[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, AND WHEN WE CAN EXPECT IMMUNITY TO THE VIRUS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, SCHOOLS SCRAMBLING AS DUCEY ORDERS IN-PERSON LEARNING TO RESUME AFTER SPRING BREAK, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, HOW BEING A KAREN BECAME VIRAL.

ALL OF THIS AND MORE AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M KARIE DOZER.

ARIZONA COULD SOON FOLLOW OTHER STATES LIKE TEXAS IN LIFTING SOME COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS.

ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICE DIRECTOR DR. CARE CHRIST, SAYS THE AGENCY IS CONSTANTLY REVIEWING DATA.

SHE SAID THEY ARE, QUOTE, LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY LIFTING SOME OCCUPATION LIMITATIONS, BUT KEEPING OTHER STRATEGIES IN PLACE, SUCH AS MASK USE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

THE ROLLING AVERAGE OF COVID-19 CASES AND DEATHS HAVE DROPPED IN ARIZONA.

TODAY 1154 NEW CASES WERE REPORTED AND 96 DEATHS.

ARIZONA HAS SEEN MORE THAN 821,000 CASES AND MORE THAN 16,000 DEATHS.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE AT THEIR LOWEST SINCE DECEMBER.

THERE IS A REPORT THAT SHOWS 38,000 FEWER K THROUGH 12 STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER WEDNESDAY REQUIRING MOST K THROUGH 12 PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO BEGIN IN-PERSON LEARNING.

WE TALKED TO JOE THOMAS ABOUT THE ORDER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> DOING WELL.

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> CAN I ASK YOU ABOUT THIS ORDER TO HAVE IN-PERSON LEARNING BY MARCH 15TH?

>> IT IS REALLY CURIOUS.

MOST SCHOOLS ARE ALREADY IN-PERSON OR HEADED THERE AFTER SPRING BREAK.

ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE GOVERNOR PASSED THE ISSUE DOWN TO MEET THE HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.

SO THAT'S WHY IT IS REALLY CURIOUS TO SEE THE GOVERNOR SUDDENLY COME OUT AND SHOW HOW FAR AWAY HE IS FROM UNDERSTANDING THE GOOD PLANNING AND ALL OF THOSE GOOD CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO INDICATE EVERY IS GOING TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE ON THE SAME DATE, AND TO DO IT THE MONDAY AFTER SPRING BREAK, WHEN MANY DISTRICTS DECIDED THEY WANTED TO USE THE WEEK AFTER SPRING BREAK AS A COOLING OFF TIME, AND WANTED TO BE MORE DISTANT FOR THAT WEEK, AND IT'S REALLY KIND OF A DISRUPTIVE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

>> SO THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN ARIZONA MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATES, WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THOSE DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN DOING TO GET THESE PLANS IN PLACE, AND HOW FAR MIGHT THEY BE FROM ACTUALLY BEING READY?

>> ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES IS HAVING THE FUNDING TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE COVID VIRUS.

WE HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON WHERE OUR STUDENTS ARE, AND MEET THEM WITH THE BEST EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND KEEP AN EYE ON THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE DO NOT INCREASE COMMUNITY SPREAD.

EDUCATORS HAVE WORKED LONG HOURS PREPARING LESSON PLANS FOR IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION, REMOTE INSTRUCTION, AND DISTRICTS HAVE HAD TO SCHEDULE WHEN MAINTENANCE IS GOING TO COME IN AND MAYBE REFURBISH BUILDINGS OR PREPARE THEM TO BE READY TO HAVE STUDENTS COME BACK IN.

THERE ARE DISTRICTS THAT HAD PREPARED TO DO THAT AFTER SPRING BREAK.

SO ALL OF THESE PLANS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED OVER THIS PAST YEAR, AND NOW THEY ARE BEING SET ASIDE, SO WE CAN MEET THIS MANDATE.

>> IS THERE ANY BELIEF THAT SCHOOLS ARE MAKING CHANGES TO, SAY, VENTILATION, AND THEN THEY COULD BE EXEMPT FROM THAT RULING?

ONCE THE BUILDINGS ARE READY, IF IT TAKES ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS, COULD DISTRICTS WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE STATE THAT WAY?

>> WE'RE CERTAINLY 40E7 40E7 -- HOPING WE CAN GET SOME FLEXIBILITY.

AGAIN, FOR A YEAR WE HAVE BEEN LAYING OUT THESE PLANS, AND AS WE START TO SEE THE NUMBERS GO DOWN, AND WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, DISTRICTS FELT LIKE THEY WERE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION TO OPEN UP IN THE SPRING, AND THEY WANTED TO GET ALL OF THE PIECES READY FOR THAT.

THEY WANTED FOR THE STUDENTS TO BE PREPARED, AND THEY WANTED TO BE READY TO MEET THEM IN AS SAFE OF WAY AS POSSIBLE.

>> IF I COULD MAKE YOU GOVERNOR TODAY, WHAT WOULD YOUR EXECUTIVE ORDER BE?

>> WELL, THE ADOPTION OF BEST PRACTICES AND HAVE THOSE BE STATEWIDE, AS OPPOSED TO DATES.

ALSO I THINK WE SHOULD BE TARGETING RESOURCES TO WHERE OUR STUDENTS READY TO LEARN WHEN THEY SHOW UP.

THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TRAUMA THAT THE NATION HAS UNDERGONE.

STUDENTS HAVE LIKELY LOST MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY TO THIS VIRUS, AND WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR THEM.

SO ALL OF THE INEQUITIES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD BE WORKING ON NOW.

>> THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.

JOE, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> THE COVID VACCINES' NEW AGE REQUIREMENT AND WHEN WE CAN EXPECT TO REALLY BE IMMUNE FROM COVID.

>>> JOHNSON & JOHNSON HAS BEGUN SHIPPING ITS ONE-DOSE COVID-19 VACCINE.

WE DISCUSSED THAT WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION WILL HUMBLE, AND ASKED WHAT WE THINKS OF THE NEW 55 AND UNDER AGE REQUIREMENT.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WILL.

>> THANKS FOR THE INVITATION.

>>> ON MONDAY THE AGE GROUP FOR COVID-19 VACCINE DROPPED TO 55.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> YEAH, THERE IS A LOT OF MER -- MERIT IN THE DECISION.

PEOPLE MAY HAVE A QUALIFYING CONDITION, AND CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING A VACCINATOR SAYING, YOU KNOW, SHOW ME YOUR INSULIN?

IT'S A LOT EASIER TO LOOK AT AGE -- AND HERE IS YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

I SEE YOU ARE 55, YOU QUALIFY.

SO OVERALL, I -- I SUPPORT THE DECISION.

I THINK IT WAS A GOOD ONE.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE, HOWEVER, THAT HAVE REALLY BEEN LEFT OUT AS A RESULT OF THIS DECISION.

IN PARTICULAR, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MEDICAID MEMBERS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN THE LONG-TERM CARE PROGRAM, WHO WAS POISED TO GET VACCINATED IN CATEGORY 1, AND THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEIR AGE CATEGORY, SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE DIRECTOR AND THE GOVERNOR TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THOSE FOLKS ENROLLED IN THE MEDICAID'S LONG-TERM CARE SYSTEM DESERVE A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY WITHIN THIS NEW SET OF GUIDELINES, BUT OVERALL I SUPPORT IT.

>> WE HAVE THE NUMBER OF DEATHS, THE ICU BED NUMBERS, AND POSITIVITY RATES, AND MOST OF THOSE NUMBERS SEEM TO BE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE SEE NUMBERS GOING DOWN, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO A VACCINATED PUBLIC?

WHEN WILL WE KNOW?

>> WELL, NUMBER 1, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED AND THAT IS SLOWING DOWN THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND WILL SLOW DOWN THE DEATHS.

THE OTHER IS THAT -- I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE IN THEIR 20S HAVE BEEN INFECTED BECAUSE OF THIS VIRUS, SO WE HAVE AT LEAST 20% OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAS BEEN INFECTED AND RECOVERED.

SO THAT IS WORKING IN OUR FAVOR, AND THEN WE'RE FINALLY PAST THE CASCADE THAT HAPPENED AFTER THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS CLUBBING AND PARTYING AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO THAT WILL CONTINUE TO SLOW.

AND WHAT I WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH IS DO HOSPITALIZATIONS AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS PERCENT OF POSITIVITY AND NEW CASES.

SO ALL SYSTEMS ARE LOOKING BETTER.

DOESN'T MEAN THINGS ARE LOOKING GREAT YET, BUT AT LEAST THE TREND IS GETTING BETTER.

>> YEAH, A LOT MORE HOPE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE GOVERNOR RECEIVED HIS SHOT THIS WEEK, AND ALSO SCHOOLS WILL BE OFFERING IN-PERSON CLASSES VERY, VERY SOON.

WHAT DOES THE DATA TELL US ABOUT HOW KIDS MAY SPREAD TO EACH OTHER OR TO TEACHERS IN THAT SETTING, AND DO YOU THINK THIS IN-PERSON LEARNING IS A GOOD IDEA?

>> I AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR AGAIN.

THAT'S TWICE TODAY.

YEAH, I THINK IT WAS WELL CRAFTED.

INDICATORS ARE GETTING BETTER.

THE TEACHERS THAT WANTED VACCINES HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO GET THEM.

WE KNOW THE VIRUS SPREADS MORE READILY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL-AGE STUDENTS.

SO THE EXECUTIVE ORDER TAKES THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL, AND IF THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL SPREAD IN A COUNTY, THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE PRECAUTION.

BUT YOU KNOW -- THE ISSUE THAT SCHOOLS ARE DEALING WITH IS IT IS ALREADY MARCH 4TH, AND THERE IS A PLANNING ISSUE, BUT I THINK THE TIMING IS GOOD ON THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

GOOD DECISION.

>> SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF GOOD NEWS.

AND I WILL WRITE THAT DOWN, THAT TWICE IN SIX AND A HALF MINUTES WILL HUMBLE AGREED WITH THE GOVERNOR.

THANK YOU, WILL.

>>> COMING UP, I'LL EXPLAIN WHY MINORITY COMMUNITIES ARE STRUGGLING TO GET THE SAME ACCESS AS OTHERS WHEN TRYING TO SCHEDULE COVID-19 VACCINE APPOINTMENTS.

♪♪ >>> WE'RE HEADING RIGHT INTO ALLERGY SEASON, WE TALKED WITH THE STATE'S NATUROPATHIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ABOUT SOME NATURAL WAYS WE CAN COMBAT ALLERGIES, AND IF ALLERGIES CAN BE CONFUSED WITH THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID.

THANK YOU, DR. IAN FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> WITH THE WIND WE HAVE HAD THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, I IMAGINE PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING FROM ALLERGIES.

HOW LONG DOES ALLERGY SEASON LAST, AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS.

>> SEASONAL ALLERGIES TYPICALLY BEGIN IN LATE JANUARY IN FLAGSTAFF BECAUSE OF THE JUNIPER BLOOMS, AND THE WARMER THE WINTER, THE SOONER THEY WILL BLOOM.

SO SEASONAL ALLERGIES WILL BEGIN, END OF JANUARY, MID-FEBRUARY WHEN THE JUNIPERS BEGIN TO BLOOM.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL SAY THEY HAVE ALLERGIES EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR, AND LIKE YOU MENTIONED, ALLERGY SYMPTOMS SOMETIMES FEEL AND LOOK LIKE COVID-19.

IS THERE A RULE OF THUMB FOR TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM ALLERGIES OR MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET A COVID TEST?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THE SYMPTOMS ARE VERY, VERY DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE CAUSES ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

IF WE LOOK AT THE DEFINITION OF ALLERGIES, IT IS AN INAPPROPRIATE REACTION TO A HARMLESS SUBSTANCE.

IF THE BODY COMES IN CONTACT WITH AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE, THAT IS HARMFUL, AND APPROPRIATE TO MOUNT REACTION, AND THAT WILL BE VERY DIFFERENT FROM ALLERGIES.

SYMPTOMS OF COVID OR ANY INFECTIOUS DISEASE WILL BE IGNITED WITH FEVER.

THAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SYMPTOM.

IT COULD BE ACCOMPANIED WITH OR OR WITHOUT CHILLS, AND MUSCLE ACHES, FATIGUE, LOSS OF APPETITE.

AND WITH COVID, THERE IS A LOSS OF TASTE OR SMELL, AND THE COUGH IS VERY, VERY DEEP IN YOUR CHEST, AND THERE CAN BE DIFFICULTY PULLING AIR IN.

NOW THOSE ARE NOT THE SYMPTOMS OF ALLERGIES.

YOU WILL NOT HAVE A FEVER WITH ALLERGIES.

>> OFTENTIMES DOCTORS WILL TELL PATIENTS TO SPEND MORE TIME IN DOORS OR TO SHOWER OFF MORE OFTEN TO HELP WITH SYMPTOMS.

OFTENTIMES WE'RE WORKING OR SPENDING TIME AT HOME, IS THAT GOING TO HELP?

>> NEITHER ONE IS GOING TO HELP OR WORSEN ALLERGYIES, BECAUSE YOUR ALLERGIES ARE CAUSED BY YOUR OWN IMMUNE SYSTEM, AND YOUR OWN IMMUNE SYSTEM'S MISINTERPRETATION OF WHAT IS HARMFUL, BECAUSE IT SHOULD NOT BE HARMFUL.

>> SO WHAT NATURAL TREATMENTS FOR ALLERGIES -- IF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO TREAT THOSE ALLERGIES THAT ARE PICKING UP NOW, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THEY CAN DO EVERY DAY TO HELP EASE SYMPTOMS?

>> HERE IS HOW WE HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE BODY BURDEN.

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SAYS THAT MORE THAN 50% OF THE POPULATION LIVING IN DEVELOPED, COMMERCIALIZED, INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS HAS ALLERGIES.

SO STAYING INSIDE IS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE EPIDEMIC OF ALLERGIES.

THE EPIDEMIC IS CAUSED BY THE VOLUME AND VOLUME OF POLLUTANTS AND CHEMICALS THAT WE'RE EXPOSED TO.

SO WHAT COULD BE MORE NATURAL THAN TO CLEAN UP YOUR BODY, REMOVE THE BODY BURDEN, AND EVERYTHING I'M GOING TO TELL YOU TO ALLEVIATE ALLERGIES WILL BE THE SAME THING TO PREPARE TO RECEIVE THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

WE WANT TO GET OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM READY FOR THE VACCINE, AND GET OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM TOLERATING THE NON-SELF WORLD THAT IS HARMLESS.

>> DO YOU HAVE SOME TIPS TO HELP PEOPLE?

>> GET OFF OF ALL PROCESSED FOODS.

FIVE SERVINGS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES EVERY DAY.

DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.

STOP MICROWAVING, AND SIMPLE THINGS LIKE TAKING YOUR SHOES OFF WHEN YOU GO IN THE HOUSE KEEPS THE WORLD OUTSIDE.

ELIMINATING ALL OF THE CHEMICALS FROM COSMETICS, CLEANING PRODUCTS THAT YOU CAN.

WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE THINGS WE CAN CONTROL.

>> DOCTOR THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>>> THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, THE DEBATE OVER A BILL THAT JUST PASSED THE HOUSE TO EXPAND ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX.

AND ON BRAEK-- BREAK IT DOWN, THE PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIOR OF BEING A KAREN.

♪♪ >> I HOPE YOU ARE APPRECIATING "ARIZONA HORIZON" TONIGHT.

BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE IT IS