Coronavirus Continuing to Spread, Markets React; Turkey-Russia Ceasefire Goes Into Effect in Idlib; Children Bear the Brunt of Idlib's Humanitarian Crisis
JOHN VAUSE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm John Vause. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM live from Studio Seven at CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta. Ahead this hour, trading on emotion, fear. Wall Street plummets, with shares in banks and travel companies take a beating amid renewed concerns over the financial impact of a coronavirus outbreak which continues to spread. The ceasefire. Russia and Turkey agree to put on hold the fighting in the last rebel-held province in Syria, but for how long? And Elizabeth Warren bows out of the race for the White House. And once again, Americans will have a choice of an old straight white man in his seventies for president. Around the world, the coronavirus continues to spread faster than containment measures can be put in place. In less than three months, the virus was reach more than 80 countries and regions. Financial markets are gripped by fear over the economic impact and uncertainty over when the outbreak will come to an end. On Thursday, as test kits were airdropped to a cruise ship in the Pacific, the U.S. vice president, Mike Pence, warned there's not enough of those kits to meet demand in the United States. Almost 98,000 cases are confirmed worldwide. Most are in China. Nearly 3,400 people have died so far. Italy is dealing with the worst outbreak in Europe, and it's committed more than 7 billion euros to cushion the impact to business. In the U.S., Congress has approved more than a billion dollars to tackle the impact of the disease. We begin our coverage with CNN's Vedika Sud in New Delhi, India. And also, Ivan Watson in Seoul, South Korea. And Ivan, we'll head to you first. They are still closing schools there in South Korea. The number of cases continues to go through the roof. We're looking at more than 6,000. Most are in the southeastern part of the country, from what we're told. And it seems there are concerns now about community spread. What are the details there?</s>IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, first and foremost, one of the newest challenges that the government has is just trying to make sure that there are masks for everybody to protect themselves. The finance minister just announced that they would stop the export of masks from South Korea starting today. Previously, about 10 percent of those masks were being exported. And that, come Monday, there will be a new system implemented with computer tracking that would ration two masks per person around the country and that they're going to use a kind of app to try to track that. And they're going to try to use citizens' national I.D. numbers to stagger out the days when people can buy those masks to ensure that there's not a run on the stores that are selling them. So that's an example of how the government is kind of struggling to keep up, though it has been very aggressive with testing for coronavirus. More than 150,000 tests thus far. You mentioned community spreading. The southern city of Daegu has seen more than 70 percent of the infections of the more than 6,200 confirmed coronavirus infections that we have seen thus far. And that has prompted the government also to announce that schools will be closed for an additional two weeks, meaning that the people -- the students who went away for their winter break, it's going to be close to a month before they may ever go back to school again.</s>VAUSE: Ivan, thank you. Ivan Watson there in Seoul with the very latest from South Korea, which has the largest number of cases outside of China. Let's go to Vedika, who is in Delhi. What are the preventative measures being taken there by the Indian government? Because by the looks of things, it's seems a very low number of confirmed cases in India, at least at this point.</s>VEDIKA SUD, CNN PRODUCER: And India is the second most populated country in the world, John, so fingers crossed that it really doesn't increase the count as far as positive cases of coronavirus are concerned. As of now, 30 cases of -- have been reported of coronavirus, patients. What we also do know is 16 of these 30 cases are of Italian nationals. Fourteen of them are being treated in the national capital, New Delhi. Two of them are being treated in the northwestern state of Rajasthan. What is extremely interesting at this point and equally worrying is the fact that we've got to know from the state government of Rajasthan that those 16 Italian nationals were in touch with 215 people. They interacted with 215 people while they were in different parts of Rajasthan. As far as preventive measures are concerned, Prime Minister Modi was expected to travel for a meeting with the European Union in Brussels on the 13th of march. He is going to be re-scheduling that. What we also know from the health ministry is that all international passengers will be screened at the airports across India. They're also being asked to provide their travel history, along with a self- declaration form on their medical condition. Schools in the national capital are closed till the end of the month. This, again, is a preventive measure that the Delhi government is taking, keeping in mind that 30 cases have been reported as of now -- John.</s>VAUSE: OK. We appreciate the update. Thank you, Vedika Sud there in New Delhi, and also Ivan a lot earlier there in Seoul, South Korea. Thanks to you both. Well, the European Commission has warned of drug shortages after new cases were confirmed in the United Kingdom. And earlier, CNN hosted a global town hall. And Christiane Amanpour has details on what Europe is facing.</s>CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Here they were talking about containment, but now the chief medical officer says they're moving into the so-called second phase, which is control. And then there's research and mitigate, but that's what's happening right now. The British National Health Service is one of the most known in the world. The officials here say that the National Health Service, you know, will be able to cope, but we know there's a massive shortage of nurses. We know, as David has said and as Gary has said, that the testing kits are in short supply, not just here but around the world. And so this is what's happening. There's not been any massive closures of schools here like we've seen in Italy. There's been one death and several dozen confirmed cases of infection. But there is a sense that they might have to go into, you know, methods such as controlling how people work, keep them at home more, and it's called, you know, social mitigation. So also, as you were talking about, how do people deal with each other? Social distancing, for instance. There's a huge amount of talk about should people shake hands? Should they hug, kiss? What we're being told -- it may sound basic, but you've been talking about it, and it's absolutely the case. The main advice that people here are being given is wash your hands and wash them over and over again. And if you use sanitizer, use something that's at least 60 percent alcohol contained. And that's another issue, because those are rushing off the shelves, and there's a lot of shortages in these -- in these things. But this is what we're seeing over here.</s>VAUSE: And you can watch the replay of CNN's global town hall on the coronavirus outbreak, 9 a.m. in London, 1 p.m. in Abu Dhabi, and 8 p.m. in Hong Kong. Just hours before a ceasefire between Turkey and Russia took effect in northwest Syria. Turkish forces killed 24 Syrian troops, destroyed two artillery pieces, and two missile launchers. Retaliation for the deaths of 2 Turkish soldiers in Idlib earlier this week, killed by Russian-backed forces. And an attempt to curb the renewed violence and bloodshed in Syria's last rebel-held stronghold, the presidents of Russia and Turkey agreed to freeze the advance of Russian-backed Syrian forces within the region.</s>RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, TURKISH PRESIDENT (through translator): The cease-fire deal will be effective as of midnight. In terms of making it lasting, all necessary actions will be taken fast and efficiently. Our goal is to prevent the worsening of the humanitarian crisis in the region.</s>VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We do not always agree with our Turkish partners in our view on the events in Syria. At this time in a critical moment, relying on the high level of bilateral ties we have reached, we have always managed to find common grounds on the disputed questions and find agreeable solutions.</s>VAUSE: Despite new hopes for peace in Idlib, hundreds of thousands have been caught in the crossfire of a relentless offensive by the Syrian regime. Many civilians have been forced to flee to an uncertain future, while others who have stayed behind are left living in fear. CNN's Arwa Damon takes us inside a humanitarian crisis.</s>ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The children's smiles belie the depth of their trauma. This school is one of many sheltering the displaced, the blaring music temporarily drowning out the sounds of the explosions on the front line, just a 15-minute drive away. Even at their tender age, they know death can come in an instant. Thelat (ph) is trying to have fun, gingerly keeping her weight off her injured foot. "I was eating an apple with my sister, and then the rocket hit us," she remembers. "I looked, and I could only see dust and blood." That strike happened a week ago at the school just next door, where Thelat's (ph) family, along with others, were living. A rocket slammed into the school yard, killing seven children and wounding many more. Thelat's (ph) father shows us her bandaged foot, grateful his daughter is still alive, agonizing over how he is supposed to even protect his children. "I am used to the sounds of the planes heading," Thelat (ph) says, "but since we got hit, I'm scared of it." (on camera): They've been training the kids on what to do if they hear explosions or the bombings come close. So one is shelter in place. And then the other is to follow the arrows painted on the walls to go towards the bunker. (voice-over): It's not a real bunker, just a room underground that used to store the now dust-covered schoolbooks. The skies outside the town are painted with the streaks of fighter jets. In the early hours the next morning, a chicken farm being used to how the displaced was decimated, crushing many of those who sheltered their in their sleep, including children. Hospitals are overwhelmed, dealing not only with illnesses and disease, but the constant flow of the wounded. There is no sanctity here, least of all for civilian life. In the last month, Turkey has upped its military involvement, battering regime positions. This group of fighters we meet close to the front, is mostly made up of young men who were in high school when Syria's revolution turned into a war. "The Turkish presence is preventing the regime from advancing on the ground," 26-year-old Abu Saad (ph) says. "Our fight is about defending the population. My wife, my children." But how to truly protect this population. It's not really in these fighters' control. It's in Turkey and Russia's hands. They, the main two powers bartering for Idlib's fate. No matter what is negotiated, there have been too many promises, too many broken ceasefires, too many sham agreements. Pain haunts every street. (on camera): His son died right here.</s>DAMON: That's still his blood on the wall. (voice-over): Mohammed was just 12. His older brother tells us they ran when they saw the plane, but Mohammed didn't make it. "I tried to pick him up, but I couldn't," Hussein (ph) remembers. Mohammed died in his arms. Even celebrations are bittersweet. These women are shopping for dresses for their relative's wedding, but it won't be a lavish affair. "It's not the sort of happiness where you invite everyone," the groom's sister tells us. "It will be small, with immediate family." There's just too much misery and fear that a big crowd will get bombed. Since December, around a million have been displaced, cramming into any empty space they can find, even this prison. The families here sleep with their clothes on, not knowing when they might need to run out. Mireen's (ph) father was killed fighting years ago. "He used to play a lot with us when he was alive," she remembers. As we leave, we come across what's known as the graveyard camp, for even the dead are displaced, buried as close as possible to the border with Turkey in the hopes that at least they can rest in peace. Arwa Damon, CNN, Idlib, Syria.</s>VAUSE: Michael Moran is a political analyst and lecturer in political risk. He's also the CEO and chief research officer for the business consulting group Transformative. He is with us this hour from Denver in Colorado. So Michael, one thing about this cease-fire which doesn't seem entirely clear is it's about a short term reduction in violence, just to cool things off? Is this meant to be the basis for a more permanent peace deal? I want you to listen to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Here he is.</s>PUTIN (through translator): I expressed hope that these agreements will serve as good ground for a cease-fire in Idlib de-escalation zone. We'll finally put an end to the suffering of the civilian population and the growth of humanitarian crises.</s>VAUSE: If you listen closely, assuming the translational is correct, it seems this is more of a a pre-step before, you know, they get into some kind of real peace deal for Idlib. Is this how you see it?</s>MICHAEL MORAN, CEO/RESEARCH OFFICER, TRANSFORMATIVE: Yes. I think, you know, the British defense minister today said when you do a deal with Vladimir Putin and shake his hand, make sure you count your fingers on the way out. And I think that's a lesson the Turks are learning the hard way right now. They have tried very -- very hard to play a kind of middle game with the Russians on one side, the United States and NATO on the other. And it's not working out for them. They've been put in a very difficult situation in terms of not wanting Assad to -- the Assad government and Syria to take over this piece of land. But on the other hand, you know, Assad is aligned to Russia, and that has basically tied Erdogan's hands. And he's been in a very difficult situation ever since. He's burned some bridges with the west. So he's in a -- he's in quite a bind, and I don't think that I see a real kind of permanent cease-fire coming out of this.</s>VAUSE: Right. If -- It's all working out for the Turks. It's certainly not working out for, what, a million or so Syrian refugees who have moved to the Turkish-Syrian border. And so if this is just a short-term sort of solution, you also have, what, three and a half million refugees in Turkey who are now looking at a pathway through Europe from an open border in Turkey into Greece. This is not a good recipe for any kind of long-term solution.</s>MORAN: No, and it's very cynical. I mean, you've got two very cynical governments involved in this -- in this cease-fire negotiation. The Turks are clearly using the refugees who, for -- to their defense, they've been sheltering three and a half million refugees for some time now. But they've opened that border specifically to put pressure on NATO and the United States to kind of come to their aid in some form. That's happening in terms of financials and supplies. But NATO is not about to come back. The United States under Trump has already made the decision to pull out. He's not going to reverse himself now in the middle of an election campaign, and so they -- they've put themselves in a terrible position. And of course, it's the human beings who pay the price. The people who are trying to escape the chaos that's sown by all of these egos and territorial interests, obviously, religious extremism, as well. And now, they are stuck in the middle.</s>VAUSE: We're increasingly seeing Turkey's president deploy his military across the region. It's the second biggest standing military force in NATO. It has a standing budget of about $18 billion, almost 700,000 military, civilian and paramilitary personnel. As well, we have two and a half thousand tanks. There's 1,300 aircraft. That includes F-16s. About 145 ships. But in the past few months, thousands of Turkish troops have been sent inside Idlib province in Syria. They've been sent to the border with Syria. There's Turkish forces in Libya. Now Erdogan says Turkish soldiers will be, you know, sent to the border with Greece, but those gates have been opened to Europe. So you know, a few thousand troops here and there, and a few thousand troops there. It starts to add up. It starts to take a toll. And the longer these commitments go, personnel need to be rotated in. They need to be rotated out. So is there a point when, you know, Turkey, I guess, becomes over committed? And is that a point of leverage that Assad and Putin are well aware of?</s>MORAN: Yes. And we shouldn't be -- we shouldn't be deceived by these numbers. I mean, you could've said the same thing 15 years ago about the Iraqi army, and it was quite a paper tiger. The Turkish army would probably perform really well integrated into the NATO command structure. Alone, though, and that is very much what they are right now, they are certainly no match for the Russians. And they are having a tough time keeping the draftee army, which is what it is, you know, at the front, supplied and also, you know, motivated. Ultimately, the real problem with Turkey's commitment in Syria right now, is that they have to avoid precipitating a real conflict with Russia, a conflict they can't win. And they've obviously put themselves in a position where their long-term allies, treaty allies in NATO, are not keen to come to the rescue at the moment.</s>VAUSE: Yes. And you touched on this sort of already, but the Europeans have expressed some sympathy and some financial help for Erdogan and Turkey and the prospect of dealing, you know, with hundreds of thousands of more refugees from Syria. But this comes with a black, with some of this.</s>MARGARITIS SCHINAS, EUROPEAN COMMISSION VICE PRESIDENT: Turkey is not an enemy, people are not weapons either. We now have a chance for a new deal on asylum, immigration, and this, I dare to say, this will be our last chance. Europe cannot fail twice.</s>VAUSE: That's the vice president of the European Commission. At the same time, publicly, though, as you said, there's been really nothing from the United States or either from NATO. And the Turks must be wondering, you know, what's the value of being a NATO member at this point?</s>MORAN: Yes. You know, there is a real short-termism that's -- that's prevalent in the west right now. Obviously, politically, it would take a very brave and talented politician to do what Merkel did years ago and say, OK, bring them on. Bring the refugees in. That's clearly had a very strong, dramatic effect on European politics. It's the kind of effect that immigration has had on the United States, in terms of its politics. So that's probably not on the cards. So there's some cynicism on both sides. But it's also worth noting that, you know, 10, 15 years ago, an American president of any party would probably have seen this as a -- just a wonderful opportunity to go in there and stop the slide of a very important NATO ally toward the Russian camp. And ultimately, it doesn't seem to be within the capacity of any of the leaders of the west right now to think that way at all. Partly because their hands are tied by domestic politics, but partly because they're just not really that clever when it comes to diplomacy and geopolitics.</s>VAUSE: It should have been an easy game to play, and game is not the right word. But it's always been difficult. And even more so now, it seems. Michael, thank you so much for being with us. We really appreciate it. Thank you.</s>MORAN: Thank you.</s>VAUSE: We'll take a short break, the ups and downs of Wall Street driven by fear of the coronavirus. We'll see how the Asian markets are doing when we come back in a moment. We'll have a live report. Also ahead, demand is up. Production is down, forcing medical supply companies to make some tough calls about who gets what.