>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE NOW BEEN VACCINATED, BUT THE RATE OF DAILY SHOTS IS BEGINNING TO SLOW, PARTICULARLY IN RED STATES.

WILL WE EVER BE ABLE TO MOVE ON FROM COVID?

I'M JOINED BY TWO EPIDEMIOLOGISTS, BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER'S DR. CASSANDRA PIERRE AND HARVARD'S DR. MICHAEL MINA.

THEN, LATER, HOW THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IS TRYING TO CATCH UP AS BUSINESS BOOMS, WITHOUT ENOUGH STAFF TO HANDLE IT.

AND, FINALLY, BOSTON POPS CONDUCTOR KEITH LOCKHART ON THE ORCHESTRA'S SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY PERFORMANCE.

>>> ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, WE'RE HITTING MAJOR MILESTONES WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINES, WITH MORE THAN 70% OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE 16 OR OVER NOW AT LEAST PARTIALLY INOCULATED, ALMOST 60% OF EVERYONE HERE.

AND TO GET THAT NUMBER EVEN HIGHER, TODAY GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER ANNOUNCED SOME VACCINE SITES WILL BEGIN ACCEPTING WALK-UP APPOINTMENTS STARTING NEXT WEEK.

>> NOW THAT VACCINES ARE MORE WIDELY AVAILABLE, WE'RE SHIFTING OUR EFFORTS TO FOCUS ON MORE TARGETED COMMUNITY-BASED OUTREACH.

>> Braude: NATIONALLY, MORE THAN 55% HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST ONE DOSE, AND YESTERDAY BIDEN SET A GOAL TO MAKE THAT 70% BY THE FOURTH OF JULY.

>> GET VACCINATED.

IN TWO MONTHS, LET'S CELEBRATE OUR INDEPENDENCE AS A NATION AND OUR INDEPENDENCE FROM THIS VIRUS.

>> Braude: BUT IT'S NOT ALL GOOD NEWS.

SOME ARE SEEING THE PRESIDENT'S 70% GOAL AS A STEP DOWN FROM EFFORTS TO REACH HERD IMMUNITY, WHEN THE VIRUS JUST STOPS CIRCULATING.

AND PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS ARE NOW WARNING IT'S UNLIKELY WE'LL EVER GET RID OF COVID ALTOGETHER.

>> WE MAY NOT GET TO ZERO.

WE PROBABLY WON'T.

BUT IF WE CAN GET THE INFECTIONS AT VERY LOW LEVELS, MOST OF US CAN GET BACK TO OUR LIVES IN NORMAL WAYS.

I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY LIVE WITH THAT.

>> Braude: AND SO FAR IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT WILL BE EASIER TO LIVE WITH IN SOME PLACES THAN OTHERS, AS A SHARP DIVIDE EMERGES BETWEEN RED STATES AND BLUE STATES, WITH THE TOP FIVE STATES, WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINATION RATES, INCLUDING THIS ONE, ALL GOING FOR BIDEN IN THE LAST ELECTION, AND THE BOTTOM FIVE ALL GOING FOR TRUMP.

SOME CITIZENS AND STATES ARE OFFERING INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO GET THEIR SHOTS, INCLUDING $50 IN DETROIT, $100 IN MARYLAND, AND A FREE BEER IN NEW JERSEY.

SERIOUSLY.

AND THAT'S WHY, TODAY, WHITE HOUSE SENIOR ADVISOR FOR COVID RESPONSE, ANDY SLAVITT, URGED THOSE WHO ARE VACCINATED TO HELP GET THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM ON BOARD.

>> THIS IS YOUR CALL TO ACTION.

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCE WAS LIKE, SO PLEASE TALK WITH YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, NEIGHBORS, AND COMMUNITY.

SHARE WHY YOU CHOSE TO GET VACCINATED, WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO GET ONE, AND HOW IT FELT WHEN YOU FINALLY GOT THE VACCINE.

>> Braude: I'M JOINED BY DR. CASSANDRA PIERRE, ACTING HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER, AND DR. MICHAEL MINA, AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AT HARVARD'S SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND AN ASSOCIATE MEDICAL DIRECTOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PATHOLOGY AT BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL.

>> Braude: DR. MINA, GOOD TO MEET YOU.

DR.

PEER PIERRE, GOOD TO SEE YOU YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> Braude: DOCTOR PIERRE, FOR MONTHS WE HEARD HERD IMMUNITY WAS THE TOP GOAL, AND THEN IT DISAPPEARED.

I ASSUME IT WAS VACCINE HESITANCY SORT OF UPPED THAT THRESH HOLD.

AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY IT IS THE CASUALTY OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH GLOBAL VACCINE ACCESS, LOCAL VACCINE ACCESS, AND NOT UNDERSTANDING THE MECHANISMS OF DELIVERING VACCINES TO STRUCTURALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS.

BUT, YES, THIS IS MULTI-FACTORAL.

WE SAID IT WOULD BE MORE OF A MARATHON THAN A SPRINT, AND THAT SEEMS TO BE THE CASE.

>> Braude: DR. MINA, WHAT ENCOURAGES HERD IMMUNITY.

AND THEN IS IT THE HOPE IT BECOMES SEASONAL FLU-LIKE, WHERE IT LINGERS, BUT AT A MANAGEABLE RATE.

IS THAT THE HOPE?

>> THE GENERAL HOPE IS THAT WE GET AS MANY OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE VACCINATED.

HERD IMMUNITY IS ON A CONTINUUM.

EVERY VACCINE THAT GOES INTO SOMEBODY'S ARM IS TOWARDS WHAT WE CALL A HERD IMMUNITY THRESHOLD, BUT THAT IS REALLY DEFINED AS THE THRESHOLD AT WHICH A NEW VIRUS JUST REALLY CAN'T TRANSMIT ACROSS AND SUSTAIN ITSELF ACROSS THE POPULATION.

BUT IT DIDN'T MEAN THAT INFECTIONS WERE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO OCCUR ANYMORE.

AND SO THIS IS ALSO ON THE CONTINUECONTINUUM OF LEARNING HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS PANDEMIC.

AND IDEALLY BEING ABLE TO PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE AND THEN DEALING WITH THE ADDITIONAL CASES THAT MIGHT OCCUR THAT AREN'T GOING TO HOPEFULLY LEAD TO HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.

>> Braude: OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A CONSENSUS, HERD IMMUNITY OR NOT, MORE VACCINATIONS IS THE GOAL.

DR. MINA, STAYING WITH YOU, ARE YOU A CARROT OR A STICK KIND OF PERSON?

SHOULD WE HAVE MANDATES, OR DO WE JUST CREATE MORE INCENTIVES THAT CONVINCE PEOPLE THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO?

>> I'M PERSONALLY ALWAYS FOR INCENTIVES IF WE CAN DO THAT.

I DON'T THINK, ESPECIALLY IN OUR LARGELY DIVIDED COUNTRY TODAY, THAT REALLY CREATING PENALTIES, FOR EXAMPLE, AS A RESULT OF NOT GETTING VACCINATED IS GOING TO BE TOLERATED IN MUCH OF THE COUNTRY.

I THINK WE NEED TO INCENTIVIZE, TO EDUCATE PEOPLE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AND USE ALL OF THE RESOURCES WE HAVE.

WE SHOULD BE EDUCATING THE POPULATION IN WAYS THAT WE HAVEN'T YET, GETTING THE BEST AGENCIES TO PUT ADS ON TV TO REALLY START TACKLING SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS WITH GOOD INFORMATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> Braude: BY THE WAY, SURVEYS SHOW, DOCTOR, AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS, THAT MONEY WORKS.

I WASN'T BEING FACTITIOUS A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO.

IT INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF SOMEBODY GETTING A SHOT WHO OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT, QUITE DRAMATICALLY.

DR. BAKER ANNOUNCED HE IS CLOSING FOUR OF THE MASS VACCINATIONS SITES, BUT IT APPEARS HE IS CONVINCED THAT GOING LOCAL FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO.

THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GO, IS IT NOT, FOR THE NEXT PHASE?

>> PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR A LITTLE BIT, YES, FOR THE NEXT WAVE, ESPECIALLY FOR VACCINATING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE YOUNGER, HEALTHIER, AND THEY HAVE LESS CONNECTION WITH TRUSTED ADVISORS, THAT GOING LOCAL WILL BE NECESSARY.

WE NEED TO BRING THE VACCINES TO THE PEOPLE, RATHER THAN EXPECTING THEM TO SHOW TO THE MASS IS VACCINATION SITES.

AND THINK MAY SERVE US WELL, WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT GETTING US TO HIGHER VACCINATIONS.

WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HAVING, AS WAS SAID IN THE CLIP, HAVING PEOPLE TALK TO THEIR CHURCHES, THEIR PRAYER GROUPS, THEIR BARTENDERS, THE PEOPLE THAT DO THEIR HAIR, AND SHARE EXPERIENCES TO HOPEFULLY FILL IN SOME OF THE VACUUM AND GIVE PEOPLE SOME INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN GETTING.

AND HOPEFULLY WEIGH OUT MISINFORMATION AND GIVE THE FACTS SO PEOPLE CAN MAKE DECISIONS.

>> Braude: DR. PIERRE, I MENTIONED THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THEY'RE GOING TO WAVE THE PATENT PROTECTIONS FOR UNDERVACCINATED COUNTRIES, BUT AS OF TODAY, EVERYBODY KNOWS THE NUMBERS, INDIA, ROUGHLY 2%, SOUTH AFRICA ROUGHLY 1%, WHILE THE UNITED STATES IS APPROACHING 50%.

HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, WE'RE ALMOST AT 60%, WHILE PLACES, I THINK MISSISSIPPI IS AT 31%.

DR. PIERRE, WE KNOW WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THOSE KINDS OF NUMBERS ARE FOR THE LOW VACCINATED STATES AND COUNTRIES.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR A PLACE LIKE MASSACHUSETTS TO BE -- TO HAVE OTHER STATES IN OUR COUNTRY WITH LOW VACCINATION RATES, AND PLACES LIKE INDIA, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH, WHAT, A BILLION PEOPLE HAVING MINISCULE VACCINATION RATES -- WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON US?

>> SO, WE WANT EVERYONE, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, TO BE WELL-VACCINATED.

BUT THINKING FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE, THE HIGHER OUR VACCINATION RATES, THE LESS OUTBREAKS WE WILL BE SEEING.

WE KNOW WE ARE NOT AN ISLAND, AND I DON'T MEAN TO SUGGEST THAT.

BUT HAVING BETTER VACCINATION RATES WILL HOPEFULLY BRING DOWN ALL OF THE HOSPITALIZATIONS, THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES THAT WE'VE SEEN WITH COVID-19, AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEM, BUT, YES, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO ENSURE, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, THAT OUR NEIGHBORS ARE GETTING GOOD INFORMATION AND VACCINES, THAT PEOPLE IN INDIA, BRAZIL, SUBSAHARAN AFRICA ARE STARTING THE ROLLOUT PROCESS TO AVOID THESE TERRIBLE SCENES WE'VE BEEN SEEING.

BECAUSE THE VARIANTS OF CONCERN CIRCULATE IN LOCATIONS WHERE THERE ARE HIGH LEVELS OF TRANSMISSION.

SO THE MORE VARIANTS THAT COME ABOUT, WITH MORE VIRULENCE, WE WILL, UNFORTUNATELY BE SEEING THOSE VARIANTS OF CONCERN SHOW UP ON OUR DOORSTEPS.

SO BOTH THINGS ARE IMPORTANT.

>> Braude: DR. MINA, I KNOW WE CAN'T BE ONE-TRICK PONIES, AND I READ SOME OF YOUR TWEETS WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE -- I HOPE I GET THIS RIGHT, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG -- OF THESE AT-HOME TESTS THAT ARE FINALLY AVAILABLE.

WHY ARE THEY SO IMPORTANT AND HOW DO WE USE THEM MOST AFFECTIVELY IN THIS WAR?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THE REASON THEY WERE SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT LAST YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, IS BECAUSE THE VIRUS SPREADS LARGELY BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT THEY ARE TRANSMITTING IT WHEN THEY TRANSMIT TO OTHERS.

SO TESTING IN A PANDEMIC LIKE THIS IS OUR EYES.

IF WE TEST FREQUENTLY, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO KNOW WHEN WE'RE INFECTED, WHEN WE'RE TRANSMISSIBLE, AND THESE RAPID TESTS ARE VERY GOOD AT IDENTIFYING THAT IN JUST A MATTER OF MINUTES AND COULD BE DONE AT HOME.

WE'RE IN A NEW PHASE OF THE PANDEMIC NOW.

MANY AMERICANS ARE VACCINATED, BUT MANY ARE NOT.

AND WE STILL NEED TO HAVE EYES ON THIS VIRUS.

WE STILL NEED TO KNOW IF WE'RE GOING INTO A NURSING HOME, IF WE'RE GOING INTO A SCHOOL THAT IS UNVACCINATED, ANY NUMBER OF PLACES, WE'RE STILL BETTER OFF KNOWING IF WE ARE CARRYING THE VIRUS, AND WE MIGHT WANT TO CHANGE OUR BEHAVIOR ACCORDING, IF SO.

THAT'S WHERE EASY, READY ACCESS TO FAST, INEXPENSIVE, IDEALLY, AT-HOME TESTING WOULD BE CRUCIAL.

>> Braude: IDEALLY, THE FEDS WOULD START PAYING FOR THIS.

I ONLY HAVE A MINUTE LEFT, AND I HOPE THIS IS NOT GOING TO BACKFIRE ON ME, BUT SINCE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT INCENTIVES, STARTING WITH YOU, DR. PIERRE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW THAT YOU WERE UNWILLING TO DO WHEN YOU WERE UNVACCINATED?

>> OH, TRAVEL.

HUG MY IN-LAWS, AND ALSO HAVE THEM BABY-SIT.

>> Braude: THAT'S PRETTY GREAT.

AND DR. MINA, HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> LIKEWISE, TRAVEL.

I'M ACTUALLY GOING -- I HAVE VERY RARELY LEFT MY HOUSE, IN FACT, THIS PAST YEAR, MOSTLY BECAUSE OF WORK AND ALSO BECAUSE OF NOT BEING VACCINATED AND HAVING LARGE NUMBER OF CASES AROUND.

AND CERTAINLY I FEEL MUCH MORE FREE IN MANY WAYS TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL SAFELY, ESPECIALLY WHEN I'VE BEEN COMING HOME TO OTHERS WHO MIGHT NOT BE VACCINATED.

>> Braude: I PUT HUGGING AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST MYSELF.

DR. PIERRE AND DR. MINA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: WE KNOW YOU EXPECTED TO SEE ACTING MAYOR OF BOSTON KIM JANEY ON THE SHOW TODAY.

SO DID WE.

HER OFFICE TOLD US, JUST A FEW HOURS AGO, SHE HAD TO CANCEL TO DEAL WITH AN URGENT ISSUE, AND WE'RE WORKING TO RESCHEDULE.

BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I WANT TO BRING YOU AN UPDATE TO A STORY WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING CLOSELY HERE ON "GREATER BOSTON," THAT OF SEAN ELLIS.

YESTERDAY A JUDGE EFFECTIVELY ABSOLVED ELLIS, TOSSING OUT THE TWO REMAINING WEAPONS CONVICTIONS AGAINST HIM RELATED TO THE 1993 MURDER OF POLICE DETECTIVE JOHN MULLIGAN, WHICH ELLIS HAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED HE DIDN'T COMMIT.

FOR THOSE FEW WHO DON'T KNOW HIS CASE, WHICH WAS CHRONICLED IN THE NETFLIX DOCUSERIES "TRIAL 4," INVESTIGATORS SAID BOSTON POLICE DETECTIVE JOHN MULLIGAN WAS ON DETAIL AND SLEEPING IN HIS CAR IN FRONT OF A WALGREENS IN ROSLINDALE WHEN HE WAS SHOT FIVE TIMES IN THE FACE AND KILLED FOLLOWING A ROBBERY BACK IN 1993.

ELLIS, THEN 19 YEARS OLD, WAS QUICKLY ARRESTED AND TRIED FOR MULLIGAN'S MURDER.

THE FIRST TWO TRIALS ENDED IN HUNG JURIES, THOUGH ONE JURY DID CONVICT ELLIS OF THOSE TWO COUNTS OF WEAPONS POSSESSION.

THEN, AT A THIRD TRIAL, HE WAS CONVICTED OF MURDER AND FIRST-DEGREE ROBBERY, AND SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE.

BUT, LATER, TWO BOSTON POLICE DETECTIVES PIVOTAL TO THE CASE AGAINST ELLIS, WALTER ROBINSON AND KENNETH ACERRA, PLED GUILTY TO CORRUPTION CHARGES, AND A THIRD CORRUPT COP GOT IMMUNITY IN EXCHANGE FOR TESTIFYING AGAINST THE OTHERS, CASTING DOUBT ON WITNESS TESTIMONY AND PHYSICAL EVIDENCE THEY HAD FOUND.

IN 2015, HIS MURDER CONVICTION WAS OVERTURNED.

ELLIS WAS RELEASED ON BAIL AFTER NEARLY 22 YEARS BEHIND BARS, AND A FOURTH TRIAL WAS ORDERED.

THEN, THREE YEARS LATER, PROSECUTORS DROPPED THE MURDER AND ROBBERY CHARGES.

AND YESTERDAY A JUDGE GRANTED A REQUEST FROM ELLIS' ATTORNEYS, WHICH WAS SECONDED BY SUFFOLK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY RACHAEL ROLLINS, TO GRANT HIM A NEW TRIAL ON THE REMAINING CONVICTIONS CHARGES.

THE FINAL STEP IS FOR ROLLINS TO DECLINE TO PROSECUTE HIM AGAIN IN THE NEW TRIAL, WHICH SHE HAS PROMISED TO DO.

ONCE SHE DOES, SEAN ELLIS COULD SUE THE CITY FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION.

SO STAY TUNED.

NEXT UP, THERE'S AN INDUSTRY EXPERIENCING SUCH A BOOM RIGHT NOW THAT YOU CAN EARN A BONUS JUST BY RECOMMENDING SOMEONE FOR A JOB.

NO, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT TECH.

AS LIZ NEISLOSS TELLS US, THE HUNT IS ON FOR PEOPLE TO FILL JOBS IN A ONCE AGAIN HOT SECTOR: RESTAURANTS.

[LAUGHTER] >> Reporter: AT OAK AND ROWAN RESTAURANT IN BOSTON'S SEAPORT, SPECIALTY COCKTAILS ARE IN DEMAND, BUT IT'S BEEN TOUGH TO FIND STAFF TO MIX AND SERVE THEM; RIGHT NOW UNEMPLOYMENT'S STILL MORE ATTRACTIVE.

WITH RESTAURANTS STILL IN LIMITED OPERATION, THE JOB MAY NOT EVEN OFFER A 40-HOUR WEEK.

>> YOUR 35-HOUR PERSON IS GOING TO QUESTION: WELL, I CAN GET A $300 STIMULUS; I GET, YOU KNOW, $600 IN UNEMPLOYMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT; AND I ONLY GET "X" AMOUNT OF DOLLARS HERE.

IT BECAME A NO-BRAINER, AND THAT'S WHERE WE LOST STAFF.

>> Reporter: DISTEFANO SAYS EXPERIENCED RESTAURANT WORKERS ARE GETTING UPWARDS OF 10 JOB OFFERS.

STAFFING'S NOT A NEW PROBLEM FOR THE INDUSTRY; RESTAURANT WORK WAS NEVER PREDICTABLE.

STAFF CAN BE SENT HOME IF BUSINESS IS SLOW, BUT UNEMPLOYMENT OFFERS GUARANTEED INCOME.

>> BUT WHAT'S HAPPENED NOW IS, THERE IS THAT -- THAT SECURITY BLANKET THAT THE STATE HAS PROVIDED WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT PIECE THAT GIVES THEM MORE REASSURANCE THAT, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST I'M GUARANTEED THIS, SO WHY RISK IT?

>> Reporter: THE HEAT IS ON TO FIND STAFF AT ALL TYPES OF RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE STATE AND FOR ALL DIFFERENT JOBS, AND THEY AREN'T ALL JUST WAITING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT TO RUN OUT.

PEOPLE HAVE LEFT THE INDUSTRY.

>> WHEN COVID STARTED AND CLOSURES AND LESS PAY, PEOPLE THEN TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO GO AND GET EDUCATION AND SOMETHING ELSE.

WHETHER IT'S A REAL ESTATE LICENSE, IT'S, YOU KNOW, DOING UBER OR AMAZON, JUST GETTING OUT OF THE FIELD AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONSISTENCY AND CHANGING THEIR LIFE.

>> Reporter: IN NEWBURYPORT, NANCY CASWELL HOPES TO TRANSFORM THIS OLD DINER INTO A NEW HOME FOR HER SECOND RESTAURANT, BRINE, IN TIME FOR THE MEMORIAL DAY CROWDS.

BUT HERE, TOO, SHE'S SHORT STAFF.

COVID'S ALSO MADE IT HARDER TO TRAIN PEOPLE FROM SCRATCH.

>> WE'RE REALLY HIRING SOMEBODY WHO WE KNOW ALREADY HAS THE BASIC SKILL-SET TO SERVE A TABLE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO SAY, COME TAG ALONG TO THIS TABLE AND BE AN EXTRA BODY, WITHIN DISTANCE, AND MAKE A GUEST FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> Reporter: JUST UP THE STREET, AT THE COFFEE FACTORY, IT'S THE SIGN OF THE TIMES.

OWNER KEVIN YORK SAYS HIS USUAL ONLINE HIRING SITES HAVEN'T WORKED.

>> WE BUILD OUR STAFF'S STAFF USUALLY IN APRIL FOR OUR SUMMER MONTHS, AND USUALLY GET PEOPLE COMING HOME FROM COLLEGE, GETTING READY TO GET OUT OF SCHOOL.

BUT THIS HAS BEEN VERY TOUGH.

>> Reporter: SO WHETHER IT'S YOUR BASIC ORDER... >> CAN I HAVE TWO ICED COFFEES?

>> Reporter: ...OR THE HIGHER END... >> ORDER FIRE, OYSTER, ASPARAGUS... >> Reporter: ...YOU MAY FIND THOSE SERVERS STRETCHED THIN.

LIZ NEISLOSS, GBH NEWS.

>> Braude: ONE THING THAT MAY LURE MORE WORKERS?

MORE MONEY.

THE MASSACHUSETTS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SAYS THE COMPETITION FOR WORKERS IS ALREADY DRIVING UP WAGES FOR MANY APPLICANTS.

WITH VACCINES NOW WIDELY AVAILABLE IN THE U.S., MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER WITH THEIR MOMS THIS SUNDAY FOR MOTHER'S DAY.

BUT THIS YEAR ONE LOCAL MOTHER-DAUGHTER DUO IS TAKING THE CELEBRATION UP A NOTCH.

♪♪ >> Braude: THAT WAS BOSTON POPS VIOLINIST ALA JOJATU AND HER DAUGHTER, MARIA, PERFORMING IN A SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY POPS PERFORMANCE, "HONORING WOMEN."

IT'S PART OF THE POPS' FIRST-EVER STREAMING SEASON, AVAILABLE STARTING TOMORROW.

BOSTON POPS CONDUCTOR KEITH LOCKHART JOINS ME NOW.

>> Braude: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, KEITH LOCKHART.

>> THANK YOU, JIM, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO YOU AS WELL.

>> Braude: IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU.

HOW MISERABLE HAS THIS YEAR BEEN FOR YOU?

>> SCALE OF ONE TO 10?

12, 13?

I KNOW I'M VERY LUCKY, MUCH MORE LUCKY THAN MANY PEOPLE, BUT IT IS A VERY FRUSTRATING YEAR IN WHICH TO BE A PERFORMING ARTIST.

WE'RE GLAD TO BE, IT LOOKS LIKE, COMING OUT OF IT.

>> Braude: SO RATHER THAN WALLOWING IN YOUR MISERY, AS I SAID A COUPLE OF SECONDS AGO, TOMORROW WE SEE THE FIRST OF, I THINK, IS A SIX-PART, FIRST-EVER STREAMING SEASON FOR THE BOSTON POPS.

START WITH MOTHER'S DAY.

I'VE READ WHAT YOU HAVE, AND IT SOUNDS FABULOUS.

THAT MOTHER-DAUGHTER DUO, HAVE THEY PLAYED WITH THE POPS BEFORE, OR NOT?

>> WHEN WE STARTED THINKING ABOUT THE MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND, IT MAY SENSE TO START THAT WAY.

THE POPS IS OFTEN THE OCCASION FOR CELEBRATION.

I STARTED THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO BESIDES THE HEARTS AND FLOWERS, WE LOVE YOU MOM STUFF, AND WE HAVE THAT, BUT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD DO A CONCERT THAT REALLY PAID TRIBUTE TO WOMEN AS CREATORS, AS PERFORMERS, AS REBEL ROUSERS.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF MOMS AT THE POPS.

AND WE STARTED THINKING ABOUT WHICH ONE OF THEM WOULD BE REALLY GREAT TO FEATURE WITH THEIR DAUGHTER?

AND SOMEBODY MENTIONED ALA, AND IT CLICKED, AND MARIA IS A WONDERFUL VIOLINIST.

WATCHING THE CUT-AWAY SHOTS OF HIM LOOKING LIKE A PROUD DAD -- >> Braude: THAT'S GREAT.

>> ONE THING WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS YEAR IS SHOW THAT THE OBVIOUS PEOPLE THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW IN THE ORCHESTRA -- I MEAN, PEOPLE KNOW ME, BUT IT IS A CHANCE TO MEET THE 80 OTHER PEOPLE ON THE STAGE AND THEY HAVE FAMILIES AND LIVES AND INTERESTING STORIES.

>> Braude: WHAT ELSE IS PART OF THIS MOTHER'S DAY PROGRAM?

>> MUSIC ALL THE WAY FROM CLARA SHUMAN, ONE OF THE GREAT MUSICIANS OF MID-19th CENTURY EUROPE, TO LIVING FEMALE COMPOSERS, AND A TRIBUTE TO CAROLE KING, WHICH IS THE 50th ANSWER OF "TAPESTRY," AND MUSIC FROM "MY FAIR LADY."

>> Braude: ARE THE DROP-KICKS DOING A PIECE OR SOMETHING?

>> NO.

I WAS JUST WAITING FOR YOU TO SET THAT UP.

YES, THEY ARE.

THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE MORE INTO TIKTOK THAN I AM, PROBABLY KNOW THAT SEA CHANTEYS BECAME A BIG THING, AND IT PICKED OF MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF HITS, AND OTHERS WERE DOING THEIR INTERPRETATIONS, AND WE THOUGHT WE COULD DO A PRETTY GOOD SEA CHANTEY.

WE TALKED TO KEN AND THE DROP-KICKS, AND THEY WERE REALLY INTO DOING THIS BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THEY ALL LOVE THEIR MOMS.

AND WE DECIDED TO DO A VIDEO WITHIN THE BOSTON POPS AND THEIR OWN MOTHERS TO WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH OUR MOM ON MOM'S DAY.

>> Braude: THAT'S GREAT.

TALK ABOUT A SMALL WORLD, I USED TO DO COMMERCIALS, WHEN I WAS IN COMMERCIAL RADIO, FOR KEN CASEY'S MOTHER'S SPA, I WANT YOU TO KNOW.

SO IT IS A VERY SMALL, ONE DEGREE OF SEPARATION.

[LAUGHTER] >> Braude: WHEN I SAW THAT THING WITH THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER, I SAW THE MASKS ON THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT USING WIND OR THAT SORT OF THING.

WHAT ARE THE PROTOCOLS?

I ASSUME -- IT LOOKED LIKE MUSICIANS WERE DISTANCED A BIT FROM EACH OTHER, AND EVERYBODY WEARING MASKS WHO CAN?

>> WE'RE PRETTY MUCH IN THE SAME PROTOCOLS WE WERE IN WHEN WE STARTED DOING THIS IN OCTOBER.

THAT WILL PROBABLY CHANGE AS THE GUIDANCE HAS CHANGED.

ALL OF OUR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T WEAR MASKS IS 10 FEET APART, WHICH MAKES THE STAGE HAVING TO BE VERY, VERY LARGE, AND EVEN THE PEOPLE WITH MASKS ARE SIX FEET APART.

AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL LOOSEN THOSE RESTRICTIONS FOLLOWING THE GUIDANCE.

>> Braude: WHEN YOU SAID THE MOTHER'S DAY THING KICKS OFF THE SIX-PART SERIES, THE OTHER FIVE APPEAR -- IS IT THURSDAY AFTERNOON AT NOON?

ONE WEEK SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER?

FIVE MORE WEEKS AFTER TOMORROW?

>> A SIX-WEEK VIRTUAL SERIES STARTING WITH THURSDAY, THE 6th, WITH MOTHER'S DAY, AND FOR THE NEXT FIVE WEEKS AFTER THAT, AND FOUR NEW SHOWS PRODUCED JUST FOR THIS SEASON, AND TWO ENCORE PRESENTATIONS.

>> Braude: IS THIS YOUR 27th YEAR?

>> TECHNICALLY IT IS MY 27th YEAR, BUT PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY CALL IT 26 BECAUSE WE MISSED IT.

>> Braude: BUT WE NEVER CELEBRATED 25?

>> NO.

GOING TO SYMPHONY HALL IS BIZARRE FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE WE EXPECT TO SEE OUR AUDIENCE, PEOPLE WE CONNECT WITH THERE.

ONE OF THE FUNNIEST THINGS IS YOU LOOK IN THE CORRIDORS AND YOU SEE POSTERS FOR CELEBRATE KEITH LOCHART'S 25th SEASON.

IT IS SORT OF A FUTURE SORT OF MOVIE.

[LAUGHTER] >> Braude: KEITH, I DID A THING, I DON'T KNOW, SIX MONTHS INTO THE PANDEMIC WITH YOU AND A WONDERFUL WOMAN, I THINK HER NAME IS HAZELDEANHAZEL DEAN -- >> HAZEL DEAN, TALKING ABOUTLY MUSICIANSABOUT THE MUSICIANS RELIEF FUND.

>> Braude: HOW DID YOUR MUSICIANS SURVIVE THIS?

>> THE MUSICIANS OF THE POPS HAVE THE BENEFIT OF BEING EMPLOYED AND THEY STILL GET A PAYCHECK.

BUT THE FREE-LANCERS, MANY OF WHOM HAZEL WAS REPRESENTING, THEY HAD NOTHING.

AND MANY HAVE SAID THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M PLAYING WITH SOMEBODY FOR 15MONTHS.

MANY HAVE DUG INTO THEIR RESOURCES AND SOME HAVE SECOND JOBS, BUT IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE THEY RECOVER.

>> Braude: YOU MENTIONED "TANGO," A COUPLE OF TIMES -- I WAS LOOKING TODAY, AND I SAW THE HEADLINE WHEN THE TANGO SEASON WAS ANNOUNCED IN "THE BOSTON GLOBE."

TANGLEWOOD'S 2021 SEASON LOOKS ALMOST NORMAL.

THAT WAS THE HEADLINE IN THE GLOBE.

[LAUGHTER] >> Braude: I'M ASSUMING SINCE YOU JUMPED FROM THE SPRING SEASON TO TANGLEWOOD, THAT MEANS JULY 4th IS A CASUALTY OF CAPACITY, OR WHAT?

>> THINGS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

I THINK WE ALL REALIZED THAT JULY 4th REALLY HAS TO HAPPEN.

AS OF YET, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO SAY EXACTLY HOW IT WILL HAPPEN.

BUT IT IS MY INTENTION TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING GETS LIVE PRODUCED FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY.

>> Braude: EVERYBODY AGREES WHO IS WATCHING THIS.

HOW EXCITED ARE YOU ABOUT THE PROSPECT IN THE NOT TOO DISTANCE FUTURE PLAYING IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE?

>> I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO FEEL LIKE A KID AT MY GRANDSON'S RECITAL.

I THINK I'LL APPRECIATE THEM MORE THAN I EVER HAVE BEFORE.

IT HAS REMINDED ALL OF US THAT MUSIC IS A TWO-WAY STREET, AND IT IS ABOUT INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE, EVEN IF THEY DON'T KNOW YOU'RE INTERACTING WITH THEM.

I GET ON THE PODIUM ON JULY 4th, AND THEN MY SUMMER FESTIVAL IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND I'LL BE DOING SOME BEETHOVEN, AND I'M SO WAITING FOR GREET THE PEOPLE AT TANGLEWOOD, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL ALL BE VACCINATED AND IN CLOSE RELATION STARTING IN THE FALL.

>> Braude: NOT ONLY WILL I BE AT TANGLEWOOD, BUT AS SOON AS THE RADIO SHOW IS OVER FOR MOTHER'S DAY.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY YET AGAIN.

GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JIM.

GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

YOU CAN WATCH "THE BOSTON POPS CELEBRATES MOTHER'S DAY: HONORING WOMEN" STARTING TOMORROW AT NOON AT www.bso.org/now.

>>> AND, FINALLY TONIGHT, A BIT OF WHAT SOME OF YOU HAVE SENT IN DURING THESE PANDEMIC TIMES.

BRITT SAYS SHE TOOK THIS PHOTO OF A GOOD LUCK TO YOU SIGN IN ARLINGTON, AND ANN SENT US THIS SCENIC PICTURE TAKEN IN MARBLEHEAD RECENTLY.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR SENDING THOSE IN.

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US, USE THE ADDRESSES ON YOUR SCREEN.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW, THANKS FOR WATCHING AND STAY SAFE.

AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU NOW WITH A LITTLE MORE FROM THE BOSTON POPS.

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