In It Together

The number of opioid overdose deaths increased in Massachusetts this pandemic, according to new data.

Host Arun Rath speaks with UMass Memorial's Dr. Kavita Babu about the ways this pandemic has created more barriers to treatment for those battling opioid addictions.

Different school districts are adopting different education models amid the coronavirus crisis. Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Matthew Malone, superintendent of the Fall River Public Schools, which has gone with a hybrid system. Then Arun checks in with Robert Jokela, superintendent of the Fitchburg Public Schools, where class is remote-only.

Promising news from two potential coronavirus vaccines have been catching headlines lately.

Host Arun Rath hears more details about the candidates from Dr. William Chin, a Professor of Medicine, Emeritus at Harvard Medical School.

Then, Arun speaks with Dr. Paul Biddinger, chair of Governor Charlie Baker’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group, about the challenges facing local officials in both distributing a potential vaccine, but also getting buy in from residents to get vaccinated.

It's been nearly a month since the state's ban on evictions expired. Renters and some landlords are having a tough time due to the pandemic. Arun Rath speaks with Paulette Houston, owner of a two-family home in Roxbury who's been struggling to make ends meet since her sole tenant lost their job amid the coronavirus crisis. Arun also hears hear from Larry Seamans from FamilyAid Boston, about the help the organization has been giving to families experiencing homelessness thanks to COVID-19.

Tonight we mark the over 10,000 people who have died from the coronavirus in Massachusetts.

Host Arun Rath speaks with Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera about what his city has been through, and the work to create a memorial to those lost.

Then, GBH's Marilyn Sharer reports on some of the efforts to appreciate and memorialize those 10,000 and counting.

Finally, we'll hear from Amina Mohammed who is the new Youth Poet Laureate Worcester and the first youth Poet Laureate for Massachusetts. She talks about how writing has helped her through difficult times, plus she reads us one of her poems.

A new nationwide study shows that anxiety and depression are on the rise among younger adults thanks to the pandemic. Arun Rath discusses the problem with Dr. Roy Perlis, head of Mass General's Center for Quantitative Health.

Host Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Eric Dickson, the President and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care. He says while his hospital system is prepared for a second surge in cases, he's concerned about burnout among staff after eight long months of battling this pandemic.

There have been stark racial disparities when it comes to who's been hit hardest by this pandemic. Arun Rath speaks with Alice Goldfarb, COVID Racial Data Tracker lead at the COVID Tracking Project, and Jessica Simes, Associate Director of Research at the BU Center for Antiracist Research.

Host Arun Rath explores the future of the pandemic locally and nationally, with a special focus on how to improve health outcomes for communities of color. Then, we learn some tips and tricks on taking care of ourselves and our families during these trying times.

These interviews aired as part of a special election forum called GBH News Presents Election 2020: What's Next. You can find further election coverage at wgbh.org/news/election2020.

Host Arun Rath speaks with college activist Annie Soup-Koagne on what inspirited her and her peers to vote in this election and how she thinks the pandemic encouraged more voter turnout.