[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE LATEST ON HOW THE STATE'S ALLOTMENT OF COVID-19 VACCINE IS BE ADMINISTERS.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN THE IMPACT OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS ON SOCIETAL EVOLUTION.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA IS STILL THE HOT SPOT IN THE NATION FOR NEW CASES OF COVID-19.

ARIZONA HAS OVER 6400 NEW CASES.

WHICH IS THE HIGHEST 7-DAY AVERAGE IN THE COUNTRY.

ARIZONA HOSPITALS CONTINUE TO SHOW MOST OF ICU BEDS OCCUPIED BY COVID-19 CASES.

VACCINES WILL CONTINUE TO BE ADMINISTERED, AND STARTING FEBRUARY 1ST, A SECOND SIGHT WILL BE UP AND RUNNING.

BOTH SIDES ARE STATE-RUN OPERATIONS.

IT IS POSSIBLE TO BOOST YOUR BODY'S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS.

FOCUSING ON GETTING GOOD SLEEP, EATING RIGHT, AND EXERCISING CAN BOOST YOUR BODY RESPONSE.

>>> THOUSANDS OF NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS ARE PATROLLING THE NATION'S CAPITOL.

AS THEY SHORE THEMSELVES UP AGAINST VIOLENCE.

THAT MEANS THERE WILL NOT BE THOUGH USUAL CROWD BUT A FIELD OF FLAGS HAVE BEEN PLANTED ON THE NATIONAL MALL.

>>> PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL NOT BE AT THE INAUGURATION EITHER.

TRUMP IS ORGANIZING A MILITARY SEND OFF FOR HIMSELF.

AMONG THOSE NOT ANOTHER TENDING THAT EVENT, VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE.

SEVERAL HAVE AGREED TO AT TEND TO A MORNING MASS AT ST. MATTHIEU'S CATHEDRAL.

MITCH McCONNELL PUBLICLY CLAIMED THE PRESIDENT FOR THE RIOT AT THE U.S. CAPITOL.

>> LAST TIME THE SENATE CONVENED, WE JUST RECLAIMED THE CONGRESS.

THE MOB WAS FED LIES.

THEY WERE PROVOKED BY THE PRESIDENT AND OTHER POWERFUL PEOPLE.

AND THEY TRIED TO STOP A PROCEEDING OF THE FIRST BRANCH OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT MITCH McCONNELL SAID THE PRESIDENT WAS PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK.

>>> DEMAND IS ALREADY SAID TO BE VERY HIGH FOR THE VACCINES.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WITH THE DOCTOR FROM THE UOFA.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT 65 PLUS ELIGIBLE EXCEPT FOR MARICOPA COUNTY.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

>> I THINK IT IS A LACK OF NATIONAL LEADERSHIP, WORKING CLOSELY WITH STATE AND LOCAL LEADERSHIP.

WE DON'T HAVE A WELL COORDINATED WELL-OILED MACHINE IN PLACE.

IN ADDITION TO NOT GETTING AS MUCH OF THE VACCINE AS AN TIN TIN -- ANTICIPATED.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF RIGHT AWAY.

I HOPE WE'RE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF, JANITORIAL STAFF AT SCHOOLS, SO WE CAN GET THEM SAFELY REOPENED AS A PRIORITY.

BUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAS BEEN TEDIOUS.

AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL CHANGE WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, WHERE THEY HAVE SET IT AS A GOAL TO HAVE AS MANY AS A MILLION DOSES ROLLED OUT IN 100 DAYS.

>> IN GENERAL, HOW LONG BEFORE THE VACCINES START REFLECTING A LOWER CASE COUNT?

>> YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE UNTIL AT LEAST, I WOULD SAY CLOSE TO 50% OF THE POPULATION IS VACCINATED.

SO WE'RE PRETTY FAR OFF FROM THAT.

IT'S REALLY NARROW THINKING TO JUST FOCUS ON THAT AS THE SOLUTION, WHEN WE KNOW THAT MASK AND CLOSING IN-DOOR ACTIVITY TEMPORARILY CAN HAVE A HUGE IMPACT.

SO THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT WE CAN DO.

>> HEARING ABOUT A NEW VARIANT IN CALIFORNIA.

ALSO HEARING ABOUT A NEW VARIANT IN SOUTH AFRICA.

THESE NEW VERSIONS OF COVID, HOW DO THEY DIFFER FROM WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING NOW.

>> THE HOPE IS THE CURRENT VACCINES WILL WORK ON THEM, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE RESEARCH AND DATA COLLECTED YET.

VIRUSES MUTATE AS THEY REPLICATE AND SPREAD.

THE ONLY REASON WE HAVEN'T HEARD MORE NEWS OF THIS IN THE NEWS IS WE HAVE BEEN LATE TO THE GAME TO LOOKING AT THE VARIANTS.

THE ONE IS CALIFORNIA IT'S STILL TOO EARLY TO RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENCES.

WE DEFINITELY KNOW THE U.K.

VARIANT IS MUCH MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN THE OTHER VARIANTS THAT HAVE BEEN OUT THERE.

AND PFIZER IS LOOKING AT STUDIES LOOKING AT WHETHER THE VACCINE IS EFFECTIVE.

BUT REALLY ONE OF THE KEY POINTS HERE IS TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT MITIGATION WITH MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCES ALSO STOPS MUTATION FROM HAPPENING TO THE POINT WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO GET THESE VARIANTS THAT WILL COMPLICATE THOUGH PICTURE.

SO IN PLACES LIKE ARIZONA, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE LEAD THE WORLD RECENTLY IN COVID GROWTH RATE, AND THAT GROWTH RATE MEANS WE ARE ALSO HAVING MORE VARIANTS THAT WE JUST DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

.

>> YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES HERE MITIGATION EFFORTS.

YOU ARE A DOCTOR.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING AS FAR AS BEING CAREFUL TO NOT GET INFECTED AND BEING CAREFUL NOT TO SPREAD THE VIRUS.

>> MY FAMILY AND I ARE NOT SEEING OTHER PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF SEEING PATIENTS AND GOING TO WORK.

IF WE SEE ANYONE, IT'S OUTDOORS WITH MASKS, WITH DISTANCEING.

IF WE GO OUT, IT'S PATIO DINING.

MOSTLY TAKEOUT.

WE'RE CONSTANTLY WEARING THE MASKS ANY TIME WE'RE IN PUBLIC.

AND WE'RE STILL DOING THIS EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE BOTH RECEIVED THE SECOND DOSE OF THE PFIZER VACCINE THIS PAST WEEK.

SO I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOLKS DO THAT.

WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES, WE CHECKED OUR VITAMIN D LEVELS.

WE ALSO TAKE ZINC AND VITAMIN C. THE HEALTHIER YOU ARE GOING INTO THIS, THE BETTER YOU ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE NATION'S CAPITOL IS GEARING UP AND CLOSING DOWN LIKE FOR AN INAUGURATION LIKE NO OTHER.

>> Reporter: AS WASHINGTON PREPARES FOR WEDNESDAY'S INAUGURATION, THE CITY LOOKS LIKE MORE LIKE IT WAS PLANNING FOR AN ATTACK THAN CELEBRATION.

WITH UPWARDS OF 25,000 NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS DEPLOYED HERE, D.C. IS MORE FORTIFIED THAN OTHER BEFORE FOR AN INAUGURATION.

THE LOCKDOWN BEGAN AFTER THE LOCKDOWN OF THE JANUARY 6TH TAKEOVER.

THERE ARE RED AND GREEN ZONES WITH GREEN ZONES RESTRICTED TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.

>> WE ARE SEEING AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF CONCERNING ON-LINE CHATTER ABOUT A NUMBER OF EVENTS SURROUNDING THE INAUGURATION.

>> TWO FREE SPEECH ZONES HAVE BEEN SET UP, BUT SECURITY IS APPROPRIATE WHEN FREE SPEECH ESCALATES TO VIOLENCE.

>> IT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN PROTECTED SPEECH, PROTECTED PROTESTS.

>> Reporter: HE GOES ON TO SAY HE ASSUMES THE STATE HAS SOUND INTEL AGAINST -- INTELLIGENCE.

ONCE THE INAUGURATION HAS CONCLUDED IT IS EXPECTED THAT MOST RESTRICTIONS WILL BE LIFTED BY THE WEEKEND.

>>> UP NEXT REPORTS THAT PPE SUPPLIERS ARE OVERPROMISING AND UNDERDELIVERING.

>>> SCAMMERS AND SPECULATE ORS HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF A FRANTIC MARKET OF PPE.

WE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THIS WITH A PPE DISTRIBUTOR HERE IN ARIZONA.

MICHAEL THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE PPE MARKET HIT BY SCAMMERS TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, TED.

I'M SURE YOU HAVE SEEN THERE HAVE BEEN PIECES OF THE STATE AND HEALTH SYSTEMS LOOKING FOR MONEY BACK FOR PPE THAT THEY HAD PURCHASED THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

>> HOW MUCH FRAUD IS INVOLVED RIGHT NOW?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS SO MUCH AS FRAUD AS IT IS EXPECTATIONS.

THE UNITED STATES HAS VERY HIGH STANDARDS.

SO A LOT OF TIMES IN THE RUSH TO JUST GET EQUIPMENT, PROTECTION, ET CETERA, ESPECIALLY IN MARCH AND APRIL OF LAST YEAR, IT WAS JUST HEY, HERE IS MONEY, SEND ME WHAT YOU CAN GET ME, AND LET'S TAKE CARE OF OUR CITIZENS.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS MARKET CAN BE DISTRIBED AS FRENZIED?

>> IT ABSOLUTELY CAN BE.

THERE WAS A HIGH DEMAND AND NEED.

WHEN THE MAJORITY OF PPE COMES DIRECTLY FROM CHINA, AND EVERYONE IN THE WORLD IS CALLING FOR ONE SOURCE.

CLEARLY IT BECOMES A BROKER'S MARKET.

SO THAT IS THE BIGGEST PAIN POINT.

>> ARE YOU SEEING A LOT OF SPECULATEORS INVOLVED NOW?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS NOT QUALITY OR PRICE OR TIMELINESS, IT IS THE FACT THAT OVER THE LAST SIX TO NINE MONTHS SO MANY FRONT LINE WORKERS HAVE HAD SUCH A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH QUALITY.

>> YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT GEAR IS DELIVERED LATE.

IT'S NOT DELIVERED AT ALL.

HEALTH CARE FACILITIES ARE RUNNING INTO THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME, HUH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ON OUR SIDE THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED.

WE SAW THE NEED AND PANIC.

WE GOT TIRED OF THE STORIES OF WORKERS USING GARBAGE BAGS AND SENDING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OVERSEAS FOR PPE.

>> AND THOSE THAT ARE OUT THERE, THOUGH, NOT NECESSARILY FOLLOWING THE P'S AND Q'S, WHO ARE THESE FOLKS?

>> I THINK IT'S MORE EXPECTATIONS OF, YEAH, I KNOW A GUY OR A GAL, I CAN GET THIS.

I HAVE A CONNECTION.

BUT I NEED YOU TO PAY UP FRONT.

OVERSEAS THEY DON'T LIFT A FINGER UNTIL YOU SEND SOME MONEY, AND HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WE'RE USED TO TERMS TO RECEIVE THE PRODUCT, MAKE SURE YOU ARE GETTING WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO PAY FOR, WHEREAS IN THE MARKET, THEY WEREN'T LIFTING A FINGER UNLESS YOU WERE WILLING TO SEND MONEY IMMEDIATELY.

>> I HEARD MALAYSIA AND MEXICO ARE STARTING TO GET INVOLVED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IN TURKEY WE HAVE CONTROL OF THE RAW MATERIALS IN THE FACTORIES, SO, YES, YOU ARE SEEING OTHER PLACES.

BUT AS IN OTHER PLACES THERE ARE GROWING PAINS AND THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH MONEY TO SPEND.

>> AND ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING AS CORONAVIRUS CASES INCREASE.

HOSPITALIZATIONS INCREASE.

NOT A GOOD TIME FOR THIS.

>> NO, AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING A FLOODED MARKET, THERE WERE BIDS RECENTLY WHERE EVEN MASKS WERE BEING BID AT ONE CENT, BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE GETTING RID OF THE EQUIPMENT THEY HAD.

SO THERE ARE THESE NON-FDA CERTIFIED PRODUCTS.

>> YEAH.

AND COULD THERE BE A SIMILAR KIND OF MARKET OUT THERE FOR GLOVES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS WE FELT THE PAIN FOR N95 MASKS, AND GLOVES IS THE EXACT SAME SITUATION ALL OVER AGAIN.

>> AND BOTTOM LINE, LAST QUESTION, OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE A BUSINESSMAN, AND YOU HAVE BUSINESS CONCERNS, BUT THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN GOING ON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT'S WHERE THERE IS THIS DEBATE OF WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE FRONT LINE WORKERS, BUT THERE IS ALSO A STANDARD THAT IS SET.

WHATEVER THE PROPER PROTECTION IS, IT HAS GOT TO MAKE SURE IT IS A MATCH FOR THE CERTIFICATION TO PROTECT OUR FRONT LINE WORKERS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

BE SAFE.

>>> PET ADOPTIONS ARE ON THE RISE DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

MANY ARE FINDING FURRY FRIENDS ARE A HELP TO GET THROUGH THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.

WE TALKED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN HUMANE SOCIETY AND A THERAPY CAT OWNER.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

DOCTOR, MORE PEOPLE ADOPTING PETS DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> WITH HAVE BEEN SO BUSY.

WE USED A VIRTUAL MASK-MAKING PROCESS, AND WE ARE VERY BUSY.

PEOPLE WANT TO FOCUS INSIDE.

SINCE THEY ARE SPENDING MORE TIME AT HOME, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN USE THAT TIME TO TRAIN THE ANIMAL.

>> AND IT ALWAYS ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE TO GET THAT RELATIONSHIP GOING WITH PETS, AND THAT'S A BIG DEAL ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH, IT REALLY IS.

AND AS YOU BUILD YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PET, NOW WOULD BE A GREAT TIME TO START VOLUNTEERING WITH YOUR ANIMAL.

>> TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT PETS BRING TO PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT MIGHT BE SUFFERING FROM CONDITIONS >> YES, VOLUNTEERS WITH HOSPICE OF THE VALLEY, AND PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, AND AT HOSPICE OF THE VALLEY, IT IS SO INTRIGUING TO SEE HOW PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA, JUST TO SEE A CAT AGAIN, AND IT'S JUST AN AMAZING CONNECTION TO MAKE WITH A PERSON.

AT THE HOSPITAL, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

OUR PATIENTS ARE MUCH YOUNGER, AND THEY ARE JUST EXCITED TO SEE A CAT.

SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED BY CATS, SO THEY ARE AFRAID OF PETS, AND SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR MONTHS AT A TIME, AND THEY ALL WANT TO HAVE A VISIT WITH ROGER.

>> I WOULD THINK ROGER IS A SPECIAL CAT IN ANY EVENT.

BECAUSE YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT THERAPY CATS THAT OFTEN.

>> I THINK THERE WILL FIVE ORE SIX IN THE PHOENIX AREA.

>> WOW.

WOW.

DOCTOR WHAT DOES THIS MEAN AS FAR AS THE SUPPLY OF SHELTER ANIMAL ANIMALS.

>> WE HAVE ANIMALS THAT ARE BEING PUT ON OUR ADOPTION FLOOR ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS.

SO I ENCOURAGE VIEWERS TO SCHEDULE AN AN APP -- AN APPOINTMENT BECAUSE THEY MOVE SO QUICKLY.

WE HAVE A VERY OPEN ADOPTIONS PROCESS.

IF IT DOESN'T WORK, IT YOU HAVE A NEW DOG THAT DOESN'T GET ALONG WITH YOUR DOG, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO BRING IT BACK, SO WE CAN LOOK FOR A NEW HOME.

IT'S REALLY MAKING FOR A WONDERFUL HOME SETTING.

IT JUST -- IT MAKES THE FAMILY.

LIKE ROGER -- WHEN YOU HAVE A SPECIAL CAT LIKE ROGER IT JUST -- IT MAKES THE FAMILY COMPLETE.

>> I'M SURE IT DOES.

TRACY, WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING ANXIETY AND HAVING MENTAL ISSUES?

SAME WITH THE ANIMALS, I THINK THEY CAN'T HELP BUT HOPE, HUH?

>> NO.

HE IS A PRETTY COOL CAT, AND HE IS LIKE A DOSE OF ANTIANXIETY.

>> AND HE HAS VISITED THE ASU'S HONORS COLLEGE.

>> YES.

THE KIDS THERE SEEM TO REALLY LOVE HIM AND ENJOY HIS VISITS.

>> YEAH.

DR. HANSON, OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE UNIQUE TIMES.

THINGS WILL EVENTUALLY GET BACK TO A NORMAL.

AS OUR RELATIONSHIPS -- IS IT CHANGING?

IS THIS HELPING CHANGE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE ANDEN A MALLS.

>>> I THINK IT HAS, TED.

TODAY WE HAVE ABOUT 400 ANIMALS IN FOSTER.

THE COMMUNITY IS STEPPING UP, AND REALLY COMPLETING OUR FAMILIES.

>> AND YOU HAVE A NEW FACILITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

>> YES, NEXT FALL IS WHEN THE GROUND-BREAKING WILL HAPPEN.

IT'S DOWN BY THE PHOENIX BOTANICAL GARDENS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE GOOD WORK YOU DO, AND THE FACT THAT IT IS NICE TO SEE NOT AS MANY CAGES FILLED, HUH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THEY STAY FOR SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, AND WE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.

>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

AND TRACY, THANK YOU.

AND GIVE OUR BEST TO ROGER.

>> I WILL.

>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

COMING UP ON THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

A LOOK AT THE SUCCESS OF THE ASU'S MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM.