Reopening America

As the Delta variant continues to surge across the U.S., we are hearing more stories of children being hospitalized. Part of it is a numbers game, as cases across the country go up, so will the number of kids infected, but are they getting sicker? For the most part, kids that show up to hospitals have milder symptoms, but there are those that do develop pneumonia and other serious effects from Covid. Emily Anthes, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for kids and the Delta variant.

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Children are going back to school and there is still chaos and confusion over masks. We are in the sophomore year of Covid and there is still no consensus on how to keep students and teachers safe. Some school districts across the country are mandating mask wearing and defying state orders to do so. Governors have even threatened to withhold school funding if masks are required. Dan Goldberg, healthcare reporter at Politico joins us for the back to school mess.

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The Delta variant of Covid-19 continues to cause surges in cases and hospitalizations around the country. In Florida, where we are seeing big spikes, hospitals are on the race to find open ICU beds. Coronavirus patients fill about 43% of ICU beds there, but when you combine this number with people going to hospitals for other ailments, it becomes hard to find enough space. In the Orlando area, hospital group AdventHealth has even set up a mission control office to track open beds and reallocate resources where needed. Melanie Evans, hospital reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.

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Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee have released a report focusing on the origins of the Covid pandemic and zeroed in on the lab leak theory. Citing information about changes in safety protocols and requests for an overhaul of a hazardous waste treatment system, the report says that the virus may have been accidentally released sometime prior to September 2019. Declan Garvey, associate editor at The Dispatch, joins us for this latest report.

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The FDA has expedited its timetable for full approval of the Pfizer vaccine hoping to have the process completed by early September. The move to full approval is expected to kick off more vaccination mandates especially for hospital workers, college students and federal workers. Moderna has also filed for full approval, but is still submitting data. Sharon LaFraniere, investigative reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what to know.

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The nationwide moratorium on evictions lapsed just last Saturday, but only a few days later the CDC stepped in and provided an extension for those that live in counties experiencing high or substantial community spread of the virus. This has led to a lot of confusion and worry among those at risk of being evicted. For some, it was a little too late as some were kicked out of their homes already. Abha Bhattarai, business reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for the last minute eviction ban extension.

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The Biden administration wants to reform state drug laws and focus on what’s called “harm reduction,” which promotes safe drug use instead of abstinence and threats of jail time. The Office of National Drug Control Policy will be promoting draft model laws that supports harm reduction programs, increase treatment options, and reform criminal statutes. Dan Vergano, science reporter at BuzzFeed News, joins us for this and also how a Cape Cod Covid outbreak in mostly vaccinated people prompted the CDC to change its mask wearing guidance.

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Let’s talk about vaccine breakthrough infections of Covid-19. Some recent numbers from the CDC say that breakthroughs represent about 0.098% of those that are fully vaccinated. Still, they are happening, but those cases are often mild or asymptomatic. Getting vaccinated is not a free pass, but it gives you the best defenses possible to fight the virus. Katherine Wu, staff writer at the Atlantic, joins us for more.

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Despite rising cases of Covid in the unvaccinated, it can be very tough to persuade the vaccine hesitant, it can be even tougher to talking to family and friends. Experts say that the first step is to listen closer. You have to understand their reasons for refusing the shot before trying to convince them. It’s also important to focus on your relationship and de-escalate if things get heated. Derek Hawkins, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for how to talk to vaccine hesitant friends and family.

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