How an odd animal called the pangolin may be part of that answer. Its known as the most smuggled animal on the planet. Chinese researchers found a sick pangolin carried a version of that virus that is strikingly similar to the one that has changed our world. The pangolin is a scaly mammal that hunts for ants and termites in Subsaharan Africa and parts of asia. While it may appear to be an unlikely link in the chain of the coronavirus infection, chinese researchers discovered the virus in a sick pangolin was a close cousin to the virus that causes covid19 in humans. Some genes were a perfect match, and the spiked protein used in the virus to enter a cell was nearly identical. So, how could the virus move from a solitary bug hunter to humans . In january, an elderly man died in wuhan, china after suffering from what appeared to be flu symptoms. Suspicion grew around the live animal section of a market he visited regularly where bats are sold. Julia schaletzky bats live with a lot of viruses that are just in their body for a long time and dont bother them. Candice dr. Julia schaletzky, a uc berkeley biochemist, says viruses can mutate inside the bat and then infect humans through contact or a bite, like with rabies. Julia but what really happened with patientspatient one is difficult to say. Candice lab tests showed that the coronavirus in those locally sold bats was different from the human version, so scientists started looking for another animal that could have changed the virus before infecting humans. Attention shifted to a Massive Underground smuggling operation. Paul thompson pangolins are the most illegally trafficked mammals in the world, more than tigers, more than elephants, more than rhinos, anything. Candice Paul Thompson is the director of conservation programs at the Wildlife Conservation network. He says the world market for pangolins has skyrocketed in the last five years, even reaching some american ports. Female were going to contact the center for Disease Control and give them oversight of the shipment. Candice last month, the United Nations announced seizures of illegally sold pangolins have risen from 14,000 per year in 2014 to 142,000 animals in 2018. The number of pangolins actually killed each year from illegal trade is estimated to be in the millions. Paul they are in high demand in places like asia for their meat and for their scales. Lixin huang pangolin scales were used in chinese medicine for over 1,000 years. Candice eastern medicine uses the scales to treat a variety of ailments. But lixin huang, president of the American College of traditional chinese medicine in San Francisco, says the 1,000 year old tradition needs to stop. Lixin as the world is changing, traditional medicines or the way how traditional medicines are practiced have to change. Candice since the outbreak, the Chinese Government banned eating wild animals, an important steps, says huang, in preventing the spread of diseases. However, wildlife can still be used for healing. Lixin we could give up this old tradition. Candice its a wakeup call. Lixin but the big problem, says thompson, is a Global Crime Network that traffics wildlife, and with it deadly viruses. Paul some of the biggest, most damaging or high risk diseases weve seen all stem from wild animals and either the trade or consumption of wild animals. We saw it with sars, with ebola, with mers, and now were seeing it with covid19. So, this entire thing could have been prevented if we werent consuming animals like pangolins. Candice scientists continue to search for the true source of covid19, still looking at the horseshoe bat and the pangolin. There is little doubt, though, that the illegal trade of wild animals contributes to the spread of Infectious Diseases around the world. Coming up after the break, will todays Unanswered Questions turn into tomorrows problem . We look into the medical unknown surrounding pregnancies, childbirth, and covid19. Then we speak with advocates who fear that a state plan incentivizing Residential Care homes to house covidpositive seniors could backfire. Conds in the United States, so what are the risks for newborns and new parents during this pandemic . So far, little is known about how this virus affects pregnant women and their babies. But now, researchers here in the bay area hope to change that. Kira woodward peekaboo. Bigad Kira Woodward never imagined shed have to wear a mask while playing peekaboo during a stroll with her one year old son. She also never thought shed be pregnant with her second child during a pandemic. Kira is five months along. Kira we are acutely aware of how quickly everything can turn and how scary it is having a newborn that has life threatening complications. Bigad after her first son jude was born, an unforeseen medical condition put him in the intensive care unit for ten days. He made a full recovery, but now kira worries whether the coronavirus might infect her and her new baby. Kira pregnancy is always a time of uncertainty, and certainly theres more of it right now. Bigad so, kira is doing what she can to limit her familys exposure. She leaves most of her groceries outside overnight. Kira some carrots, some oranges. Bigad and she scrubs down the rest with alcohol before putting them away. Kira right now, were exercising so much caution because we dont know what the right protocols are. Bigad initial studies out of wuhan, china found the coronavirus can lead to premature labor and cause respiratory problems in newborns, abnormal liver function, and even death. But those studies were limited in scope since they only examined nine women. Worldwide, there are just 451 reported cases of pregnant women infected with the coronavirus. Stephanie gaw the data is very spotty. Bigad dr. Stephanie gaw specializes in high risk pregnancies. She and her colleagues at ucsf are working with physicians at ucla to conduct a nationwide study, examining how coronavirus impacts pregnancy. Theyre aiming to track at least 1,000 pregnant women who are thought to be infected or have already tested positive. Stephanie to date, there has been no definitive evidence that the mom can transmit the virus to the baby while the babys in utero. Bigad while dr. Gaw is focusing her study on mothers, pediatrician dr. Valerie flaherman is part of the team examining babies. Valerie flaherman we want to know the extent to which theres a risk of newborns themselves getting sick with coronavirus related disease. Bigad dr. Flaherman says soon to be moms and their babies are known to have weakened immune systems. Valerie that can be a risk for infants with some bacteria because their body is not necessarily effectively fighting off that bacteria. Bigad when diseases threaten adults, the body is trained to release certain chemicals to defend itself. But for some battling coronavirus, that kind of automatic reaction is somehow backfiring since it appears to be making people even more ill. Infants havent developed that kind of immune response yet. Historically, thats put them in higher risks of getting sick from other diseases, but it might actually be protecting them somewhat against covid19. Valerie those two things can seem to be in contrast to each other. It does appear that much of the clinical illness comes from the inflammatory reaction to the virus because only the older Adult Population seems to be heavily impacted by covid19. Bigad and now, your study aims to find out why. Valerie yes, exactly. Bigad in the meantime, with so much still unknown, hospitals across the country are relying on heightened restrictions to protect moms and their babies. We checked with kaiser permanente, sutter health, ucsf, stanford, and san jose Regional Medical center. All have instituted strict no visitor policies, and are only allowing one support person to join women in the delivery room. Kira obviously, theres nothing more in the world that i want than my husband to be by my side. And so, at this point, we think that hell be allowed to come to the birth, but we dont know. Bigad Kira Woodward hopes the study will reveal the actual risks so hospitals can make informed decisions on whether to ease up on restrictions, or institute more of them. Kira if it is found that it is safer for me and the hospital staff and the baby that theres less people in the room and my husband cant be there, then thats a choice were willing to make. Bigad more than 600 women have agreed to be part of this study, which will track the health and progress of those new moms and their babies for about a year. Researchers tell us they hope the findings will improve medical care and address some of the uncertainty surrounding this virus. Now, if you have a tip for our investigative unit, call us, 888996tips. Or visit our website, nbcbayarea. Com investigations. Jaxon 1,000 a day, thats californias offer to Residential Care facilities across the state to house just one covidpositive resident. But activists are concerned that the financial incentive, along with relaxed regulations, could have disastrous results. Theresa palmer i was also in the press worrying about my mom. Jaxon theresa palmers mother, bernice, turns 103 next month. Shes covid19free here at the San Francisco campus for jewish living. But theresa, a geriatrician, got worried when she heard the Nursing Homes plans to create a covidonly wing. She feels better now after learning the home will install special ventilation and take a host of other precautions. Theresa im still afraid, but not as afraid as i was when i hear theyre doing all this. Jaxon but now, shes alarmed by the state department of social Services Strategy to encourage assisted living facilities, which dont have the medical staff or protective equipment that Nursing Homes do, to create their own covidonly wing. Theresa but i dont think its safe. Jaxon the state is offering as much as 1,000 per day for each covidpositive patient an assisted living home takes in, while also waving some regulations. Critics call that a bounty. Jodi spiegel its russian roulette. Jaxon jodi spiegel is an attorney who advocates for residents of assisted living homes. She says the state needs to provide more protection for residents, not less. Jodi we are giving facilities an incentive toa financial, tremendous financial incentive to accept these residents, at the same time that weve relaxed the regulations that protect the health and safety of these residents. So, its just a recipe for disaster. Mike wasserman it just makes no sense. Jaxon mike wasserman, president of the California Association of Long Term Care medicine, says skilled Nursing Homes are struggling to deal with covid infections, and questions why the state thinks assisted living homes, with little or no medical care, are prepared. Mike this guidance scares the daylights out of me. This only can lead to bringing the virus into assisted living facilities and group homes where it may not already exist. Jaxon the state stresses in the notice that staff and infected residents must be kept apart. Officials with the state department of social services tell us that they hope the financial incentive will give them the ability to handle a surge of cases if it comes in the fall. Up next, we get a rare glimpse inside an immigration detention facility near bakersfield and hear from two men about the conditions there that they say are dangerous and could pose a risk for spread of infection. Family is all togetherect. And we switched to geico; saved money on our boat insurance. How could it get any better than this . Dad, i just caught a goldfish theres no goldfish in this lake. Whoa its pure gold. Were gonna be rich. Were gonna be rich it only gets better when you switch and save with geico. Doprevagen is the number oneild mempharmacistrecommendeding . Memory support brand. You can find it in the vitamin aisle in stores everywhere. Prevagen. Healthier brain. Better life. Grab a box of 15 or try them loaded. Get em now with no contact delivery. Ross the country are grab a box of 15 or try them loaded. Raising alarms about the conditions inside Us ImmigrationDetention Centers, where thousands of people are currently being held. One Detention Center has already reported its first covidrelated death, and recent tests show that the virus is spreading like wildfire throughout the populations there. Hope shine bright, bright like the sunset, letting our hope shine bright. Stephen last year, Charles Joseph finished serving 12 years in prison for holding up a convenience store. Charles joseph i was so excited, like after 12 years, i was like, okay, freedom. You know, finally. And i was so happy, im ready. Dressed up in my regular street clothes, im happy, and my mom is out in the parking lot with my wife. Stephen but before he made it past the prison gates, he was detained for deportation. Charles mr. Joseph . Im like, yeah . Like cuff it up. So they come, cuff me up, and put me in a van, and transported me to ice. Stephen born in fiji, joseph is a permanent resident of the us, but not a citizen. Because of the crime he committed when he was 21, under current rules he can be deported or detained, so ice sent him to the mesa verde Detention Center near bakersfield. Then covid breaks out. Charles now, covid breaks out, and now this causes panic. Stephen joseph and others there describe dangerous conditions at the mesa verde facility, 100 men crammed into a small space, double bunks 2 to 3 feet apart, only 5 bars of soap for the entire dorm. Charles now, the staff were coming in and out with no masks, no gloves. Total disregard, you know, total disregard. And then on top of that, they frisk us down, so they pat us down, touching us withyou know, they could infect us, they come to our living areas and search our living areas, and its not like they search it and they disinfect it and leave. No, they search it and they just leave, they just leave it like that. And its not right, you know . Stephen were you scared . Charles i was afraid. I was very afraid, so i began to make a list. Stephen joseph made a list of 40 men inside the Detention Center that he says have Health Conditions that make them vulnerable to covid19, including himself. He suffers from asthma. During a video chat with a community organizer, joseph and his fellow detainees recorded a message about their fears. Charles because this pandemic requires social distancing, and that is impossible in this environment. This will turn our detention into a death sentence. Stephen ice began testing detainees, staff, and other employees in february. In midapril, the number of covid cases among detainees jumped significantly and kept growing through may 6. Out of 1593 detainees tested so far, about half tested positive. Male its not if its going to happen because its when its going to happen. Stephen another detainee reached out to us by telephone. He asked that we protect his identity. Are you worried you might get covid19 . Male i am very afraid that that might happen. Im worried about my life. Ian kim and theres a lot of evidence that these ice Detention Centers are incredibly bad at preventing infectious disease. Stephen dr. Ian kim, a family physician in sacramento, is among more than 4,000 doctors across the country sounding an alarm about the spike in covid cases inside detention. Ian the Vulnerable People held in those facilities will get sick, some of them will die. And not only that, but the staff who work there will also contract these infections, go home to their families and their communities. Stephen as an example, he points to a previous outbreak. Five cases of the mumps spread from two Detention Centers in texas to 57 facilities across 19 states. Ian if and when it explodes with a covid19 outbreak, that becomes the source of an outbreak that then infects the community, that ultimately overwhelms our hospital and the hospitals in the region. Christina fialho theres no reason to be imprisoning someone in immigration detention, especially right now. Stephen christian fialho, cofounder of freedom for immigrants, believes the solution to the crisis is to end detention because theyre being held on civil, not criminal charges there. Christina so, people are not being held there for the punishment of a crime. These are individuals who are seeking protection from our country because they have been persecuted or they fear persecution in their home country. Many of these individuals are also folks who have lived here in the United States for decades, who have children, who have spouses in the United States. Stephen an ice spokesman said the agency is already reducing the number of detainees. Field arrests in Northern California are down from 168 arrests in january to 30 in april. Nationally, arrests are down 71 so far this year. The aclu and a coalition of attorneys filed a Class Action Lawsuit against ice demanding the release of vulnerable detainees, including Charles Joseph. Due to his asthma, a federal judge ordered josephs release last month. Charles so, i thought it was a dream. I thought i was hallucinating. I said im ready now to leave it all behind. Charles i dont cry, you know . Im not aim not that kind of emotional person, but at that moment, that wasyeah, i was safe. I felt like i was leaving my brothers behind, you know . I said i picture myself on the island fishing, girl next stephen while critics say that this crisis merely points out the urgent need to do away with all immigration detention, ice says its merely enforcing us law and Current Administration policy. Its a debate sure to rage on long after this covid crisis ends. Well be right back. Theres a reason 1 serum is sold every minute revitalift hyaluronic acid serum. With our highest concentration of hyaluronic acid. Visibly replumps skin. And reduces wrinkles. Revitalift hyaluronic acid serum from loreal. Ephen you can see more in depth coverage, along with digital extras and other resources, all on our website. Just go to nbcbayarea. Com investigations. Thats going to do it for tonights show. Im stephen stock. Please remember to be safe, practice social distancing, and support your local communities along the way. Thanks for joining us. That could mean an increase byin energy bills. You can save by using a fan to cool off. Unplugging and turning off devices when not in use. Or closing your shades during the day. Stay well and keep it golden. Welcome to our Weekend Edition of access hollywood. Im scott evans, and Sibley Scoles will join us shortly from home. But lets begin now with three stories from the week that you need to know. Well, the Hollywood Reporter is saying that michael keaton, who famously starred as batman in two highly successful movies, is in talks to reprise the character for the warner bros. Dc movie the flash starring ezra miller. The popular karate kid sequel cobra kai is moving from youtube to netflix, which the series will continue with the old cast and led by ralph macchio. And with the resurgence of drivein movie theaters, Jurassic Park is topping the box office, and jaws is coming in at number two 45 years after its initial release. Alright. Well, now to our big story. If you didnt get a chance to see the original broadway cast of hamilton, well, get ready. And sibley has all the details. Hey, sibley. Scott, we can all get front row seats to one of the best musicals to ever hit the stage. Hamilton is arriving on disney july 3rd. I sat down with the original broadway cast, including star and creator linmanuel miranda, wh