>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF KPBS NEWS I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

CALIFORNIA NOW HAS A LOS COVID INFECTION RATE IN THE U.S. AND A BIG PART OF THAT IS DUE TO THE PROGRESS MADE HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

THE COUNTY DASHBOARD SHOWS LOCAL CASES ARE HOVERING AROUND THE LOWEST RATES SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN LESS THAN 2% OF ALL COVID TESTS ARE COMING BACK POSITIVE.

WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINES DISTRIBUTED LOCALLY MORE THAN TWO AND ONE HALF MILLION PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE SHOT.

THE FURTHER WE GO INTO THIS PROCESS, PERSUADING PEOPLE TO GET FASCINATED BECOMES MORE OF A CHALLENGE.

KPBS REPORTER CLAIRE TRAGESER SHOWS HOW LOCAL UNIONS ARE FOCUSING ON OUTREACH TO THE MEMBERS.

>> Reporter: LILY NOVA RENO HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR A COVID APPOINTMENT EVERYWHERE WITH NO LUCK.>> THE UNION AMAZING ORGANIZE THESE FOUR EMPLOYEES WHICH WAS A HUGE RELIEF BECAUSE NOW THAT I AM LOOKING BACK, I REMEMBER THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC AND COMING BACK FROM WORK, LEAVING MY SHOES OUTSIDE TAKING OFF MY CLOTHES GOING STRAIGHT TO THE SHOWER.

IT WAS SCARY.>> SHE HAS BEEN A BONDS WORKER 30 YEARS SO SHE TURNED TO AND ORGANIZATION SHE OFTEN TURNS TO FOR HELP.

HER UNION.

UNIONS ACROSS THE SAN DIEGO REGION ARE WORKING HARD TO GET THEIR MEMBERS VACCINATED.

EMPLOYING MANY OF THE SAME TACTICS THEY USED TO GET LAWS PASSED AND FAVORED POLITICAL CANDIDATES ELECTED.

THEY ARE LOBBYING LAWMAKERS TO GRANT ELIGIBILITY TO THE MEMBERS, AND SECURING SUPPLIES AND VACCINES FROM STATE AND COUNTY OFFICIALS.

THEY HAVE ALSO LAUNCHED VACCINE AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS AMONG THEIR MEMBERS.>> IT IS A TRUSTED INFORMATION SOURCE FOR PEOPLE.

>> UC SAN DIEGO EPIDEMIOLOGY PROFESSOR REBECCA FIELDING MILLER SET ALL HAVE A BIG IMPACT, INCREASING HERD IMMUNITY AND UNIONIZED WORKPLACES, AND VACCINATION RATES IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES.

>> THERE IS A FIREHOSE OF INFORMATION HAPPENING BUT IF YOUR UNION REACHES OUT TO YOU AND SAYS DOES THIS AND THIS ON THIS DAY THAT IS HELPFUL.

>> TODD WALTERS AS PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL FOOD WORKERS UNION.

HE SAYS THEY HAVE MADE IT EASY FOR MEMBERS TO SIGN UP FOR VACCINE APPOINTMENTS AT UNION RUN CLINICS AND ARE ENCOURAGING THOSE WHO ARE VACCINE HESITANT TO GET THE SHOT.

>> WHEN YOU VISIT MEMBERS ON A JOB SITE, PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT A BIG THING THAT IS AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.

WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE ON A JOB SITE YOU HAVE A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE THE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM WHERE THEY TRUST YOU AND THEY SHARE INFORMATION WITH YOU.

>> UNIONS REPRESENT CHILD CARE AND HOME CARE PROVIDERS, AND UTILITY WORKERS, HAVE ALSO ORGANIZE THEIR OWN VACCINATION CLINICS AT THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS UNION SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED THE GOVERNOR TO ADD UTILITY WORKERS TO TIER 1B SO THEY COULD BEGIN RECEIVING VACCINES IN MID-MARCH.

NOW, THE BUSINESS MANAGER FOR THE LOCAL BRANCH SAYS MORE THAN 50% OF HIS MEMBERS ARE VACCINATED.>> YOUR UNION IS ONE OF YOUR MOST TRUSTED SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND PEOPLE GET INUNDATED WITH INFORMATION FROM THEIR EMPLOYER, THEIR COMMUNITY GROUPS, BUT WHEN SOMEBODY IS A MEMBER OF A UNION AND THEIR UNION HAS COMMUNICATED WITH THEM DIRECTLY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF AN ISSUE, WHETHER IT IS A CANDIDATE WHO IS A WORKER CHAMPION THAT WE REALLY WANT TO GET ON A SCHOOL BOARD OR IRRIGATION BOARD OR CITY COUNCIL, OR AN EMPLOYER, OR ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARING A MASK OR OF GETTING A VACCINATION, STUDY AFTER STUDY SHOWS WORKERS INVOLVED WITH THE UNION AND MEMBERS OF THE UNION, THEY TRUST THE MESSAGE COMING FROM THEIR UNION.

>> BRIDGET BROWNING, PRESIDENT OF A LOCAL HOTEL WORKERS UNION SAYS SHE'S LETTING MEMBERS KNOW THAT SKIPPING THE VACCINE MAY COST THEM WORK.>> I THINK WE WILL HAVE TO TELL OUR MEMBERS THAT IF YOU DO NOT GET VACCINATED, AND THE CUSTOMER SAYS YOU CANNOT BE IN THE BANQUET ROOM, YOU CAN'T BE.

>> EVEN FOR NONUNION WORKERS, PRESSURE FROM COWORKERS AND FRIENDS DIFFERENCE IN WHETHER THEY TAKE A SHOT.

PAOLO MIRELES IS THE SUSHI MANAGER AT SUSHI DELI IN MISSION HILLS.

HE SAID AT FIRST MANY OF HIS COWORKERS DID NOT WANT THE VACCINE BUT NOW THEY ARE COMING AROUND.>> YOU KNOW WITH THE SITUATION AND IF 50% GOT THE SHOT, ANOTHER 50% AWAITING TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN.>> AFTER SEEING HE AND OTHERS GETTING THE SHOTS, COWORKER DANIELLE FLOREZ SAYS THEY WILL GET ONE.>> IT IS A NEW VACCINE, YOU DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS BARELY COMING OUT.

BUT IT IS ALL ABOUT EACH OTHER'S HEALTH.

WE SHOULD ALL GET IT AND BE PROTECTIVE.

>> CLAIRE TRAGESER KPBS NEWS.

>> WILL HAVE MORE FROM CLAIRE TRAGESER LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST, INCLUDING A LOOK AT HOW LOCAL PLACES OF WORSHIP ARE TALKING ABOUT THE VACCINE, AS SOME CHURCHES REMAIN SKEPTICAL AND OTHERS EMBRACE THE SCIENCE.

>>> WHEN IT COMES TO TWO OF OUR MAJOR COLLEGES, THERE ISN'T MUCH OF A CHOICE.

IF YOU WANT TO RETURN IN THE FALL YOU HAVE TO GET THE COVID VACCINE, CAL STATE AND THE UC SYSTEM BOTH REQUIRE VACCINATIONS FOR STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY AND LABOR GROUPS.

LOCALLY, UC SAN DIEGO AND SAN DIEGO STATE, SOME EXCEPTIONS MADE FOR RELIGIOUS GROUNDS, UC SAN DIEGO STATE IS CONSIDERED A MODEL FOR ITS RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE AND UPDATE ON THE UNIVERSITY'S PROGRESS WITH JOE HONG DID >> Reporter: UC SAN DIEGO HAS BEEN A SUCCESS STORY AND SPREADING COVID 19 ON CAMPUS X FOR MANDATORY SAFETY PROTOCOLS, 1700 AND UNIVERSITY HOUSING.

THE POSITIVITY RATE AMONG STUDENTS IS A FRACTION OF THE COUNTYWIDE RATE.

UC SAN DIEGO CHANCELLOR SAID IT WAS ALL DUE TO THE COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN SCIENTISTS AND ADMINISTRATORS ABOVE ALL HE CREDITS THE STUDENTS.>> OUR STUDENTS BEHAVE EXEMPLARY WHILE.

IT WAS BEATING OUR EXPECTATIONS AND THEN SOME.

SO FOR ME THEY WERE THE REASON WE WERE SUCCESSFUL.>> RIGHT NOW IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BOARD OF REGENTS WILL REQUIRE STUDENTS AND STAFF AT ALL UC CAMPUSES TO BE VACCINATED BEFORE RETURNING IN THE FALL.

THE CHANCELLOR SAID THE REGION SHOULD REQUIRE VACCINATIONS, EXCEPT FOR THOSE NOT ABLE TO BECAUSE OF MEDICAL REASONS OR STRONGLY HELD RELIGIOUS REASONS.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY OUR JOB IS NOT TO BE INDIVIDUALLY INDEPENDENT, WE NEED TO BE PART OF A SOCIETAL STRUCTURE.

AND IN SAFEGUARDING OURSELVES TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE AROUND US.

IT IS A BALANCE WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.>> THE EXPERTS ON THE TEAM AGREES, THE PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT UC SAN DIEGO WHO OVERSAW THE COVID-19 TASK FORCE UNIVERSITY SAID THE VACCINE SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS LIVING ON UC CAMPUSES.>> THAT IS WHY WE HAVE MEASLES VACCINE IS REQUIRED, CHICKENPOX VACCINES, MENINGITIS ESSENES.

THE COVID VACCINES ARE BETTER THAN THE ONES WE ALREADY HAVE WHERE THE DISEASE IS MORE SEVERE SO IT MAKES MEDICAL SENSE FOR THESE KINDS OF SETTINGS TO HAVE VACCINE BE A PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE HERE.

>> A MONTH LOCAL COLLEGES THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO ANNOUNCED IT WOULD REQUIRE ALL STUDENTS TO BE VACCINATED BEFORE COMING TO CAMPUS.

REGULAR CITY WILL NOT BE REQUIRING STUDENTS TO BE VACCINATED.>> SAN DIEGO UNIFIED A SOBERNESS TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AHEAD OF NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK.

THIS YEAR'S HONOREES ARE THOMAS COURTNEY, GUADALUPE SOLID ON, AND SHARON APPLE.

A VIRTUAL CELEBRATION IS PLANNED FOR NEXT WEEK WITH THE THEME TEACHERS LEADING IN CRISIS, FOSTERING RESILIENCY, AND BUILDING A BETTER SAN DIEGO.

>>> IN NORTH COUNTY THERE IS FRUSTRATION AMONG SOME PARENTS WHO SAY THE SAN MARCO SCHOOL DISTRICT IS SLOW TO REOPEN.

KPBS NORTH COUNTY REPORTER, TANIA THORNE, SPOKE TO PARENTS WHO SAID THEY WANT A CLEAR PLAN FORWARD.

>> Reporter: PARENTS AND STUDENTS RALLIED OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE MORNING AND JENNY MERRIFIELD IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.>> THERE ARE NO MORE RESTRICTIONS ABOUT RETURNING TO CLASS AND IT IS SAFE FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AND IT IS TIME TO GO BACK.

>> MUST THE JUDGE RULED SIX N. COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT INVOLVED IN A LAWSUIT AFTER REOPEN THEIR SCHOOLS FOR IN PERSON INSTRUCTION TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE AT THE EARLIEST TIME.

SEND MARCOS AND OCEANSIDE UNIFIED ARE THE ONLY TWO DEFENDANTS WHO HAVE NOT FULLY RESUMED IN PERSON LEARNING SINCE THE ORDER.

PARENT KIMBERLY IMHOFF SAID IF PLACES OF WORSHIP ARE OPEN SCHOOL SHOULD BE AS WELL FOR THE SAKE OF THE STUDENTS.>> THE DISTRICT TOLD US YOU CANNOT COMPARE ASSIST MOELLER DISTRICT LIKE CARLSBAD BECAUSE WE ARE SO LARGE.

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED IS MUCH BIGGER THAN WE ARE.

IF THEY CAN DO IT IN SOME FORM OR FASHION WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ALSO.>> ASHTON IS A 10TH-GRADER SEND MARCOS HI.>> THIS WOULD PROVIDE MOMENTUM TO ENSURE WERE BACK NEXT YEAR ESPECIALLY SINCE IF I DON'T I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY PEERS WE HAVE TO MOVE SCHOOLS>> IN A STATEMENT OCEANSIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAID THEY ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN PROVIDE THE SAFEST AND HEALTHIEST LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS POSSIBLE PRIOR TO MOVING FORWARD WITH BRINGING STUDENTS BACK IN A LARGER CAPACITY BUT SEND MARCOS IF I DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST FOR A STATEMENT.

TANIA THORNE KPBS NEWS.

>>> IT IS A HOPEFUL TIME FOR ARTS AND CULTURE IN SAN DIEGO.

SOME LOCAL INSTITUTIONS USE THE PAST YEAR IS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR A REBOOT AND TO REINVENT THEMSELVES.

JOHN CARROLL SHOWS US HOW THAT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR THE REOPENED MUSEUM OF US.

>> Reporter: IF YOU THINK OF BALBOA PARK AS A CROWN, THEN THE MUSEUMS ARE THE CROWN JEWELS.

AMONG THEM, THE MUSEUM OF US, FORMALLY KNOWN AS THE MUSEUM OF MAN AFTER MONTHS OF BEING CLOSED IT OPEN ITS DOORS TO VISITORS ONCE AGAIN.

BE AND IT IS SO WONDERFUL TO SEE THIS BUILDING ALIVE AGAIN WITH PEOPLE.>> AND THE PEOPLE WERE HAPPY TO.>> YOU KNOW EXCITING TO SEE STUFF LIKE THIS AND IT IS SUCH A BIG PART OF THE COMMUNITY, IT IS SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAVELING THAT IS EXCITING AND LOCALS TO COME BACK AND ENJOY THE DIFFERENT PERKS OF OUR COMMUNITY AGAIN.>> OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC CLOSURE, MANY MUSEUMS IN THE PARK TOOK THE TIME THAT IT NEEDED TO TAKE TO DO TO DO MAINTENANCE WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO DO WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE AROUND.

AND HERE THEY DID SOMETHING ELSE.

TO THINK ABOUT THE ISSUE OF PAY EQUITY.>> THE PUBLIC HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN PAID MUCH LOWER THAN ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.>> SOME OF THE PEOPLE HAD TO BE FURLOUGHED BUT NOW THEY ARE BEING HIRED BACK.

A BIG DIFFERENCE.>> WE HIRED THE META-STARTING WAGE OF $20 PER HOUR.

SO LIVING WAGE +4 FRONT FACING STAFF.

>> THE PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHT PEOPLE LARGE AND SMALL TO ALL MUSEUMS OF BALBOA PARK.

HERE AT THE MUSEUM OF US, IT'S TIES TO EUROPEAN COLONIALISM BEGINNING WITH THE FRONT FAGADE.

THEY SAY THEY WORKED WITH GOOGLE'S ART AND CULTURE WEBSITE TO PRESENT A MORE FULSOME PICTURE OF THE FAGADE.>> IT IS OFTEN NOT SHOWN FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF NATIVE AMERICANS.

IT IS FROM THE EUROPEAN VIEWPOINT.

>> FINALLY THE MUSEUM'S NAME CHANGE, AND THE WORKS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

FROM MAN TO US, THE MUSEUM'S NAME CHANGE BUT REFLECTS HIS WORK TOWARDS EQUITY, INCLUSION AND DECOLONIZATION BUT IT IS OPEN WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY 10:00 TO5:00, A WELCOME STEP BACK TO LIFE IN THE POST- PANDEMIC WORLD.

>>> BEFORE YOU SETTLE IN TO WATCH THE OSCARS THIS WEEKEND, LOCAL FILMMAKERS ARE SHOWING OFF THEIR LATEST WORK.

THE ASIAN FILM FESTIVALS SPRING SHOWCASES HAPPENING ONLINE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

A WARNING TO VIEWERS, SOMETIMES THE THEMES ARE DISTURBING.

HERE IS A PREVIEW.

>> Reporter: THIS IS BEEN A JOYOUS CELEBRATION OF ASIAN FILM ALWAYS BUT THE PANDEMIC, COUPLED WITH THE RECENT RISE IN ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES, MAKES THIS YEAR DIFFERENT SAYS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR BRIAN WHO.>> FEELS THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS NOW THE PANDEMIC HAS CREATED CHALLENGES, NOT AS AVAILABLE AS THEY USED TO BE, AND OF COURSE THE ANTI-ASIAN ATTACKS THAT HAVE BEEN VERY VISIBLE REMINDERS THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT OUR VISIBILITY IS THE FILM FESTIVAL AS A WAY TO COMBAT THE DEHUMANIZING IMAGES WE OFTEN SEE.

OR IT SHOWS OTHER ASIAN AMERICANS THERE IS PLENTY WE CAN STILL BE JOYOUS ABOUT.>> AND THAT IS WHY HE CREATED THE PROGRAM SONGS OUR ELDERS TAUGHT ME.

THESE ARE FILMS THAT FOCUS ON OLDER ASIAN AMERICAN CHARACTERS.

HE CHALLENGED HIMSELF TO FIND FILMS THAT HAD NEVER BEEN AVAILABLE STREAMING, LIKE COSMOPOLITAN, AND THE WASH. >> ONE OF OUR FILMS, "THE WASH", WAS NEVER RELEASED ON DVD BUT THE FILM CREW REMINDED ME THERE WAS A LASER DISK BUT WE TRACKED IT DOWN, AND WE TRACKED DOWN THE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO CAPTURE IT DIGITALLY.>> AND ANOTHER SIDEBAR CALLED "SOVEREIGN CINEMA", IT FOCUSES ON A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HAWAII>> FROM COLLECTIVE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES THAT HAVE BEEN MAKING THE MOST INCISIVE, COMMITTED LITTLE DOCUMENTARIES THAT I HAVE SEEN FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.>> ONE OF THE FILMS IS "ACT OF WAR" OVERTHROW THE HAWAIIAN NATION, VIDEO DOCUMENTARY FROM THE 1990S BUT THE TECHNOLOGY MAY FEEL DATED BUT THE DOCUMENTARY IS PACKED WITH INFORMATION.>> IN 1893, IN AN ACT OF WAR, AND AN ARMED INVASION, AND IN VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, OUR NATION WAS TAKEN.>> IT IS SO DENSE WITH INFORMATION AND IT CHANGES YOUR ENTIRE PERSPECTIVE ON HAWAII'S NOTION OF SOVEREIGNTY.>> "PAIN FIRE" IS A NEW DOCUMENTARY THAT CLEVERLY USES HOLLYWOOD DOCUMENTARIES LIKE "BLUE HAWAII" WITH ELVIS PRESLEY, TO SHOW WHAT HAS COLORED OUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE ISLANDS.

>> THE CULTURE HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED BUT HOLLYWOOD COMES OFF "RESPECTFUL" TO THE HAWAIIAN CULTURE, IT IS ABOUT THE MUSIC AND COSTUMES, BUT WHAT GOOD DOES THAT DO FOR SOMEONE IN HAWAII WHO IS SEEING ALL OF THEIR NATURAL RESOURCES AND THEIR LAND BEING INCREASINGLY BOUGHT UP, AND TURNED INTO PROPERTY THROUGH THE VERY SAME KINDS OF INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS THAT ARE CREATING THESE RESPECTABLE IMAGES?

>> HE HAS ALSO PROGRAMMED A WONDERFUL FILM FROM IRAN CALLED "SON CHILDREN" THAT LOOKS DISTRICT KIDS.

>> IT IS SO GROUNDED IN REALISM.

IT HAS A JOLT OF ENERGY OF LIKE ARE THEY GOING TO FIND THE TREASURE?

MAKES IT STAND OUT, NOT JUST IN IRANIAN CINEMA BUT ASIAN CINEMA MORE BROADLY.>> AND SINCE HE MENTIONED JOLT OF ENERGY IT IS MY CUE TO HIGHLIGHT THE FAVORITE PART OF THE FESTIVAL HISTORY KUNG FU THEATER.

THE TITLES ARE A SECRET, BUT YOU ARE GUARANTEED OUTRAGEOUS OLD-SCHOOL KUNG FU ACTION.

>> THE AUDIENCE WILL HAVE A BLAST WITH IT AND WITH THE TWO WERE CHOSEN, IT WILL BE A DOUBLE FEATURE, IT WILL BE LIVE STREAMED.>> AND STREAMED ON A SATURDAY MORING TO REMIND MANY OF US OF HOW WE DISCOVERED KUNG FU MOVIES ON TV, ATTENDEES WILL BE ABLE TO CHAT WITH EACH OTHER ONLINE TO SAVOR EVERY DELICIOUS LINE AND APPLAUD EVERY CRAZY MARTIAL ARTS MOVE.

DESPITE A SERIOUS SOCIAL CONTEXT FOR THIS YEAR SPRING SHOWCASE, THERE IS JOY TO BE FOUND.

>>> GETTING ONLINE FOR SCHOOL, WORK OR EVEN ENTERTAINMENT ISN'T A SIMPLE PROCESS FOR MANY SAN DIEGO AND'S.

ACCESS IS A BIG HURDLE IN THE CITY TAKING STEPS TO CLOSE THE EQUITY GAP.

CRISTINA KIM TELLS US ABOUT A NEW DIGITAL INVESTMENT.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO MAYOR LAID OUT A PLAN TO EXPAND FREE INTERNET ACCESS TO THE MORE 53,000 SAN DIEGO AND LIVING WITHOUT RELIABLE BROADBAND>> FOR US TO BE A TRULY GREAT CITY WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE DIGITAL EQUITY HEAD-ON AND MAKE SURE EVERY SAN DIEGO AND HAS ACCESS TO THE OPPORTUNITIES OF OUR DIGITAL AGE.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE ANNOUNCING TODAY THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS OFFERING FREE WI-FI AT OVER 300 NEW LOCATIONS AS A PART OF OUR NEW ACCESS FOR ALL PROGRAM.>> THE MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT, BUILDING UPON A PROGRAM OF LAST YEAR, UNDER THAN MAYOR KEVIN FAULCONER, ALSO INCLUDES NEW LAPTOPS, 900 MOBILE HOTSPOTS THE PEOPLE CAN CHECK OUT FOR SELF LIBRARIES.

LIKE IT THIS ONE, IT RECEIVED HIS FIRST HOTSPOTS A LITTLE OVER THREE WEEKS AGO AND HAS BEEN OPERATING AN OUTDOOR COMPUTER LAB SINCE OCTOBER.

THE BRANCH MANAGER SAYS THE INTERNET ACCESS HAS BEEN CRUCIAL TO HER PREDOMINANTLY LATINO AND BILINGUAL OCCUPANTS WHO USE THE COMPUTER TO STUDY AND APPLY FOR JOBS>> I GET A LOT OF HAPPY STORIES OF PEOPLE ABLE TO FINISH THEIR WORK WHICH IS HUGE ESPECIALLY WITH LIMITED ACCESS, AND HAVE TO GO TO TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT PLACES JUST TO FINISH THE APPLICATION.

AND THEN MAYBE COME BACK.

IT IS EASY FOR US WHO ARE VERY WELL CONNECTED AND HAVE A PRINTER AND WI-FI BUT IT CAN TAKE ANOTHER PERSON A FEW DAYS JUST TO FINISH WHAT THEY NEED DUE TO TIME LIMITS AND CONSTRAINTS.

>> THIS ON THE HEELS OF MAYOR GLORIA'S PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS TO SAN DIEGO LIBRARIES WAS DOWN HOURS, BUT WILL BE OFFSET BY NEW DIGITAL RESOURCES CRISTINA KIM KPBS NEWS.

>> DESPITE THE PROGRESS WITH VACCINES, EVERYDAY PEOPLE ARE GETTING COVID-19 IN SAN DIEGO.

DOCTORS HAVE MORE EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS AND THERAPIES FOR MODERATE CASES.

IT IS NOW BEING OFFERED IN SOUTH COUNTY.

>> Reporter: AND CHULA VISTA HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE OPEN A NEW EARLY ACTION TREATMENT CENTER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 AND SHOWING MODERATE SYMPTOMS.

>> DR. MARIA SINCE AREAS AND THEN YOU SEE THE HEALTH HAS A THERAPY PRODUCT CALLED MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENTS.>> IT IS THERE TO HELP YOU FIGHT THE VIRUS.

>> THESE ARE LAB MADE PROTEINS THAT ATTACK THE VIRUS POTENTIALLY KEEPING THOSE WHO TESTED POSITIVE FROM DEVELOPING MORE SEVERE SYMPTOMS WERE DYING.>> A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR SOPPY RESIDENTS TO SEEK EARLY COVID-19 TREATMENT BUT >> IT IS RUN BY SANYO CEDRO HEALTH AND LOCATED AT A OLD VALLEY STATION AT A ZIP CODE SECOND MISREPORTED COVID CASES IN THE COUNTY.>> IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID WE URGE YOU TO ACCESS TREATMENT WITH MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.>> UP UNTIL NOW JUST PALOMAR HEALTH WERE OFFERING IT LOCALLY AT THE DOWNTOWN HOSPITAL.>> IT IS A FAIRLY LOW RISK THERAPY WITH A VERY HIGH REWARD.

>> CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR PALOMAR HEALTH SAYS SINCE THEY START OFFERING THE TREATMENT IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, 200 PEOPLE HAVE USED IT.

HAS A BEEN SAFE?

>> YES.

>> IS A JUST TWO OF THE PATIENT WERE LATER ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL ON THE WHOLE PROCESS IS SIMPLE REQUIRING ONE VISIT.>> THEY WILL GIVE YOU INFUSION SORT OF LIKE A SAILING BAG YOU WILL SEE HANGING ON A TV SHOW.

THAT WILL RUN IN OVER ABOUT 30 MINUTES WILL HANG OUT WITH US ANOTHER HOUR.

SO IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR DAY.>> THE TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE 12 AND OLDER FOR MILD TO MODERATE SYMPTOMS AND AVAILABLE AT NO COST REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.

THE ANTIBODIES ARE DESIGNED FOR THOSE WHO MAY GET VERY SICK FROM THE VIRUS.>> IF YOU'RE OVER 65 AND POSITIVE YOU DEFINITELY CAN GET IT ALL OTHER AGE GROUPS YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF COMORBIDITY.>> TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR AN APPOINTMENT CALL 619-685-2500 FOR MORE INFORMATION MATT HOFFMAN KPBS NEWS .

>>> THIS WEEK I'M ONE OF THE SCIENTISTS THAT DEVELOPED THE PFIZER VACCINES HAD A BOOSTER SHOT WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED AND NOW MODERNA SAYS IT IS DEVELOPING ITS OWN.

THE COMPANY CEO SAYS THEY HOPED OF THE VISTA READY FOR FALL TO DEAL WITH ANY COVID-19 VARIANT.

CLINICAL TESTS ARE UNDERWAY AND RESULTS ARE EXPECTED NEXT MONTH .

>>> EARLIER WE SHOWED OUR LOCAL UNIONS ARE REACHING OUT TO WORKERS AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO GET THE VACCINE.

SOME PLACES OF WORSHIP ARE DOING THE SAME.

BUT OTHERS ARE MORE SKEPTICAL A MORE HANDS-OFF.

CLAIRE TRAGESER LOOKED INTO THE MIXED MESSAGES FROM FAITH LEADERS AND HOW IT MIGHT AFFECT HOW QUICKLY WE PUT THE PANDEMIC BEHIND US.

>> Reporter: THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY AND FREEDOM LIES IN THE HANDS OF THE BELIEVING CHRISTIANS.

>> IN FEBRUARY A LARGE CROWD GATHERED AT THE AWAKENED CHURCH IN SAN MARCUS TO HEAR FROM DR. SIMONE GOLD, A WELL-KNOWN ANTI- VACCINE DOCTOR.

SHE SPOKE TO THE CHURCH'S FOUNDERS AND MADE SEVERAL CLAIMS REGARDING THE SAFETY OF THE VACCINES THAT HAVE BEEN DEBUNKED BY HEALTH AUTHORITIES AND MAINSTREAM SCIENTISTS.

AWAKEN HAS FIVE LOCATIONS IN SAN DIEGO IT IS THE SAME CHURCH THAT HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF SIGNIFICANT OUTBREAKS, AND, THE COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE CALLED OUT FOR FLAGRANT DISREGARD OF COVID-19 HEALTH ORDERS.

AWAKENS ANTI-VACCINE SANSKRIT HAVE A BROADER IMPACT ON THE REGION.

SAYS UC SAN DIEGO EPIDEMIOLOGIST REBECCA FIELDING MILLER.

>>.

PART OF THE COMMUNITY NOT FASCINATING AND ARE ALSO FORCED TO OUR SHOPPING AND GO OUT TO EAT AT HIS KIDS GO TO SCHOOL.>> FIELDING MILLER SAYS FAITH- BASED COMMUNITIES CAN ALSO BE KEY DRIVERS IN THE PUSH TO REACH HEARD IMMUNITY.>> YOU KNOW IF EVERYBODY WHO YOU WORK WITH OR EVERYBODY YOU GO TO CHURCH WITH, EVERYBODY YOU SOCIALIZE WITH HAS GOTTEN VACCINATED, OR TALKING ABOUT GETTING VACCINATED, THEN IT IS THE SOCIAL NORM.

IT IS JUST WHAT WE DO.>> WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO OBTAIN THE VACCINATION AS SOON AS IT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

AND TO GET IT DONE SO WE CAN ALL RESUME A MUCH MORE NORMAL LIFE.

>> KEVIN ECKERY IS THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SAN DIEGO.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND MANY OTHER LOCAL FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, ARE ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM FROM AWAKEN.

THEY ARE ACTIVELY ENCOURAGING FOLLOWERS TO GET VACCINATED.

SOME LOCAL CHURCHES ARE TAKING VACCINE ADVOCACY A STEP FURTHER BY ACTUALLY HELPING PUT SHOTS INTO PARISHIONERS ARMS.

LAST MONTH THE BAYVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH HELD A CLINIC WHERE 500 PEOPLE GOT VACCINES.

PASTOR KEITH BROWN IS SAID THE EVENT HELP TO SOME WHO WERE SKEPTICAL OF THE VACCINES MAKE THE DECISION.

INCLUDING HIM.

>> I WAS SKEPTICAL AS WELL.

WHEN FIRST WE HAD THEM COME OUT, I SAID COME ON BUT I WAS SKEPTICAL.

WHAT MADE ME CHANGE MY MIND WAS I HEARD THE STATISTICS.>> NATIONWIDE SURVEY DATA SHOW THAT WHITE, EVANGELICAL PROTESTANTS, ARE LESS LIKELY TO GET VACCINATED THAN OTHER RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS.

WHILE OTHER EVANGELICAL MEGA- CHURCHES IN SAN DIEGO DO NOT APPEAR TO BE TAKING THE SAME ANTI-VACCINE STANCE AS AWAKEN, THEY ARE NOT ADVOCATING FOR VACCINES EITHER.

THE ASSISTANT PASTOR HEARS THAT HIS CHURCH WILL NOT BE MAKING ANY RECOMMENDATIONS.>> WE ARE NOT MEDICAL DOCTORS.

WE ARE DOCTORS FOR THE HEART AND WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ADHERE TO ALL OF THE SAFETY, JUST WATCH HER HEALTH, EXERCISE AND KEEP YOURSELF SAFE.

>> WHEN ASKED WHY ROCK CHURCH ISN'T PROMOTING VACCINES THE WAY OTHER CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS ARE, HE SAID THEY DO NOT STAND IN JUDGMENT OF WHAT OTHER CHURCHES ARE DOING.

CLAIRE TRAGESER KPBS NEWS.>> THAT STORY IS AN EXAMPLE THE END OF COVERAGE PROVIDED BY KPBS NEWS.

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THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THE SPECIAL EDITION OF KPBS NEWS, I'M MAYA TRABULSI .

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT KPBS , THANKS FOR JOINING US.