Anderson Cooper: You're talking about encouraging hundreds of thousands of people to come to Las Vegas ... smoking, drinking, touching slot machines, breathing circulated air, doesn't that sound like a virus petri dish?!

Las Vegas Mayor: It sounds like you're being an alarmist!

Cooper: Chinese researchers have shown how this virus spreads

Mayor: You are tough. This isn't China, this is Las Vegas, Nevada.

Cooper: Wow, OK, that's really ignorant. That's an ignorant, ignorant statement. That's a restaurant, yes in China, but they are human beings too.

Live shot of Anderson Cooper during this interview (h/t @snackbardan )

Cooper: Casino owners are probably doing OK, it's the people who are working on the floor who are the ones who are going to become infected and potentially die.

Mayor: You're talking disease. I'm talking life -- I'm talking life and living.

Cooper: OK, that makes no sense.