>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF KPBS NEWS.

THIS WEEK BROUGHT STEADY PROGRESS IN A SHIFT IN PRIORITIES IN SAN DIEGO AND IT COMES TO THE PANDEMIC.

LATER WE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT NEW VACCINE LOCATIONS AS THE STATE EXPANDS ACCESS.

>>> ALSO, THE WELCOMED UPTICK FOR LOCAL TOURISM DURING SPRING BREAK.

>>> WE START WITH A CHANGE IN MISSION FOR THE SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER.

HERE IS KPBS REPORTER JOHN CARROLL.

>> Reporter: IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC, THERE WERE NO CONVENTIONS COMING TO SAN DIEGO'S CONVENTION CENTER, BUT IT HAS BEEN A BUSY PLACE SINCE EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC.

ON APRIL 1st OF LAST YEAR, THE CENTER SHIFTED TO A PLACE TO HOST THOSE WITHOUT SHELTER.

A SAFE, WARM SPACE WITH THE ROOM FOR APPROPRIATE PHYSICAL DISTANCING TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.

WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR TODD GLORIA EXTENDED OPERATIONS THROUGH THE END OF THIS MONTH.

>> SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HOUSE OVER 4000 SAN DIEGO PEOPLE AT THIS SITE AND TO OVER 1300 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH PERMANENT OR LONGER-TERM HOUSING OPTIONS.

>> Reporter: SINCE THE EXTENSION, PEOPLE HOUSED AT THE CONVENTION CENTER HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

THE RECENT TESTING SHOWS NO ONE LIVING AT THE CENTER IS INFECTED.

NOW, THE 500 OR SO THERE'S THERE ARE MOVING OUT.

>> I MADE A COMMITMENT WE WOULD NOT SEND THESE FOLKS OUT.

>> Reporter: THE PEOPLE WILL BE SHELTERED AND RECEIVE SERVICES AT THESE OTHER SHELTERS IN THE CITY.

>> MY PHONE FIRST RANG SATURDAY AROUND 11:00 A.M. >> Reporter: NATHAN FLETCHER SAYS IT WAS NEW HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY ON THE LINE ASKING WHAT SAN DIEGO COULD DO TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM OF HOUSING CHILDREN SEEKING ASYLUM NOW HELD IN FEDERAL DETENTION CENTERS.

THE ANSWER WAS THE CONVENTION CENTER.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS ARE NOT ONLY SAFE AND THEY GET THE CARE THEY NEED, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT THEY ARE UNIFIED.

REUNIFIED WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

>> Reporter: THE FIRST CHILDREN ARE SLATED TO ARRIVE THIS WEEKEND AND THEIR AVERAGE STAY IS ESTIMATED 30 TO 35 DAYS.

THE COST OF CARING FOR THEM WILL BE BORNE PRIMARILY BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY WILL ALL HAVE TO BE PLACED WITH THEIR FAMILIES, SPONSORS, OR MOVED ELSEWHERE BY JULY WHEN THE SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER IS PLANNING ON ONCE AGAIN HOSTING CONVENTIONS.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>> ONE MORE NOTE ON XAVIER BECERRA.

HE IS NOW THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS ADMINISTERED THE OATH OF OFFICE ON FRIDAY MORNING.

>>> WE ARE NOW AT 100 MILLION VACCINES AND COUNTING UNDER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

NOW, HE HAS A NEW GOAL FOR THE COMING WEEKS.

>> MY 100th DAY IN OFFICE HAVE ADMINISTERED 200 MILLION SHOTS.

THAT IS RIGHT, 200 MILLION SHOTS IN 100 DAYS.

I KNOW IT'S AMBITIOUS, TWICE OUR ORIGINAL GOAL, BUT NO OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD HAS EVEN COME CLOSE.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT DURING HIS FIRST FORMAL PRESS CONFERENCE.

THE GOAL MIGHT BE ATTAINABLE AS VACCINE ACCESS EXPANDS.

MATT HOFFMAN TELLS US ABOUT THE BIG CHANGES ON THE WAY HERE IN CALIFORNIA.

>> Reporter: STARTING APRIL 1st, ALL CALIFORNIANS AGE 50 AND OVER WILL BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINATIONS.

ON APRIL 15th, IT EXTENDS TO EVERYONE 16 AND OVER.

>> JUST A FEW WEEKS THERE WILL BE NO RULES, NO LIMITATIONS AS IT RELATES TO THE ABILITY TO GET A VACCINE.

>> Reporter: THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS COMING EARLIER THAN EXPECTED, ESPECIALLY WITH RECENT VACCINATION SUPPLY PROBLEMS.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS VACCINE MAKERS ARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

>> OUR ABILITY TO DO MORE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONSTRAINED BY SUPPLY.

WE HAVE CONFIDENCE NOW THE MANUFACTURING SUPPLY IS BECOMING AVAILABLE SOONER THAN WE HAD ANTICIPATED.

>> Reporter: SO MUCH SO THE GOVERNOR MADE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TOO.

>> EFFECTIVE TODAY, REGARDLESS OF YOUR AGE OR PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, IF SOMEONE COMES IN ELIGIBLE UNDER THE EXISTING RULES, BUT WITH A FAMILY MEMBER, WE WILL ACCOMMODATE THE FAMILY MEMBER NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

>> Reporter: NEWSOM SAYS ALL VACCINATION SITES WILL HAVE DISCRETION TO DO THAT AND IT DOESN'T MEAN ALL LOCATIONS IN SAN DIEGO CAN ACCOMMODATE THEM IN HIS RIGHT AWAY.

A SPOKESPERSON SAYS IT WILL DEPEND ON SUPPLY WHICH HAVE BEEN SLIGHTLY INCREASING BUT ONLY ABOUT 10% A WEEK RECENTLY.

REACTING TO THE ELIGIBILITY EXPANSION, A CEO SAYS IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT SUPPLY THEN IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

IF NOT, HE'S WORRIED ABOUT THE FRUSTRATION PEOPLE WILL HAVE WHO CAN'T FIND APPOINTMENTS SAYING IN THOSE CASES PEOPLE ARE OFTEN ANGRY AT THOSE DELIVERING VACCINES, AND NOT THOSE MAKING THE RULES.

>> I KNOW FOLKS ARE FRUSTRATED.

IT'S VERY HARD TO GET A FIRST DOSE APPOINTMENT RIGHT NOW.

IF THE TEARS ARE GOING TO BE EXPANDING, IT'S MY HOPE THE SUPPLY IS GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED AS WELL.

>> Reporter: MORE VACCINATIONS COULD GET THE STATE CLOSER TO THE GOAL OF DELIVERING 400 MILLION DOSES.

COUNTY SUPERVISOR NATHAN FLETCHER SAID ONCE THAT HAPPENS OUR COUNTY HAS A GOOD CHANCE OF SEEING MORE RESTRICTIONS RELAXED.

>> AS SOON AS IT APPEARS THAT IT COULD TECHNICALLY HAPPEN, IT WOULD BE APRIL 6th.

>> Reporter: NEWSOM SAYS NEW VARIANTS SPREADING MEAN WE CANNOT LET OUR GUARD DOWN.

>> IT IS NOT MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

WE ARE NOT SPIKING THE FOOTBALL.

THIS IS NOT TIME TO TAKE DOWN YOUR GUARD OR LITERALLY AS IS THE CASE, TAKE OFF YOUR MASK.

>> Reporter: PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS ALSO'S SIGNED THE SAVED LIVES.

IT IS ESTIMATED THERE ARE MORE THAN 200,000 VETERANS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY ALONE.

THEIR NUMBERS ARE SEPARATE FROM THE COUNTY ONCE, WHICH ARE NOW SHOWING MORE THAN 31% OF SAN DIEGO'S 16 AND OVER HAVE GONE AT LEAST ONE DOSE.

AT LEAST 20% ARE FULLY DECIMATED.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THAT STORY YOU SAW ONE OF THE COUNTY'S NEWEST VACCINATION SITES.

THE ARENA AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY.

IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST.

IT HELPS MAKE UP FOR THE CLOSURE OF THE PETCO PARK LOCATION WHICH CLOSED LAST WEEK.

>>> AS MORE PEOPLE GAIN ACCESS TO THE VACCINE, WE ARE UPDATING OUR VACCINE DASHBOARD AT OUR WEBSITE.

WE HAVE THE LATEST INFORMATION ON LOCATIONS AND DATA FROM THE DATA DAILY REPORTS.

JUST GO TO KPBS.ORG.

>>> ANOTHER NEW VACCINATION SITE IS THE MEXICAN CONSULATE BUILDING.

ERIK ANDERSON TELLS US ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT CROSS-BORDER PARTNERSHIP.

>> Reporter: THE COUNTY AND MEXICAN OFFICIALS ARE BUILDING ON SUCCESS OF A COVID-19 TESTING PROGRAM THAT BEGAN LAST SEPTEMBER AT THE CONSULATE IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO.

THAT PARTNERSHIP OFFERED NO TESTING FOR THE VIRUS.

THE EFFORT WAS HERALDED AS A SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE TESTING LOCATION FOR SAN DIEGO'S MEXICAN AND LATINO COMMUNITIES.

>> WE ARE PROUD OF THESE PARTNERSHIPS.

IT HELPS REINFORCE THE MESSAGE THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN ACCESS PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS OR THEIR NATIONALITY.

>> Reporter: VACCINATIONS ARE AVAILABLE THREE DAYS A WEEK.

THE CONSULATE WILL FOLLOW COUNTY GUIDELINES MANY PEOPLE WILL NEED AN APPOINTMENT TO GET A SHOT.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY SUPERVISOR NORA VARGAS SAYS THIS IS PART OF AN EFFORT TO REACH OUT TO THE ENTIRE REGION.

>> WE ARE A BINATIONAL REGION.

WE ARE INTERDEPENDENT.

THERE IS OVER 200,000 AMERICANS, U.S. CITIZENS, NOT TO COUNT LIKE LEGAL RESIDENTS AS WELL THAT LIVE IN TIJUANA FOR MANY REASONS.

THEY ARE ALSO PART OF THE BIGGER EQUATION FOR US AS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AND ENSURE THAT EVERYONE GETS A VACCINATION AS WELL.

>> Reporter: COUNTY OFFICIALS WANT PEOPLE TO SEE THE NEW VACCINATION SITE AS A SAFE HAVEN , THOUGH ANY QUALIFIED PERSON CAN GET A SHOT THERE.

THEY SAY THE CONSULATE WILL HELP THEM REACH OUT TO THE COUNTY'S LATINO COMMUNITY.

ERIK ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS.

>>> DESPITE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC, 2020 WAS A RECORD HERE FOR MEXICO.

THOSE PAYMENTS ARE STILL ON THE RISE.

KPBS REPORTER TONYA THORNE HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: HOUSES IN OCEANSIDE.

SHE WIRES MONEY TO TWO FAMILY MEMBERS IN MEXICO.

>> Translator: I KNOW THEY NEED IN MEXICO AND GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH MY JOB.

I'M ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO MY FAMILY WHEN I CAN.

>> Reporter: MANY HOUSES ARE A COMMON STOP FOR WORKERS LIKE MENDOZA AFTER PAYDAYS.

THE TRANSFERS ARE KNOWN AS REMITTANCES.

$41 BILLION OF THEM WERE WIRED IN 2020.

>> Translator: 2020 WAS A HISTORIC YEAR FOR REMITTANCES.

IT HAS TO DO WITH THE GOVERNMENT AID THAT HELPS WORKERS WHO THEN SPENT MONEY TO THEIR FAMILIES IN MEXICO.

THIS IS AN ECONOMIST IN TIJUANA.

HE SAYS THAT GOVERNMENT AID INCLUDED STIMULUS CHECKS AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

HE SAYS DATA FROM JANUARY OF THIS YEAR IS ALSO SHOWING AN INCREASE IN REMITTANCES BECAUSE THE U.S. ECONOMY IS IMPROVING.

ONE FACTOR TO THIS IMPROVEMENT, VACCINE AVAILABILITY.

>> Translator: THE VACCINE PROCESS AMONG OTHER THINGS HAS HELPED THE AMERICAN ECONOMY GROW.

GROW AT A MORE ACCELERATED SPEED THAN MEXICO.

WHILE VACCINES ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED IN MEXICO, HE SAYS THE U.S. IS DISTRIBUTING AT A MUCH FASTER SPEED.

AS MORE VACCINES BECOME AVAILABLE AND BUSINESSES BEGIN TO OPEN, HE SAYS THE U.S. ECONOMY WILL BEGIN TO SHOW IMPROVEMENT.

ULTIMATELY IMPACTING MEXICO.

THE GROWTH OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY HAS A LOT TO DO WITH US.

THE MOMENT THAT ECONOMY GROWS, IT WILL HELP US.

TONYA THORNE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> FOR SOME SURVIVORS OF COVID- 19, THE PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF THE VIRUS ARE STILL BEING FELT MONTHS LATER.

THEY ARE KNOWN AS COVID LONG HAULERS.

AS MATT HOFFMAN SHOWS US, ONE OF THEM FINALLY MADE IT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL THIS WEEK AFTER MONTHS ON LIFE SUPPORT.

>> Reporter: EDUARDO MARINO WAS RELEASED FROM SCRIPPS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AFTER AN EIGHT MONTH HOSPITAL BATTLE WITH COVID-19.

>> WE ARE GOING HOME, THANK GOD.

>> Reporter: HIS LUNGS ARE STILL RECOVERING AND WHILE HE DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK, HIS MOTHER SAYS HIS RECOVERY HAS BEEN AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER.

>> WE DIDN'T HAD ANY VISITORS SO IT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME TO BE HOME.

MAKE VIDEOS WITH HIM.

WE WERE PRAYING.

THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IS THANK GOD.

>> Reporter: HER SON FIRST CAME TO THE HOSPITAL LAST JULY.

>> HE WAS VERY CRITICAL AND THEY TOLD US THAT HE WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT.

SO, FROM THERE ON, HE WENT TO FOR THREE MONTHS.

>> Reporter: THIS DOCTOR WAS CARING FOR MARINO AND SAYS THE VIRUS CAUSED ADVANCED RESPIRATORY FAILURE.

>> WE DECIDED TO GO FOR LIFE SUPPORT WHICH IS A MANNER OF TAKING YOUR BLOOD AND PUTTING IT THROUGH A MACHINE SO AS TO TAKE OVER HIS LUNG FUNCTION.

>> Reporter: THERE WERE MULTIPLE SURGERIES AND FOUR MONTHS HE WAS ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON MACHINES.

HIS LUNGS DID NOT HEAL ENOUGH TO START BREATHING ON HIS OWN UNTIL JANUARY.

>> HE WENT THROUGH ANY NUMBER OF CHALLENGES TO GET TO THAT LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE.

TO DEAL WITH ANXIETY, PAIN, THAT HE HAD TO FIGHT THROUGH.

BECAUSE OF THAT, HE IS A MODEL FOR ALL OF US.

>> I WAS JUST TRYING AND HOME AND I WANT HIM HOME.

DR. McCALL, DON'T WORRY, HE IS GOING TO MAKE IT HOME.

>> Reporter: DOCTORS SAY EVERYONE BECAME HIS EXTENDED FAMILY.

>> IT'S QUITE A THING TO SEE.

WITHOUT THEM, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE.

>> HE WANTED TO LIVE, THAT'S WHAT HE TOLD ME.

>> Reporter: HIS MOTHER SAID HE WAS SHOCKED AND AMAZED TO HEAR THAT HIS SON WAS BEING RELEASED.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> ONE OF THE UNDERCURRENTS OF THE PAST YEAR IS THE SPIKE IN ANTI-ASIAN SENTIMENT ACROSS AMERICA.

IT IS EVIDENT IN A SPIKE IN HATE CRIMES.

AS MANDY GAITHER REPORTS, THOSE HEADLINES HAVE AN IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH.

>> I AM PROUD TO BE ASIAN.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> Reporter: IT'S AN OUTCRY AGAINST HATRED.

>> WE HAVE REALLY SEEN A RISE AND AN UPTICK SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED.

>> Reporter: FOR SOME ASIAN AMERICANS, RACISM IS A REALITY, ESPECIALLY NOW.

IN A NEW RESEARCH STUDY PUBLISHED LAST JULY, 58% OF ASIAN AMERICANS FELT ANTI-ASIAN RACISM HAD WORSENED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

26% FEAR THAT SOMEONE MIGHT THREATEN OR PHYSICALLY ATTACK THEM.

EXPERTS SAY IT COULD TAKE A TOLL ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

>> I'M SCARED THAT IN THIS PANDEMIC, WITH THIS RISE OF ANTI-ASIAN HATE, AND THIS SURGE, I'M'S AFRAID THAT WE WILL START MISSING PATIENTS WHO MAY BE REALLY SUFFERING.

>> Reporter: DR. JAMES LEE WROTE THIS PERSPECTIVE, PUBLISHED IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE.

A PSYCHIATRY RESIDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF MEDICINE IS URGING DOCTORS ACROSS THE U.S. TO CREATE A WELCOMING SPACE AND TO ASK ASIAN AMERICAN PATIENTS DIRECTLY IF THEY EXPERIENCE RACISM.

>> I'M REALLY SCARED THAT WE WILL MISS PATIENTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY.

>> Reporter: DR. LEE FEARS ASIAN AMERICANS MAY SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS, REMAIN UNDIAGNOSED.

HE SAYS DIAGNOSED CAN HELP COMBAT THIS CLIMATE OF FEAR IN THEIR OWN OFFICES BY INCLUDING TRANSLATED BROCHURES AND OFFERING TRANSLATORS.

HE SAYS THE SMALL THINGS ADD UP.

>> I THINK IT'S ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE YOURSELF AS PART OF THIS COUNTRY AND NOT NECESSARILY AN OUTSIDER.

>> Reporter: FOR HEALTH MINUTE, I'M MANDY GAITHER.

>>> MENTAL HEALTH IS ALSO AN ISSUE FOR LOCAL KIDS WHO HAVE NAVIGATED THE PAST YEAR FROM A COMPUTER SCREEN.

DISTANCE LEARNING WILL NEED TO BE DEALT WITH AS COVID-19 FADES AWAY.

AS PART OF OUR SERIES, PANDEMIC YEAR ONE YEAR ON, EDUCATION REPORTER JOE HAHN CONSIDERS COVID-19'S LASTING IMPACT ON THE SCHOOL DAY.

>> IT WAS REALLY LIKE A BIG CHANGE BECAUSE FIRST YOU WERE IN SCHOOL AND NOW YOU ARE LIKE ON THE COMPUTER ALL DAY EVERY DAY.

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

>> Reporter: THIS IS A SEVENTH GRADE AND MIDDLE SCHOOL.

LIKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF STUDENTS, HE HAS SPENT THE LAST YEAR ATTENDING SCHOOL THROUGH A COMPUTER SCREEN.

HE HAS ALSO STRUGGLED WITH THE ADDED STRESS OF BEING SEPARATED FROM HIS FAMILY FOR MOST OF THE YEAR.

HIS MOTHER, WHO PREVIOUSLY LIVED AS AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT IN SAN DIEGO HAS LIVED IN TIJUANA SINCE 2016.

THEY HAVE BARELY SEEN EACH OTHER DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> WELL, I MEAN NOT BEING WITH MY MOM FOR SIX MONTHS SINCE LIKE 2016 TOO, WOULD BE HARD FOR ME BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MY MOM NEXT TO ME LIKE SO WE CAN GO OUT, GO PLACES, GO SHOPPING.

>> Reporter: HE HAS BEEN LIVING WITH FRIENDS IN SEPTEMBER, YET EVEN WITH THEIR SUPPORT HIS GRADES HAVE PLUMMETED.

HE AND HIS GUARDIANS INSIST HE'S DOING ALL THE WORK, BUT WHEN HE TURNS IT IN HIS TEACHERS AREN'T COUNTING IT.

>> RIGHT NOW I'M NOT DOING TOO GOOD BECAUSE THEY ARE GIVEN THE LOW GRADES FOR ALL THE WORK I HAVE TURNED IN.

THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY ARE MISSING AND THAT THEY ARE NOT TURNED IN.

WHEN I SAW THAT I TURNED IN, AND I TURNED THEM IN.

>> Reporter: HE HAS TRIED FOR MONTHS TO GET HIS GRADES FIXED BUT WITH NO SUCCESS.

HIS EXPERIENCE SPEAKS TO A HUGE UNDERLYING PROGRAM.

THE LACK OF FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT BETWEEN STUDENTS AND TEACHERS HAS CREATED A LACK OF TRUST AND AT LEAST THE PERCEPTION THAT EDUCATORS ONLY CARE ABOUT THE GRADEBOOK AND NOT THE STRUGGLES OF STUDENTS.

THIS IS THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT EDUCATION TRUST WEST.

AN EDUCATION THINK TANK BASED IN THE BAY AREA.

HE SAYS REBUILDING PERSONAL CONNECTIONS NEEDS TO BE THE TOP PRIORITY WHEN ENFORCING WORSENING.

>> SURELY WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE ACADEMICS.

IN ORDER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL THEY HAVE TO FEEL WHOLE AND FEEL TAKEN CARE OF.

FEEL LIKE THE FOLKS THAT THEY ARE AROUND WHO THEY ARE ENGAGING WITH CARE ABOUT THEM.

>> Reporter: IT HAS ALSO BECOME CLEAR THAT DISTANCE LEARNING HAS WIDENED AN ALREADY LARGE ACHIEVEMENT GAP BETWEEN LOW INCOME STUDENTS OF COLOR AND THEIR WEALTHIER WHITE PEERS.

THIS PERSON LIVES LESS THAN 20 MILES OFF THE HIGHWAY FROM LUIS.

THE REALITY SEVEN WORLDS APART.

>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO PLAY HONESTLY.

[ MUSIC ] SHE IS A JUNIOR AT CANYON HILLS HIGH SCHOOL.

FORMERLY KNOWN AS SARAH HIGH SCHOOL.

SCHOOL HAS BEEN STRESSFUL FOR HER BUT SHE HAS MAINTAINED HIGH GRADES.

[ MUSIC ] >> Reporter: SHE HAS ALSO BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE HER CELLO LESSONS VIRTUALLY.

>> LUCKILY I'VE BEEN DOING OKAY AND GETTING MY WORK IN.

I'VE HAD STRAIGHT A's THUS FAR.

>> Reporter: SHE SAID SHE WANTS TO STUDY PUBLIC POLICY IN COLLEGE AND HAS EVEN GOTTEN INVOLVED IN ACTIVISM WORK RAISING AWARENESS 14 MENTAL HEALTH.

SHE SAID HER FUTURE GOALS HAVE KEPT HER MOTIVATED.

>> IT IS LIGHT OF CHEESY, BUT THE COLLEGE SEARCH.

I'M LOOKING AT REALLY COMPETITIVE SCHOOLS.

YOU NEED COMPETITIVE GRADES IN ORDER TO GET INTO THOSE SCHOOLS.

SO, JUST THAT IDEA OF AN ORDER TO SET MYSELF UP FOR SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE, I NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL NOW.

>> Reporter: ONE EXPERT SAYS A BANDAGED AND MOTIVATED STUDENTS HAVE FARED BETTER IN THE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM.

ONLY AS LONG AS THEY HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND A STABLE ENVIRONMENT.

THIS IS A PROFESSOR OF LEARNING DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY.

SHE SET A SILVER LINING TO THE PANDEMIC EXPERIENCES THAT TEACHERS HAVE BECOME MORE PROFICIENT AT USING TECHNOLOGY.

SHE SEES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO USE THEIR NEW SKILL SETS TO BETTER HELP STRUGGLING STUDENTS EVEN AFTER SCHOOLS REOPEN.

>> AFTER THE PANDEMIC, SOME TEACHERS ARE GOING TO VIBRATE MODE.

THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

WE WILL DEFINITELY REACH OUT TO STUDENTS WHO NEED MORE HELP.

BY HAVING A ZOOM SESSION OR ANY OTHER ONLINE CONFERENCING.

>> Reporter: SHE STRUGGLE WITH THE SOCIAL ISOLATION AND ANXIETY.

SHE IS COMPLETELY AWARE OF HER PRIVILEGE.

>> THE FACT THAT I ALREADY HAD A LAPTOP GOING INTO THE PANDEMIC.

MY FAMILY HAS WI-FI THAT HAS GOOD BANDWIDTH SO THREE OF US CAN BE ON AT THE SAME TIME.

EVEN JUST LIKE MY PARENTS CAN COME HOME AT THE END OF THE NIGHT AND I CAN BE COMFORTABLE KNOWING THAT THEY ARE MAKING ENOUGH MONEY FOR US TO SURVIVE.

>> Reporter: AS SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTY ARE SCHEDULED TO REOPEN, SHE SAYS SHE AND HER CLASSMATES WILL WORK TO MAKE SURE SCHOOLS HAVE THE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS.

>>> ONE YEAR AGO, SAN DIEGO DESIGNATED A HANDFUL OF SLOW STRAITS.

THE GOAL WAS TO REDUCE CAR TRAFFIC AND OPEN UP NEW SPACES FOR WALKING AND BIKING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

ANDREW BOWEN TAKES A LOOK AT WHAT'S LEFT OF THE PLAN.

>> IT IS QUIET AND PEACEFUL AND IT FEELS LIKE SAFE.

LIKE YOU CAN COME IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE IT WON'T BE LIKE THAT IF YOU WON'T GET HIT BY A CAR OR ANYTHING.

>> Reporter: THIS 10-YEAR-OLD SAYS SHE RIDES HER BIKE DOWN DIAMOND STREET IN PACIFIC BEACH AT LEAST EVERY OTHER DAY.

>> IT IS MORE LIKE NATURALLY CAN FEEL LIKE THE WIND AND THE TREES.

OTHER PLACES IT'S LIKE CARS LIKE RUSHING BY YOU.

IT FEELS LIKE SCARY ALMOST.

>> Reporter: LAST APRIL WHEN THE FIRST COVID-19 LOCKDOWN WAS IN FULL SWING, SAN DIEGO CITY LEADERS SOUGHT TO OPEN UP STREETS FOR PEOPLE TO RECREATE SAFELY.

THE CITY PUT UP SANDWICH BOARDS NOTING THIS STREETS WERE CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC BUT OPEN FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS.

IN RECENT MONTHS, THE CITY HAS QUIETLY REMOVED ALL THE SLOW STRAITS EXCEPT DIAMOND.

WHEN KATIE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE NONPROFIT, HEARD THE CITY WAS CONSIDERING REMOVING THE SLOW STRAIGHT HERE SHE BEGAN ORGANIZING MEMBERS TO SUPPORT IT.

>> THIS IS A PLACE PEOPLE COME AND THEY GET TO INTERACT WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS.

THEY GET TO MEET PEOPLE AND THEY GET TO HAVE THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

THAT'S IMPORTANT AT ALL TIMES, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

>> Reporter: THE SLOW STREETS PROGRAM HAS FACED BACKLASH FROM SOME RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES BECAUSE OF DISRUPTIONS TO PARKING AND TRAFFIC.

THE CITY WOULD NOT COMMIT TO MAKING THE SLOW STRAIGHT PERMANENT BUT SAID IT WOULD SEEK COMMUNITY INPUT BEFORE MAKING A FINAL DECISION.

ANDREW BOWEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> TRAFFIC IS PICKING UP AT OUR AIRPORT WITH MORE PEOPLE COMING TO SAN DIEGO TO ENJOY SPRING BREAK.

MATT HOFFMAN SHOWS US THE BOOST OF TOURISM COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO.

>> Reporter: TRAVEL IS UP NATIONWIDE AND THE TREND IS HITTING THE SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TOO.

THIS PAST SUNDAY, IT WAS THE BUSIEST FLYING DAY SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

>> IN MARCH, THERE IS SEVERAL DIFFERENT SPRING BREAKS HAPPENING.

TRADITIONALLY A POPULAR TIME TO TRAVEL.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL'S TRAFFIC WAS DOWN 95% LAST APRIL COMPARED TO 90 RIGHT NOW IT IS DOWN AROUND 60% COMPARED TO THIS TIME TWO YEARS AGO.

SO IS THE HOTEL INDUSTRY NUMBERS HAVE STEADILY INCREASED TO NOW AROUND 50,000 DAILY BOOKINGS.

IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT, BUT NOT COMPARABLE TO PRE-PANDEMIC NUMBERS DURING THIS TIME.

>> WE ARE NOT SEEING HUGE SPRING BREAK CROWDS.

>> Reporter: A LOT OF OUR YOKEL KIDS ARE YET TO GO ON SPRING BREAK.

THEY ARE STARTING TO SEE AN UPTICK IN CUSTOMERS.

>> WE ARE SEEING SOME LIKE TOURISTS FROM ARIZONA, LIKE OUR TYPICAL TOURISTS.

IT HAS HONESTLY DROPPED A LOT, SIGNIFICANTLY.

>> Reporter: BELMONT PARK IS A STAPLE IN MISSION PARK FOR LOCALS.

SPRING BREAK IS TYPICALLY THEIR SECOND BUSIEST TIME OF THE YEAR.

>> AND PREVIOUS YEARS, IT WOULD BE PACKED.

THIS YEAR I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE QUITE THAT MUCH.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE EXPECTING AN INCREASE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

BECAUSE WE ARE NOW IN THE RED REOPENING TEAR, AMUSEMENT PARKS AND BASEBALL PARKS CAN REOPEN ON APRIL 1st.

BELMONT PARK IS DOING JUST THAT AND PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY TO OPEN ALL OF THE RIDES.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY A HUGE DEAL FOR US.

>> Reporter: CDC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE STILL ADVISING AGAINST TRAVELING, WARNING OF A POTENTIAL SURGE IN CASES, ESPECIALLY IF UNVACCINATED PEOPLE ARE MIXING.

>> IF THEY MAKE THAT DECISION TO TRAVEL AGAIN, DO IT RESPONSIBLY.

FOLKS KNOW THAT INDIVIDUAL STEPS AND ACTIONS WE CAN ALL TAKE.

>> Reporter: LOCAL OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE NO QUARANTINE OFFICIALS RESTRICTIONS.

THE SUPERVISOR SAYS WE ARE ON A GOOD TRAJECTORY AND WANTS TO STAY THERE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

WE COULD POTENTIALLY BE SEEING MORE RESTRICTIONS RELAX.

HE IS REMINDING THOSE TRAVELING OF A STATEWIDE ADVISORY.

>> ENCOURAGING CALIFORNIANS TO AVOID NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL MORE THAN 120 MILES FROM THEIR PLACE OF RESIDENCE.

RED THAT ALSO RECOMMENDS THOSE TRAVELING OUT OF STATE TO QUARANTINE FOR 10 DAYS WHEN THEY RETURN.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> BUSINESSES IN THE GASLAMP HAVE NOT SEEN KRAUSE FOR PADRES GAMES SINCE SEPTEMBER 2019.

THAT CHANGES IN JUST A FEW DAYS.

THE PADRES WILL BE BACK AT PETCO PARK TO OPEN THEIR SEASON THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 1st.

THEY WILL BE HOSTING THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS AFTER PLAYING LAST SEASON WITH NO CROWDS.

THE STATE IS ALLOWING FANS TO ATTEND WITH LIMITED 15% CAPACITY.

THAT COULD INCREASE IN THE WEEKS AHEAD OF THE COUNTY MOVES INTO THE ORANGE REOPENING TEAR.

>>> THE SDSU AZTECS WERE KNOCKED OUT EARLY IN THIS YEAR'S MEN'S FESTIVAL TERMITE.

MARCH MADNESS IS BACK AFTER IT WAS CANCELED LAST YEAR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TWO-MINUTE RICH FENWICK SHOWS US THE WORK BEING DONE TO KEEP THE TOURNAMENT VIRUS FREE.

>> Reporter: FAR FROM THE EXCITEMENT AND DRAMA OF MARCH MADNESS, THERE IS ANOTHER TEAM THAT IS NOT ON ANYONE'S BRACKET.

WORKERS AT THIS LAB ARE LABORING 24/7 AS THEY PROCESS COVID-19 TESTS.

RESULTS WILL DETERMINE WHETHER TEAMS STAY AND PLAY OR GO HOME.

>> IT'S INCREDIBLY HUMBLING TO BE ABLE TO HELP AN ORGANIZATION BE ABLE TO PUT ON AN EVENT LIKE THIS.

THEN, TO PUT ON ONE THAT IS JUST SO -- MEANS SO MUCH TO INDIANA AND IN FACT THE NATION.

>> Reporter: ATHLETES, OTHER TEAM MEMBERS, COACHES AND GAME OFFICIALS ARE TESTED EVERY DAY.

THE NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING.

>> THIS LABORATORY IS RUNNING ABOUT 2100 TESTS A DAY.

THEY'VE ALREADY RUN MORE THAN 18,000.

THEY WERE RUN 28,000 BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT IS OVER.

>> Reporter: HELPING THE WORKERS ARE 850 VOLUNTEERS ADMINISTERING, TRANSPORTING, AND GATHERING THOSE TESTS.

RESULTS ARE READY IN EIGHT HOURS OR LESS.

>> THERE IS SOME PRESSURE BECAUSE THERE IS A SENSE OF WE HAVE TO DELIVER THIS SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THIS TOURNAMENT SAFE.

I THINK IN THE END, WE KNOW THAT IF WE DO THIS WELL, WE CAN KEEP THIS TOURNAMENT SAFE.

SHOULD WE HAPPEN TO DETECT VIRUS, WE RUN MULTIPLE CONFIRMATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THAT IS THE CORRECT RESULT.

>> Reporter: CLARK DAY HAS A SEAT AT THE FINAL FOUR COMMAND CENTER.

HE'S WATCHED THE PROCESS WORK OUT WHEN ONE TEAM WAS ELIMINATED BECAUSE OF POSITIVE TEST RESULTS.

>> I WOULDN'T SAY ALARMS WENT OFF BUT THE RESPONSE WAS IMMEDIATE.

>> Reporter: NOBODY WASTED THEIR TIME, NOBODY QUESTIONED IT?

>> NOBODY QUESTIONED IT BECAUSE OF THE PROCESS WE HAD IN PLACE.

>> Reporter: WITH NO OTHER POSITIVE TEST RESULTS, IT APPEARS THE VIRUS WAS CONTAINED.

AN INDICATION THAT THE NCAA AND LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS' GAME PLAN TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE IS PERHAPS WORKING AND LETTING THE BIG DANCE PLAY OUT.

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