CBS Evening News, April 17, 2020

THE FIGHT TO OPEN. THE BATTLE OVER STAYING HOME HEAT UP WITH PROTESTS IN MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, AND VIRGINIA TO END SOCIAL DISTANCING. THE PRESIDENT TWEETS HIS ENCOURAGEMENT, SAYING THOSE STATES SHOULD BE LIBERATED. PLUS, THAT DEBATE OVER TESTING. THE PRESIDENT SAYS STATES HAVE TO STEP IT UP. >> THIS IS MAYHEM. WE NEED A COORDINATED APPROACH BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATES. >> O'Donnell: EASING RESTRICTIONS: IN FLORIDA, SOME BEACHES REOPENED AS TEXAS SETS DATES TO OPEN PARKS AND RETAIL STORES. BUT IN NEW YORK, TIMES SQUARE REMAINS A GHOST TOWN AS DOCTORS STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE PANDEMIC. LONG FOOD LINES, DEVASTATING IMAGES, CARS STRETCHING FOR MILES, AND THE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES NOW VISITING FOOD BANKS FOR THE FIRST TIME. WHERE DID IT COME FROM? TONIGHT, U. S. INTELLIGENCE LOOKING INTO WHETHER THE CORONAVIRUS STARTED IN AN EXOTIC ANIMAL MARKET OR WAS IT ACCIDENTALLY RELEASED BY THIS WUHAN LAB? ALL THIS AS CHINA RAISES ITS DEATH TOLL. " RACING TO A CURE ": WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ANTIMALARIA DRUG THE PRESIDENT CALLS A " GAME CHANGER ," THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT, AND WHY THERE'S SO MUCH DEBATE ABOUT HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE. AND IT'S FRIDAY, SO STEVE HARTMAN IS " ON THE ROAD" WITH A STORY OF A HERO, A NURSE WHO PUT HER LIFE ON HOLD TO SAVE OTHERS IN THIS CRISIS. >>\ THIS IS THE " CBS EVENING \ NEWS" WITH NORAH O'DONNELL, \ REPORTING FROM THE NATION'S \ CAPITAL. >> O'Donnell: GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS FRIDAY. THE DEBATE OVER LOOSENING THOSE STAY- AT- HOME ORDERS IS TAKING A DRAMATIC TURN TONIGHT AS SOME STATES ARE ANNOUNCING PLANS TO GRADUALLY REOPEN EVEN AS OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY ARE BRACING FOR CASES OF CORONAVIRUS TO GET WORSE. NOW, LESS THAN A DAY AFTER ANNOUNCING GOVERNORS SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF LIFTING THEIR OWN RESTRICTIONS, PRESIDENT TRUMP WEIGHED IN ON TWITTER, APPEARING TO ENCOURAGE DEMONSTRATORS TO " LIBERATE" MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, AND VIRGINIA. THE PRESIDENT'S TWEETS CAME DURING PROTESTS OVER SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THOSE THREE BATTLEGROUND STATES, ALL OF WHICH HAVE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS. THE FIGHT OVER WHEN AND HOW TO REOPEN THIS COUNTRY IS HAPPENING AS THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE VIRUS KEEPS RISING. IT'S NOW NEARLY 37, 000 NATIONWIDE WITH MORE THAN 690, 000 CONFIRMED CASES. BUT THERE ARE SOME BRIGHT SPOTS TONIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO TREATMENTS. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NOW SAYS A DRUG DESIGNED FOR EBOLA CALLED REMEDESAVIR IS SHOWING SIGNS OF REDUCING THE VIRUS IN MONKEYS, AND THE STOCK MARKET SURGED TODAY AFTER ONE DOCTOR SUGGESTED IT WAS ALSO SHOWING PROMISE IN A HUMAN TRIAL. OUR TEAM IS COVERING ALL ANGLES OF THIS CRISIS. MOLA LENGHI LEADS US OFF TONIGHT IN NEW YORK'S TIMES SQUARE. MOLA. >> Reporter: WELL, NORAH, IT'S BEEN NEARLY A MONTH-- 26 DAYS, TO BE EXACT-- SINCE NEW YORK'S STAY- AT- HOME ORDER WENT INTO EFFECT. GOVERNOR CUOMO SAYS WHILE WE ARE NOT YET IN THE CLEAR, THE MEASURES HE PUT IN PLACE, HE SAYS, DO APPEAR TO BE WORKING, AND SO HE IS DOUBLING DOWN ON SOME OF THOSE MEASURES. BEGINNING TONIGHT, ALL NEW YORKERS, WHENEVER OUT IN PUBLIC, WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR SOME SORT OF FACE MASK OR FACIAL COVERING. THIS AS SOME GOVERNORS IN OTHER STATES ARE LOOKING TO EASE THEIR RESTRICTIONS. TONIGHT, THE STREETS OF NEW YORK CITY REMAIN VIRTUALLY EMPTY, BUT, ON THE HEELS OF THE PRESIDENT'S NEW THREE- PHASED PLAN TO REOPEN AMERICA, SOME STATES ARE SLOWLY INCHING BACK IN. TONIGHT, BEACHES IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, WILL REOPEN, BUT NO MORE THAN TEN IN A CROWD. >> FIRST, WE INFORM THE PEOPLE WHAT THE RULES ARE. THEN, WE WARN IF THEY DON'T COMPLY. AND THEN, WE TAKE ADDITIONAL ACTION IF NECESSARY IF THEY STILL DON'T COMPLY. >> Reporter: TEXAS WILL ALLOW SOME RETAIL TO GO BUT NOT PERMIT IN- STORE SHOPPING. MINNESOTA WILL ALLOW GOLF COURSES TO OPEN THIS WEEKEND. WISCONSIN'S GOVERNOR SAID LAWN CARE BUSINESSES MIGHT BE ABLE TO OPERATE. AND IDAHO WILL ALLOW NONESSENTIAL BUSINESSES TO OPEN THEIR DOORS. STILL, SOME WORKERS ARE CONCERNED. ANDY REVELL WORKS ON NAVY SHIPS IN VIRGINIA AND LED A STRIKE THIS WEEK AFTER ONE OF HIS COWORKERS DIED. >> WE'RE LITERALLY SCARED. IT'S LIKE THE SHIP IS HAUNTED BY A GHOST. IT'S EVERYWHERE, AND THAT'S THE ENVIRONMENT WE WORK IN ALL DAY. >> Reporter: AND AS DEBATE OVER REOPENING CONTINUES, NEWS OF TREATMENT PROGRESS. GILEAD, THE MAKER OF THE DRUG REMEDESAVIR, SAW A SURGE IN ITS STOCK PRICE ON NEWS REPORTS THAT THE DRUG HELPED COVID- 19 PATIENTS IN CHICAGO. NEW YORK, WITH 600 MORE DEATHS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, IS STILL A HOT SPOT. THE CITY ANNOUNCED IT'S CANCELING OUTDOOR CONCERTS UNTIL JUNE, BUT THE GOVERNOR TODAY SAID HE KNEW PATIENCE WAS WEARING THIN. >> THE SITUATION WE'RE IN NOW IS UNSUSTAINABLE. PEOPLE CAN'T STAY IN THEIR HOMES FOR THIS LENGTH OF TIME. THEY CAN'T STAY OUT OF WORK. YOU CAN'T KEEP THE ECONOMY CLOSED FOREVER. YOU JUST CAN'T. >> Reporter: INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT TINA TAN SAYS THERE'S A RISK TO LIFTING SOCIAL DISTANCING. >> SO, EASING SOCIAL DISTANCING PRACTICES RIGHT NOW IS NOT A SMART MOVE. WE REALLY HAVE TO HAVE MUCH MORE DATA WITH REGARDS TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INFECTED. >> Reporter: AND THE WORK FOR FRONT- LINE HEALTH CARE WORKERS REMAINS DAUNTING. NURSE SHELLY KELLY HAS BEEN TREATING PATIENTS AT THE CENTRAL PARK FIELD HOSPITAL SINCE IT OPENED. HOW HAVE THE LAST FEW WEEKS BEEN? >> THE LAST FEW WEEKS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING. THE PATIENTS SEEM TO COME IN WAVES, AND, WE IN THE I. C. U. SEE THE MOST CRITICAL PATIENTS, AND IT'S BEEN REALLY DIFFICULT. >> Reporter: STILL, SIGNS OF SUPPORT AS FAR AWAY AS THE MATTERHORN MAINTAIN IN THE SWISS ALPS. (\" THE STAR- SPANGLED BANNER" \ PLAYS \) AND AS CLOSE AS A NEW YORK CITY FIRE ESCAPE. MUSICIAN JOHN FREDRICKS PLAYED SOUNDS OF APPRECIATION TO THOSE ON THE FRONT LINE. (\" THE STAR- SPANGLED BANNER" \ PLAYS \) SIMILAR MOMENTS OF APPRECIATION CAN BE HEARD THROUGHOUT NEW YORK CITY 00 P. M ., ALWAYS A TOUCHING MOMENT. TODAY, TWO MORE TESTING SITES OPENED UP HERE IN THE CITY, TARGETING-- SPECIFICALLY TARGETING THE ELDERLY WITH THREE MORE PLANNED ON MONDAY AND THE PLAN IS TO CONDUCT 2, 400 TESTS PER WEEK, NORAH. >> O'Donnell: AND THANK YOU, MOLA, FOR ALL OF YOUR REPORTING OUT THERE. TODAY, PRESIDENT TRUMPING AD ON PROTESTERS IN THREE STATES WHO ARE DEFYING RESTRICTIONS AND DEMANDING AN END TO STAY- AT- HOME ORDERS, BUT EACH OF THOSE STATES IS FOLLOWING GUIDELINES FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OWN TASK FORCE. AND TONIGHT, THE GOVERNOR OF WASHINGTON STATE SAYS THE PRESIDENT MAY BE INCITING VIOLENCE. BEN TRACY IS AT THE WHITE HOUSE TONIGHT. BEN. >> Reporter: NORAH, JUST 24 HOURS AGO, PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID GOVERNORS WOULD CALL THE SHOTS WHEN IT COMES TO REOPENING THEIR STATES AND THAT HE WOULD SUPPORT THEM. WELL, THE PRESIDENT IS ALREADY BREAKING THAT PROMISE. PROTESTERS CALLING THEMSELVES " LIBERATE MINNESOTA" DEMANDED GOVERNOR TIM WALZ LIFT THE STATE'S STAY- AT- HOME ORDER DESPITE A STILL- RISING NUMBER OF COVID CASES. >> WE HAVE THE POWER! >> Reporter: PROTESTERS IN SEVERAL STATES NOW HAVE A POWERFUL PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHO SENT A SERIES OF TWEETS THIS MORNING TO LIBERATE MINNESOTA, MICHIGAN, AND VIRGINIA, ALL STATES WITH POPULAR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS. >> IF I THOUGHT WE COULD GO BACK TO WORK TOMORROW, THAT'S-- THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD DO. >> Reporter: LIFTING STAY- AT- HOME ORDERS IN ANY OF THESE STATES WOULD VIOLATE THE PRESIDENT'S OWN GUIDELINES UNVEILED YESTERDAY. MR. TRUMP WAS ASKED IF PROTESTORS SHOULD LISTEN TO HIM OR THEIR GOVERNORS. >> I THINK THEY'RE LISTENING. I THINK THEY LISTEN TO ME. THERE SEEM TO BE PROTESTERS THAT LIKE ME AND RESPECT \ THIS OPINION. >> Reporter: TODAY, NEW YORK GOVERNOR, ANDREW CUOMO, ACCUSED THE PRESIDENT OF SHIFTING THE BURDEN OF TESTING TO STATES WITHOUT PROVIDING RESOURCES TO DO IT. >> " THE STATES SHOULD THIS, THE STATES SHOULD THIS, THE STATES SHOULD THIS ." YES. WELL, WHAT SUPPORT HAVE YOU GIVEN THE STATES? NONE. >> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT, APPARENTLY WATCHING CUOMO ON TV, FIRED BACK ON TWITTER, SAYING CUOMO SHOULD SPEND MORE TIME DOING AND LESS TIME COMPLAINING. >> IF HE'S SITTING HOME WATCHING TV, MAYBE HE SHOULD GET UP AND GO TO WORK, RIGHT? >> Reporter: VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE HAD A TESTY CONFERENCE CALL WITH SENATE DEMOCRATS TODAY. HE WAS ASKED WHY THE PRESIDENT IS SENDING OUT THESE TWEETS ABOUT LIBERATING STATES BUT DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER. WE'VE ALSO LEARNED THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN IS PLANNING TO RESTART HOLDING THEIR CAMPAIGN RALLIES BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE CORONAVIRUS WILL PASS. NORAH. >> O'Donnell: ALL RIGHT, BEN, THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING IT TURN NOW IT THE STAGGERING RISE IN FOOD INSECURITY. THOSE LONG LINES WE'VE BEEN SEEING ALL WEEK TELL A DEVASTATING STORY. JUST LOOK AT THESE PICTURES IN QUEENS, NEW YORK. AND IT'S PLAYING ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH MANY WHO HAVE NEVER HAD TO LINE UP FOR FOOD DONATIONS BEFORE. TONIGHT, HERE'S MIREYA VILLARREAL. >> Reporter: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE? >> 8: 15 THIS MORNING. >> Reporter: 8: 15! LIKE THE LINES FOR FREE FOOD IN NEW ORLEANS, DESPERATION IS GROWING BY THE DAY. MOST OF THESE FIRST- TIME FAMILIES ARE FILLED WITH FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY. WHAT ARE YOU MISSING AT HOME? >> MILK. LIKE, MILK, EGGS, BREAD. >> WE NEED HELP LIKE PROBABLY EVERY CITY DOES. >> Reporter: ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SCENES OF GRATITUDE FOR THE MOST BASIC NEEDS, LIKE AT THIS FOOD KITCHEN IN WASHINGTON, D. C. >> THIS PROGRAM MEANS THAT WE GET TO EAT TODAY. >> Reporter: THE NATIONAL GUARD HELPING WITH THESE LINES IN BOSTON, STRETCHING SEVERAL BLOCKS. 17 MILLION MORE AMERICANS COULD NOW FACE HUNGER BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Reporter: BACK IN NEW ORLEANS, AT A SMALL CHURCH PANTRY, WE MET TROY RILES AND CAROLINE CASTON. >> EVERYBODY GOT TO SHARE WHAT THEY GOT TO SHARE. >> Reporter: BOTH ARE NEWLY UNEMPLOYED. NO SHOPS, NO TOURISTS, NO INCOME. WAS IT HARD TO GO THERE? WAS THERE ANY SORT OF RELUCTANCE? >> NO, MA'AM. NONE WHATSOEVER. I MEAN, IT'S NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF. EVERYBODY AT SOME TIME GET DOWN ON THEIR LUCK. >> MASHED POTATOES. >> YOU DON'T WANT TO EAT UP EVERYTHING ALL AT ONE TIME, ASSUMING YOU'RE GOING TO GET SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT NEXT SOMETHING ELSE IS GOING TO COME FROM. >> Reporter: THE COUPLE HAS JUST ENOUGH MONEY PAID TO KEEP UP WITH ESSENTIAL BILLS FOR A FEW MONTHS, AND THEY'RE STARTING TO RATION THEIR FOOD. >> WHEN YOU'RE 11th, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SURVIVING BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU'RE 11th. RIGHT NOW, IT'S SURVIVAL MODE. >> Reporter: THE NEW ORLEANS FOOD BANK HELPED MORE THAN 2, 500 PEOPLE YESTERDAY-- FAMILIES, THAT IS-- 143, 000 POUNDS OF FOOD GIVEN OUT. THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION " FEEDING AMERICA" SAYS IF THEY'RE GOING TO RESPOND TO THESE NEEDS OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED AN ADDITIONAL $ 1. 4 BILLION. NORAH. >> O'Donnell: ALL RIGHT, MIREYA VILLARREAL, THANK YOU. TONIGHT, CHINA CONTINUES TO DENY A COVER- UP IN ITS HANDLING OF THE OUTBREAK, BUT TODAY IT INCREASED THE DEATH TOLL IN THE CITY OF WUHAN, RAISING IT BY 50 %. AND THAT'S JUST ADDING TO THE MYSTERY OVER HOW THIS VIRUS SPREAD AND WHERE IT CAME FROM. SO, WE ASKED " FACE THE NATION" MODERATOR MARGARET BRENNAN TO LOOK INTO IT. >> Reporter: CHINESE AUTHORITIES CLAIM THE VIRUS SURFACED AT A WET MARKET IN WUHAN, BUT INDEPENDENT CHINESE RESEARCHERS SAY THE FIRST KNOWN PATIENT HAD NO EXPOSURE TO THE MARKET. U. S. INTELLIGENCE IS INVESTIGATING OTHER THEORIES, INCLUDING WHETHER THE VIRUS WAS ACCIDENTALLY RELEASED BY A LAB A FEW MILES AWAY THAT HAD BEEN RESEARCHING PATHOGENS CARRIED BY BATS. STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS WHO VISITED THAT LAB IN 2018 RAISED SAFETY CONCERNS. SECRETARY OF STATE POMPEO HAS CALLED ON CHINA TO SHARE MORE INFORMATION. >> THIS IS A LABORATORY THAT CONTAINED HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS MATERIALS. WE KNEW THAT. WE KNEW THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON THIS PROGRAM. >> Reporter: THERE IS NO EVIDENCE IMPLICATING THE WUHAN LAB. A BIOLOGIST THERE TOLD " SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN" MAGAZINE THAT COVID- 19 DID NOT MATCH ANY OF ITS OTHER VIRUS SAMPLES. EPIDEMIOLOGIST DAVID HEYMANN SAYS THE VIRUS ORIGINATED IN NATURE. >> THIS WAS A ONE- TIME EPISODE WHERE AN ANIMAL IN NATURE, OR EVEN A BAT IN NATURE-- BECAUSE THIS VIRUS IS VERY CLOSE TO VIRUSES IN BATS-- INFECTED A HUMAN, AND THAT HUMAN THEN INFECTED OTHERS. >> Reporter: BUT CHINESE AUTHORITIES BLOCKED C. D. C. INVESTIGATORS, AND THE WET MARKET WAS BLEACHED DOWN BEFORE ANY HEALTH INSPECTION. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS TRYING TO AVOID CONFRONTING CHINESE PRESIDENT XI ABOUT THE LAB. >> I DON'T WANT TO DISCUSS WHAT I TALK TO HIM ABOUT THE LABORATORY. I JUST DON'T WANT TO DISCUSS IT. IT'S INAPPROPRIATE. >> Reporter: U. S. OFFICIALS SAY THAT'S BECAUSE THE U. S. IS SO DEPENDENT ON CHINA TO PRODUCE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR HOSPITAL WORKERS. MARGARET BRENNAN, CBS NEWS, WASHINGTON. >> O'Donnell: AND DR. DEBORAH BIRX FROM THE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE WILL BE ONE OF MARGARET'S GUESTS THIS SUNDAY ON " FACE THE NATION ." NOW TO OUR SERIES " RACING TO A CURE ," AND A DRUG THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS REPEATEDLY PRAISED. IT'S MOSTLY USED TO TREAT MALARIA, A DISEASE SPREAD BY MOSQUITOES, BUT IT'S ALSO GIVEN TO PATIENTS WITH LUPUS AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. BUT THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER IT IS EFFECTIVE OR EVEN SAFE FOR COVID- 19 PATIENTS. HERE'S DR. JON LAPOOK WITH MORE ON THE DEBATE OVER HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE. >> Reporter: THIS IS HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE. IT'S BEEN CHAMPIONED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR THE TREATMENT OF COVID- 19. >> BASED ON WHAT I SEE, IT COULD BE A GAME CHANGER. VERY POWERFUL. >> Reporter: BUT DOCTORS SAY IT'S TOO EARLY TO BE SURE, AND SMALL STUDIES SO FAR HAVE HAD MIXED RESULTS. DR. WESLEY SELF AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER IS LEADING A CLINICAL TRIAL TO SEE IF IT REALLY WORKS. WHY WAS HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE CHOSEN AS A DRUG IN THE FIRST PLACE TO TREAT COVID- 19? >> HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE MAY HELP PREVENT THE VIRUS FROM ENTERING CELLS IN THE BODY AND THEREFORE PREVENT IT FROM REPLICATING MORE AND GROWING IN THE BODY. >> Reporter: 42- YEAR- OLD TISHA HOLT IS ONE OF THE FIRST TO ENROLL. SHE'S BEEN IN THE VANDERBILT I. C. U. FOR FOUR DAYS. SHE SPOKE WITH DR. CELL. >> HOW DO YOU FEEL? >> WEAK, STRUGGLING TO BREATHE, A LOT OF CHEST TIGHTNESS, VERY-- VERY SICK. >> I WANT IT TO WORK. I SEE THAT IT HAS PROMISE, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND MOST PROMISING DRUGS THAT ARE AT THIS STAGE OF RESEARCH DO NOT ULTIMATELY WORK. >> Reporter: THIS DRUG MAY RAISE THE RISK OF AN IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT, BUT IT HAS GENERALLY BEEN A SAFE MEDICATION. DOCTORS, AND PATIENTS LIKE TISHA HOLT, DON'T KNOW WHO IS RECEIVING THE DRUG AND WHO IS GETTING A PLACEBO. THAT'S THE GOLD STANDARD IN RESEARCH. >> I WISH I COULD DO SOMETHING TO HELP, AND I WANT TO DO IT. AND IT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE. >> Reporter: HOPING TO SAVE OTHERS AS SHE BATTLES TO SAVE HERSELF. DR. JON LAPOOK, CBS NEWS, NEW YORK. >> O'Donnell: THERE IS STILL MUCH MORE NEWS AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S " CBS EVENING NEWS ." THE ASTRONAUTS WHO'VE RETURNED TO A VERY DIFFERENT PLANET. LATER, IT'S FRIDAY, SO STEVE HARTMAN ON WHAT DROVE A NURSE TO GO ON THE ROAD TO HELP CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HER HOME. >> O'Donnell: PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FORMER LAWYER AND LONGTIME FIXER MICHAEL COHEN IS GETTING OUT OF FEDERAL PRISON EARLY BECAUSE OF A CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK THERE. COHEN, NOW 53, PLEADED GUILTY TO LYING TO CONGRESS AND VIOLATING CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS. AFTER A TWO- WEEK QUARANTINE, HE'LL SERVE OUT THE REST OF HIS THREE- YEAR SENTENCE AT HOME. TODAY, TWO NASA ASTRONAUTS AND A RUSSIAN COUNTERPART TOUCHED DOWN IN KAZAKHSTAN, REENTERING A WORLD VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE THEY LEFT. JESSICA MEIR AND ANDREW MORGAN ARE NO STRANGERS TO ISOLATION. THEY'D BEEN IN ORBIT ABOARD THE SPACE STATION SINCE LAST YEAR, BEFORE CORONAVIRUS. MEIR SAYS IT WAS " SURREAL" TO WATCH THE PANDEMIC UNFOLD FROM SPACE. " ON THE ROAD" IS NEXT. A HERO TELLS STEVE HARTMAN WHY SHE DROPPED EVERYTHING TO SERVE IN A COVID- 19 HOT ZONE. >> O'Donnell: EVERY DAY, WE ARE IN AWE OF OUR HEALTH CARE HEROES RISKING THEIR LIVES, INCLUDING THE WOMAN YOU ARE ABOUT TO MEET. HERE'S STEVE HARTMAN WITH TONIGHT'S " ON THE ROAD ." >> WE BEGIN TODAY WITH AN ALARMING NEW MILESTONE. >> Reporter: AS THE MISERY SPREADS... >> SPREADING, SPREADING QUICKLY. >> Reporter: ... MOST OF US ARE RELIEVED TO BE WATCHING THE WORST OF IT FROM THE SAFETY OF OUR SOFAS. BEVIN STRICKLAND OF HIGH POINT, NORTH CAROLINA, WAS ONE OF THOSE COMFORTABLY ON THE COUCH. BUT SOME SWITCH FLIPPED IN YOU. >> YEAH, IT WAS KIND OF A SWITCH. THAT'S FUNNY YOU SAY THAT. I WAS LIKE, " WAIT A MINUTE, WHY AM I SITTING HERE ?" >> Reporter: BEVIN, A NURSE, HAD JUST CONTACTED A SERIOUS CASE OF EMPATHY. >> I COULD IMAGINE THE NURSES BEING SO EXHAUSTED, SO STRESSED OUT, IF I COULD GO AND RELIEVE A SHIFT FOR THEM. >> Reporter: THAT WAS A MONTH AGO, AND, TODAY, BEVIN IS WORKING AT MOUNT SINAI QUEENS, THE EPICENTER OF THE OUTBREAK IN NEW YORK CITY. SHE CARES FOR THE SICKEST PATIENTS UNDER THE MOST DEMANDING CONDITIONS, SOLELY BECAUSE SHE BELIEVES SHE WAS MADE FOR A MOMENT LIKE THIS. >> I'M NOT AFRAID. I'M NOT EASILY SHAKEN BY THINGS. I WAS IN A BANK ROBBERY. I WAS HELD AT GUNPOINT. I WAS TIED UP FOR 15 MINUTES. HE WAS TYING ME UP, AND I SAID, I SAID, " ARE WE ON 'CANDID CAMERA' ?" I WANTED TO MAKE HIM LAUGH AND MAKE ME FEEL HUMAN TO HIM AND HE WOULDN'T WANT TO KILL ME. >> Reporter: IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT I REALIZED SHE WAS NOT AN ORDINARY HERO. ALTHOUGH SHE IS NOT TECHNICALLY A VOLUNTEER-- SHE HAS TO GET PAID FOR LEGAL REASONS-- SHE PLANS TO DONATE EVERYTHING SHE MAKES, AFTER EXPENSES, TO THE MOUNT SINAI SUPPORT STAFF. AND THE FACT IS, SHE COULD REALLY USE THE MONEY. SHE HAS STUDENT LOANS AND IS A SINGLE MOM WITH TWIN 16- YEAR- OLD BOYS BACK HOME. DID SHE ASK YOU IF SHE COULD DO THIS OR TELL YOU? >> SHE ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES, " ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT ME TO ?" >> Reporter: WHY DID YOU SAY YES? >> THIS LIFE IS NOT TO SERVE YOURSELF BUT SERVE OTHERS. >> Reporter: THESE APPLES DIDN'T FALL FAR. >> I BELIEVE IT'S OUR DUTY. I BELIEVE WE SHOULD FEEL COMPELLED TO DO SOMETHING WHEN WE CAN. >> Reporter: THERE'S A SWITCH THAT GOES OFF IN SOME PEOPLE DURING PERILOUS TIMES, WHETHER IT'S THE FOOTBALL COACH WHO STEPS IN TO STOP THE SCHOOL SHOOTER, THE N. F. L. PLAYER WHO JOINS THE ARMY AFTER 9 / 11, OR THE NURSE WHO SIMPLY STANDS UP FROM HER COUCH. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE THOSE WHO RUN TOWARD DISASTER WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS FLEEING. >> SOMEBODY'S GOT GOT TO HELP. WHAT IF WE ALL SAID WE CAN'T HANDLE IT, WE CAN'T DO IT? WHAT IF EVERYBODY SAID THAT? >> Reporter: IT CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE AMERICA. STEVE HARTMAN, CBS NEWS, " ON THE ROAD ." >> O'Donnell: AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HER AND SO MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL. AND DON'T FORGET, STEVE IS OFFERING HIS ONLINE CLASS FOR KIDS, " KINDNESS 101 ." THAT'S EVERY MONDAY FOR THE REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. THAT WON'T BE CANCELED. THIS WEEK'S TOPIC IS " GRATITUDE ." YOU CAN FIND IT AT www. cbsnews. com / kindness101. AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK. >> O'Donnell: CBS NEWS IS PROUD TO BE PART OF THE GLOBAL CITIZEN VIRTUAL FESTIVAL, THE STAR- STUDDED SPECIAL TO HELP HEALTH CARE WORKERS. IT WILL FEATURE TOP MUSICIANS AND ACTORS, AND YOU CAN WATCH IT HERE 00, 7: 00 CENTRAL. THAT'S THE " CBS EVENING NEWS ." I'M NORAH O'DONNELL. BE SAFE THIS WEEKEND. WE'LL SEE YOU ON MONDAY. GOOD NIGHT.