>>> AS YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYONE
>>> AS YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYONE AGREES WITH THE PRESIDENT’S PUSH
AGREES WITH THE PRESIDENT’S PUSH TO REOPEN AT LEAST PARTS OF THE
TO REOPEN AT LEAST PARTS OF THE ECONOMY BY EASTER SUNDAY OR
ECONOMY BY EASTER SUNDAY OR EVEN, AS HE PUTS IT, REOPENING
EVEN, AS HE PUTS IT, REOPENING LARGE SECTIONS OF THE COUNTRY.
LARGE SECTIONS OF THE COUNTRY. FUNNY THING ABOUT THIS VIRUS.
FUNNY THING ABOUT THIS VIRUS. AS WE’VE SAID, IT DOESN’T
AS WE’VE SAID, IT DOESN’T RESPECT STATE LINES OR
RESPECT STATE LINES OR CALENDARS.
CALENDARS. HERE’S WHAT MICROSOFT CO-FOUNDER
HERE’S WHAT MICROSOFT CO-FOUNDER BILL GATES HAD TO SAY ABOUT
BILL GATES HAD TO SAY ABOUT RELAXING SOCIAL DISTANCING
RELAXING SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES IN ORDER TO HELP THE
MEASURES IN ORDER TO HELP THE ECONOMY.
ECONOMY. >> THERE REALLY IS NO MIDDLE
>> THERE REALLY IS NO MIDDLE GROUND.
GROUND. AND IT’S VERY TOUGH TO SAY TO
AND IT’S VERY TOUGH TO SAY TO PEOPLE HEY, KEEP GOING TO
PEOPLE HEY, KEEP GOING TO RESTAURANTS, YOU KNOW, GO BUY
RESTAURANTS, YOU KNOW, GO BUY NEW HOUSES, IGNORE THAT PILE OF
NEW HOUSES, IGNORE THAT PILE OF BODIES OVER IN THE CORNER, JUST
BODIES OVER IN THE CORNER, JUST YOU KNOW, WE WANT YOU TO KEEP
YOU KNOW, WE WANT YOU TO KEEP SPENDING BECAUSE THERE’S SOME --
SPENDING BECAUSE THERE’S SOME -- MAYBE A POLITICIAN WHO THINKS
MAYBE A POLITICIAN WHO THINKS GDP GROWTH IS WHAT REALLY
GDP GROWTH IS WHAT REALLY COUNTS.
COUNTS. IT’S VERY IRRESPONSIBLE FOR
IT’S VERY IRRESPONSIBLE FOR SOMEBODY TO SUGGEST WE CAN HAVE
SOMEBODY TO SUGGEST WE CAN HAVE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. >> WE’RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE BACK
>> WE’RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE BACK WITH US DR. MICHAEL OESTERHOME,
WITH US DR. MICHAEL OESTERHOME, PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE
PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE
CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY AT THE
RESEARCH AND POLICY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA. ALSO HAPPENS TO BE CO-AUTHOR OF
ALSO HAPPENS TO BE CO-AUTHOR OF THE RECENT BOOK "DEADLIEST
THE RECENT BOOK "DEADLIEST ENEMY: OUR WAR AGAINST KILLER
ENEMY: OUR WAR AGAINST KILLER GERMS," WHICH HE SOMEHOW KNEW
GERMS," WHICH HE SOMEHOW KNEW HOW TO WRITE BEFORE THIS
HOW TO WRITE BEFORE THIS PANDEMIC ARRIVED.
PANDEMIC ARRIVED. DOC, YOU AND I SPOKE JUST SEEMS
DOC, YOU AND I SPOKE JUST SEEMS LIKE IT WAS A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
LIKE IT WAS A COUPLE YEARS AGO. IT WAS ST. PATRICK’S DAY.
IT WAS ST. PATRICK’S DAY. DURING OUR COVERAGE OF SUPER
DURING OUR COVERAGE OF SUPER TUESDAY EDITION 3.
TUESDAY EDITION 3. YOU SAID YOU ESTIMATED WE’D
YOU SAID YOU ESTIMATED WE’D STILL BE AT THIS, DEALING WITH
STILL BE AT THIS, DEALING WITH IT BY AUTUMN.
IT BY AUTUMN. HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING, HEARD
HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING, HEARD ANYTHING TO CHANGE THAT
ANYTHING TO CHANGE THAT PROGNOSTICATION?
PROGNOSTICATION? >> I HAVE NOT.
>> I HAVE NOT. AT THE TIME I MENTIONED TO YOU
AT THE TIME I MENTIONED TO YOU THAT WHILE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN
THAT WHILE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON WERE TREATING THIS
WASHINGTON WERE TREATING THIS LIKE A WASHINGTON, D.C.
LIKE A WASHINGTON, D.C. BLIZZARD, A COUPLE OF DAYS AND
BLIZZARD, A COUPLE OF DAYS AND WE’D BE OUT OF IT.
WE’D BE OUT OF IT. AND I SAID AT THE TIME THIS WAS
AND I SAID AT THE TIME THIS WAS GOING FBTO BE A CORONAVIRUS
GOING FBTO BE A CORONAVIRUS WINTER, WE WERE JUST IN THE
WINTER, WE WERE JUST IN THE FIRST WEEKS OF THE SEASON,
FIRST WEEKS OF THE SEASON, NOTHING HAS CHANGED AT ALL.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED AT ALL. WHAT HAPPENED IS THE ENORMITY OF
WHAT HAPPENED IS THE ENORMITY OF JUST HOW BIG THE PROBLEM IS NOW
JUST HOW BIG THE PROBLEM IS NOW MAKES PEOPLE REALLY FIND IT
MAKES PEOPLE REALLY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT
DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT COULD GET WORSE.
COULD GET WORSE. BUT IT’S GOING TO.
BUT IT’S GOING TO. AND IT WILL CONTINUE FOR THE
AND IT WILL CONTINUE FOR THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD.
WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD. >> I PROMISE TO NEVER DRAG YOU
>> I PROMISE TO NEVER DRAG YOU INTO POLITICS OR TRY TO CONVERT
INTO POLITICS OR TRY TO CONVERT YOU INTO BEING A POLITICIAN.
YOU INTO BEING A POLITICIAN. BUT COMING OFF WHAT YOU JUST
BUT COMING OFF WHAT YOU JUST SAID, WHAT YOU HEAR THE
SAID, WHAT YOU HEAR THE PRESIDENT TALK ABOUT GETTING US
PRESIDENT TALK ABOUT GETTING US OUT AND ABOUT, FILLING THE
OUT AND ABOUT, FILLING THE CHURCHES ON EASTER SUNDAY
CHURCHES ON EASTER SUNDAY MORNING, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO
MORNING, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO YOU?
YOU? >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME PUT IT INTO CONTEXT.
PUT IT INTO CONTEXT. I’VE BEEN IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH
I’VE BEEN IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH BUSINESS FOR 45 YEARS.
BUSINESS FOR 45 YEARS. I’VE SERVED ROLES IN THE LAST
I’VE SERVED ROLES IN THE LAST FIVE PRESIDENTIAL
FIVE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIONS.
ADMINISTRATIONS. I SERVED TWO DEMOCRATIC
I SERVED TWO DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS, TWO REPUBLICAN
GOVERNORS, TWO REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS, AND ONE INDEPENDENT
GOVERNORS, AND ONE INDEPENDENT GOVERNOR HERE IN MINNESOTA.
GOVERNOR HERE IN MINNESOTA. AND NO ONE CAN TELL YOU MY
AND NO ONE CAN TELL YOU MY PARTISAN POLITICS.
PARTISAN POLITICS. SO PLEASE TAKE THIS COMMENT AS
SO PLEASE TAKE THIS COMMENT AS SUCH.
SUCH. BUT RIGHT NOW WE DON’T HAVE A
BUT RIGHT NOW WE DON’T HAVE A STRATEGIC NATIONAL PLAN FOR
STRATEGIC NATIONAL PLAN FOR THIS.
THIS. THE ADMINISTRATION HAS FAILED TO
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS FAILED TO DELIVER ANYTHING TO US THAT
DELIVER ANYTHING TO US THAT WOULD GIVE US A ROAD MAP OF
WOULD GIVE US A ROAD MAP OF WHERE WE’RE AT, WHERE WE’RE
WHERE WE’RE AT, WHERE WE’RE GOING.
GOING. AND WE NEED THAT DESPERATELY
AND WE NEED THAT DESPERATELY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET
BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS ANYTIME SOON.
OUT OF THIS ANYTIME SOON. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE’VE
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE’VE LEARNED ABOUT VIRUSES, THEY
LEARNED ABOUT VIRUSES, THEY CANNOT BE CONVINCED TO DO
CANNOT BE CONVINCED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT BY RHETORIC.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT BY RHETORIC. THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY WANT TO
THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO BY MOTHER NATURE’S HAND.
DO BY MOTHER NATURE’S HAND. WE HAVE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT
WE HAVE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOW.
NOW. >> I WANT TO PLAY YOU A QUICK
>> I WANT TO PLAY YOU A QUICK INTERVIEW WITH AN E.R. DOC,
INTERVIEW WITH AN E.R. DOC, ELMHURST HOSPITAL, ELM HURST,
ELMHURST HOSPITAL, ELM HURST, QUEENS.
QUEENS. A PLACE I HASTEN TO ADD THAT
A PLACE I HASTEN TO ADD THAT PULLED UP A REFRIGERATION TRUCK
PULLED UP A REFRIGERATION TRUCK TODAY TO SERVE AS THEIR
TODAY TO SERVE AS THEIR TEMPORARY MORGUE.
TEMPORARY MORGUE. >> TODAY IS KIND OF GETTING
>> TODAY IS KIND OF GETTING WORSE AND WORSE.
WORSE AND WORSE. WE HAD TO GET A REFRIGERATED
WE HAD TO GET A REFRIGERATED TRUCK TO STORE THE BODIES OF
TRUCK TO STORE THE BODIES OF PATIENTS WHO ARE DYING.
PATIENTS WHO ARE DYING. WE ARE RIGHT NOW SCRAMBLING TO
WE ARE RIGHT NOW SCRAMBLING TO TRY TO GET A FEW ADDITIONAL
TRY TO GET A FEW ADDITIONAL VENTILATORS.
VENTILATORS. >> DOCTOR, HOW FAR ABOVE
>> DOCTOR, HOW FAR ABOVE CAPACITY ARE OUR HOSPITALS GOING
CAPACITY ARE OUR HOSPITALS GOING TO BE RUNNING AND WHEN?
TO BE RUNNING AND WHEN? >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WROTE A
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WROTE A PIECE BACK IN 2005 THAT TALKED
PIECE BACK IN 2005 THAT TALKED ABOUT OUR LACK OF PREPAREDNESS
ABOUT OUR LACK OF PREPAREDNESS FOR A PANDEMIC AND I WISH IT
FOR A PANDEMIC AND I WISH IT WERE 2005 AGAIN BECAUSE WE WERE
WERE 2005 AGAIN BECAUSE WE WERE MUCH BETTER PREPARED BACK THEN
MUCH BETTER PREPARED BACK THEN THAN WE ARE NOW.
THAN WE ARE NOW. WE HAVE BASICALLY GNAWED OUR
WE HAVE BASICALLY GNAWED OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM DOWN TO THE
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM DOWN TO THE BONE.
BONE. THERE IS NO RESILIENCY.
THERE IS NO RESILIENCY. ON A GIVEN DAY 95% OF THE BEDS
ON A GIVEN DAY 95% OF THE BEDS ARE ALREADY FILLED.
ARE ALREADY FILLED. WE HAVE NO EXCESS CAPACITY FOR
WE HAVE NO EXCESS CAPACITY FOR VENTILATORS.
VENTILATORS. I THINK ONE OF THE GREATEST
I THINK ONE OF THE GREATEST TRAGEDIES IS GOING TO BE MANY OF
TRAGEDIES IS GOING TO BE MANY OF OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE
OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE GOING TO SUFFER THIS INFECTION
GOING TO SUFFER THIS INFECTION AND SOME DIE BECAUSE OF
AND SOME DIE BECAUSE OF ACQUIRING IT AT WORK BECAUSE WE
ACQUIRING IT AT WORK BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE THE PROTECTIVE
DON’T HAVE THE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT TO PROTECT THEM.
EQUIPMENT TO PROTECT THEM. SO I THINK THIS SITUATION IS
SO I THINK THIS SITUATION IS PLAYING OUT IN NEW YORK IS
PLAYING OUT IN NEW YORK IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY, VERY DRAMATIC
OBVIOUSLY A VERY, VERY DRAMATIC PICTURE.
PICTURE. AND IT WILL PLAY OUT IN OTHER
AND IT WILL PLAY OUT IN OTHER PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY. AND I THINK WE HAVE TO
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE HEALTH CARE
UNDERSTAND THAT THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AS WE KNOW IT WILL BE
SYSTEM AS WE KNOW IT WILL BE OVERWHELMED.
OVERWHELMED. THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER
THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER NORMAL TIME.
NORMAL TIME. IT WILL BE A NEW NORMAL.
