE YOU DOING, AL?
>> HEY, AL.
>> I’M DOING FINE, GUYS, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY OUR FRIENDS DOWN
TO THE SOUTH AND IN THE PLAINS
ARE GOING TO BE SUFFERING TODAY
WITH SEVERE WEATHER.
YOU CAN SEE WE’VE ALREADY GOT
FLOOD WATCHES UP FOR PARTS OF
OKLAHOMA AND ON INTO ALABAMA.
AND WE’VE GOT A SEVERE STORM
RISK TODAY FOR 26 MILLION
PEOPLE.
PEOPLE. HAIL, TORNADOES, WIND GUSTS.
IN FACT, WE HAVE AN ENHANCED
RISK RIGHT NOW FOR TORNADOES AND
HAIL STRETCHING FROM OKLAHOMA TO
TEXAS ALL THE WAY INTO ARKANSAS
AND LOUISIANA.
AND LOUISIANA. TOMORROW IT MOVES TO THE EAST.
29 MILLION PEOPLE AT RISK FOR
TORNADOES, WIND GUSTS AND HAIL
1" OR LARGER.
WE WATCH THE STRONG STORM SYSTEM
TRACKING IN THE LOWER
MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY.
THE SEVERE THREAT RAMPS UP THIS
AFTERNOON.
AFTERNOON. BY TOMORROW IT MOVES EAST WITH
HEAVY RAIN THREAT AND RISK OF
FLOODING.
FLOODING. IT CONTINUES ON INTO FRIDAY WITH
HEAVY RAIN MOVING INTO THE
NORTHEAST AND HEAVY
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTHERN
FLORIDA.
FLORIDA. WE’RE TALKING RAINFALL AMOUNTS