This morning, Alisyn Camerota portentously proclaimed that CNN has declared coronavirus a "global pandemic." But CNN's guests weren't highly emotional wrecks worried about what's next.
First, a passenger onboard the Grand Princess cruise ship off California told a CNN reporter via an online conversation that he was not worried "at all" about contracting coronavirus, given that he's been quarantined and protected in his room. The passenger also said that he "absolutely" viewed the situation as "overkill."
Confronted with the passenger's calm attitude, the CNN reporter was quick to declare, "well, that’s just one passenger’s perspective."
Camerota then interviewed NIAID Director, and member of the White House coronavirus task force, Dr. Anthony Fauci. When Camerota informed Fauci that CNN has declared coronavirus a pandemic, Fauci replied that calling it a pandemic "is not going to make any difference with what we do." He suggested that people not get "all bent out of shape about what you call it."
In fact, it's fair to assume that getting people "all bent out of shape" is exactly what CNN has in mind.
Here's the transcript.
CNN
New Day
3/8/20
7:05 am ETCNN REPORTER: Have you been concerned or worried about the fact that there is coronavirus on the ship and potentially you could get it?
ARCHIE DILL [passenger]: No. I’m not worried about that at all. I think that we’re quarantined and we're basically being protected from the crew that has it.
REPORTER: This whole thing for you has just been overkill.
DILL: Absolutely.
REPORTER: Well, that’s just one passenger’s perspective.
. . .
ALISYN CAMEROTA: CNN is now calling the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. For more on the crisis and the government’s response, we are joined by a member of the White House coronavirus task force, that is Dr. Anthony Fauci. Dr. Fauci, we always appreciate you making time to come on here and give us the facts. So, first. We have criteria for why CNN is now calling it a pandemic. Do you agree with that terminology?
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI: You know, itt’s going to mean different things to different people. It’s a widespread infection involving multiple regions of the world. People who call that a pandemic. CNN would call a pandemic. W.H.O. will call it a pandemic. It’s not going to make any difference with what we do. That’s the point. Instead of people getting all bent out of shape about what you call it, it’s a serious situation for sure.
CAMEROTA: Understood. I understand. For your point, what does it matter what it’s called? And the only reason it matters, is if there is a change in the preparedness, or if there is a change in the plan.
CAMEROTA: No, Alisyn, there won’t be, Alisyn. Alisyn, if I say, I declare this a pandemic, which I have no authority to declare anything. But if I do, it’s not going to change what we’re doing. It just is not.
