UNVACCINATED.

SOME VACCINATED PEOPLE ARE GETTING INFECTED, TOO, AND TODAY OFFICIALS IN PROVINCETOWN JUST ISSUED A NEW INDOOR MASK ADVISORY FOR EVERYONE, SHOT OR NO SHOT.

TOWN MANAGER ALEX MORSE JOINS ME.

THEN, LATER, TWO EPIDEMIOLOGISTS ON WHETHER WE'RE BECOMING TWO AMERICAS IN A PUBLIC HEALTH KIND OF WAY, ON THE SAFETY OF KIDS STILL NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE SHOT, AND THE COVID BACKLASH NOW HITTING THE TOKYO OLYMPICS.

AND, FINALLY, THE MAN BEHIND "OBEY" AND THE OBAMA "HOPE" POSTER, SHEPARD FAIREY, ON A MURAL HE'S ABOUT TO CREATE RIGHT HERE IN BOSTON.

>>> WHILE NEW VACCINATION RATES ARE FALLING DRAMATICALLY IN THIS COUNTRY, LESS THAN HALF OF WHICH IS FULLY INOCULATED, BY THE WAY, COVID CASES ARE CLIMBING.

AND THAT'S THANKS IN A LARGE PART TO THE MORE CONTAGIOUS AND DANGEROUS DELTA VARIANT.

>> FOR MOST PEOPLE WHO GET THIS DELTA VARIANT, IT'S GOING TO BE THE MOST SERIOUS VIRUS THAT THEY GET IN THEIR LIFETIME IN TERMS OF THE RISK OF PUTTING THEM IN THE HOSPITAL.

>> Braude: UNSURPRISINGLY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS ARE STILL AMONG UNVACCINATED PEOPLE.

BUT THOSE CHOOSING NOT TO GET A SHOT ARE NOT JUST RISKING THEIR OWN LIVES AND HEALTH.

KIDS 12 AND UNDER STILL AREN'T ELIGIBLE TO GET THE VACCINE, AND LIKELY WON'T BE UNTIL THIS WINTER OR LATER.

THAT'S WHY TODAY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS RECOMMENDED UNIVERSAL MASKING IN SCHOOLS FOR EVERYONE OVER AGE 2, INCLUDING VACCINATED STUDENTS AND ADULTS.

WE'LL GET INTO THAT MUCH MORE IN A FEW MINUTES.

BUT, FIRST, TO A MORE IMMEDIATE ISSUE HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, SPECIFICALLY PROVINCETOWN, WHICH ISSUED A PNEUMATIC ADVISORY TODAY AT AN EMERGENCY MEETING, URGING EVERYONE TO WEAR MASKS INDOORS, REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS.

THIS, OF COURSE, IS A RESPONSE TO A SURGE IN INFECTIONS AFTER THE JULY 4th WEEKEND.

MORE THAN 130 PEOPLE HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID, SOME OF WHOM WERE FULLY VACCINATED.

SO NOW THE TOWN IS RAMPING UP TESTING AND VACCINES TO TRY TO GET THINGS UNDER CONTROL, ALTHOUGH WHEN IT COMES TO THE SHOTS, TOWN MANAGER ALEX MORSE HAS SAID 114% OF ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE MATH, BUT I'M JOINED NOW BY ALEX MORSE, WHO YOU MAY REMEMBER AS FORMER MAYOR OF HOLYOKE.

>> Braude: ALEX, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, JIM.

>> Braude: THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH DECLARED THE RISE IN CASES A CLUSTER.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN ENGLISH, ALEX?

>> SO ESSENTIALLY, THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF JULY IN PROVINCETOWN WERE AMONG THE BUSIEST WEEKS WE HAVE IN THE SUMMER.

WE HAVE A POPULATION OF 3,000 PEOPLE YEAR-ROUND, BUT IN THE PEAK SUMMER, WE HAVE MORE THAN 50,000 PEOPLE.

SO WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN PROVINCETOWN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

SINCE THE 4th OF JULY AND THE FESTIVITIES, WE HAVE SEEN AN UPTAKE IN CASES.

UPWARDS OF 132CASES NOT JUST IN PROVINCETOWN, BUT IN ASSOCIATION WITH CASES THAT HAVE BEEN OPENED UP HERE IN TOWN.

>> Braude: ON THE GOOD NEWS, THE VACCINATION RATE IS HIGH.

WHAT IS 114% VACCINATION MEAN?

>> ESSENTIALLY WE HAVE THE CENSUS COUNT OF YEAR-ROUND RESIDENTS, AND WHAT WE HAVE ALSO HAVE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOVED HERE YEAR-ROUND, IN PROVINCETOWN, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN THE ACTUAL CENSUS COUNT.

IT TELLS US THE VAST MAJORITY, ALMOST 100% OF YEAR-ROUND RESIDENTS ARE VACCINATED, IN ADDITION TO THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE PROF PROVINCETOWN THEIR PERMANENT HOME.

>> Braude: GIVE US THE FULL SPREAD.

>> WE WANTED TO RAISE THE PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS OF BEHAVIOR IN TOWN, AND INDOOR MASKING IS IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY IN THOSE PLACES WITH POOR VENTILATION AND HIGH-DENSITY PLACES.

WE HAVE PLACES THAT PACK A LOT OF PEOPLE INTO THE SMALL AREAS IN TOWN, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO REMIND THAT THE VIRUS IS VERY MUCH WITH US.

THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THESE CASES ARE AMONG UNVACCINATED INDIVIDUALS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THE VACCINES ARE WORKING.

AMONG THOSE WHO ARE VACCINATED, THEY'RE PRESENTING INCREDIBLY MILD SYMPTOMS, NOT HIGH SYMPTOMS.

BUT SOME PEOPLE THINK THEY'RE INVINCIBLE.

KIDS AGE 2 TO 12, MANDATORY MASKS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, AND ADVISING PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS INSIDE, AND WE'RE ALSO ASKING LARGER VENUES, PERFORMANCE VENUES IN TOWN, TO PROVIDE PROOF OF VACCINATION BEFORE ENTERING.

THIS ISN'T A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

WE KNOW A LOT MORE TODAY THAN WE DID WHEN THIS PANDEMIC BEGAN.

WE ARE NOW LIVING IN A WORLD OF VACCINES.

WE KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT COVID, WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT ISN'T.

AND SO IF WE WERE TO SEE A SPIKE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS AND OTHER DATA POINTS, WE COULD CONSIDER MORE RESTRICTIVE GUIDANCE.

BUT AT THIS POINT WE'RE MONITORING THE DATA ON A DAILY BASIS, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THE NUMBERS WILL CONTINUE OR START TO SUBSIDE.

>> Braude: I HOPE I HEARD THAT LAST PIECE RIGHT, THE LAST PIECE OF THE PRESCRIPTIONS THERE.

YOU SAID IN CROWDED VENUES, AND THERE ARE PLENTY IN PROVINCETOWN, YOU'LL BE ASKED TO PRESENT PROOF OF VACCINATION.

I HOPE THE END OF THE SENTENCE IS WHEN YOU CAN'T PROVIDE IT, YOU DON'T GET IN?

>> THAT IS THE CASE.

AND THERE ARE ALREADY A COUPLE OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE DOING THAT.

THE BOAT SLIP TOOK THE LEAD.

ANYONE WHO WANTED TO GO TO THEIR DAILY TEA EVENT, HAD TO PROVIDE PROOF OF VACCINATION.

>> Braude: ARE YOU FINDING SOME BUSINESSES THAT ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THAT REQUIREMENT?

>> BY AND LARGE, NO.

MOST OF OUR VISITORS ARE VERY HEALTH-CONSCIOUS, AND THEY WANT TO GET TESTED AND GET VACCINATED.

THEY LIKE KNOWING THAT EVERYONE THEY'RE SPENDING FUN WITH AND SPENDING TIME WITH ARE VACCINATED.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SHOW EVEN IF YOU'RE VACCINATED, YOU'RE AT RISK.

YOUR SYMPTOMS MAY BE MILD, BUT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SPREAD IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

I YOU'RE NOT FEELING WELL, STAY HOME.

WE HAVE A MOBILE TESTING SITE, AND WE'RE AVERAGING 250 PEOPLE A DAY GETTING TESTED.

>> Braude: FINALLY, FOR PEOPLE HEADED TO PROVINCETOWN IN THE NEAR FUTURE, IT IS NOT A STAY AWAY MESSAGE.

IT IS A: WE'VE GOT IT UNDER CONTROL?

>> YES.

WE'RE LEARNING TO LIVE WITH THE VIRUS.

PROVINCETOWN IS STILL A LIVELY AND FUN PLACE TO SPEND TIME.

THE STREETS ARE STILL BUSY.

NEXT WEEK IS FAMILY WEEK.

WE'RE NOT TELLING PEOPLE TO STAY AWAY.

COME TO PROVINCETOWN, BUT BE SAFE AND CAREFUL AND BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS.

DON'T COME IF YOU DON'T FEEL GOOD.

GET TESTED.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HERE CAN HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE AND LEAVE HEALTHY AND HAPPY.

>> Braude: ALEX, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE RELATIVELY NEW JOB.

SEE YOU SOON.

>> TAKE CARE.

Z >> Braude: AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, ALTHOUGH MANY ARE STILL IN SUMMER FREE-FOR-ALL MODE, COVID CASES ARE ON THE RISE, UP FOR THE FOURTH DAY IN A ROW, IN ALL 50 STATES.

AND DEATHS ARE UP NEARLY 25% FROM TWO WEEKS AGO, ESPECIALLY IN THE STATES WHERE VACCINATION RATES ARE FRIGHTENINGLY LOW.

SO WHERE ARE WE HEADED?

TO TWO AMERICAS?

AND WILL THE NEW MASKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SCHOOLS FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS BE ENOUGH TO KEEP UNVACCINATED KIDS SAFE?

I'M JOINED BY DR. DAVID HAMER, A PROFESSOR OF GLOBAL HEALTH AND MEDICINE AT B.U.

'S SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND AN ATTENDING PHYSICIAN AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER, AND DR. SHIRA DORON, HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST AT TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER AND A PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY.

>> Braude: GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: DR. DORON, I SPOKE TO THE TOWN MANAGER, WHERE THEY HAVE A CLUSTER, TAKING SOME PRECAUTIONS.

IS PROVINCETOWN A SIGN OF THE TIMES, EVEN IN THE SECOND-MOST HIGHLY VACCINATED STATE LIKE MASSACHUSETTS, OR DO WE HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT BY WHAT THE PRESIDENT NOW CALLS A PANDEMIC OF THE UNVACCINATED.

>> I HOPE IT IS NOT A SIGN OF THE TIMES.

I WOULDN'T SAY WE HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED IN PROVINCETOWN.

I THINK WE WILL LEARN A LOT FROM THIS.

I HOPE WHAT WE WILL SEE IS THAT VACCINATED PEOPLE WHO WERE INFECTED AS PART OF THIS CLUSTER REMAINS MILDLY ILL. >> Braude: BUT THERE ARE UNVACCINATED PEOPLE, TOO, DR. HAMER.

THE NUMBERS AREN'T HUGE, BUT THEY'RE INCREASING.

ARE WE VIRTUALLY IMMUNE -- I DON'T MEAN -- WELL, I GUESS I DO MEAN IT IN A MEDICAL SENSE, FROM WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MUCH OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY?

>> I WOULD SAY NO.

I MEAN, THERE IS A LOT OF MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE.

WE'RE IN SUMMER SEASON, PEOPLE ARE VISITING MASSACHUSETTS FROM MANY OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

THE RISK OF MOVEMENT OF UNVACATIONEDUNVACCINATED PEOPLE AND INFECTED PEOPLE IN THE STATE IS SUBSTANTIAL.

THERE AREN'T MANY POCKETS OF OUTBREAKS IN UNVACCINATED PEOPLE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE FLORIDA HAS BEEN HIT FAIRLY HARD RECENTLY, SO THERE IS A RISK HERE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN AS WELL.

IF WE WERE ABLE TO BLOCK ALL OF THE BORDERS TO THE STATE AND PREVENT EVERYBODY FROM COMING IN, THAT WOULD BE ONE THING, BUT THAT'S NOT THE SITUATION.

>> Braude: DR. HAMER, REGARDLESS OF BLOCKING BORDERS OR NOT, THERE ARE TWO AMERICAS.

WE USUALLY MEAN IT IN A SENSE OF INEQUITY AND SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY, BUT NOW IT SEEMS IN TERMS OF HEALTH.

IN ADDITION TO FLORIDA, SOME HOSPITALS ARE OVERWHELMED IN MISSOURI, AND PLACES LIKE ALABAMA AND ARKANSAS ARE IN THE 30% RANGE.

DID MUCH OF AMERICA OPEN PREMATURELY, DR. HAMER?

>> Doctor: I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, YES.

SOME OF IT DIDN'T FULLY EVEN CLOSE, HONESTLY.

IN PARTS OF THE SOUTH, WHERE IT WAS RELATIVELY RESISTANT TO PREVENTING SOCIAL GATHERINGS, TO INDOOR MASK USE AND TO OTHER MEASURES THAT WERE MORE STRICTLY APPLIED THAN TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

IN PARTS LIKE THE NORTHWEST.

I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

BUT I THINK THERE IS A MUCH GREATER PROPORTION OF UNVACCINATED OR ONLY PARTIALLY VACCINATED ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS.

>> Braude: DR. DORON, GENERALLY, AND I KNOW THIS COMES OFF REALLY CRASSLY, BUT AMERICANS WORRY ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THEN THERE IS THE REST OF THE WORLD, WHATEVER THAT MEANS, AND WE KNOW HOW DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE IN SO MUCH OF THE REST OF THE WORLD.

BT STAYING WITHIN OUR COUNTRY, HOW LONG CAN A COUNTRY, FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, CONTINUE WHERE THERE ARE LITERALLY TWO AMERICAS: ONE WILDLY UNVACCINATED, WHERE THERE WILL, I ASSUME, CONTINUE TO BE SOME SURGES, IF NOT WORSE, AND PLACES LIKE NEW ENGLAND, THAT HAVE DONE THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND TAKEN CARE OF THEMSELVES?

>> Doctor: YEAH, IT IS SO UNFORTUNATE.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY AMERICAS OR ANY CITIZENS OF THE WORLD GET SICK.

AND, REALLY, WITH THIS DELTA VARIANT BEING SO CONTAGIOUS, IT CHANGES THE CALCULATION OF WHEN WE CAN SEE THE HERD IMMUNITY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION NEEDS TO BE IMMUNE TO GET THERE.

BUT IT IS GOING TO BE VERY HIGH.

EVENTUALLY, THOUGH, WHETHER IT IS THROUGH VACCINATION OR INFECTION, WE WILL GET THERE.

>> Braude: WELL, IF THE GOAL, THOUGH, DOCTOR, STAYING WITH YOU, STAYING WITH VACCINATION RATHER THAN INFECTION, ESSENTIALLY THE NUMBER OF VACCINATIONS HAS PLATEAUED VIRTUALLY ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THE INCENTIVES, FOR THE MOST PART, THINGS LIKE EVEN LOTTERIES WITH MILLION-DOLLAR JACKPOTS, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE, BUT WE KNOW IN PLACES LIKE OHIO IT DIDN'T WORK TERRIBLY WELL.

WHAT DOES ONE DO TO GET PEOPLE MOVING WHO HAVE DECIDED THEY ARE PERFECTLY FIEPFINE AS THEY ARE, DR. DORON?

>> Doctor: ANYTHING WE CAN, ONE PERSON AT A TIME, WHETHER IT IS EDUCATION -- MANY PEOPLE FEEL LIKE WHEN THE FULL F.D.A.

APPROVAL COMES OUT, THAT WILL BE A BUMP IN VACCINATIONS.

>> Braude: SOME ARGUE THERE IS A LEGAL OBSTACLE TO MANDATING A VACCINATION -- I'M A BIG MANDATING KIND OF GUY WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINATIONS.

WHEN I TALKED TO ALEX MORSE, HE SAYS TO GET IN A CLOUDED VENUE, YOU MUST SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION.

PRESIDENT MACRON IN FRANCE DID A 180, SAYING IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO ANY PLACE YOU LIKE, CAFES, THEATERS, YOU MUST BE VACCINATED.

IS THERE ANY OTHER ROUTE TO HERD IMMUNITY OTHER THAN SOME LEVEL OF MANDATORY VACCINATION, WHETHER IT IS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR GOVERNMENTAL JURISDICTIONS?

>> Doctor: I THINK -- WELL, I THINK THERE MAY BE OTHER WAYS, THROUGH SORT OF -- BUT THEY MAY TAKE MUCH LONGER FOR US TO GET THERE.

AND THAT IS REALLY WORD OF MOUTH, MAKING VACCINE MORE ACCESSIBLE, TRYING TO OVERCOME CONCERNS AND MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINE AND THE VACCINE SIDE EFFECTS, AND EVENTUALLY GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE A VACCINE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN 11 YEARS AND YOUNGER.

BUT, HONESTLY, I THINK THESE MANDATES, AND ACTUALLY JUST TODAY BOSTON UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT MANDATORY FOR FACULTY AND STAFF, IN ADDITION TO STUDENTS.

>> Braude: GOOD.

>> I THINK A NUMBER OF UNIVERSITIES HAVE GONE THAT DIRECTION BECAUSE VOLUNTARILY PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING IT QUICKLY ENOUGH TO GET US TO THAT POINT.

>> Braude: DR. HAMER, STAYING WITH YOU, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, I MENTIONED RECOMMENDED THIS MORNING THAT ALL STUDENTS OLDER THAN TWO YEARS OLD, VACCINATED OR NOT, WEAR MASKS IN CLASSES.

ARE THEY RIGHT ABOUT THAT?

>> Doctor: I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA.

THE DELTA VARIANT, AS DR. DORON SAID, IT IS EXTREMELY CONTAGIOUS, VERY EASILY TRANSMISSIBLE FROM PERSON TO PERSON.

IT IS PRIMARILY THROUGH AIRBORNE TRANSMISSION.

HAVING MASKS IS ONE OF OUR BEST TOOLS, THAT AND IMPROVED VENTILATION SYSTEMS, OR JUST BEING OUTDOORS, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY PRACTICAL FOR SCHOOLS.

BUT ALL OF THOSE WILL HELP TO DECREASE TRANSMISSION.

THERE ARE BREAKTHROUGH -- THE VACCINES ARE NOT PERFECT, SO SOME PEOPLE ARE GETTING INFECTED, DESPITE VACCINATION, BUT THOSE RATES ARE MUCH, MUCH LOWER THAN PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED.

EVEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED SHOULD WEAR MASKS FOR THEIR OWN PROTECTION.

>> Braude: LET'S STAY ON THAT.

YOU ANTICIPATED MY NEXT QUESTION TO YOU, DR. DORON.

DOCTOR WHAT WE HOPE IS A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, DESPITE VERY HIGH VACCINATION RATES, MASSACHUSETTS IS SECOND IN THE COUNTRY, AND ALL OF THE NEW ENGLAND STATES ARE WAY UP THERE, WOULD YOU ADVICE EVERYBODY TO BE WEARING MASKS UNTIL -- >> Doctor: I DO NOT.

>> Braude: YOU DO NOT.

WHY?

>> Doctor: I DO NOT.

BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE VACCINES -- THE DATA ARE SHOWING THAT THE VACCINES ARE STILL VERY, VERY AFFECTIVE, EVEN AGAINST THE DELTA VARIANT.

AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE MOVED INTO A PLACE WHERE PERSONAL CHOICE IS REALLY WHAT SHOULD DRIVE BEHAVIOR.

AND SOME PEOPLE, AS THEY SHOULD, FEEL VERY PROTECTED BY THEIR VACCINE, AND ARE OKAY WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF GET MILD ILLNESS FOR THE PURPOSE OF GETTING BACK TO THEIR PRE-PANDEMIC LIFE.

AND SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE RISK ADVERSE, AND SHOULD WEAR A MASK IF THEY'RE IN A CROWDED, INDOOR SPACE.

>> Braude: ARE YOU SAYING THAT BECAUSE YOU DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD WEAR MASKS -- I DON'T MEAN TO QUESTION YOUR MOTIVES -- OR ARE YOU WORRIED THAT IF YOU URGE THEM TO WEAR MASKS, THE UNVACCINATED ARE GOING TO THINK THAT THE GETTING VACCINATED DOESN'T DO MUCH FOR THEM.

>> Doctor: NO.

BECAUSE I THINK THE SCIENCE SUGGESTS THAT A FULLY VACCINATED PERSON DOESN'T NEED TO WEAR MASKS.

>> Braude: THE OLYMPICS START THIS WEEK, AND THERE ARE ATHLETES WHO ARE THERE, WITH OUTBREAKS, WHO ARE MAJOR PLAYERS.

COCO GAUFF AND OTHERS OTHERS WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING.

SHOULD THE OLYMPICS GO ON, DR. DORON?

>> Doctor: I THINK THERE ARE WAYS TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER SAFELY WITHOUT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19, AND VACCINATION IS PART OF THAT AND TESTING IS PART OF THAT.

THEY NEED TO BE ON TOP OF THAT.

>> Braude: DID THEY MAKE A MISTAKE, DR. HAMER.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN JAPAN DID NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.

THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE WANTED TO HAPPEN.

>> Doctor: I THINK IT IS UNFORTUNATE.

THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE AND ORGANIZATION AND MONEY BEHIND THE OLYMPICS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PRESSURE TO MAKE THEM HAPPEN DESPITE THE FEELINGS OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE, WHICH I THINK IS UNFORTUNATE.

I AGREE WITH DR. DORON.

>> Braude: DR. HAMER AND DR. DORON, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, BOTH OF YOU.

BE WELL.

THANKS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT AN ART CONNOISSEUR, YOU MOST CERTAINLY KNOW SHEPARD FAIREY'S WORK.

LIKE THE FAMOUS STICKER CAMPAIGN SEEN AROUND THE WORLD, FEATURING FRENCH WRESTLER ANDRE THE GIANT, WHICH HE DESIGNED WHILE ATTENDING THE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN IN THE '80s -- SHEPARD, NOT ANDRE, THAT IS -- AND TURNED INTO A GLOBAL BRAND CALLED "OBEY."

HE ALSO CO-CREATED THESE ANTI-IRAQ WAR AND ANTI-GEORGE BUSH POSTERS FOR A STREET ART CAMPAIGN CALLED "BE THE REVOLUTION" IN 2004.

AND, OF COURSE, HE'S THE MAN BEHIND THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN ART OF ALL TIME: THE ICONIC OBAMA "HOPE" POSTER FROM 2008.

NOW SHEPARD FAIREY IS BRINGING HIS TALENTS TO BOSTON, DAYS AWAY FROM PAINTING A NEW OCEAN-INSPIRED MURAL ON THE SIDE OF THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM'S SIMONS THEATER FOR THE "SEA WALLS: ARTISTS FOR OCEANS GLOBAL PUBLIC ART INITIATIVE."

HE JOINS ME NOW.

>> Braude: SHEPARD, IT IS GREAT TO MEET YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, JIM.

>> Braude: WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO DO THIS?

>> WELL, I REALLY CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

I CARE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

I CARE ABOUT ENDANGERED SPECIES.

AND I CARE ABOUT HOW ART IN PUBLIC SPACES CAN CREATE CONVERSATIONS THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN OTHERWISE.

SO THIS IS REALLY THE PERFECT SIN SYNTHESIS.

I'M EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT A MURAL IN SUCH A LOVED AND ICONIC LOCATION AS WELL, IN THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM.

>> Braude: I THINK YOU PROBABLY ANSWERED ALREADY MY NEXT QUESTION ABOUT THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC ART.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT VERB YOU USED A SECOND AGO ABOUT INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS, BUT I THINK A LOT ABOUT IT, AND I'M SURE YOU DO, TOO.

DOES IT PROVOKE CHANGE, OR DOES IT SIMPLY -- AND I DON'T MEAN SIMPLY IN A DISPARAGING SORT OF WAY -- REINFORCE THE BELIEFS THAT PEOPLE HAVE COMING IN?

>> I KNOW IT CAN DO BOTH, AND THAT'S FROM 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

I AM A VERY HOPEFUL PERSON.

I'M OPERATING ALL THE TIME BASED ON FAITH THAT WE CAN CREATE A BETTER FUTURE, WRITE A BETTER STORY.

AND SO THE WAYS IN WHICH ART CAN IMPACT SOMEONE EMOTIONALLY AND THEN HAVE THEM RECONSIDER A, YOU KNOW, INTELLECTUAL POSITION THAT MAYBE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS SOMETHING THEY HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT IN A DIFFERENT WAY ABOUT, THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY.

AND I THINK THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT PUBLIC SPACE AS A COMMON REFERENCE POINT, IT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE USED FOR MORE THAN JUST ADVERTISING AND GOVERNMENT SIGNAGE.

I THINK THAT THE EXPRESSION OF IDEAS IS CRUCIAL IN THAT SPACE.

>> Braude: I'M SO THRILLED TO BE TALKING TO SOMEBODY WHO FEELS HOPE.

SHEPARD, YOUR UNFORTUNATELY SOMEONE IN THE MINORITY.

CAN YOU GIVE US A HINT ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE CREATING HERE WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES HERE IN BOSTON?

>> SURE.

MY MURAL IS ONE OF, I THINK, 13 OR 14 MURALS TOTAL.

MINE IS FEATURING THE NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE, WHICH IS AN ENDANGERED WHALE THAT IS IN THE NEW ENGLAND AREA, IN THE WATERS IN THE NEW ENGLAND AREA.

AND I'VE CREATED A DECORATIVE ELEMENT EMANATING FROM A WHALE, WITH FLOWERS FOR REPRESENTING POSSIBILITY IN BLOOM, AND ALSO FLAMES WITH THE THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING.

ALL MIXED IN IN A WAY THAT HOPEFULLY WOULD INTRIGUE THE VIEWER AND MAKE THEM CONSIDER ALL OF THE DIFFERENT DYNAMICS AT PLAY, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY OCEANS TO A HEALTHY PLANET AND ALL OF THE SPECIES ON THE PLANET BEING HEALTHY.

>> Braude: BY THE WAY -- I'LL MENTION THIS IN A FEW MINUTES -- IF PEOPLE WANT TO WATCH YOU WORK ON SATURDAY, THEY CAN DOWN AND SEE YOU DO IT.

FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO WAIT, I'M TOLD THAT YOUR WORK IS APPEARING IN THE SKIES OFF THE BEACHES OF CAP COD FOR A CAMPAIGN CALLED "POWER TO THE PATIENTS."

I'M TOLD IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT HOSPITALS ARE OBLIGATED BY LAW TO BE LETTING PATIENTS KNOW WHAT PRICES ARE, BUT VIRTUALLY EVERY HOSPITAL IN AMERICA IS NOT COMPLYING.

WHAT IS YOUR -- I ASSUME THERE IS A DEEP PERSONAL INTEREST IN THIS?

>> WELL, I THOUGHT THE RISING COSTS OF HEALTH CARE ARE REALLY A PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES WHO ARE LIVING MONTH TO MONTH, PAC CHECKPAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.

FOR ME, AS A TYPE ONE DIABETIC, AND MY WIFE HAS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, WE'RE PERSONALLY IMPACTED BY HEALTH CARE COSTS.

SO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO THE COSTS OF THE SERVICES THAT THEY GET UP FRONT SO THAT IT CREATES COMPETITION AND A TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE PRICES VARY WILDLY FROM PROVIDER TO PROVIDER.

IT'S JUST ONE STEP IN CREATING A MORE -- A KINDER, MORE EQUITABLE SYSTEM.

SOCIAL JUSTICE IS MY THING, AND WHETHER THAT IS AROUND RACE OR XENOPHOBIA OR THE ENVIRONMENT OR THE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO PUT -- THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO PUT MY ART BEHIND AND PUT MY ENERGY.

>> Braude: WHEN I SAID "UP IN THE SKIES," AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

THEY ARE BANNERS FLYING OVER THE BEACH ON THE WEEKENDS -- >> THAT AND SEVERAL MURALS PAINTED IN DIFFERENT CITIES.

USUALLY I PAINT ALL OF MY OWN MURALS WITH THE HELP OF A SMALL TEAM.

BUT THIS WAS A CAMPAIGN WHERE I REALLY BELIEVED IN THE IDEA OF A CRITICAL MASS THAT IS ABOUT THE EMPOWERMENT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NORMALLY DISEMPOWERED.

AND I THINK THAT STREET ART IS A GREAT REPRESENTATION OF THAT IDEA, AND OTHER ARTISTS JOINING FORCES AND SHOWING A SOLIDARITY IS A REALLY POWERFUL STATEMENT.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, SHEPARD, I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING THE YouTubeUBIQUITOUS "OBEY" STICKERS, AND EVERY TIME I GO INTO SOMEBODY'S HOUSE AND SEE AN "OBEY" STICKER, I THINK THERE IS AN IN VERSE PROPORTION BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF STICKERS I SEE, AND HOW MUCH THE PEOPLE WITH THE STICKERS THINK THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OBEY MEANS.

DOES THAT MATTER IF PEOPLE DON'T -- I WAS GOING TO SAY GET IT, BUT I ASSUME IT IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER?

>> THERE IS CERTAIN THAT LATITUDE.

BUT IT WAS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ANALYZE THE AGENDA BEHIND EVERY IMAGE THEY'RE CONFRONTED WITH.

I CALLED MY WORK, IN A JOKING WAY, PROPAGANDA, BECAUSE I BELIEVE MY WORK IS REALLY DESIGNED TO MAKE PEOPLE MORE AWARE OF PROPAGANDA, AND MORE SENSITIVE TO PROPAGANDA.

BUT EVEN MY WORK HAS AN AGENDA.

SO TRANSPARENCY AND GETTING PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT THE DYNAMICS, HOPING TO MAKE THE INVISIBLE HAND OF PERSUASION MORE VISIBLE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO WITH MY WORK.

>> Braude: JUST AS JOHN LEWIS SAID, THERE IS GOOD TROUBLE IN MY ESTIMATION.

THERE IS GOOD PROPAGANDA AS WELL.

SHEPARD FAIREY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Braude: TO SEE SHEPARD FAIREY LIVE-PAINT THE NEW MURAL AND CATCH A FREE SCREENING OF THE NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HIS LIFE CALLED "OBEY GIANT," YOU'LL WANT TO VISIT THE AQUARIUM THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND HOW TO REGISTER, VISIT www.nea.org.

FINALLY TONIGHT, WE CONTINUE TO REMEMBER SOME OF THE LIVES LOST TO THE PANDEMIC, WITH THE HELP OF THE FACES OF COVID TWITTER ACCOUNT.

LIKE 72-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL CRAIG OF LINCOLNVILLE, MAINE.

HIS FAMILY DESCRIBED HIM AS THE MOST CARING, TRUSTWORTHY, LOVING GRANDFATHER YOU COULD EVER ASK FOR.

HE WOULD GIVE YOU THE SHIRT OFF HIS BACK AND THE LAST DOLLAR IN HIS POCKET.

89-YEAR-OLD AUDREY ROSS OF NEWTON, WHO "RAISED A FAMILY WITH LOVE, HARD WORK, AND PERSEVERANCE."

HER FAMILY SAID COVID TOOK HER LIFE IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS.

SHE DIED ALONE IN AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY.

AND 78-YEAR-OLD JIMMY FLEMING OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

HE WAS DESCRIBED AS BEING THE LIFEBLOOD OF HIS FAMILY AND THEIR SUPER HERO.

IF YOU LOST SOMEONE YOU LOVE TO THE PANDEMIC AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THEIR STORY, PLEASE VISIT www.twitter.com/faces of Covid.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

♪♪ Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org