>>> WE JUST WANNA SEE FRIENDS
AND WE WANNA SEE OUR FAMILY, AND
WE WANT TO HUG EACH OTHER!
>> YEAH, IT'S A LONG TIME.
>> EVERYONE CAN RELATE TO THOSE
TEARS.
WE ALL FEEL THAT!
>> I WANT YOU TO HUG YOUR SON.
>> WHAT A GOOD BOY YOU ARE!
>> WE'RE TURNING A CORNER, AND
WE JUST GOTTA HOLD ONTO IT A BIT
LONGER.
>> COVID CHANGED A LOT ABOUT OUR
LIFE, AND SOME OF IT PROBABLY
WON'T GO BACK.
>> DO YOU THINK COVID IS A
MILESTONE IN THE HISTORY OF
TRAVEL?
>> IT MAY CHANGE TRAVEL
FUNDAMENTALLY.
>> HOW DO YOU THINK STUDENTS
WILL RECOVER?
>> I THINK WE ARE FACING A
CATASTROPHIC EXPERIENCE FOR
MILLIONS OF CHILDREN.
>> DO WE SUSPECT THAT JOBS WILL
COME BACK?
>> I THINK THEY WILL COME BACK.
>> WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA SEE
SOME KIND OF BOOM.
>> WHEN THESE STREETS ARE
BUZZING AGAIN, WE'LL KNOW WE'RE
BACK.
PEOPLE WILL SEEK OUT NIGHT CLUBS
AND BARS AND RESTAURANTS.
IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT LIKE THE
ROARING
ROARING 20s.
>> I HOPE THAT BRINGS A GREATER
SENSE OF HUMANITY.
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!
>> GOOD EVENING FROM THE LINCOLN
MEMORIAL.
I'M LESTER HOLT, AND JOINING ME
FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF
"DATELINE" IS MY COLLEAGUE
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE.
>> THANKS LESTER.
A YEAR AGO TODAY COVID STOPPED
THE WORLD.
BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE WHEELS ARE
STARTING TO TURN AGAIN.
EARLIER TONIGHT WE HEARD FROM
PRESIDENT BIDEN, MARKING THIS
ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN
COVID FIRST BECAME REAL TO
AMERICANS.
THE PRESIDENT WAS LOOKING BACK,
BUT HE WAS ALSO LOOKING AHEAD TO
NORMALCY.
>> AND, WE'RE DOING THE SAME.
SO MANY BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
FUTURE.
WHEN WILL THINGS BE BACK TO
NORMAL?
AND WHEN CAN WE STOP WEARING
THESE?
WE START WITH A FEW WISHES WE
PROBABLY ALL SHARE.
>> SEND ME ANYWHERE WHERE THERE
IS WARM SUN AND A BEACH, AND A
TON OF PEOPLE LISTENING TO GOOD
MUSIC.
>> I WILL BE HUGGING MY
DAUGHTER.
THE LONGEST HUG IN HISTORY.
>> SHARING FOOD AND STORIES
WITHOUT MASKS.
>> BEING AROUND EVERYONE AGAIN,
EVEN THE ONES YOU DON'T EVEN
LIKE THAT MUCH.
>> AFTER A YEAR OF LOCKDOWN, WE
ALL HAVE A WISH LIST AND A
QUESTION --
WHEN WILL WE GET OUR LIVES BACK?
>> CHRISTMAS IS WHAT PRESIDENT
BIDEN HAS SAID.
I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'LL BE A
BELL THAT TOLLS ON CHRISTMAS
THAT SAYS, "WE'RE BACK TO
NORMAL."
>> DR. NAHID BHADELIA, AN
INFECTIOUS DISEASE PHYSICIAN AT
BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER, SAYS WHEN
WE GET BACK TO NORMAL DEPENDS ON
THE VIRUS, ON SCIENCE, AND ON
US.
>> WE'RE TURNING THE CORNER
BASED ON THE INTERVENTIONS WE'RE
DOING RIGHT NOW.
AND WE JUST GOTTA HOLD ONTO IT A
BIT LONGER UNTIL WE GET MORE OF
US VACCINATED.
>> WE'VE BEEN HOLDING ON SINCE
EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO TONIGHT,
MARCH 11TH, 2020 -- THE DAY
COVID REALLY HIT HOME.
>> BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT -- THE
CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK DECLARED A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
>> WE WILL BE SUSPENDING ALL
TRAVEL FROM EUROPE.
>> THE GAME TONIGHT HAS BEEN
POSTPONED.
>> TOM HANKS REVEALING HE AND
HIS WIFE HAVE TESTED POSITIVE
FOR THE VIRUS.
>> WE HOPED IT WOULD GO AWAY
QUICKLY.
IT DIDN'T.
AND NEW TERMS BECAME PART OF OUR
DAILY VOCABULARY -- SOCIAL
DISTANCING, ZOOM MEETINGS,
FLATTEN THE CURVE.
>> SHUTDOWNS EXPAND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
>> BROADWAY IS GOING TO GO DARK.
THE SHOW WILL NOT BE GOING ON.
>> MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IS
SUSPENDING SPRING TRAINING.
>> SCHOOL DISTRICTS ANNOUNCE
SWEEPING CLOSURES.
>> THIS ONLINE IS NOT GONNA
WORK.
>> BASICALLY, IT SUCKS.
>> UM, DEFINITELY LESS
INTERESTED.
>> THERE WERE LONG LINES FOR
TESTING.
HEALTHCARE WORKERS DESPERATE FOR
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
>> WE HAVE TO RISK POSSIBLY OUR
OWN LIVES AND THE LIVES OF OUR
FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE
OF OUR PATIENTS.
>> AS HOT SPOTS SPREAD ACROSS
THE NATION, THE HEARTBREAK
BECAME ALL TOO FAMILIAR.
COVID PATIENTS DYING ALONE,
WITHOUT THEIR LOVED ONES.
>> TODAY WAS A ROUGH DAY.
>> NEW JERSEY ICU NURSE
ARLENE VAN DYK KEPT A VIDEO
DIARY, TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF
THINGS.
>> IT'S SO HARD TO SEE WHAT
THESE PATIENTS GO THROUGH.
>> BY THE NUMBERS, IT'S BEEN A
HISTORIC TRAGEDY -- ALMOST
30 MILLION CASES.
MORE THAN HALF A MILLION
AMERICANS DEAD.
A REPORTED 100,000 BUSINESSES
SHUTTERED.
NINE AND A HALF MILLION JOBS
LOST.
SUICIDE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON
THE RISE.
THE STEEPEST DECLINE IN LIFE
EXPECTANCY SINCE WORLD WAR II.
THOSE LEFT BEHIND MOURNED THEIR
LOVED ONES FROM HOME, ONLINE.
BUT NOT EVEN OUR GRIEF COULD
UNITE US.
>> OUR BIGGEST ACHILLES HEEL WAS
OUR POLITICS.
WHETHER YOU WEAR A MASK OR NOT,
WHETHER YOU BELIEVE THE PANDEMIC
IS REAL OR NOT COMPLETELY ALIGN
WITH YOUR POLITICAL AFFILIATION.
>> WE DON'T COVER OUR FACE IN
AMERICA.
>> THE RESPONSE AT HOME HAS TOO
OFTEN REVEALED THE WORST IN US.
>> A STRING OF VIOLENT ATTACKS
AGAINST ELDERLY ASIAN-AMERICANS
HAS LAW ENFORCEMENT ON ALERT.
>> BUT WE HAVE ALSO SEEN THE
DETERMINATION OF FACELESS
HEROES.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS
MOMENTS OF GRACE -- THE 7:00 PM
DAILY SALUTE TO OUR FRONTLINE
HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
A THANK YOU TO A DELIVERY
DRIVER.
>> YOU'RE AN ESSENTIAL WORKER,
BUT YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN ESSENTIAL
TO US.
>> A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
RE-CONNECTING WITH HER STUDENTS.
>> I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU.
>> THIS IS NEW YORK'S TIMES
SQUARE, STILL LIT UP BY BRIGHT
LIGHTS AND NEON.
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC,
350,000 PEOPLE WOULD PASS
THROUGH HERE EVERY DAY.
IT'S NOT THE SAME NOW.
THE OLD ENERGY IS MISSING.
BUT WHEN THESE STREETS ARE
BUZZING AGAIN WITH THEATER GOERS
AND TOURISTS, WE'LL KNOW WE'RE
BACK.
>> AS WE HEAD INTO ANOTHER
SPRING, THERE ARE MANY HOPEFUL
SIGNS.
A THIRD VACCINE AND BETTER
ORGANIZATION HAVE ACCELERATED
VACCINATIONS ACROSS THE NATION.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS
TARGETED THE BEGINNING OF MAY TO
RE-OPEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE OLYMPIC GAMES, CANCELED LAST
YEAR, ARE ON TRACK TO START IN
TOKYO THIS JULY.
>> WE'RE QUITE FORTUNATE TO HAVE
THREE REALLY GOOD VACCINES.
BUT LET'S KEEP OUR FEET ON THAT
ACCELERATOR RIGHT NOW BECAUSE
WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
>> AT ARLENE VAN DYK'S HOSPITAL,
THERE'S A BRAND NEW INTENSIVE
CARE UNIT.
THE OLD UNIT IS WHERE ARLENE SAW
SO MUCH PAIN AND SUFFERING.
AND WHEN THEY DEMOLISHED IT, SHE
WANTED IN.
>> WE TOOK OUR ANGER AND OUR
AGGRESSION OUT.
THE ANGER OF WHAT IT WAS DOING
TO PEOPLE.
AND THEIR LIVES AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
>> HERE'S ARLENE, SLEDGEHAMMER
IN HAND.
>> THERE YOU GO COVID.
>> CURSING COVID, AND SPEAKING
FOR ALL OF US.
>> EARLIER TODAY, PRESIDENT
BIDEN SIGNED HIS MASSIVE COVID
RELIEF BILL INTO LAW.
AND THEN, AS WE MENTIONED,
TONIGHT HE GAVE HIS FIRST
PRIME TIME ADDRESS ANNOUNCING
HE'S HOPEFUL THAT AMERICANS WILL
SOON BE ABLE TO SPEND MORE TIME
TOMORROW.
>> IF WE DO OUR PART, IF WE DO
THIS TOGETHER, BY JULY THE 4th,
THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE YOU, YOUR
FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WILL BE
ABLE TO GET TOGETHER IN YOUR
BACK YARD OR NEIGHBORHOOD AND
HAVE A COOKOUT OR BARBECUE AND
CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN LARGE EVENTS,
BUT IT DOES MEAN SMALL GROUPS
WILL BE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER.
AFTER THIS LONG, HARD YEAR, THAT
WILL MAKE THIS INDEPENDENCE DAY
SOMETHING TRULY SPECIAL.
>> THE PRESIDENT ALSO SET
ANOTHER DEADLINE, ANNOUNCING
THAT ALL ADULTS WILL BE ELIGIBLE
TO RECEIVE THE COVID VACCINE NO
LATER THAN MAY 1st.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT EVERY
ADULT WILL BE ABLE TO BE
VACCINATED BY THEN.
HE EXPECTS THAT BY THE END OF
MAY.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING
MY MASK OFF AND HOLDING AND
KISSING MY GRANDSON AVERY WHO
WAS BORN A YEAR AGO TODAY.
>>> SO MANY MILESTONES.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST VACCINATION
EFFORT IN HISTORY AND THE
FASTEST TOO.
AS OF TODAY, MORE THAN
64 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE BEEN
GIVEN THEIR FIRST DOSE.
TONIGHT, KATE SNOW TAKES YOU TO
THE FRONT-LINE OF THE WAR, RIGHT
HERE.
>> EVERYBODY JUST STEP TO THE
RIGHT PLEASE STEP TO THE RIGHT.
>> ENDING A PANDEMIC TAKES
PLANNING.
>> STAY THERE, STAY THERE I'MMA
COME DOWN THE LINE.
>> AND PATIENCE, AND ABOVE ALL,
IT TAKES VACCINES.
>> SEE, IT'S EASY!
>> HOLY NAME MEDICAL CENTER
VACCINATES ABOUT 2,000 PEOPLE A
DAY HERE IN TEANECK, NEW JERSEY.
>> I NEVER THOUGHT THAT THE JOB
WOULD PUT MY LIFE ON THE LINE.
>> DR. MELINDA BALL IS THE CHIEF
ANESTHESIOLOGIST AT HOLY NAME.
SHE WORKED THROUGH THE WORST
DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.
NOW SHE'S THRILLED THERE ARE
THREE VACCINES.
DO YOU THINK WE'RE MAYBE AT A
TURNING POINT NOT JUST AT THIS
HOSPITAL BUT FOR THE NATION?
>> I WATCH THE VACCINATION
NUMBERS IN EVERY STATE, AND,
LIKE, IT GOES UP EVERY DAY.
AND I DO THINK THAT THAT IS
GONNA BE A TURNING POINT FOR US.
>> A TURNING POINT, PERHAPS, FOR
A VACCINE ROLLOUT THAT WAS
PLAGUED BY PROBLEMS.
UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION,
SUPPLY IS INCREASING, BOOSTED BY
THE NEW ONE-DOSE JOHNSON AND
JOHNSON VACCINE.
PHARMACIES ARE GIVING SHOTS
ALONGSIDE THESE MASS VACCINATION
CENTERS.
>> IT'S GETTING MUCH, MUCH
EASIER TO GET A VACCINE.
>> DR. PAUL OFFIT IS A
VIROLOGIST AND MEMBER OF THE
FDA'S VACCINE ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.
HE'S CONSUMED BY THE CHALLENGE
OF CONQUERING COVID.
HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO BE
VACCINATED EVERY DAY?
>> WELL, I THINK THE BEST-CASE
SCENARIO WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD
VACCINATE 3 MILLION PEOPLE A
DAY.
NOW WE'RE OVER TWO MILLION
PEOPLE A DAY.
BUT I THINK, AT A 2 MILLION PER
DAY RATE, I DO THINK WE CAN
CERTAINLY BY EARLY SUMMER GET TO
THE POINT WHERE WE CAN HAVE
ENOUGH IMMUNITY THAT IT WILL
STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS.
>> THERE ARE REAL CONCERNS
THOUGH ABOUT THE COVID VARIANTS.
OFFIT FEARS THAT SOMEDAY A
VARIANT COULD OUTWIT A VACCINE.
>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVEN'T CROSSED
THE CRITICAL LINE.
THE CRITICAL LINE WOULD BE
ANYBODY WHO'S BEEN EITHER
NATURALLY INFECTED WITH THIS
VIRUS, OR HAS BEEN FULLY
VACCINATED BUT NONETHELESS IS
HOSPITALIZED OR DIES FROM ONE OF
THESE VARIANT STRAINS.
THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED ANYWHERE
IN THE WORLD.
>> OFFIT'S OTHER CONCERN?
VACCINE RESISTERS.
HE'S BAFFLED BY THEM.
>> THIS IS A VIRUS TO FEAR,
AND -- AND THE GOOD NEWS IS
WE'RE LIVING IN AN AGE, A
TECHNOLOGICAL AGE WHERE WE CAN
PREVENT THIS VIRUS WITH
VACCINATION.
MAKE THAT CHOICE.
>> BUT SOME ARE SIMPLY WAITING.
>> WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT, KATE,
IS AS WE GET INTO LATE APRIL,
MAY, WE MAY FIND OURSELVES WITH
MORE VACCINES THAN PEOPLE
WILLING TO GET THEM.
>> DR. ASHISH JHA IS DEAN OF THE
BROWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF
PUBLIC HEALTH.
>> THESE VACCINES, WERE
DEVELOPED QUICKLY, AND SO PEOPLE
WANNA JUST BE CAREFUL WANNA MAKE
SURE THAT THESE VACCINES ARE --
ARE INDEED SAFE.
>> HELLO.
>> HI.
>> LAST NOVEMBER, MANY IN THIS
PREDOMINANTLY BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD
IN PITTSBURGH WERE SKEPTICAL
ABOUT THE VACCINES.
FATHER PAUL ABERNATHY IS A
COMMUNITY FAITH LEADER HERE.
>> WE'RE TALKING TO OUR
NEIGHBORS ABOUT THE VACCINE, AND
WE WANTED TO KNOW YOUR OPINION
ON IT.
>> AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED IT
COULD BE GIVING US THE VIRUS.
>> OKAY.
>> BUT NOW FATHER PAUL SAYS HE
SEES A TREMENDOUS SHIFT IN
ATTITUDES.
>> PEOPLE ARE SEEING PEOPLE IN
THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES RECEIVE
THE VACCINE AND DO WELL WITH IT,
AND THAT HAS CREATED THESE
LIVING, WALKING, BREATHING
AMBASSADORS FOR VACCINATION.
>> THAT SHIFT IS REFLECTED
ACROSS THE NATION.
A RECENT SURVEY BY THE PEW
RESEARCH CENTER FOUND THAT 69%
OF AMERICANS EITHER PLAN TO GET
VACCINATED, OR ALREADY HAVE.
THAT'S UP SIGNIFICANTLY FROM
LATE LAST YEAR.
HERE IN TEANECK, THE
NEWLY-VACCINATED WERE MOSTLY
GRATEFUL AND RELIEVED.
>> I DIDN'T FEEL ANYTHING.
>> IT'S EASY, RIGHT?
>> THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
>> YOU DON'T LIKE NEEDLES?
>> NO.
HOW WAS THIS?
WAS IT OKAY?
>> NO PROBLEMA.
>> IT WAS, LIKE -- JUST PUT --
PLEASE PUT A SHOT IN MY ARM.
>> ANESTHESIOLOGIST MELINDA BALL
COULDN'T WAIT TO GET VACCINATED.
>> I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS
MOMENT.
LIKE WHERE I CAN, LIKE, NOT FEEL
LIKE I'M GONNA, LIKE, DIE DOING
MY JOB ANYMORE.
NOT BRINGING HOME AN ILLNESS TO
MY PARTNER.
MY MOM, I HAVEN'T SEEN HER IN A
YEAR AND TWO MONTHS.
SO IT'S LIKE --
>> EVERYONE CAN RELATE TO THOSE
TEARS.
>> OKAY.
>> EVERYONE.
>>> THE MAN IN CHARGE OF MAKING
PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PROMISES COME
TRUE IS HIS CHIEF OF STAFF
RON KLAIN.
MR. KLAIN, WELCOME.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, LESTER.
>> 50 DAYS IN, I THINK IT'S FAIR
TO SAY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
OWN THIS IS CRISIS, THE PANDEMIC
CRISIS.
WE HEARD THE PRESIDENT SAY HE'S
GOING TO DIRECT STAGE 2 TO
ESSENTIALLY GIVE EVERYBODY A
PLACE IN LINE BY MAY 1st.
CAN THAT BE DONE?
AND WHAT'S TAKEN SO LONG?
>> FIRST OF ALL, CAN IT BE DONE?
YES.
IT WILL BE DONE.
WE INHERITED A VACCINE SYSTEM
THAT WAS MOVING AT A SNAIL'S
PACE AND WE'VE HAD TO
ACCELERATE.
WE'VE HAD TO BUY HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOSES OF VACCINE
THAT HADN'T BEEN ORDERED.
WE'VE HAD TO SET UP HUNDREDS OF
VACCINATION SITES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
WE'RE MOVING FASTER THAN ANY
COUNTRY ON EARTH.
WE'RE THE ONLY COUNTRY GIVING 2
MILLION SHOTS A DAY.
WE'LL BE THE FIRST COUNTRY TO
GIVE 100 MILLION SHOTS IN 100
DAYS.
IN FACT WE'RE GOING TO DO IT IN
60 DAYS.
WE CAN GET THROUGH THE PRIORITY
CASES IN MARCH AND APRIL AND
OPEN IT UP MAY 1st.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS
OF WHEN PEOPLE ACTUALLY GET
NEEDLES IN THEIR ARMS?
>> THAT WILL START ON MAY 1st.
SOME PEOPLE WILL GET THEM
SOONER, SOME LATER.
WE HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE ON ORDER
TO HAVE A DOSE FOR EVERYONE BY
THE END OF MAY.
WE THINK PEOPLE WILL GET
VACCINATED THROUGH THE MONTH OF
MAY.
PEOPLE GET THAT SECOND DOSE IN
JUNE.
PEOPLE COULD ENJOY A JULY 4th,
2021, THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN
JULY 4th, 2020.
>> THERE'S BEEN A SHIFT IN
VACCINATION FEELINGS.
BUT WE'RE SEEING IN POORER
COMMUNITIES FEWER PEOPLE GETTING
SHOTS THAN IN MORE AFFLUENT
COMMUNITIES.
WHY IS THAT?
>> THERE WAS NO PLAN IN PLACE.
WHEN WE CAME IN 50 DAYS AGO, THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS NOT
SENDING ANY VACCINE AT ALL TO
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS.
NO VACCINE WAS GOING FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STRAIGHT TO
PHARMACIES.
WE FIXED BOTH OF THOSE PROBLEMS.
WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
I HOPE WE MAKE A LOT MORE
PROGRESS ON THAT AS MARCH AND
APRIL UNFOLD.
>> WHEN IS THE MAGIC NUMBER WHEN
THIS PANDEMIC WILL BE OVER,
5,000 CASES A DAY?
DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER?
>> WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID
TONIGHT WAS VERY CLEAR.
WE IN THE GOVERNMENT WE NEED TO
GET THE TEMPO OF VACCINES TO
WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
THEN WE NEED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
TO AGREE TO COME GET THE
VACCINE.
IN THE MEANTIME, CONTINUE TO
SOCIALLY DISTANCE, WASH THEIR
HANDS, WEAR MASKS.
DO THE THINGS WE KNOW CAN HELP
GET THIS VIRUS Y
>>> I'M FROM STATEN ISLAND, NEW
YORK.
WE'RE ITALIAN.
ITALIAN PEOPLE ARE VERY
EMOTIONAL, VERY AFFECTIONATE,
HOLIDAYS AND THE NOISE AND THE
FOOD.
ONE YEAR AGO.
AND WE'RE ALL WONDERING WHEN, OR
IF, WE'LL EVER GET THAT BACK.
STARTING WITH OUR WORKPLACES.
IN FACT, LET ME SHOW YOU
SOMETHING.
THIS IS "THE TODAY SHOW," THE
HEART OF OUR NEWSROOM.
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THIS IS
WHERE ALL THE ACTION WAS.
MORE THAN 100 PRODUCERS,
WRITERS, CORRESPONDENTS ALL
PREPARING FOR THE NEXT DAY'S
SHOW.
AND NOW LOOK AT IT.
IT'S COMPLETELY EMPTY.
IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF OFFICES
IN A LOT OF CITIES, LIKE
CHICAGO, WHERE MANY WORKPLACES
ARE ABOUT 80% EMPTY.
OR SAN FRANCISCO, WHERE THE
VACANCY RATES ARE JUST AS HIGH.
>> I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE A
RESHAPING OF OUR ECONOMY.
>> YALE PROFESSOR NICHOLAS
CHRISTAKIS IS A PHYSICIAN AND
SOCIOLOGIST WHO WROTE A BOOK
ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THIS
PANDEMIC.
HE'S BEEN WORKING FROM HOME LIKE
MILLIONS OF OTHERS.
>> I THINK HAVING SEEN A TASTE
OF THIS AND OUR EMPLOYERS HAVING
SEEN A TASTE OF THIS, I THINK
THIS IS GONNA BE A
SEMI-PERMANENT CHANGE.
>> IF I WALK AROUND 30 ROCK
RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE JUST ROWS
AND ROWS OF EMPTY DESKS.
AND WE'RE IN THE NEWS BUSINESS.
THE CAMARADERIE WAS --
>> YES.
>> -- PART OF THE APPEAL.
WHAT IS LOST WHEN PEOPLE DECIDE,
EMPLOYERS DECIDE, IT'S EASIER,
MORE EFFICIENT TO WORK FROM
HOME?
>> ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING WILL BE
LOST, AND I ALSO THINK IT WILL
BE ESPECIALLY HARD FOR NEW
EMPLOYEES.
LIKE, HOW DO THEY LEARN THE
CULTURE OF OUR WORKPLACE?
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO JOIN AN
ORGANIZATION USING VIDEO
CONFERENCING.
>> SO, DO EMPTY OFFICES MEAN
EMPTY CITIES?
SOME SAY YES, BUT DR. CHRISTAKIS
KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT HISTORY
AND HOW IT REPEATS ITSELF.
>> PEOPLE FLEE CITIES WHEN THERE
IS A PLAGUE AFOOT.
BUT I THINK THE CITIES
ABSOLUTELY WILL COME BACK.
FIRST OF ALL, THE HISTORY OF
HUMAN BEINGS HAS BEEN ONE OF
PROGRESSIVE URBANIZATION, HUMANS
LOVE LIVING IN CITIES.
CITIES ARE SO EXCITING AND SO
ATTRACTIVE AND PROVIDE SO MANY
ECONOMIC AND ARTISTIC AND SOCIAL
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> BUT AMERICANS HAVE MORE
IMMEDIATE CONCERNS, LIKE GETTING
KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL.
HOW DO YOU THINK SCHOOL WILL
LOOK IN THE FUTURE IN LIGHT OF
THE PANDEMIC?
>> I THINK MANY TEACHERS WILL
STILL BE WEARING MASKS.
>> MAYBE BAND PRACTICE AND
SPORTING EVENTS WILL STILL BE
CANCELED, THEY'LL BE SEEN AS
SUPERFLUOUS A YEAR FROM NOW.
SO EVENTUALLY SCHOOLS WILL
RETURN TO NORMAL.
BUT I DON'T THINK IT'LL BE QUITE
AS RAPID AS PEOPLE THINK.
>> EVEN IN THE POST PANDEMIC
FUTURE, COVID WILL STILL BE
AROUND.
PEOPLE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO GET
SICK WITH COVID FOR THE COMING
YEARS.
AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE
BEST WAYS TO TREAT THAT ILLNESS.
>> DR. KEVIN TRACEY RUNS THE
RESEARCH INSTITUTES AT THE GIANT
NORTHWELL HOSPITAL GROUP.
HIS TEAM IS CONDUCTING CLINICAL
TRIALS ON DRUGS LIKE THE ANTACID
FAMOTADINE, THE ACTIVE
INGREDIENT IN PEPCID.
>> WE NEED A DRUG THAT'S WIDELY
AVAILABLE, THAT CAN KEEP PEOPLE
OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.
WE NEED FOR COVID SOMETHING LIKE
TAMIFLU FOR THE FLU.
>> LOOKING AHEAD, DR. TRACEY
BELIEVES TELEMEDICINE IS HERE TO
STAY.
FOR PATIENT CARE AND RESEARCH.
WE'RE SENDING THE LAB TO THE
PATIENTS' HOME RIGHT NOW.
I THINK THIS IS THE FUTURE.
>> I THINK WHAT THE PANDEMIC HAS
DONE, IT -- IT HAS BROUGHT
CHANGES TO THE WAY WE LIVE
ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> CAROLINA MIRANDA, ARTS
COLUMNIST WITH "THE LA TIMES"
SAYS CHANGES IN THE
ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY INCLUDE
DRIVE-INS LIKE THIS ONE AT THE
HOLLYWOOD LEGION THEATER --
>> YOU CAN'T DO INSIDE SHOWS,
BUT YOU CAN DO A POP-UP
DRIVE-IN.
>> SHE BELIEVES TRADITIONAL
MOVIE THEATERS WILL SURVIVE.
JUST LAST WEEKEND, BOX OFFICE
RETURNS WERE ABOUT $25 MILLION,
A FRACTION OF WHAT THEY USED TO
BE, BUT STILL THE BEST WEEKEND
SINCE THE LOCKDOWN BEGAN.
SHE ALSO THINKS CLEVER NEW KINDS
OF ENTERTAINMENT ARE HERE TO
STAY.
>> SO YOU MIGHT HAVE AN OPERA
HOUSE STAGING A PERFORMANCE IN A
PARKING LOT.
MUSEUMS DOING VIDEO EVENTS WITH
PERFORMANCE ARTISTS THAT CAN BE
STREAMED ONLINE.
>> AND DR. CHRISTAKIS SEES
SOMETHING BIG HAPPENING IN A FEW
YEARS.
HISTORY REMINDS US THAT AFTER
THE SPANISH FLU IN 1918 RAN ITS
DEVASTATING COURSE, THE WORLD
WAS READY TO PARTY.
PEOPLE WILL HAVE BEEN COOPED UP
FOR SO LONG, AND THEY WILL
FINALLY SORT OF SEEK OUT SOCIAL
OPPORTUNITIES AND NIGHT CLUBS,
AND BARS, AND RESTAURANTS, AND
SPORTING EVENTS.
AND IT'LL BE A LITTLE BIT LIKE
THE ROARING '20s OF THE
20th CENTURY.
WILL WE EVER SHAKE HANDS AGAIN?
>> WELL, IT'S VERY HARD FOR ME
TO IMAGINE THAT IN WESTERN
SOCIETY WE WILL COMPLETELY GIVE
UP HANDSHAKING.
>> MAYBE ELBOW BUMPING.
>> YES, I THINK ELBOW BUMPING
WILL STAY.
THAT'S RIGHT.
I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE AIR
KISS, THOUGH.
THAT MIGHT BE GONE.
AS WE PREPARE FOR LIFE AFTER
LOCKDOWN, OUR INTERACTIVE GUIDE
CAN HELP YOU PLAN YOUR VACCINE.
VISIT PLAN YOUR VACCINE.COM, OR
USE YOUR PHONE TO SCAN THE Q-R
CODE.
YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP FOR ALERTS
TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE
ELIGIBLE IN YOUR STATE.
>> IT IS AMAZING THE WAY WE HAVE
ADAPTED OVER A YEAR, SAVANNAH.
IT'S HIGH ON EVERYONE'S LIST,
TRAVEL.
HOW IT MAY CHANGE, WHEN WE COME
BACK.
WHAT WILL TRAVEL BE LIKE IN THE
MONTHS AHEAD?
HERE'S RICHARD ENGEL.
>> IT'S A FAMILY MOMENT IN THE
AGE OF COVID.
THE YOUNG COUPLE ON THE LEFT
ANNOUNCING VIA VIDEO THEY'RE
EXPECTING THEIR FIRST CHILD.
JOSE LINARDI AND HIS WIFE LIVE
IN TEXAS.
THE REST OF THE CLAN IN
ARGENTINA.
>> SO BEFORE COVID, HOW OFTEN
DID -- DID YOU ALL GET TOGETHER
FOR THE HOLIDAYS, FOR BIRTHDAYS?
>> PROBABLY EVERY THREE MONTHS,
I WOULD SAY.
BUT WHEN THE BABY WAS BORN LAST
MONTH.
>> AWWW!
>> NO ONE ELSE IN THE FAMILY
COULD BE THERE TO HOLD HIM.
>> HE'S SO SMALL!
>> HE'S LIKE A LITTLE BURRITO.
>> THE LOSS OF THESE INDIVIDUAL
MILESTONES, WORLDWIDE, HAS ADDED
UP TO AN ECONOMIC NIGHTMARE.
>> WHAT HAS THIS PANDEMIC DONE
TO THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY?
>> OH, THIS PANDEMIC HAS
DEVASTATED THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY.
AND WHEN YOU DEVASTATE THE
TRAVEL INDUSTRY, YOU DEVASTATE
THE WORLD'S ECONOMY.
>> PAULINE FROMMER, OF FROMMER'S
TRAVEL BOOKS.
>> YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THINK OF
TRAVEL AS THIS KIND OF SILLY
EXERCISE.
BUT THE TRUTH IS, ONE OUT OF
EVERY 11 HUMAN BEINGS ON THE
PLANET EARTH WORKS IN TRAVEL.
IT'S A MASSIVE INDUSTRY.
>> A MASSIVE INDUSTRY THAT
LARGELY GROUND TO A HALT.
BUSINESS AND INTERNATIONAL
TRAVEL TOOK THE DEEPEST PLUNGE.
SPENDING IN BOTH AREAS WAS DOWN
ABOUT 70 PERCENT LAST YEAR.
>> WE ARE A FAMILY THAT USED TO
TRAVEL A LOT.
>> AURIA ABRAHAM LIVES IN
BROOKLYN.
SHE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO VISIT
HER AGING MOTHER IN MALAYSIA
SINCE 2019.
>> MALAYSIA HAS CLOSED THE
BORDERS TO ANY COUNTRY WHERE THE
NUMBERS ARE ABOVE 150,000 CASES
OF COVID.
AND HERE WE ARE FAR, FAR BEYOND
THAT.
>> I MYSELF HAVE BEEN GROUNDED
SINCE SEPTEMBER FOR SIMILAR
REASONS.
I HEADED OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN FIVE MONTHS JUST LAST WEEK.
BY THE TIME I'M DONE, I'LL HAVE
TO TAKE FIVE SEPARATE COVID
TESTS AND QUARANTINE FOR 10 DAYS
IN ORDER TO COMPLETE A ONE-WEEK
REPORTING TRIP IN IRAQ.
AS VACCINES BECOME MORE WIDELY
DISTRIBUTED, EXPERTS EXPECT
TRAVEL TO INCREASE.
BUT IT WON'T BE THE SAME.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO
PROVE YOU'VE BEEN VACCINATED
BEFORE YOU CAN GET ON A PLANE.
>> DO YOU THINK GOING FORWARD,
WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING SOME SORT
OF VACCINE BOOKLET WITH US,
SAYING, "I'M COVID SAFE?"
>> I DON'T THINK IT'LL BE A
BOOKLET, I THINK IT'LL BE AN
APP.
BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE A
VACCINE PASSPORT.
>> FOR TRAVEL TO RETURN TO
SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL PEOPLE
WILL NEED NOT JUST TO FEEL SAFE
BUT TO BE SAFE.
IT WILL TAKE EVERYTHING FROM
INSTALLING BETTER AIR FILTERS ON
PLANES.
TO RE-THINKING ENTIRE AIRPORTS.
>> WE ARE BUILDING TERRACES SO
THAT ONCE YOU GET THROUGH
SECURITY, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO
BACK OUTSIDE FOR FRESH AIR.
CHRISTINA CASSOTIS IS OVERSEEING
CONSTRUCTION OF A BRAND NEW
TERMINAL AT PITTSBURGH
INTERNATIONAL.
AND WE'RE WORKING ON INDOOR AIR
QUALITY MONITORING, SO THAT WE
CAN MONITOR IN REAL-TIME THE AIR
QUALITY IN EACH SPACE IN THE
TERMINAL AND ADJUST IT IF NEEDED
FOR CROWDS, AIR FLOW, ET CETERA.
IT'S A GLIMPSE OF WHAT'S TO
COME.
THE NEW TERMINAL WON'T OPEN
UNTIL 2025.
BUT CASSOTIS THINKS AIR TRAVEL
WILL START TO REBOUND IN 2021.
>> WE'D LOVE TO SEE 50% OF THE
PASSENGERS COME BACK THIS YEAR.
LAST YEAR, WE SAW ABOUT 35% OF
THEM.
>> BACK IN BROOKLYN, AURIA HAS
DECIDED TO WAIT AND GET HER
VACCINE BEFORE VISITING HER MOM
IN MALAYSIA.
>> AND ONCE THAT HAPPENS I -- I
REALLY DO FEEL THAT I WILL BE
SAFE TO TRAVEL.
>> THE LINARDIS MADE A DIFFERENT
RISK ASSESSMENT.
LAST WEEK JOSE'S MOM FLEW ALL
THE WAY FROM ARGENTINA TO SEE
HER SON AND HER NEW GRANDSON.
BESIDES TAKING A BATTERY OF
COVID TESTS, SHE'LL HAVE TO
QUARANTINE FOR AT LEAST TEN
DAYS, MAYBE LONGER, AND DOWNLOAD
AN APP TO TRACK HER SYMPTOMS
ONCE SHE'S BACK IN ARGENTINA.
JOSE'S FAMILY HOPES ONCE THEY
GET THE VACCINE IT WILL MEAN
MORE REUNIONS LIKE THESE.
WITHOUT THE COMPLICATED, BUT FOR
NOW, NECESSARY, PRECAUTIONS.
>> WHEN WE RETURN THE QUESTION
ON A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS,
.
LAST MAY WE WERE FORCED TO CLOSE
DUE TO COVID AND WE RECEIVED A
TREMENDOUS OUTPOURING OF LOVE
FROM SUPPORTERS AROUND THE
WORLD.
THE THING WE LOOK TO MOST IS ONE
DAY TO RETURN AND IT'S SAFER AND
THE PANDEMIC PASSES.
>>> MOST BIG CORPORATIONS HAVE
THE MONEY TO WEATHER A
CATASTROPHE LIKE COVID.
BUT SMALL BUSINESSES MAY HAVE
POCKETS NO DEEPER THAN THEIR
LAST BANK STATEMENT.
PRESIDENT BIDEN'S HUGE COVID
RELIEF PLAN, WHICH HE SIGNED
INTO LAW TODAY -- SHOULD HELP,
BUT WILL THAT BE ENOUGH TO BRING
BACK JOBS AND BUSINESSES?
HERE'S CRAIG MELVIN.
>> LUNAR NEW YEAR IN
NEW YORK CITY'S CHINATOWN IS
NORMALLY A TIME OF BOISTEROUS
CELEBRATION.
BUT NOT THIS YEAR.
LIKE SO MANY SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
TRUMAN LAM IS JUST HANGING ON.
>> EASILY RIGHT NOW YEAR OVER
YEAR WE'RE DOWN, LIKE, 85%
SALES.
>> HIS HUGE ICONIC RESTAURANT
JING FONG, ONCE HUSTLING AND
BUSTLING, IS QUIET NOW.
HE'S HAD TO FURLOUGH MORE THAN
100 EMPLOYEES.
>> I DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS TO TRY
TO SURVIVE.
WHEN -- WHEN THE HOLE IS SO BIG
THERE'S JUST -- THERE'S NO WAY.
>> A FEW BLOCKS AWAY, IT'S THE
SAME STORY.
MEI LUM STRUGGLES TO KEEP HER
BUSINESS OPEN.
SHE'S THE FIFTH GENERATION OWNER
OF THE OLDEST STORE IN
CHINATOWN:
WING ON WO.
>> WING ON WO WAS -- STARTED IN
1890 BY MY
GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER.
>> BESIDES THE FEAR OF CATCHING
COVID, THE VIRUS SPARKED A WAVE
OF ANTI- ASIAN XENOPHOBIA.
CUSTOMERS AVOIDED CHINATOWN
BEFORE A PANDEMIC WAS EVEN
DECLARED.
MEI'S TRYING TO SURVIVE BY
PIVOTING TO ONLINE SALES, AN
AREA DOMINATED BY BIG NATIONAL
BRANDS.
THE WHOLE FAMILY IS HELPING.
>> MY DAD BEING THE ONE MAN
SHIPPING DEPARTMENT HERE, MY
AUNT BETTY IS HELPING US MANAGE
INVENTORY.
MY MOM IS ALSO ANSWERING EMAILS,
AND MY GRANDMOTHER HAS BECOME
OUR UNOFFICIAL MARKETING GIRL.
>> IT'S NOT JUST CHINATOWN
THAT'S STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE.
IT'S SMALL BUSINESSES ALL OVER
THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING RIGHT
HERE IN CONNECTICUT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESTAURANTS,
SALONS, AND DRY CLEANERS.
IN FACT AT LEAST THREE
BUSINESSES IN JUST THIS AREA
HAVE SHUT DOWN SINCE THE START
OF THIS PANDEMIC.
NATIONWIDE, SMALL BUSINESS
REVENUE - DOWN BY ABOUT A THIRD.
NINE AND A HALF MILLION JOBS
LOST.
IT IS A BLEAK PICTURE.
BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SOME
ECONOMISTS ARE PREDICTING A
BOUNCE BACK STARTING THIS YEAR.
>> I THINK YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE
ECONOMY START TO SNAP BACK
PRETTY QUICKLY.
>> JOHN FRIEDMAN IS A PROFESSOR
AT BROWN UNIVERSITY AND
CO-DIRECTOR OF HARVARD'S
OPPORTUNITY INSIGHTS.
FRIEDMAN SAYS THAT WHEN THE
PANDEMIC HIT, HIGH-INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY CURBED THEIR SPENDING.
>> SO THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF THE
REDUCED SPENDING BY AFFLUENT
HOUSEHOLDS IS THAT THERE'S BEEN
A MUCH LARGER HIT FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES IN AREAS THAT CATER
TO THE AFFLUENT.
>> THE HOUSEHOLDS HARDEST HIT
HAVE BEEN AT THE OTHER END OF
THE ECONOMIC SCALE.
>> COVID-19 HAS PROFOUNDLY
INCREASED THE INEQUALITY THAT WE
SEE IN OUR COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY
FOR FAMILIES AT THE LOWER END OF
THE INCOME DISTRIBUTION.
THEY'RE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO HAVE
TROUBLE PUTTING FOOD ON THE
TABLE OR --
OR MAKING RENT PAYMENTS.
>> A LITTLE PINCH >> THE HOPE IS
THAT ONCE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE
AGAIN, EVERYONE WILL BENEFIT.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT AFTER WE
REACH HERD IMMUNITY, WE ARE
GOING TO SEE AN ECONOMIC BOOM?
>> WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA SEE
SOME KIND OF BOOM.
SO MANY HOUSEHOLDS HAVE BUILT UP
QUITE A BIT OF EXTRA SAVINGS.
>> THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO.
BUT FRIEDMAN PREDICTS PEOPLE'S
DESIRE TO SOCIALIZE AND SPEND
WILL COME BACK.
PERHAPS EVEN BY THIS SUMMER.
>> I'LL BET THERE'LL BE MORE
CONCERTS AND MORE PEOPLE DINING
OUTSIDE AT RESTAURANTS THIS
SUMMER EVEN THAN THERE WERE TWO
YEARS AGO.
>> TOGETHER WE'RE LEADING THIS
FIGHT!
>> BACK IN CHINATOWN, NEARLY
200 PEOPLE TOOK TO THE STREETS
TO TRY AND SAVE THE JING FONG
RESTAURANT, URGING THE LANDLORD
TO HELP.
>> PROTECT CHINATOWN.
SAVE JING FONG.
>> BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH.
SUNDAY WAS THE LAST DAY FOR
CUSTOMERS IN TRUMAN LAM'S FAMOUS
BANQUET HALL.
>> IT'S JUST UNFORTUNATE THAT IT
HAD TO COME TO THIS.
>> FOR NOW, HE'LL CONTINUE
TAKEOUT.
AND WANTS TO FIND A NEW
LOCATION, TO KEEP UP THE LEGACY.
THE LIGHTS ARE OUT AT JING FONG.
BUT, THE HOPE IS THERE, FOR A
LIGHTER, AND BRIGHTER, YEAR
AHEAD.
THAT BY NEXT LUNAR NEW YEAR,
GOOD LUCK AND PROSPERITY WILL BE
RESTORED.
IN CHINATOWN, AND THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY.
>>> BRINGING BACK THE ECONOMY IS
LARGELY THE JOB OF TREASURY
SECRETARY JANET YELLEN.
SECRETARY YELLEN, WELCOME.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> THIS MASSIVE BILL IS NOW
SIGNED INTO LAW, AS I'M SURE YOU
KNOW, BY SOME ESTIMATES UP TO
475 BILLION OF THE LAST RELIEF
PACKAGES STILL HASN'T BEEN
SPENT.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE SURE
THIS MONEY GETS OUT FAST TO THE
PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED IT?
>> WE'RE WORKING HARD FIRST TO
GET THE DIRECT PAYMENTS OUT, THE
$1400 CHECKS ARE DIRECT DEPOSIT.
AMERICANS WILL SEE THAT SHOW UP
IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS THIS
WEEKEND.
THERE IS PAYMENT FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, FOR HOMEOWNERS IN
TROUBLE.
THERE WILL BE MONEY TO SUPPORT
VACCINATIONS, MONEY FOR STATE
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, TO OPEN
SCHOOLS.
WE WILL ALSO WORK TO GET THIS
MONEY OUT AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
>> YOU AND THE PRESIDENT HAVE
MADE THE ARGUMENT THAT THIS IS
THE TIME TO GO BIG OR GO HOME,
THAT ONE OF THE LESSONS LEARNED
FROM THE LAST GREAT RECESSION
WAS DOING TOO LITTLE, BEING TOO
STINGY WITH RELIEF MEANT A
LONGER, MORE PAINFUL RECOVERY.
THAT BEING SAID, SOME ECONOMISTS
SAY THIS STIMULUS IS UP TO THREE
TIMES BIGGER THAN IT NEEDS TO
BE.
HAVE YOU OVERSHOT THE MARK?
ARE YOU SPENDING TOO MUCH?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE
OVERSHOT THE MARK.
I BELIEVE THIS PACKAGE IS THE
RIGHT SIZE.
WE PUT IT TOGETHER BY ASKING
WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF AMERICANS,
WHERE DO WE NEED TO GET MONEY
AND HOW MUCH TO RELIEVE ALL THE
SUFFERING THAT'S OCCURRING IN
THE ECONOMY.
>> JUST TO DRILL DOWN ON THIS,
THE CBO, THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE, WHICH IS
INDEPENDENT, SAYS THE ECONOMY IS
RIGHT NOW ABOUT 3% BELOW ITS
POTENTIAL.
THAT'S 6 OR $700 BILLION.
WE'RE ABOUT TO SPEND $1.9
TRILLION.
AGAIN, IT'S ALMOST LIKE IF YOU
HAD A HEADACHE BEFORE AND YOU
TOOK ONE ASPIRIN, YOU KNEW THAT
WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH, BUT THAT
DOESN'T MEAN NEXT TIME YOU TAKE
THE WHOLE BOTTLE.
IS IT FAR TOO BIG WITH TEMPORARY
FIXES THAT DON'T ADDRESS THE
UNDERLYING PROBLEMS?
>> THIS IS A PACKAGE THAT
ADDRESSES THE PANDEMIC AND HELPS
PEOPLE GET TO THE OTHER SIDE
INTACT.
WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE BE
SCARRED BY LONG SPELLS OF
UNEMPLOYMENT, BEING OUT OF THE
LABOR MARKET BECAUSE CHILDREN
CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL.
WE WANT TO GET THE ECONOMY BACK
OPERATING IN THE NORMAL WAY.
AND THEN WE DO HAVE LONG-RUN
CHALLENGES TO ADDRESS AND WE'RE
PREPARING TO DO THAT,
INFRASTRUCTURE, EDUCATION AND
TRAINING, CLIMATE CHANGE, OTHER
LONGER RUN PRIORITIES WILL BE ON
OUR LIST TO ADDRESS NEXT.
>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THAT,
BECAUSE SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL,
A REPUBLICAN OF COURSE,
EXCORIATED THE BILL TODAY.
HE SAID THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT
FINISHING OFF THE PANDEMIC, THAT
ONLY 20% OF THE BILL GOES TO
DIRECT PAYMENTS, ABOUT 10% TO
VACCINE AND HEALTH AND THE REST
HE CALLED A TROJAN HORSE FULL OF
BAD, OLD LIBERAL IDEAS.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF SUFFERING
AMERICANS HAVE BEEN ENDURING.
AND THE PAIN HAS BEEN
PARTICULARLY TOUGH FOR LOW
INCOME WORKERS AND FOR
MINORITIES, WHO ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED
IN THE SERVICE SECTOR.
AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS
SUFFERING, GET PEOPLE TO THE
OTHER SIDE.
AND THIS BILL CONTAINS SUPPORT
AND GRANTS THAT THEY NEED IN
ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE WHEN
WE GET THE PANDEMIC UNDER
CONTROL.
>> SECRETARY YELLEN, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME,
SAVANNAH.
>>> EARLIER TONIGHT, SAVANNAH
WAS ASKING ABOUT HANDSHAKES AND
>> NORBERT MORIN AND HIS WIFE
KATHLEEN HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO
VISIT HIS 98 YEAR OLD MOTHER
RITA IN HER ASSISTED LIVING HOME
FOR MONTHS.
NOT EVEN WHEN SHE CONTRACTED
COVID IN DECEMBER.
OR WORSE WHEN HER LOVING HUSBAND
BOB DIED OF THE VIRUS IN
JANUARY.
TODAY IS THEIR FIRST DAY BACK,
AND THERE'S A SPECIAL SURPRISE
FOR THEM ALL.
>> YOU HAVE TO STAND UP FOR ME.
>> THE ONE THING THAT EVERYONE
HAS WANTED TO DO FOR THE LAST
YEAR.
THEY ARE ALLOWED TO HUG!
>> WHAT A GOOD BOY YOU ARE.
OH.
ALL I HAVE TO DO IS PICK UP THAT
PHONE, HE'S RIGHT THERE.
>> OH, WE MADE YOU CRY.
BUT IT'S A GOOD CRY.
THANK YOU.
>> IT'S TEARS OF JOY.
>> DOT FERELLI IS 100 YEARS OLD
AND ALSO A COVID SURVIVOR.
SHE GOT TO HUG HER GRANDAUGHTER
DEB AND GREAT-GRANDSON NICK FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS.
>> ISN'T THAT WONDERFUL?
>> IT'S BEEN A WHILE, GRAM.
>> OH YEAH.
LOVE YOU, HUN.
>> I LOVE YOU TOO.
>> WORDS DON'T ALWAYS COME
EASILY FOR HAZEL SLOCUM.
BUT SOMETIMES, THERE'S NO NEED
FOR WORDS.
>> OH.
OOH.
OH, YES.
>> ISN'T IT GREAT?
>> I CAN'T SAY IT.
>> WELL, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO
SAY IT.
>> I DON'T HAVE TO.
>> WE ALL -- WE ALL KNOW IT.
WE ALL KNOW IT.
WE ALL FEEL IT.
WE LOVE YOU.
>> I LOVE YOU.
>> THE OPPORTUNITY OF GIVING A
HUG, THAT'S WHAT YOU KINDA HAVE
BEEN LOOKIN' FOR FOR THE LAST
YEAR.
I'LL TAKE THAT ONE MINUTE ANY
DAY.
>> YOU DONE GREAT, KID.
>> I KNOW I HAVE.
>> YOU DONE GREAT.
>> YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT TROOPER.
>> BRIAN LOYNDS MANAGES THIS
HOME, GETTING ALL THE RESIDENTS
VACINATED AND MOST OF HIS STAFF
MADE THESE HUGS POSSIBLE TODAY.
BUT IT'S ALSO PERSONAL FOR HIM.
HIS MOTHER MARY LIVES HERE TOO.
>> HE SHARED HIS HUG WITH HIS
BROTHER STEVE AND HIS SISTER
LINDA.
FOR LINDA ITS BEEN ALMOST A
YEAR.
>> OH, WOW.
THAT IS A NICE SURPRISE.
HI, MOM.
YEAH.
THAT'S A REALLY NICE SURPRISE.
>> I MISS YOU, MOM.
>> I MISS YOU.
I LOVE YOU.
>> I LOVE YOU TOO, DEAR.
>> IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
>> ENGAGING WITH YOUR LOVED ONE
OR YOUR MOM OR YOUR DAD THERE'S
NOTHIN' BEATS THAT.
>> I THINK THE WORD "HUG" MAY BE
DIFFERENT FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
NOT BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH
YOUR LOVED ONES OR MAKE A
CONTACT WITH 'EM.
YOU SAW IT TODAY WITH THE
FAMILIES.
SO INDESCRIBABLE.
BUT VERY EMOTIONAL.
>> IF YOU'RE WIPING AWAY TEARS,
WELCOME TO THE CLUB.
>> BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS AFTER SO
MUCH PAIN.
MAYBE TOMORROW MARKS THE REAL
START OF THE NEW YEAR.
THAT'S ALL FOR THIS DATELINE
SPECIAL.
I'M LESTER HOLT.
I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR
NBC NIGHTLY NEWS.
>> AND, I'M SAVANNAH GUTHRIE.
I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW ON TODAY.
WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH SOME
IMAGES FROM THIS PAST YEAR.
MEMORIES OF OUR STRUGGLES.
BUT ALSO SIGNS OF HOPE.
GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY.
>> GOONIGHT.