CNN "CNN Newsroom" - Transcript: Interview With Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA)

Interview

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WHITFIELD: All right. Let's talk further with Congressman Ami Bera. He is a Democratic member of the House Foreign Affairs committee and is a medical doctor. Good to see you-- Congressman.

So you chaired hearings on Wednesday on the coronavirus and a lot has changed even since then. What have you learned in the hearings versus what you're hearing from doctors and scientists worldwide?

[11:24:48]

REP. AMI BERA (D-CA): Yes, this is a very fluid situation.

What we learned in the hearing -- we had a couple of expert epidemiologists showing things -- is while it is ok to quarantine (INAUDIBLE) and institute a travel ban, it's probably not going to be as effective as folks think it will be. You know, this virus has already spread globally and it's very hard to contain at this moment.

The best things we can do right now is urge the Chinese to allow our CDC officials into China to work at the epicenter to really get ahead and know everything we can about this virus so we can ultimately urge the Chinese to allow our CDC officials into China to work at the epicenter to really get ahead and know everything we can about this virus so we can ultimately come up with a vaccine and the best protocols.

WHITFIELD: So thus far you're saying China will not allow CDC officials to come in who are volunteering, you know, to take a look at things, to bring their own research?

BERA: You know, it's been about a month that CDC's been requesting to go. And we do have some personnel that are going in with the World Health Organization. But we've got to get more of our folks out there.

We've got the best epidemiologists, the best scientists in the world. And we've got to figure out exactly what happened with this virus, how it's spreading. And then there may be a difference between what's happening in China because you're seeing many more deaths and much more morbidity and illness in China than you are in the cases around the world.

WHITFIELD: One of the things that you talked about in hearings was, you know, the dangers of misinformation. And we know now, I mean China suppressed a lot of information, perhaps even colored it a different way, you know, based on what the real picture is now.

So how concerned are you that, you know, you might not be able to make an impact as it pertains to what information or misinformation might be out there?

BERA: Very much. I mean that's the reality of the 21st century now is misinformation with social media, with the Internet. What's true and what's not true?

So we don't want to panic folks. And again, the risk in the United States is relatively low right now but we do want to be vigilant and we want to make sure people get accurate information. I mean look what happens in the anti-vaccine movement, you know, with misinformation.

WHITFIELD: One American in Wuhan has died. What are your concerns about how adequately prepared the United States is?

BERA: You know, in a bad flu season, our hospitals get overwhelmed. So we're in the middle of flu season right now. You slap coronavirus on top of that, if it in fact, does spread in the United States, you know, it will be -- it will overwhelm our health system fairly quickly.

That's why we've also -- Congress has asked the administration what they need in terms of emergency funding, et cetera, to make sure that doesn't happen.

WHITFIELD: Ok.

I want to turn now to the race for the White House. You have endorsed Joe Biden for the presidential nomination. And, you know, he came in fourth, you know, in the Iowa caucus. Are you at all concerned -- even the vice president even said last night, I may not do so well in New Hampshire. How concerned or are you concerned at all about his potential showing in the races to come?

BERA: You know, I was in Nevada earlier this week. I'm campaigning for the vice president. I was in Iowa a few weeks ago and there's a stark difference between the populations in Iowa and New Hampshire, which are overwhelmingly Caucasian.

In Nevada you see the diversity of folks. And you know, Vice President Biden's broad base of support comes from that diverse coalition. So I think it will be ok in New Hampshire -- hopefully he comes in the top there, but when he gets to Nevada, when he gets to the South Carolina --

WHITFIELD: What's the top to you?

BERA: -- you know, the top to me would be, you know, somewhere in the top four. Maybe even in the top two.

WHITFIELD: Ok. And he apparently in his campaign is spending a lot of time concentrating efforts on Nevada. What does that say to you? I mean is that, you know, smart long game or does that say that there's some dismissing of his potential to do well in New Hampshire?

BERA: Well, Senator Sanders has the natural advantage in New Hampshire because it's right next to his home state. Elizabeth Warren has a natural advantage. Nevada -- plays to the Vice President's strength because of that broad diverse of folks; and in South Carolina he's always performs pretty strongly.

And then you hit Super Tuesday and you have a lot of southern states, you have a broad, diverse number of states and I think the Vice President will do very well on Super Tuesday.

WHITFIELD: All right. Congressman Ami Bera -- thanks so much for being with us this Saturday. Appreciate it.

BERA: Thank you. Have a great day.

WHITFIELD: You too.

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