CNN
The Situation Room
December 21, 2020
6:30 p.m. Eastern
WOLF BLITZER: Tonight, the New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, is raising some very serious red flags, taking new action as a new COVID-19 variant is spreading potentially very dangerously in the United Kingdom. We're joined now by Governor Cuomo. He's also the author of the new book, American Crisis, Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Governor, thank you so much for joining us. I know these are difficult times for everyone. I know you've reached an agreement with, what, British Airways and Delta to test all passengers there for coronavirus before they enter New York, JFK, for example, the airport there. Have you made any progress convincing other airlines that fly from the UK to the United States to sign on as well?
GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): Short answer is, Wolf, first, good to be with you. Short answer is yes. We have an agreement now with the three airlines that fly from the UK to the New York airports -- Virgin, Delta, and British airways. But the point is bigger than just New York, right? We have been worried about a mutation of the virus. That's what everybody has been worried about. The quote, unquote "second wave" was a mutated virus which was creating a second, more diabolical viral infection.
You have the UK saying or announcing the new variant transmits at 70 times the rate of COVID. You have countries in the EU that have banned travel from the UK. You have 120 countries that have required that no one comes from the UK unless they test negative prior to getting on the plane from the UK. And the United States has done nothing. Now, I acted proactively, frankly, for New York, and I have the airlines that are flying into New York from the UK that have all agreed that they will test people before they get on the flight in the UK en route to New York.
But we've learned this lesson before, and that's what's frustrating, Wolf. You know, when the way we got COVID in the spring was the federal government thought that the coronavirus was still in China. It had gone to Europe, and it came here from Europe. And this is almost redux. And yes, the people who now fly into New York will be negative. But we'll have flights into Chicago, we'll have flights into other parts of the country, and those people can get onto flights and come back to New York or infect other states. And this whole notion that any one state can protect itself was foolish from the beginning, right?
BLITZER: Yeah.
CUOMO: New York has one of the lowest infection rates in the United States. But that doesn't stop the virus from coming in from other states.
BLITZER: Yeah, the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, says that this new variant is 70 percent stronger in terms of transmitting the virus, and that's obviously very disturbing -- 70 percent stronger. As you know, Dr. Anthony Fauci -- he's advising against additional restrictions on UK travel. He says everyone should be careful, but advising against additional formal restrictions. I take it you disagree with Dr. Fauci -- is that right?
CUOMO: Look, I have great respect for Dr. Fauci, and he's a friend, and he's been very helpful to me personally in New York all through this. From a science point of view, Wolf, you know, scientists can only tell you facts that they know. They don't predict. And I went through this in the spring. The scientists want to see a flame before they tell you there's a fire. From my point of view, if I see smoke, I'm going to douse water on that spot. The scientists will say, "We're not sure if it's 70 times -- 70 times more transmittible -- we're not sure that the vaccine won't solve this COVID virus also." Their working assumption is it will, but, you know, these are all hypotheticals.
You have 120 countries that have banned the travel from the UK. You have Boris Johnson who closed down the UK one week after he said he would never close down the UK for Christmas. He did a total 180, Wolf, in one week, and he closed for Christmas. Why would Boris Johnson do that unless he was really worried? Why would the EU countries ban the UK? And why run the risk? If 120 countries are requiring a test before somebody gets on a plane, I called up the airlines, and I said, "Look, you have 120 countries. Can you make it 120 countries and the state of New York?" You know. And they said yes. But if they'll do that for New York, they'll do it for the United States of America.
BLITZER: Yeah, I think everybody agrees. In a situation like this, more than 300,000 -- I'm looking right now -- more than 319,000 Americans have died from the virus since February. You've got to err on the side of caution. Governor, while I have you, the second coronavirus vaccine, Moderna, is now rolling out today. They've got millions of doses ready to go. What's the latest on vaccine distribution in New York state?
[CUOMO]
Do you have enough doses to cover the essential frontline health care workers who are every day putting their lives on the line?
[CUOMO]
So, so critical. These are life-saving moments in our nation's history. Governor Cuomo, thank you so much for joining us. Thanks for everything you're doing. I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
