>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EDITION OF DONNYBROOK.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US AND WE HAVE A FANTASTIC PROGRAM, INCLUDING A SPECIAL GUEST ON NEXT UP WHEN WE SAY HELLO TO DR. MANO PATRI, THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST FOR SSM HEALTH.

THAT'S ON THE SECOND HALF OF THE PROGRAM.

LOTS OF HOT TOPICS TO DISCUSS ON THIS, THE FIRST HALF, AND WE'LL JUST DISCUSS THOSE WITH WENDY WIESE, THE NEWS DIRECTOR FOR THE BIG 550 KTRS AND COHOST OF THE JENNIFER AND WENDY SHOW.

MR. BILL McCLELLAN, ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS, FROM THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.

ANOTHER FOUNDER, HE'S RAY HARTMANN WHO JOINS US FROM THE BIG 550, RAWSTORY.COM AND THE RIVERFRONT TIMES.

WE ALSO WELCOME IN ALVIN REID, NEWS EDITOR FOR THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN.

AND ALVIN, WE'LL KICK THINGS OFF WITH YOU BECAUSE HAZEL ISSUE BY, A LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY COUNCIL PASSED AWAY AFTER LAST WEEK'S SHOW, SINCE WE WERE ON THE AIR LAST, AND SHE WAS CREDITED BY OFFICIAL AFTER OFFICIAL FOR HER PROFESSIONALISM AND HER DEDICATION.

A BIG LOSS, A HUGE LOSS TO THE POLITICAL SCENE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE THE FIRST OF ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT SHE CARRIED HER ROLE WITH DIGNITY AND CLASS AS A FIRST-RATE POLITICIAN.

YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST -- THE RIGAMAROLE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND THE LAWSUIT, I GUESS THAT'S PART OF IT, TOO, BUT EVERY KIND WORD SHE RECEIVED SHE DESERVED AND JUST A FIRST-CLASS PERSON ALL THE WAY AROUND.

>> IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE USED THE WORD OR SOME OTHER WORD TO CONNOTE MENTOR IN TALKING TO HER.

SHE WAS SOMEBODY VERY WISE AND SOMEBODY WHO PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME TO AND VIEWED WITH GREAT REVERENCE, AND SHE WILL BE MISSED.

>> I THINK THOSE OF US IN THE FOURTH ESTATE ALWAYS APPRECIATED HER AVAILABILITY.

SHE WAS ALWAYS MAKING HERSELF AVAILABLE WHEN A LOT OF LEADERS TODAY ARE NOT ALWAYS KEEN TO DO SO.

>> I THINK A NICE TRIBUTE TO HAZEL IRBY WOULD BE IF THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY COUNCIL FOLLOWED UP ON IT'S PLANS MADE THREE YEARS AGO TO CONSTRUCT A NORTH COUNTY RECREATION CENTER FOR THE YOUTH THERE.

SHE WAS AN IDEA SHE HAD.

SHE LEAF THE COUNCIL AND THE IDEA SEEMED TO HAVE DROPPED OFF THE SIDE OF THE EARTH, AND MAYBE NOW THAT IDEA WILL COME BACK.

LET'S HOPE SO.

ALL RIGHT, BILL McCLELLAN NEXT DOOR TO WHERE YOU USED TO WORK, 900 NORTH TUCKER, THAT'S NOW THE NEW ST. LOUIS HEADQUARTERS FOR SQUARE, THE MOBILE PAYMENT COMPANY HEADED UP BY TWO ST. LOUISANS, JACK DORSEY AND JIM McKELVEY, TURNS OUT THERE'S A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT NEXT TO IT.

NOW, HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS ARE NOT THAT UNUSUAL IN ST. LOUIS DOWNTOWN.

THERE WAS ONE THERE EARLIER THIS YEAR ACROSS FROM CITY HALL THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO GET MUCH IF ANY ATTENTION, BUT THIS ONE SEEMS TO HAVE REALLY CAUSED SOME ALARM.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IS IT JUST BECAUSE IT'S NEXT TO SQUARE AND THAT'S KIND OF EMBARRASSING TO LOCAL OFFICIALS?

>> WELL, I SUPPOSE SO, BECAUSE SQUARE IS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, LEAD US INTO THE NEW TECHNOLOGY AGE AND IT'S WONDERFUL THAT SQUARE IS HERE, BUT I DON'T FIND A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT NEXT TO SQUARE SUCH AN AWFUL THING AT ALL BECAUSE IT'S ALSO NEXT TO ST. PATRICK'S WHERE THE HOMELESS GET A LOT OF SERVICES, AND I THINK THAT THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS DOWNTOWN MAKE MORE SENSE THAN IN SOME RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, LIKE I LIVE, YOU KNOW, A BLOCK FROM FOREST PARK AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS IN FOREST PARK.

BUT DOWNTOWN?

I THINK THAT THE CITY IS OVERREACTING.

>> I WOULD AGREE.

I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL TALK A GOOD GAME, BUT IF SOMEBODY SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, ALVIN, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, I'D BE LIKE, OH, NO, CANNOT WE FIND SOMEPLACE ELSE FOR IT TO GO?

I'M NOT PICKING ON DORSEY AND McKELVEY BECAUSE I THINK ALL CORPORATE AMERICA SHOULD STEP UP, BUT THOSE TWO GENTLEMEN MADE ENOUGH MONEY TODAY, PROBABLY IN THE LAST HOUR, TO BUILD AN APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH HEAT AND RUNNING WATER AND PROBABLY PROVIDE IT WITH FOOD.

SO, YOU KNOW, RATHER THAN KEEP USHERING HOMELESS PEOPLE AROUND THE CITY, YOU COULD BE HERE NOW, BUT YOU CAN'T BE HERE NOW BECAUSE SQUARE IS COMING AND ALL THAT T , HOW ABOUT WE COME UP WITH A SOLUTION FOR IT AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES THAT CAN PAY FOR IT.

>> I'M NOT BLAMING ANYTHING ON JIM McKELVEY.

I THINK HE REALLY HAS STEPPED UP FOR ST. LOUIS TO LOCATE A MAJOR OFFICE OF SQUARE IN ST. LOUIS AND THE DOWNTOWN RESTAURANTS ARE, I'M SURE, BESIDE THEMSELVES WAITING FOR ALL THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TO COME IN.

BUT I DON'T THINK THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WORK AT SQUARE WOULD BE THAT TURNED OFF BY THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT.

>> I THINK -- >> CERTAINLY THEY'RE -- >> THAT'S A GREAT POINT, BILL.

I REALLY DO THINK SO AND THE FACT THAT MR. McKELVEY'S PARTNER WAS SO QUICK TO SAY THAT EVEN THE DEVELOPERS ARE GOING TO BE ENGAGED IN THIS SITUATION AND DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN DO, I DON'T THINK IT'S A MATTER OF PRIORITIZING OR LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE.

I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS A VERY HIGH PROFILE, HIGH TECH COMPANY THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ST. LOUIS, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GET OUT IN FRONT -- "THEY" BEING CITY HALL -- JUST TRYING TO GET OUT IN FRONT FOR OTHER POTENTIAL HIGH TECH EMPLOYERS.

THERE'S A LOT OF ATTENTION ON US RIGHT NOW.

>> I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE A LITMUS TEST ABOUT WHO WANTS WHO IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHO DOESN'T.

I THINK IT'S A VERY ILLOGICAL PLACE TO HAVE THIS.

FIRST OF ALL, THE REAL STRATEGY THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR UNHOUSED OR HOMELESS PEOPLE, IS TO DO ABOUT THEIR NEEDS AND PERMANENT HOUSING.

>> THAT'S ALL IT SAYING.

>> THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

THE SECOND THING IS YOU WANT TO HAVE -- YOU GOT TO TAKE CARE OF BOTH PARTIES AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH BILL AT ALL, BUT YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDS OF THE UNHOUSED FOLKS, THE FOLKS SO THEY CAN GET ESSENTIAL SERVICES, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO BE PRACTICAL ABOUT IT.

THE LAST THING ANY CITY NEEDS TO BE DOING IS TRYING TO GET BUSINESSES LIKE SQUARE, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT BUSINESS THEY'RE IN OR HOW MUCH MONEY THEY HAVE, TO COME AND LOCATE.

IT'S A WONDERFUL GUEST TO HAVE SQUARE AND McKELVEY IN THE OLD BUILDING AND IT'S A VERY ILLOGICAL PLACE TO A PLACE FOR A COMMUNITY TO PUT THAT ENCAMPMENT BY SOMEPLACE, AND IT DOESN'T REFLECT ON THE FOLKS -- >> IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO ST. PATRICKS WITH ALL THE SERVICES.

>> IT IS ALREADY NEXT TO ST. PATRICKS.

THE SQUARE HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED THAT ITS EMPLOYEES CAN WORK FROM HOME FOREVER.

THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO COME DOWN TO 900 NORTH TUCKER SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY BEEN DISTURBED OR NOTICE THAT THERE ARE HOMELESS, BUT BETWEEN TUCKER AND STAND THE MAN BRIDGE, THERE'S A LOT OF LITTER ON TUCKER AND IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO IMPRESS SQUARE, THEY CAN START PICKING UP SOME OF THE LITTER IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

BUT THE HOMELESS ISSUE WAS ALSO PART OF AN ALDERMANIC COMMITTEE HEARING YESTERDAY AND THIS IS A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WHICH VOTED ON THE MONEY COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHICH LAST WEEK WAS $517 MILLION AND NOW WE'RE TOLD BY OFFICIALS IT'S ONLY $498 MILLION, BUT THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY BY ST. LOUIS STANDARDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE CITY'S ANNUAL BUDGET IS $1.1 BILLION.

THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW WILL THE MONEY BE SPENT, AND RAY HARTMANN, LEWIS REED, THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, HAS REINSTATED $5$500 -- $5 MILLION FOR POLICE OVERTIME.

MAYOR TISHAURA JONES TOOK IT OUT, BUT HIS COMMITTEE WAS CUT DIRECT PAYMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS, LOWER INCOME INDIVIDUALS, THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN GETTING 3 HANDS-FREE -- 3- TO $500 IN DIRECT PAYMENTS, BUT THEY SAY THE MONEY SHOULD GO ELSEWHERE AND TEN WARDS HAVE VOTED SO FAR THAT THEY DO NOT WANT THE MAYOR'S INTENTIONAL ENCAMPMENT AT ALL, NOT IN THEIR WARD.

BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH ST. LOUIS, THE ALDERMEN THERE STUCK IN THE MEASURE THAT THEY DON'T WANT THE CAMPS THAT THE MAYOR IS DESIGNING WITH COUNSELING AND HEAT AND WATER AND ELECTRICITY AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

THEY DO NOT WANT THEM.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR REACTIONS?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF GROUND THERE.

>> TOO MUCH, SORRY.

>> I'LL JUST SAY, I'LL TAKE THAT.

FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY -- I TALKED TO SOME ALDERMEN TODAY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, AND THE PROCESSES ARE SO ARCHAIC AT THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN THAT THEY DON'T MEAN UNDERSTAND THEM IN TERMS OF WHERE THE BILLS -- BILLS COMING OUT OF COMMITTEE, I THINK IT'S BOARD BILL 2, THERE'S A QUESTION OF WHETHER IT GOES TO THE MAYOR.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS.

I THINK TISHAURA JONES HAS A REALLY GOOD IDEA ABOUT GIVING DIRECT SUPPORT.

THE MONEY IS DEFINITELY EARMARKED FOR THAT KIND OF THING.

IT WOULD HAVE A VERY STIMULATIVE EFFECT.

IT'S A SMART THING TO DO.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE, IT'S BECOME POLITICAL AND I DON'T KNOW WHY.

IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

PEOPLE WITH LOWER INCOMES SPEND MONEY IN THE CITY AND IT MULTIPLIES.

IT'S JUST A GREAT IDEA FOR SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING, PAYING THEIR RENT, FOOD, UTILITIES.

IT WAS A GREAT IDEA, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

AS FAR AS POLICE OVERTIME, THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU REALLY BUDGET FOR.

YOU HAVE A BUDGET FOR IT, BUT ARGUING HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO BE ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT'S GOING ON.

LAST YEAR, THEY BUDGETED 12 MILLION AND SPENT 16.

BECAUSE WHY?

BECAUSE THEY HAD ALL THESE NEEDS.

MOST YEARS THE BUDGET HAS BEEN AROUND 6 OR 7 MILLION UNTIL FOR SOME REASON THEY MADE IT HIGHER LAST YEAR.

THE IDEA YOU WOULD PUT A NUMBER IN THERE -- IF YOU GOT $5 MILLION, HIRE 70 POLICE OFFICERS AT 75 PER.

YOU DON'T HAVE IT AS A FIXED ITEM.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO JUST SAY WE'RE GOING TO SPEND IT ON OVERTIME.

YOU SPEND IT AS YOU NEED IT AND IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY PROTESTS THERE ARE, HOW MANY -- >> THEY CAN'T FILL THE POSITIONS, RIGHT, RAY?

>> THAT'S NOT TRUE.

I'VE ALWAYS -- THERE'S THIS MYTH OUT THERE THAT THEY CAN'T HIRE PEOPLE.

EVERY YEAR, THEY HAVE -- >> NO, THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE HIRING PEOPLE.

WENDY'S RIGHT ON THAT.

>> NO, THEY DON'T.

THEY HAVE 100 PEOPLE -- >> IT HAS TO OFFSET THE LACK OF POLICE OFFICERS.

>> LAST WEEKEND WE HAD FIVE KIDS KILLED IN ONE 24-HOUR PERIOD.

WE NEED MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS, THAT CANNOT BE REFUTED.

>> BUT NOT WITH MORE OVERTIME.

I AGREE WITH YOU IF THEY NEED MORE, THEY CAN HIRE THEM.

THEY'VE TAKEN THIS MONEY AND PAYING OVERTIME TO PEOPLE INSTEAD OF HIRING OFFICERS WITH THE SAME MONEY, AND OVERTIME DEPENDS ON THE PARTICULAR YEAR.

THEY SHOULDN'T NEED -- >> WELL, RAY, IT'S THE POLICE, IT'S THE PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR, JIMMIE EDWARDS, THE FORMER ONE, WHO SAID THEY HAVE A HARD TIME HIRING PEOPLE AND SO THEY NEEDED OVERTIME.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW -- >> BUT HE WAS SAYING -- >> -- THAT THEY'RE ALL WRONG.

>> HE'S REPLACED BY DAN ISOM AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM HIM ON THAT.

IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT DAN ISOM'S VIEW IS BECAUSE WHAT JIMMIE EDWARDS THOUGHT, RESPECTFULLY, ISN'T IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD.

>> THE CITY HAS 200 OFFICERS SHORT OF A FULL COMPLEMENT AND A LOT OF THEM ARE HEADING TO ST. CHARLES, CHESTERFIELD, CLAYTON JUST HIRED ONE OR TWO.

THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THAT CAN'T BE DENIED, NOT TO MENTION THE ORDINARY RETIREMENT.

NOW, THE MAYOR DISAGREES WITH THAT.

SHE THINKS THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY POLICE OFFICERS AND MEGAN GREEN TWEETED THIS WEEK THAT BASICALLY POLICE WORK IS NOT EVIDENCE-BASED, DOESN'T SHOW THAT IT REDUCES CRIME, WHICH I THINK IS JUST ORBITING SATURN.

>> NO, I DON'T.

THE POINT IS THIS.

I'M NOT SAYING THEY SHOULD HIRE MORE POLICE OFFICERS.

I'M SAYING FIGHTING OVER A LINE ITEM ABOUT OVERTIME, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SPEND THAT MONEY, I'D RATHER SEE IT SPENT ON -- I DON'T KNOW.

I DO THINK ONE THING THAT TISHAURA JONES SAID AND I THINK SHE'S RIGHT AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT DEFUNDING THE POLICE, WHICH IS A RIDICULOUSLY HORRENDOUS -- MAYBE THE WORST SLOGAN EVER.

THERE IS THE IDEA OF A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO CRIME THAT TAKES INTO FACT -- ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT POLICE ALONE CANNOT GET US OUT OF THIS POSITION, SO THE IDEA OF TRYING TO HAVE LESS CRIME BY ADDRESSING THE CAUSES IS A GOOD ONE AND THAT'S WHAT TISHAURA IS ABOUT.

>> BUT YOU CAN DO BOTH.

YOU CAN ADD MONEY TO THE OVERTIME SO POLICE OFFICERS WILL WORK THE STREETS.

RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS TO WASHINGTON AVENUE, SO THEY'VE TURNED TO VERNON BETTS, THE SHERIFF, TO HIRE THEM.

YOU CAN DO BOTH.

SHE HAS $498 MILLION.

THEY CAN FUND THE HOMELESS AND COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS FROM THE BROWN SCHOOL AND ALL SHE WANTS TO AND HIRE POLICE OFFICERS.

>> WE'RE NOT SITTING HERE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, BUT I DO THINK WHEN SHE BROUGHT DAN IN, AND AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO BUILD HIM UP TOO MUCH, THEY BROUGHT IN PROBABLY THE MOST CREDIBLE PERSON I KNOW IN THIS TOWN AND I'M ASSUMING THAT HE'S PART -- >> WELL, LET ME SAY THIS.

DAN ISOM IS A VERY SMART GUY, BUT DON'T FORGET, HE WAS THE POLICE CHIEF AND THIS IS WHEN CHRISTINE BYERS BROKE THIS STORY FOR THE POST-DISPATCH 10, 12 YEARS AGO.

REMEMBER WHEN PEOPLE SAID, WOW, CAR BREAK-INS ARE WAY DOWN.

WELL, DAN ISOM CHANGED THE WAY THEY WERE COUNTED BECAUSE IF TEN CARS WERE INTONE INTO AT ONE POINT, HE COUNTED THAT AS ONE, BUT HE NEVER TOLD ANYBODY THAT HE CHANGED THE METHOD.

SO YOU HAVE A KEEP AN EYE ON ALL OFFICIALS.

>> OKAY, I'M NOT -- I DON'T KNOW WHERE DISCUSSION WENT NOW WE'RE TRASHING DAN ISOM WHO DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

>> JUST KEEP YOUR EYE ON HIM.

>> I WOULD SAY THIS.

PLEASE DON'T -- THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHY PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO JOIN THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, THAT HAS EVIDENT.

SO LET'S NOT JUST GIVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ITSELF A PASS ON WHY PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO WORK FOR THEM BECAUSE IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT A LOT OF TIMES AND IF I WAS GOING TO WORK FOR A POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT WOULD NOT BE ONE I WORK FOR.

>> WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT BECAUSE THE PAY STARTS AT 44 -- >> NO, FORGET THE PAY.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT NO PAY.

>> WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT PAY.

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT BEATING UP FELLOW OFFICERS.

I'M TALKING ABOUT KILLING FELLOW OFFICERS WHILE YOU'RE DRUNK AND SUPPOSED TO BE DUTY.

IT'S ON AND ON AND ON.

AND HOW MANY LAWSUITS HAS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PAID OFF IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS?

IT'S A DAMN SIGHT MORE THAN $5 MILLION, CHARLIE.

>> AND SPEAKING OF NUMBERS, THE STARTING PAY IS ABOUT $25,000 LESS THAN SOME OF THE NEIGHBORING AREAS.

>> AND HOW ABOUT HAVING JEFF ROORDA AS YOUR UNION BUSINESSMAN.

A LOT OF THINGS HE'S SAYING ARE RIGHT.

EVERYONE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT CREATED EQUAL.

>> AND YOU ALSO HAVE A CIRCUIT ATTORNEY WHO REFUSES TO PROSECUTE THE CASE.

>> THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

>> IT SURE DOES.

ASK THE POLICE OFFICERS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO ST. CHARLES FOR COURT.

>> BUT DOES ST. LOUIS HAVE AN EXEMPLARY POLICE FORCE COMPARED TO OTHERS AROUND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?

>> I WOULD SAY THE ST. LOUIS POLICE DEPARTMENT DEFINITELY HAS ISSUES LIKE EVERY POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES.

ALVIN, LET'S MOVE TO WEBSTER GROVES, WHICH IS YOUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY YOU SEEM TO LIVE IN PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE WITH.

THEIR PARADE THIS LAST WEEK HAD AN ANTI-VAX FLOAT AND I THOUGHT, WOW, THIS IS THE FOURTH OF JULY.

A MESSAGE LIKE THAT, WHERE IS THAT COMING FROM?

BUT AS IT TURNS OUT, OFFICIALS SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY LIMITED THINGS YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU HAVE A PUBLICLY FUNDED PARADE.

HOW DID YOU STAND ON THIS?

>> I WAS ACTUALLY IN WEBSTER FOR PART OF FOURTH OF JULY.

OF COURSE, I DID FIREWORKS AT KIRKWOOD, BUT WENT TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE TO A PARTY THAT LIVES NEAR WHERE THE PARADE GROUNDS ARE.

I THINK THEIR HANDS ARE TIED AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE RATHER THAN MAKE A DEAL BIGGER THAN IT REALLY IS, I THINK WEBSTER JUST BASICALLY DECIDED, OKAY, MAYBE WE WERE CAUGHT A LITTLE OFF GUARD BY IT, BUT IT'S OVER.

NOW, PEOPLE STARTED COMPLAINING AND ALL THAT AND THEIR REACTING TO THAT, WHICH I ALSO KIND OF UNDERSTAND, BUT THAT BEVERLY HILLBILLIES LOOKING FLOAT THEY HAD SHOULD NOT EVEN RANCOR ANYBODY.

IT'S A JOKE JUST LIKE THE -- MOST THE ANTI-VAX PEOPLE ARE JOKES, AND RATHER THAN GET UPSET WITH IT, LAUGH AT IT.

THAT'S BASICALLY HOW I -- >> AND A -- AND WHAT I LOVED WAS THE FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE WERE UP IN ARMS ABOUT IT ON THE FOURTH OF JULY.

WHICH IS ALL ABOUT OUR FREEDOMS, OUR RIGHTS, THE CONSTITUTION, WHETHER, YOU KNOW, YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE MESSAGE, WE ALL AS AMERICANS HAVE TO DEFEND TO THE DEATH THAT PERSON'S RIGHT TO MAKE THE MESSAGE PUBLIC.

SO I THOUGHT THE INTERESTING THING WAS THAT THE CITY HALL REPRESENTATIVE WHO TALKED TO THE NEWSPAPER SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY -- THE ONLY EXCEPTION WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT POSED A THREAT TO THE PUBLIC, AND I THOUGHT, ONE COULD ARGUE THAT AN ANTI-VAX MESSAGE DOES EXACTLY THAT.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, I THOUGHT IT WAS A FREEDOM OF SPEECH ISSUE AND YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN THAT TO YOUR KIDS.

>> AND YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, TOO, THAT ACCORDING TO THE NEWSPAPER STORY, THE PEOPLE WHO HAD THE ANTI-VAX FLOAT DIDN'T REGISTER IT AS AN ANTI-VAX FLOAT.

I MEAN, IT WAS A LITTLE MORE GENER GENERIC.

BUT I'M WITH YOU.

AS LONG AS SOMEBODY'S NOT HATING ON OTHER PEOPLE, I THINK THAT THE FOURTH OF JULY AND WEBSTER GROVES HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOOD ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE NRA AND MOMS AGAINST GUNS AND EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO CAN PARADE AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SPIRIT OF THINGS.

>> I THINK THE ANTI-VAX MESSAGE IS REALLY HEINOUS, OKAY?

THE FIRST AMENDMENT WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT HEINOUS SPEECH, SPEECH WE DON'T LIKE, SO IF YOU HAVE IN PLACE -- IT'S A POLITICAL MESSAGE.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO ALLOW OTHER POLITICAL MESSAGES, FINE.

THERE'S A COUPLE POINTS TO BE MADE, THOUGH, I GUESS.

ONE IS IF THEY MISRENTED, THAT'S AN ENTIRELY -- MISREPRESENTED.

YOU CAN'T ALLOW PEOPLE TO SAY I'M GOING TO DO X AND THEY DO Y IF IT SOMEHOW AFFECTS YOUR POLICY.

THE SECOND THING IS, TO ALVIN'S POINT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, THE BEST THING TO DO IS JUST IGNORE IT BECAUSE IT'S LIKE IT DOESN'T DESERVE THE ATTENTION IT GETS AND CERTAINLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO LET OTHER PEOPLE MAKE POLITICAL -- I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE POLITICIANS OR WHATEVER.

YOU HAVE TO -- >> THE PARADE IS FAMOUS FOR THAT.

>> YOU CAN'T REGULATE -- THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T REGULATE WHAT THE MESSAGES ARE, BUT I DO THINK WE SHOULD EMPHASIZE HOW HEINOUS IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PANDEMIC TO BE, AS SO MANY ARE NOW, PUSHING BACK AGAINST VACCINES.

MISSOURI IS ONE OF THE WORST STATES IN AMERICA, CNN HAD A PIECE THAT IDENTIFIED FIVE PLACES THAT THREATEN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT -- WITH A POTENTIAL VARIANT, THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING OUR ARMS AROUND THIS PROBLEM.

>> I AGREE.

>> WELL, WE'VE BEEN HELD UP TO RIDICULE SINCE THIS WHOLE THING BEGAN WHEN THERE WAS THAT PARTY AT LAKE OF THE OZARKS.

>> YEAH.

>> I MEAN, IT WAS MISSOURI PEOPLE.

SO, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.

IT'S MISSOURI.

>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY GETS THEIR MEDICAL INFORMATION FROM A PARADE FLOAT, SO I AGREE WITH YOU KIND OF, ALVIN, THAT WE DON'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO IT.

BUT I WOULD SAY, LOOK, WHY NOT HAVE A NOT-FOR-PROFIT, WE'LL CALL IT THE WEBSTER GROVES FOURTH OF JULY ORGANIZATION, 501(c)(3), GET DONATIONS, AND THEY COULD OPERATE THE PARADE, BUY THE PERMIT AND MAYBE PAY OFF THE POLICE OFFICERS OR HALF THEY DO, WHOEVER GUARDS THE PARADE ROUTE, PARTICIPATE EXPENSES AND THEY COULD LIMIT THE FLOATS TO THE ONES THAT ARE PATRIOTIC, HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH WEBSTER GROVES AND NOTHING TO ABOUT DO WITH VAXS, PRO OR CON.

>> IT'S A LOVELY THING, I'D LEAVE IT ALONE.

>> WENDY WIESE, WOULD YOU LEAVE ALONE OR CHANGE THE NEW LAW THAT ALLOWS MISSOURIANS TO GO TO A BAR OR RESTAURANT, ORDER FOOD AND THEN TAKE ALCOHOL WITH THEM TO GO?

YOU HAVE TO ORDER FOOD, THAT'S WHAT THE NEW LAW SAYS.

IT'S ACTUALLY AN EXTENSION OF THE LAW THAT STARTED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND THE BOTTLE OF BOOZE OR WHATEVER YOU'RE BUYING, THE CUP, HAS TO BE SECURELY CONTAINED, HAS TO BE A LID FASTENED ON IT, I GUESS.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION WHICH MEANS ALCOHOL TO GO IS PERMANENT IN MISSOURI?

>> WELL, WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT SINCE THE PANDEMIC OR SINCE THEY -- SINCE THEY ENACTED THIS SORT OF LITTLE PERK DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT I THINK THAT WHEN 110,000 RESTAURANTS AROUND THE NATION WENT UNDER AND I THINK SO MANY RESTAURANTS RIGHT NOW IN ST. LOUIS ARE STRUGGLING MIGHTILY TO GET BACK UP TO PREVIOUS LEVELS OF STAFF AND WAIT PEOPLE AND THAT KIND OF THING, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM, I THINK WE SHOULD -- I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT.

AND WE DO, I WOULD REMIND EVERYBODY ON THE PANEL, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE THE ONES WHO PROBABLY KNOW THIS BETTER THAN ANYBODY, WE DO HAVE AN OPEN CONTAINER LAW IN MISSOURI.

AND SO THAT TO ME, IF YOU'VE GOT AN OPEN CONTAINER LAW AND IF WE HAVEN'T HAD A NOTICEABLE UPTICK IN ANY KIND OF TO-GO CONTAINER INCIDENT, THEN I THINK WE OUGHT TO JUST LEAVE IT ALONE AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP THESE BUSINESSES.

>> I THINK IT'S JUST A BAD IDEA AND SOMEBODY'S GOING TO GET HURT, HOPEFULLY NOT KILLED, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BLAME THE LAW AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AGAIN.

>> ALVIN, WHAT IS -- >> I MEAN, YOU WALK IN AND I NEED A KID'S CHEESEBURGER AND FOUR MARGARITAS.

YOU LIKE ANYTHING ELSE?

YEAH, A STRAW.

YEAH, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND GOING TO SCHNUCKS AND ORDERING FROM THE DELI AND GRABBING A SIX-PACK OR WHATEVER A BOTTLE OF WINE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S -- I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

YOU PROBABLY -- BUT IT'S STILL ILLEGAL TO DRINK IN YOUR CAR, RIGHT?

>> BUT DRIVING -- >> DRINK AND DRIVING.

>> YOU CAN HAVE AN OPEN CONTAINER IF SOMEBODY ELSE IS DRIVING.

>> IF A RESTAURANT WANTS TO, LIKE, LET YOU BUY A SIX-PACK TO GO OR A BOTTLE OF WINE -- >> THIS IS LIKE GETTING A MANHATTAN TO GO, RAY.

>> EXACTLY.

LOOK, IF THE -- >> BUT IF YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE, I DON'T SEE MOST PEOPLE -- >> YOU ARE INVITING TROUBLE.

IF THE BANK DIDN'T LOCK THE VAULT AT NIGHT, THEY'D BE GETTING KNOCKED OVER ALL THE TIME.

I MEAN, WE ALL KNOW THAT STEALING IS WRONG, BUT HEY MAN, THERE'S SOME MONEY.

ALL WE GOT TO DO IS TAKE IT.

>> WELL, I WILL SAY -- >> I THINK YOU'RE INVITING TROUBLE EVERY DAY WHEN YOU'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

>> WHY ARE THEY REQUIRING PEOPLE TO BUY FOOD?

IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO BE EATING THAT IN THE CAR EITHER, RIGHT?

>> NO, IF THEY GO TO THE WENDY'S -- >> IF YOU WANT THE ALCOHOL, YOU HAVE TO BUY FOOD.

>> THAT GOES TO WENDY'S POINT.

OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS AND PUT THE RESTAURANT AT RISK AND ALL THIS MAYHEM MAY RESULT, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU BUY SOMETHING, THAT WILL HELP THE RESTAURANT TOO.

>> ALVIN, WHILE YOU'RE WITH US, OF COURSE, YOU'RE BEEN WRITING ABOUT SPORTS FOR MANY YEARS AND TARASENKO HAS ASKED TO LEAVE THE BLUES.

HOW MANY ATHLETES SAID THEY WANTED TO BE TRADED AWAY FROM ST. LOUIS?

WITH LESS THAN A MINUTE TO GO, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> DON KING, THE SPORTS WRITER OF THE YEAR, HEY, HE WANTS OUT.

HE AND THE BLUES HAVE BEEN GOING AROUND AND AROUND FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW AND MAYBE THE COACH, BUT HE WANTS OUT.

HE'S GOING TO BE A KRAKEN.

HE WANTS TO GO TO SEATTLE.

I DON'T THINK THE BLUES WILL PROTECT HIM, BUT HE'S GOING TO BE RUN.

>> HE HAD A GREAT RUN HERE.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT ST. LOUIS.

EVERY SINGLE CITY HAS ATHLETES WANTING IN AND WANTING OUT.

IT'S VERY COMMON.

HE'S A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE AND THE IDEA THAT IT SHOULD BE ABOUT LOYALTY TO A CITY, WHEELCHAIR RAMP, HE'S A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE -- TO A CITY, WHATEVER, HE'S A PROESH ATHLETE.

EVERY CITY HAS PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES COMING AND GOING.

WE'RE GOING TO MISS HIM, I THINK HE'S HAD A WONDERFUL CAREER HERE.

>> MAYBE HE'S GOING TO CHARLOTTE WITH MICHAEL NEIDORFF.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS SEGMENT, EVERYBODY.

ALVIN AND WENDY WILL BE TALKING TO DR. MANO PATRI, THE SSM HEALTH INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST.

THE TOPIC, THE DELTA VARIANT.

SHOULD BE FASCINATING AND THAT'S NEXT ON DONNYBROOK NEXT UP.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> AND WE WELCOME YOU TO DONNYBROOK NEXT UP.

ALVIN REID AND I ARE SO DELIGHTED AND HONORED TO BE WELCOMING TO THE PROGRAM DR. MANO PATRI OF SSM.

SHE'S AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AND THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS NEW DELTA VARIANT.

WE'RE EVEN HEARING, DR. PATRI, ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED A LAMBDA VARIANT, SO WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

TELL US WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, BECAUSE OUR VIEWERS, WE DON'T HAVE MEDICAL DICTIONARIES, MOST OF US, BUT HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE DELTA VARIANT?

>> THE WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT WITH ANY VIRUS, VIRUSES MUTATE.

THAT'S HOW THEY STAY ALIVE.

AND MANY MUTATIONS ARE INKNOCK CULL US WILL, THEY DON'T MEAN MUCH, BUT THERE ARE MUTATIONS THAT START INCREASING THE SEVERITY OF THAT VIRUS TO MAKE IT MORE POTENT.

AND SO THIS VIRUS HAS MUTATED SEVERAL TIMES AND SO WHAT -- LIKE THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, CDC, ETCETERA, WHAT THEY LOOK AT ARE WHAT ARE THE VARIANTS THAT COULD BE OF CONCERN, VOC.

THE VARIANTS OF CONCERN ARE ALPHA, BETA, GAMMA, DELTA.

ALPHA IS THE ONE, YOU'VE HEARD THE U.K. STRAIN, THEY LABELED THAT AS ALPHA.

THEN WE HAVE OUR BETA, GAMMA, AND DELTA, AND THE DELTA IS THE LATEST WITH -- THAT WAS SEEN ORIGINALLY IN INDIA.

THE POTENCY OF THE DELTA VARIANT IS THE HIGHEST, SO THIS HAS DEMONSTRATED TO BE THE FITTEST OF THESE STRAINS.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS IT HAS -- IT'S MUCH MORE INFECTIOUS AND POTENTIALLY COULD BE MUCH MORE POTENT TO PEOPLE.

AND WHAT YOU JUST NEED TO DO IS TAKE A LOOK AT HOW INDIA HAS SUSTAINED SUCH HORRIFIC AMOUNT OF DEATH AND MORBIDITY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VARIANT.

SO THAT'S WHY THIS IS SUCH A BIG DEAL OF HOW RAPID.

NOW, IF YOU BRING IT HOME, NOW YOU CAN SEE THAT THE DELTA VARIANT HAS NOW BECOME THE PREDOMINANT STRAIN IN THE U.S.

SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT VARIANTS THAT ARE AROUND, BUT WHAT'S THE MOST COMMON STRAIN OR THE MOST AVAILABLE STRAIN HAS NOW MUTATED INTO THE DELTA STRAIN.

IT USED TO BE THE ALPHA, THE U.K.

VARIANT.

NOW IT'S THE DELTA.

AND THAT IS A REFLECTION OF HOW QUICKLY AND HOW INFECTIOUS THIS VIRUS IS.

>> SO FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE VACCINATED, SHOULD WE FEAR, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO GET ANOTHER SHOT?

JUST WHAT IS OUR POSITION?

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

NO MEDICINE IS WITHOUT -- IS 100%.

NO VACCINE IS 100%.

THE INTENT OF THE VACCINE IS TRYING TO PROTECT AS MANY PEOPLE IN THE POPULATION AS POSSIBLE.

SO I THINK ONE OF THE CNN COMMENTATORS MADE A VERY GOOD DESCRIPTION.

THINK OF THE VACCINE AS A RAINCOAT AND WHEN YOU HAVE A DRIZZLE, IT'S WELL PROTECTED.

WHEN YOU HAVE A THUNDERSTORM OR A HURRICANE, YOU START TO SEE BREAKTHROUGHS OCCUR.

THE BEST ACTION THAT WE'VE GOT IS VACCINATION.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING THIS DELTA STRAIN, THE MAJORITY OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING SICK AND BEING HOSPITALIZED ARE THOSE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED.

WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED WHO HAVE ACQUIRED THE INFECTION, BUT IT IS MUCH LESS SEVERE IN GENERAL.

BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE ALL NEED TO BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT, ESPECIALLY IN MISSOURI AS MISSOURI IS NOW, YOU KNOW, THE TOP STATE OF INCREASING CASES IN THE COUNTRY.

SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT I'M, LIKE YOU, I'M VACCINATED AND I DO FEEL SAFER AND I DO FEEL BETTER AND I SEE COVID PATIENTS ALL THE TIME.

BUT I AM AWARE THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE HOLES IN ANY MEDICATION, ESPECIALLY IF YOU KEEP HAVING A VIRUS THAT KEEPS MUTATING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REALIZE, THESE VACCINES WERE MADE AT A STAGE WHERE DELTA VACCINE -- OR THE DELTA VARIANT WASN'T EVEN -- DIDN'T EVEN EXIST.

SO THE MORE VARIANTS THAT COME OUT, THE MORE CHALLENGE THAT MAY HAVE TO YOUR VACCINE.

SO THE QUESTION OF BOOSTER IS SORT OF IN A -- YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT, I GUESS, IN A COUPLE WAYS.

ONE WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT IS WILL THIS VACCINE HAVE A DURABILITY AMOUNT OF IMMUNITY?

WHAT WE KNOW IS PFIZER VACCINE AND THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE HAVE SHOWN THAT IT HAS QUITE AN EXTENSIVE DURABLE IMMUNITY.

THE QUESTION IS, THOUGH, IMMUNITY TO WHAT, WHAT STRAIN?

IF YOU'RE HAVING, AS YOU MENTIONED, KAPPA, LAMBDA THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE MUCH MORE SEVERE, THE CHALLENGE MAY BE THAT WE NEED ANOTHER VACCINE TO COMBAT THE NEW STRAIN THAT'S AVAILABLE.

AND THE WAY I WILL ALLUDE IT TO IS LIKE A FLU SHOT.

WE GET A FLU SHOT EVERY YEAR AND THAT FLU SHOT IS BASED ON WHAT VARIANTS ARE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, SO TO TRY TO BEST PROTECT US.

IT IS POSSIBLE WE MAY NEED A -- IT JUST MAY BE AN ANNUAL THING.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW YET.

>> I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP ON THAT AND THEN ANOTHER QUESTION IF THAT'S OKAY, DOCTOR.

THE FOLLOW-UP BEING, WHEN YOU SAY THE LEVEL OF SEVERITY IS NOT WHAT IT IS WITHOUT THE VACCINE, DOES THAT STILL MEAN YOU'RE SEEING PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION?

>> YES.

MUCH LESS, BUT YES.

SO IT IS POSSIBLE AND AS WE SEE -- BUT IT IS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS.

WE'RE TALKING -- WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT, IF YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT HOW SOUTHERN MISSOURI, THERE'S A HUGE OUTBREAK, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOSPITALIZED ARE NOT VACCINATED.

SO WE ARE SEEING SOME WHO ARE VACCINATED, BUT NOT TO THE LEVEL OF THE UNVACCINATED.

>> THE OTHER QUESTION IS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE VARIANTS, WORKING OUR WAY UP TO THE PRESENT -- THE DELTA VARIANT THREAT, IS THIS THE WAY THAT THE VIRUS IS ALMOST TRYING TO PROTECT ITSELF?

SO BECAUSE THE VIRUS, WE ALMOST HAVE TO THINK OF IT LIKE AN ADVANCING ARMY, THAT IT IS TRYING TO PROTECT ITSELF.

SO IT IS SHAPE SHIFTING INTO ALL OF -- CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT A LITTLE BIT IF YOU DON'T MIND?

>> THE WAY YOU DESCRIBED IT IS PERFECT.

THE WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT IS THIS VIRUS DOESN'T WANT TO DIE, AND SO IT TRIES TO GET MORE AND MORE CLEVER.

IT TRIES TO FIND WAYS TO EVADE THE IMMUNITY.

SO THE MORE VIRUS THAT'S PRESENT, THE MORE REPLICATION THAT OCCURS, THE MORE MUTATIONS THAT OCCUR.

AND THOSE MUTATIONS CAN THEN INCREASE POTENTIAL RISK FOR BECOMING MORE AND MORE DURABLE.

SO YOU HAVE ONE SET OF ARMY THAT'S TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, ATTACK AND IT'S NOT WORKING.

YOU CHANGE YOUR TACTICS.

YOU MODIFY WHAT YOU DO TO TRY TO GO AFTER IT A DIFFERENT WAY.

THEN YOU CHANGE IT AGAIN.

THE VIRUSES ARE INCREDIBLY CLEVER AND THEY DO THAT.

THAT'S WHY EVEN THE FLU, THEY'RE MULTIPLE VARIANTS OF THE FLU THAT RUN AROUND, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING SO HARD TO PUSH FOR PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED BECAUSE THE MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED, THE LESS VIRUS PRESENT, THE LESS THIS ARMY CAN CHANGE ITS MIND.

WE CAN TRY TO QUELL THIS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S BECOMING TO THE POINT AT THIS POINT WHERE IT'S ALMOST A PREVENTABLE ILLNESS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF HOW SIGNIFICANT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE COMMUNITIES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED VERSUS NON-VACCINATED REGIONS.

SO THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ARMY IS PERFECT BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

WE'RE FIGHTING A ARMY THAT'S EVER-CHANGING.

>> YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING YOU SAY MAKES PERFECT SENSE, OKAY?

AND -- BUT PEOPLE AREN'T HEEDING THAT MESSAGE AND I DON'T MEAN TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, BUT I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO SEE IT, YOU HAVE TO THINK TO YOURSELF, HOW FOOLISH, OKAY?

AND I -- LIKE I SAY, ON MY END, I SAY HOW FOOLISH AND I'M STARTING TO THINK I DON'T CARE.

TELL ME WHY I -- WHY SHOULD I NOT FEEL THAT?

>> SO THE WAY I THINK ABOUT IT IS INFORMATION HAS NEVER BEEN SO ACCESSIBLE AS IT HAS BEEN IN OUR DAY AND AGE.

THERE'S A LOT OF POWER WITH THAT.

IT CAN BE USED FOR GOOD OR IT CAN BE USED FOR NOT SO GOOD.

YOU KNOW, WE SEE THIS TIME AND AGAIN WHERE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE SORT OF A PRE-EXISTING CONCERN OR THOUGHT AND THEY FIND SOMEBODY THAT SEEMS LIKE THEM.

THEY FOLLOW THAT.

SO IF SOMEBODY IS CONCERNED THAT THEY -- THEY'RE PREGNANT OR THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET PREGNANT AND THEY FIND AN ARTICLE THAT SAYS THAT, THEY KIND OF GO DOWN THAT DIRECTION.

SOMEHOW -- WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS VIRUS HAS BECOME POLITICIZED AND THE PROBLEM THAT I THINK WE NEED TO REALIZE IS COVID DOESN'T CARE WHO YOU VOTED FOR.

IT COULD CARE LESS.

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT STATE YOU'RE FROM.

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT ANY OF THAT.

ALL IT WANTS TO DO IS EXIST, AND WHAT WE NEED TO TRY TO DO IS SOMEHOW REMOVE THE PART WHERE IT'S ABOUT REMOVING PEOPLE'S RIGHTS OR IT'S ABOUT A, YOU KNOW, WHO YOU VOTED FOR AND GET DOWN TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS A WAR.

THIS IS A WAR.

JUST LIKE WORLD WAR II, WORLD WAR I, IT DOESN'T TAKE ONE PERSON.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO SURVIVE THIS.

AND IT DOES GET VERY FRUSTRATING, AND I WOULD SAY IT FROM BOTH SIDES BECAUSE I HAVE PATIENTS WHO STILL DON'T WANT TO GET VACCINATED AND I'M TRYING TO TELL THEM, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY THE WAY TO PROTECT YOU.

AND IT IS TRYING TO COME INTO THEIR MINDS AND UNDERSTAND IT FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE TO TRY TO SAY, OKAY, THIS IS HOW -- THIS IS HOW THE SCIENCE WORKS.

IT'S NOT ABOUT POLITICS, IT'S NOT ABOUT ANYTHING, BECAUSE THIS IS -- AND IN SOME AREAS, I MEAN, THIS IS A VERY UNPOPULAR THING THAT I'M SAYING, TO GET VACCINATED.

IT IS INCREDIBLY UNPOPULAR.

AND YOU AND I, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, WE'RE LIKE WHY WOULD THIS BE AN UNPOPULAR STATEMENT?

THIS IS A WAY OF PROTECTING, WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT OUR KIDS, WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT OUR LOVED ONES.

SO I THINK WE -- THE PART THAT I TRY TO DO IS TRY TO STILL COME AT IT FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE, TO TRY TO SEE PICK MEET THEM IN THE MIDDLE AND -- SEE IF I CAN MEET THEM IN THE MIDDLE AND TRY TO CHANGE THEIR MIND AND THAT'S REALLY, REALLY HARD BECAUSE, AGAIN, I THINK POLITICS HAVE COME INTO THIS MORE THAN IT SHOULD.

>> IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US, WELCOME TO DONNYBROOK NEXT UP.

OUR SPECIAL GUEST TONIGHT IS DR. MANO PATRI.

SHE IS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST WITH SSM HEALTH AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT AND THE FACT THAT TOKYO HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

THE OLYMPICS WILL GO ON WITHOUT FANS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF VACCINATIONS IN THAT COUNTRY.

DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU, DR. PATRI, WHEN YOU THINK OF JAPAN'S PROXIMITY TO CHINA AND GROUND ZERO, YOU WOULD THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE A SENSE OF URGENCY TO DO ALL THAT YOU CAN BECAUSE THAT PART OF THE WORLD, THE FAR EAST, ASIA, THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS.

SO THAT'S KIND OF SURPRISING.

DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU IN ANY WAY?

>> I THINK THE WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT IS THERE IS A GENERAL MISTRUST WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

AND IN JAPAN'S HISTORY, THEY HAD A MASS VACCINATION CAMPAIGN FOR A DIFFERENT REASON AND THERE WERE A LOT OF SIDE EFFECTS THAT WERE SEEN WITH IT.

AND THAT INCREASED THAT CONCERN IN PEOPLE'S MINDS THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TRUST THE GOVERNMENT.

AND SO NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING ARE THE EFFECTS OF ALL OF THIS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SO HESITANT TO GET THIS VACCINE BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS OF PERCEIVED -- POTENTIAL PERCEIVED SIDE EFFECTS AND IT'S NOT, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S NOT JUST IN JAPAN, BUT IT'S EVERYWHERE.

EVEN IN INDIA WHERE INDIA IS THE NUMBER ONE COUNTRY FOR MAKING VACCINES ACROSS THE WORLD, THEIR VACCINATION NUMBERS WERE REALLY, REALLY LOW.

SO YOU'RE GOING AGAINST SOCIAL CONCERNS OF LACK OF TRUST WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, INABILITY TO TRY TO PROVIDE PROPER INFORMATION TO PEOPLE, AND THEN YOU SEE PEOPLE THEN GOING TO OTHER AVENUES TO TRY TO GET INFORMATION AND THAT INFORMATION MAY NOT BE REAL.

IT MAY NOT BE RIGHT.

AND SO THEN YOU START FIGHTING -- HAVING TO FIGHT THAT WAR.

SO I'M NOT SURPRISED TO SEE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE JAPANESE MEDICAL SOCIETY WAS VERY AGAINST HAVING THE OLYMPICS BECAUSE OF THIS CONCERN AND THERE WERE ALL OF THESE OTHER FACTORS THAT PLAYED A ROLE, AND I THINK RIGHTLY SO, NOT HAVING, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN A CLOSED-IN STADIUM, EVEN THOUGH IT IS, YOU KNOW, HEARTBREAKING BECAUSE WE LOVE THE OLYMPICS, THE QUESTION REALLY COMES DOWN TO IS IT'S A SAFETY THING AND NOW THEY'RE SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL OUTBREAKS, OUTBREAKS THAT WE'RE SEEING.

IT'S US.

>> SO IN THE UNITED STATES, ALONG THAT SIMILAR PATTERN, DOCTOR, BLACK AMERICANS ARE VACCINE HESITANT AND AS I'VE POINTED OUT ON THE SHOW, THERE'S PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN AGE THAT ARE -- YOU KNOW, LEARNED ABOUT, ARE AWARE OF WHAT WENT ON AT TUSKEGEE, BUT YOUNGER PEOPLE COULDN'T POINT OUT ON A MAP WHERE THAT UNIVERSITY IS.

I DON'T GET THAT EITHER.

THERE CAN BE MISTRUST OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, EVERY STATISTICAL FACT POINTS TO IF YOU'RE A BLACK PERSON, YOU SHOULD GET VACCINATED.

BUT YEAH, VERY LAGGING IN NUMBERS.

I'M NOT ASKING YOU FOR AN EXPLANATION, BUT THAT HAS TO BE HEARTBREAKING TOO.

>> IT IS, AND I DO -- I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND, ESPECIALLY IN THE OLDER POPULATION, THE MISTRUST.

AND THAT AGAIN GOES INTO THE SOCIAL COMPONENT, THAT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING EXPERIMENTED ON.

THERE IS -- THE REAL SOCIAL ISSUES THAT ARE PLAYING A ROLE THAT ARE SUBSEQUENTLY COSTING PEOPLE'S LIVES, SO I'VE HAD DISH JUST HAD A 42-YEAR-OLD WHO DIED RECENTLY, AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN, AND IT JUST HURTS YOUR HEART.

AND IT WAS SORT OF THAT PERCEIVED MISTRUST IN WHERE THE VACCINE -- IN WHAT THAT VACCINE CAN DO.

AND WE ARE SEEING IT AND THAT'S ALSO WHY WE'RE SEEING IT NOW IN A LOT OF YOUNGER PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE THIS NEW SURGE -- THERE'S A LOT MORE YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING INFECTED AND ARE GETTING REALLY SICK FROM THIS, SO I THINK THAT THERE'S THE COMPONENT OF MISTRUST.

ALSO, THEY DON'T THINK IT WILL HURT THEM.

THERE'S ALSO THE THOUGHT OF, OKAY, IT'S JUST A COLD, YOU KNOW.

I SHOULD BE FINE.

THAT KIND OF PERCEPTION.

WHICH WE NEED TO GET OUT BECAUSE I HAD A 21-YEAR-OLD WHO HAD A STROKE.

I'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, A 30-YEAR-OLD WHO DIED WITH COMPLICATIONS FROM HEART-RELATED POST COVID.

SO THESE ARE REAL.

WE DON'T WANT YOU TO LEARN AFTERWARDS, YOU KNOW.

A LOT OF THE TIMES, MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE TREATED WHO HAVE GOTTEN COVID, ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST STATEMENTS WAS I WISH I HAD GOTTEN MY VACCINE.

>> CAN I FOLLOW UP ON THAT?

>> YEAH.

>> BECAUSE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS STILL COME ON ABOUT SMOKING AND THE POINT IS THEY'RE SHOWING HOW SMOKING WRECKED THEIR LIVES.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE KIND OF HORRIFIC AT TIMES.

THAT HAS ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE MISSING, THOSE STORIES LIKE YOU JUST TOLD THAT ARE BOUGHT, PAID FOR, AND PUT ON NATIONAL TV DURING NATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS AND THE MOST WATCHED SHOWS, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN 7:00 AND 10:00 CENTRAL TIME, AND I THINK COULDN'T THAT HELP GET MESSAGE OUT?

>> YEAH, AND THE ST. LOUIS TASK FORCE ACTUALLY DID SOME OF THESE WHERE THEY HAD FAMILIES AND SURVIVORS TALK.

THIS IS A TOUGH TIME BECAUSE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN DECIMATED.

MONEY HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY, SERVICES HAVE BEEN REMOVED, AND SO THEY HAVE A FOURTH OF THEIR FUNDS TO DO SOMETHING THAT NEEDS PROBABLY A BILLION MORE DOLLARS THAN WHAT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE AVAILABLE.

BUT THOSE ARE -- YOU'RE RIGHT.

I THINK THE ONES WHERE YOU SEE A NORMAL PERSON TALK TO YOU AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT I HAD AND SEE WHAT THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE.

LIKE THE CANCER PATIENT WHO IS SMOKING AND VS. -- AND WHO HAS A TRACHEOSTOMY.

THOSE ARE SIGNIFICANT.

AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ALSO A MIX POLITICS PART OF THIS, WHY THIS INFORMATION IS NOT COMING OUT.

BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE PEOPLE WHO DON'T BELIEVE COVID IS A THING, STILL, SO THAT'S A CHALLENGE OF HOW TO GET THE WORD OUT.

>> HOW MANY MILLIONS OF DEATHS, DOCTOR?

TODAY WE REACHED A MILESTONE, WAS IT FOUR -- I APOLOGIZE, MAYBE ANN MARIE CAN -- I THINK IT WAS -- MILLIONS.

I MEAN, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DEATHS.

AND YET, SOME PEOPLE STILL THINK THAT WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT A COLD, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE STATE OF MISSOURI PROMINENTLY MENTIONED IN EVERY NATIONAL NEWSCAST.

WITH THE SUMMER VACATION SEASON UPON US AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, WHAT DO THEY NEED TO KNOW BEFORE THEY GET ON AN AIRPLANE?

BECAUSE THAT'S THE THING THAT THE -- THE POCKETS OF, YOU KNOW, THESE HOT SPOTS, THEY DON'T REALIZE HOW THEY ENDANGER THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND, FRANKLY, EVEN THE WORLD.

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THAT, BUT WE'VE NEVER BEEN MORE CONNECTED THAN WE ARE TODAY, SO PEOPLE GETTING ON AIRPLANES AND THEN WE'RE OFF TO THE RACES.

BUT PARENTS OF KIDS, LET'S FOCUS THAT, WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED, WHAT DO THEY NEED TO KNOW BEFORE OR IF THEY EVEN GET ON AN AIRPLANE OR IN A STATION WAGON?

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT IS -- I MEAN, THIS VIRUS, WE SUSPECT, ORIGINATED IN CHINA AND NOW IT'S AFFECTED THE ENTIRE WORLD.

OUR WORLD IS SMALL.

THE DELTA VARIANT ORIGINATED IN INDIA AND NOW IT'S THE NUMBER ONE STRAIN IN AMERICA.

SO THIS IS -- WE ARE ALL CONNECTED.

WHAT I THINK WE -- WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT KIDS WHO CAN'T GET VACCINATED, I THINK THE WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT, AGAIN, IS THAT THIS VARIANT IS VERY INFECTIOUS.

HOW MUCH THIS PLAYS A ROLE ON TO OUR KIDS IS STILL NOT KNOWN, BUT KIDS CAN GET THIS AND WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS THE SEVERITY THAT IT IS TO OUR CHILDREN AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS CAN TRANSMIT TO OTHERS.

SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT, IN THESE CLOSED-IN SPACES SUCH AS AIRPLANES, TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO MASK YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILD AND IN CLOSED-IN AREAS, MASKING IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS STILL TO TRY TO PROTECT THE KIDS, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, AIRPLANES KNOW FROM MANY REASONS, BUT THEY KNOW IF THEY HAVE AN OUTBREAK IN THEIR PLANE, NO ONE IS GOING ON THAT AIRPLANE.

SO THEY'RE TRYING VERY HARD AS WELL TO KEEP PEOPLE MASKED BECAUSE -- TO TRY TO PREVENT IT BECAUSE IT IS A CLOSED-IN AREA.

SO I WOULD SAY IN AREAS WHERE THEY'RE CLOSED TIE SPACES, MASKING -- CLOSED TIGHT SPACES, MASKING IS STILL WORTH IT AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE THIS THING WITH MASKS, BUT WE DEMONSTRATED, WE ARE CAPABLE OF CHANGE.

WE DID THIS.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR NUMBERS DOWN AND IT WAS NOT BECAUSE OF ONE PERSON.

IT WAS BECAUSE OF EVERYONE.

EVERYONE CHIPPED IN, AND SO YES, IT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT IDEALLY, BUT THIS IS A DEFINITE WAY TO PROTECT YOUR FELLOW MAN, PROTECT YOURSELF.

>> I THINK FALL SEMESTER WILL BE HERE QUICKLY, SO ESPECIALLY AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL, BUT AT ALL, YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS, INCLUDING COLLEGES, IS THIS GOING TO BE KIND OF A -- JUST THE FEW FIRST MONTHS, IS IT GOING TO BE A -- I DON'T HAVE A -- A SCIENTIFIC, NOT EXPERIMENT, BUT WATCHED VERY CLOSELY TO SEE WHERE THE OUTBREAKS ARE AND IF THERE ARE OUTBREAKS, AND PRETTY HONESTLY, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T VACCINATED, BUT IN YOUR PROFESSION AND CDC, ARE THEY ALREADY SETTING UP TO TRY TO WATCH THIS AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, WE ALL KNOW, I'M A MOM OF THREE AND MY KIDS DID REMOTE SCHOOLING, AND IT WAS TERRIBLE.

YOU KNOW, THEY -- YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY LIKED IT, BUT -- >> MOM'S A DOCTOR!

>> YEAH, SO YOU KNOW, MY KIDS ARE -- OUR KIDS ARE GOING TO SCHOOL AND WE KNOW THAT THIS IS GOOD FOR THEM.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE CLOSELY WATCHED BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO MASK.

WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING INTO FLU SEASON.

WE'RE GOING TO BE -- WE'RE ALREADY IN RSD SEASON A BIT.

YEAR NOT GOING TO BE NOT ONLY -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO ONLY BE CHALLENGED WITH COVID, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE CHALLENGED WITH OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES, SO WHY WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS PUSH SO MUCH FOR AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO GET VACCINATED NOW IS THAT AS WE ENTER INTO THE WINTER SEASON, WE TRY AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE THAT POTENTIALLY COULD OCCUR.

BUT EVERYONE IS SORT OF WATCHING WITH BAITED BREATH BECAUSE WE DO WANT OUR KIDS BACK.

WE WANT OUR TEACHERS SAFE.

WE WANT EVERYONE SAFE.

BUT IT IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MY KIDS GO TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HUGE SCHOOL.

THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS THERE.

IT IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE IN THESE CLOSED-IN SPACES MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED.

AND MY THREE CHILDREN ARE VACCINATED, BUT IT'S STILL NOT WITHOUT THE RISK.

I WOULD STILL BE SAYING DEPENDING ON HOW THESE NUMBERS ARE LOOKING, WHICH I SUSPECT THEY'RE GOING TO BE, I WOULD HAVE THEM MASK AT SCHOOL BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE VARIANTS ARE GOING TO BE AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE.

>> OUR EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR ANN MARIE BERGER HAS UPDATED THE NUMBERS.

THERE'S A DEATH TOLL WORLDWIDE OF FOUR MILLION PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF COVID.

AND ALONG THOSE LINES, DR. MANO PATRI, COULD THERE PROBABLY BE A WORSE TIME TO BE HAVING THE DEBATE ABOUT HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, VACCINATED OR UNVACCINATED?

WOULD YOU CARE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY?

YOU HAVE THE BULLY PULPIT TO SPEAK TO YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO ARE RELUCTANT.

>> AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, THE MAJOR ST. LOUIS MEDICAL SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN -- HAVE PUSHED TOWARDS MANDATING VACCINATION.

AND THERE'S A BIG REASON FOR THAT.

WE KNOW THAT -- WE'VE SEEN THE SCIENCE THAT HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT THESE VACCINES HAVE BEEN SAFE AND THEY HAVE PROVEN TO REDUCE THE MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19.

IT ISN'T, AGAIN, THE POLITICS OF THIS.

THIS IS A VERY UNPLEASANT DISCUSSION TO HAVE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE THINKING WE'RE TRYING TO FORCE THE HAND, WE'RE TRYING TO TELL THEM WHAT TO DO.

WE'RE MISSING -- THAT'S NOT THE POINT.

THE POINT IS THAT AS WE HAVE ALREADY MANDATED INFLUENZA, WE HAVE SEEN THAT THIS IS A SAFETY TO OUR STAFF.

OUR NURSES, OUR JANITORS, OUR COOKS, ARE THE MOST PRECIOUS PEOPLE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

THEY PROTECT -- THEY ARE PROTECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE OF OUR POPULATION.

THEY ARE GOLDEN.

THE SAME WITH OUR DOCTORS, AND WE NEED TO NOT ONLY MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING THEM, BUT WE'RE PROTECTING OUR PATIENTS.

THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK RECENTLY -- >> DR. PATRI, I AM SO SORRY, BUT WE ARE RAPIDLY -- >> OH, OKAY.

>> IT GOES BY MUCH TOO QUICKLY.

>> OKAY.

>> YOU HAVE SO VERY GENEROUS.

I HAVE A FEELING WE'LL PROBABLY BE ASKING HER BACK, ALVIN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT A WONDERFUL GUEST.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE.

I LOVE YOU TWO, SO IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO MEET YOU GUYS.

>> THAT'S VERY DEAR.

>> MY HUSBAND IS FROM ST. LOUIS, SO -- >> IT'S QUITE MUTUAL.

DR. MANO PATRI OF SSM HEALTH SYSTEM, SHEFRS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

THIS IS DONNYBROOK NEXT UP.

STAY TUNED TO NINE PBS.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.