Tens of thousand of people in hong kong have defied a ban to turn out for a vigil on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. This years vigil was banned by police citing coronavirus measures. Now on bbc news, panorama. America is reopening, as its covid death toll reaches 100,000. Butjust weeks ago, so many were dying in new york that bodies were left to rot on the streets. Im not going to sugar coat this in any way. Very upsetting. Im hilary andersson. For decades, ive worked as a reporter on wars and disasters all over the world, but i never expected to see a crisis of this scale in my own country. We were looking at a Freight Train coming across the country. Were now looking at a bullet train. Two months ago, i began filming my journey to the eye of the storm, in new york. This crisis is completely out of control. I wanted to know how, in the richest country in the world, 21,000 people could die in one city, and ask, is the rest of america about to repeat the mistakes of new york . I feel like we need to have a corona party ill bring the corona rural vermont. My home. Far, you might think, from todays pandemic. But the virus knows no bounds. Its trickled deep into rural america. Vermonts relatively protected from the virus, but this old peoples home right here has had several people die in it and 36 test positive. Half of them, staff. So, you know, this is how bad it is, even in a small rural part of america. My neighbours are afraid. Ive heard of one whos taking the safety of his family to a whole new level. Im on my way now to see a friend. A dairy farmer. His name isjoel pomenville, and he lives with his mother, whos elderly, and i understand hes taken some pretty extreme precautions to try to protect her. Thanks, mom. See if your soup is hot enough, or if you want me
to heat it a little bit more. To protect his mother, joel has built a physical barrier down the middle of their sitting room. Your mom, how did she react when you came up with the idea for the glass, the bubble room . She didnt like it she doesnt like this whole covid i9 thing interfering with her life. But who does, right . Yeah. But ijust feel responsible for her health. And how long are you planning on leaving this up and using this . Until we have a vaccine. 0h. Long time. Really . well, im hoping. Johnson johnson says their vaccine is going to be ready in eight months. That was a month ago. Eight months . Oh, my goodness
can you do this for eight months . I didnt know that. With so few people here, its a relatively easy place to isolate. But new york city is just five hours away. Id begun talking to emergency doctors there. Their stories were disturbing. So, its absolutely insane. We just had another death in the hospital. News anchor the death toll from coronavirus has jumped dramatically tonight, after new york city said it has been under counting those killed by the disease. Other countries have higher rates of death but, by april, the United States had overtaken china and europe as the global epicentre. And now, this was becoming personal. These are n95 masks that a friend. My sister is a local gp. Shed decided to volunteer in overstretched covid wards in new york. I was proud of her, but worried for her too. So, yeah, i have a friend who works in an inner City Hospital in new york. Shes told me that the hospital is not safe and that its a very dire situation. And shes told me that its like an apocalypse down there. I wanted to see this crisis for myself. As a journalist, i was allowed to travel. Ive covered a lot of wars and conflicts over the last 25 years and ive seen a lot of death, but ive never witnessed anything like this in the western world. Tens of thousands of people have died of this pandemic in a matter of weeks. This was a 300 mile journey, on roads that were virtually deserted. Queensbury a town 3. 5 hours north of new york city, and my first glimpse of what was to come. These were the bodies of new yorkers ferried out of the city in their hundreds by volunteer david penepent. So many were dying in april that the city was short of space to cremate them. In the past three weeks, after this week, i have made. 600 human remains. Brought them to various crematories. Yeah. Its beyond belief down there, what im seeing. It is just beyond belief. Arriving in new york was intimidating. I was driving into the heart of the pandemic. The citys streets were eerie. Empty. As i got there, i witnessed whats become the ritual a cheer for health workers. Here, it happens every night. I got here at 7 oclock, just as the whole city is doing their evening shouting. Its amazing. You can hear it all around. This city has seen more covid deaths than most countries. Around 8,000 people have died
in london, which has a similar population. In new york, its over 21,000. More than five times as many deaths as in the whole state of california. Central park hosts a field hospital. This is completely surreal. I mean, this is times square, the normally throbbing heartbeat of new york, and its almost completely quiet here. Im standing here, in the wealthiest nation on earth, a country with some of the best hospitals and scientists in the world. The question is, how did this place become the front line of the Global Pandemic . At the start of the crisis, hospitals were closed to visitors and cameras. As pictures emerged, the pressures on staff were clear. So, i asked the doctors id been talking to including my sister if they could catalogue their days, without disturbing their work, orfilming patients. Ive a number of patients who are manual labourers and theyre just literally bedridden. And you cant even sit them up without them developing laboured breathing. Dr rob gore worked in a covid emergency ward in brooklyn. The rising body count was alarming. Just coming off of one of the toughest shifts that ive had in a long, long time. Ive seen quite a few deaths over the past couple of days, and it starts to wear on you. Ive seen a lot of tragedy, ive seen a lot of disaster. I worked in haiti pre earthquake and post earthquake and saw a lot of people dying from illnesses and injuries, or
complications of injuries. Ive never seen anything like that before. So, anotherday in the covid crisis. Many doctors were short of the basic equipment they needed to do theirjobs. Dr anuj shah worked across six different hospitals in neighbouring newjersey. Heres the morgue. Were still seeing a lot of deaths in this small hospital. And you get numb to it. Youre seeing it so frequently. I didnt want to see another death today. I did not want to see a death today. I never imagined that, in this country, that we would not have simple masks and simple gowns and you would not have iv lines. We are like soldiers in the front line. Government and healthcare organisations should stepped up way more, they should have been prepared for a pandemic. In march, the rate of new infections began soaring, doubling at times by the day. We were looking at a Freight Train coming across the country, were now looking at a bullet train. Just six weeks earlier, new yorks governor cuomo, a democrat, had been dismissive about the threat of the virus. Catching the flu right now is a much greater risk than anything that has anything to do with coronavirus. The white house had been warned as early as january that covid could take half a million american lives. The Trump Administration says it will now bar foreign nationals entering the United States if theyve been here to china. President trump shut down flights from china in early february and continued campaigning for novembers elections. His message to americans
relax. We have done an incrediblejob. Were going to continue. Its going to disappear. One day, its like a miracle, it will disappear. What the president had not done was shut down flights from europe. That would take six more weeks. During that critical period, in february and march, the virus spread across this city unchecked. New york about twice as crowded as london the perfect breeding ground. The governor pointed the finger at washington. January, february, march. Three million europeans travelled to new york state. Three million. And there was a critical lack of covid testing. The governor begged the president to help step it up. The federal government
here let the city down. It didnt stop travel from europe when it should have. It didnt provide access to diagnostic tests when it should have. And because of that, new york city was flying blind. It didnt realise that there were thousands and thousands of infections in february. In the hospitals, there was fury. Were dying here. Were seeing our co workers die. We cant look forward if we cant look at the errors that were made. This administration has blood on its hands. Every person that dies right now, that falls on the federal government. But the decision on when to start lockdown in new york belonged not to the president , but to governor cuomo. By the time he gave that order, at least 134 new yorkers had already died. Jeff shaman, a leading epidemiologist, believes thousands of lives could have been saved in new york, had the city
locked down earlier. Weve modelled that, and if we were to back it up ten days or 1a days, 1a days back from when they locked down, ostensibly here when we started to see it, is when the first death occurred in the United States, wed see a ten fold reduction in the number of cases. It didnt have to happen, if people were proactive. Closing new york earlier, before any deaths, would have been a huge call. But san franciscos leaders did exactly that. San francisco is a smaller city, not as crowded or poor. Still, fewer than fifty people have died there. I mean, it has me screaming at the walls in my house. Im publishing information that actually shows what the problem is, and. We were ignored. In february, there was ample evidence that this thing was spreading very aggressively and that if we had acted earlier and sooner, that we could have
ramped up the war production ask, that we could have gotten companies to build test kits and got them deployed en masse and put ourselves in a position to be prepped for this. A month later, nearly 16,000 people had died. But, thats not the whole story. In places like this parts of brooklyn, and the bronx, where its mainly black and latino, people have died at twice the rate of white new yorkers. Its crowded and poor here. People are far more likely to suffer ill health. I got a call from david penepent, the mortuary professor who id met in queensbury. Hed had an emergency and had asked me to meet him at an undertakers in brooklyn. Satnav turn right onto corona avenue. Then left onto 915t place. You must be kidding me that is just weird, right . The situation that awaited seemed almost too macabre to be true. These ordinary rental trucks parked on the busy high street contained dozens of bodies. The vans were being used as temporary Storage Space by the local funeral director, whose chapel already stored over 100. This is new york city and there are truckloads of bodies, unrefrigerated, on the side of a road. What this says is that this crisis is completely out of control. There have been many days throughout this when hundreds of people have died injust a 24 hour period. And this is what its come to. The crisis only came to light when the neighbours complained about the smell. This grieving daughter couldnt put it into words. My last visual is watching my mother take her last breath, so right here, this truck is too much for me. Im trying to speak to you all. But i am so clouded right now because this hurts, it hurts. Theres no words for hurt from this. It was now up to david to move the bodies to a proper place of rest. Do you find this disturbing at all, what happened here . Very upsetting. Er, im not going to deny it, im not going to sugar coat this in any way, very upsetting. What do you say to the families of these people . We basically say to these families, this is a good funeral director, he just became very overwhelmed. And when he reached out to me, he was almost in tears, please help me, please help me. His voice was breaking up, he was very, very saddened by what was happening. Grief has consumed this city. So many relatives of the thousands who died, reliving the trauma, wondering why . Beatriz nunes is one. She lives here in brooklyn. In march, her fiance, jorge, began showing covid symptoms. But there was a shortage of tests in the city and she says the hospital didnt test him. He had had a temperature of 106, he was completely delirious, and you still couldnt get him a test . No. Unless he has to be admitted and intu bated, they would not test him. Hospitals in these parts of new york, overstretched at the best of times, were struggling to cope. Jorge was discharged the same day. He went home in an uber. The hospital told us it gives all patients the appropriate treatment. He couldnt even stand up straight. When he came home from the hospital, i had to physically carry him upstairs. At home a few days later, jorges condition still wasnt improving. He asked if he could have a cup of tea. Which for us was even weird because hes not a tea drinker. And when his mum went to give it to him because it was already cooled down, i dont know, it was ten minutes or so, and she realised he wasnt breathing, and thats when she called me and i ran to him and, you know, i called 911 and i was doing the cpr but, honestly, in my heart he was already gone. When she realised that he wasnt breathing, he was already dead. Jorge died of suspected covid. He left behind a son, logan, who was just turning two. He doesnt understand, but he for sure knows somethings different. He asks for his dad all the time, he was extremely close to. Hid dad. Im sorry. Once again, the meals will be here shortly, but come get your hand sanitiser and your face masks. In the bronx, new yorks poorest borough, a food handout. This area was hit hardest by the disease, and now too by the effects of lockdown. Almost a million new yorkers are out of work. A0 million unemployed across the nation. Theres been nothing like this since the great depression. Here, many are down to their last pennies. Usually when i have no more money left, i come here to the centre to get food. Or, i eat less food lets practice social distancing. Lets practice safety. The city, still in lockdown, is poised to start reopening next week. Infections in new york have now decreased massively. But weekly, deaths are still in the hundreds and theres fear of a second wave. Its now four weeks since coronavirus cases in new york reached their peak. Ive left new york and im back on the road. What i saw and learnt in new york was really disturbing. The scale of the death, the chaos. But i also understand that if you come from a part of the country that hasnt been as badly affected, you might see things differently. Most states have been in some form of lockdown, but none have been hit on anything
like the scale of new york. Ten states have had fewer than 100 deaths. This is New Hampshire. Its not far from new york state, but fewer than 250 people have died here. Wow, this place is open. Its amazing. I havent seen this before. I visited just as lockdown was partially lifted in mid may. Similarly to the uk, people here had been asked to only leave their homes for essential reasons, and today, finally, a breath of relief Outdoor Markets and many shops and salons are reopening. The government does not have the right to restrict assemblies of any kind. Cheering but for these protesters,
its not enough. They want everything open, and they want it now. The restrictions should be lifted completely. Theres no state of emergency. We did have one, but the emergency has gone. Its time to get back to normal. Not a new normal. The old normal. As of yesterday, its 183,000 people out of work in New Hampshire, out of a working population 775,000. Thats a huge price to pay for these decisions. We have our freedoms and were willing to fight for it, if we have to. I love president trump. I bless him and i bless his family. The pace of reopening america has become a massive political issue in an Election Year. A lot of americans are absolutely craving this. A chance to get out in the sunshine, and they want theirjobs back. Many are thrilled that the president is saying its time to open america back up. President trump has chosen a powerful electioneering message to rally his base. Until all this, president trumps strongest electoral card was americas booming economy. But now, there are warnings of a 30 downturn, which could be politically devastating. President trump has signalled his support for these protests from the outset. These are people expressing their views. I see where they are and i see the way theyre working. They seem to be very responsible people to me. Chanting were not sick, were not sick in may, the president supported armed protesters whod invaded the State Capitol in michigan, where thered been almost 4,000 covid deaths, saying the protestors were good people and the governor
should give a little. Mary rivaud, a hairdresser here in New Hampshire, thinks Donald Trumps great. Shes just officially opened her salon for the First Time Since march. Good morning. But today, she can only take one customer at a time. Marys infuriated that the virus is still, months on, cramping her style and killing her business. So, my love, this is the waiver i have to have everybody sign so you cant sue me for, you know, coronavirus. Ayiyi. I know, its ridiculous. For mary, the Horror Stories of new york are a world away. Do you remember, back in the day they had chickenpox parties where youd like literally invite every kid in the neighbourhood so everyone would get chickenpox . I feel like we need to have a corona party i know, i know. Ill bring the corona mary believes the president has handled the pandemic well. The white house has increased testing, outlined science based guidelines for reopening and is sending millions of americans stimulus checks with the president s name on them. I think most Business People realise that hes doing far more than most politicians. Where are the democrats now . Nobodys helping. I support him 110 . I dont know a lot of people that i know that have been sick. And if the numbers are like theyre saying they are, theyre obviously all in new york. But why in new york did it get hit so high . Is it because we have a lot of people that arent there legally . Is it because we have thousands of People Living on top of each other . The president can exert pressure for america to reopen. But its state politicians who make the decisions. Representative tim lang says theyre reopening cautiously here in line with the science. Every one of our recommendations are being reviewed by our state epidemiologist, a non partisan
person, whos looking at them for strictly Public Health concerns. If we wanted to open probably a large concert venue with 10,000 seats, we talked about, i bet you they would tell us no. So, if the infection numbers go up, youll start to close down again . I will, say, if the numbers go up, we will. The governor will consider moving backwards if if necessary. Now all 50 american states are starting to reopen. In just over half, New Hampshire included, infections are decreasing. But in many states, infections have been steadily rising. 0n last weeks holiday weekend, the beaches were packed as if none of this had ever happened. Once again, the American Scientific Community is sounding the alarm. We have to remember, though, that coming back too soon, could set us back, it could lead to a large resurgence of cases that damages not only lives
but damages our economy. We are seeing activities in some places that worry me. People together in enclosed places with no face masks on in communities where the virus is spreading. Thats a really risky thing to do. Do you think the pandemic is being politicised by the white house . Im very concerned by some of the political aspects that are being layered onto what should be scientific decisions. Scientists warn that 135,000 americans may be dead by august. But in the land of the free, each state makes its own choices. Will america learn the lessons of new york . Or will Election Year politics drown out the scientists, putting america, once again, in peril . This is bbc news. Welcome if youre watching here in the uk, on pbs in america or around the globe. Im Lewis Vaughan jones. Our top stories this is bbc news with the latest headlines remembering george floyd. The first Memorial Service is held for the man whose death in Police Custody launched a global movement. George was somebody who was a lwa ys george was somebody who was always welcoming and always made people feel like they were special. Everybody wants justice, we want justice special. Everybody wants justice, we wantjustice for george. Hes going to get it. Hes going to get it. Two. Applause. Protests continue in cities across the us. This is washington a few moments ago as crowds gather outside the white house. Back in control of tripoli
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