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SGLRCHLGS HELLO, EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO AMANPOUR AND COMPANY.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.

I AM FURIOUS WITH MYSELF.

WHY?

BECAUSE I WAS NOT VACCINATED.

IN THE UNITED STATES, WHAT IF THE UNVACCINATED CAN'T BE PERSUADED UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE?

PLUS --

THE DELTA VARIANT IN PARTICULAR, IT MAY BE JUST A FEW MINUTES OF EXPOSURE BEFORE YOU GET INFECTED.

THE IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT.

WALTER ISAACSON HEARS FROM THE CDC.

> ALSO AHEAD, MORE TWISTS AND TURNS AT THE OLYMPICS.

BILES IS BACK WHILE A BELARUSSIAN ATHLETE BOLTS.

> 'AMANPOUR & COMPANY' IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III.

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THANK YOU.

> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, EVERYONE.

I'M CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR IN LONDON.

SCIENTIFIC FACT STATES THAT WHILE THE COVID DELTA VARIANT IS SURGING THE WORLD OVER, THE MOST VULNERABLE ARE OF COURSE THE UNVACCINATED.

YET THE PANIC CAN OVERWHELM EVERYONE AND BRING NORMALIZATION TO A GRINDING HALT.

SO THE RACE IS ON TO GET VACCINES INTO RETICENT ARMS.

IN FRANCE PRESIDENT MACRON HAS TAKEN THE LEAD, TAKING A TOUGH NO DOSE, NO FUN APPROACH TO PRESSURE THE HOLD OUTS.

BANNING THE UNDOSED FROM THEATERS, RESTAURANTS, CINEMAS AND MUCH MORE.

AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING.

BECAUSE WHILE THERE ARE PROTESTS, THERE IS AN EVEN BIGGER SURGE IN VACCINE TAKEUP.

AND FRANCE IS NOW BEATING THE UNITED STATES.

AND IT COULD EVEN SOON OVERTAKE THE UK'S HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL ROLLOUT.

MORE COUNTRIES IN EUROPE ARE NOW CONSIDERING ADOPTING THE FRENCH METHOD AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS ALREADY MAKING VACCINES MANDATORY FOR CERTAIN FEDERAL WORKERS.

HERE TO DISCUSS HER COUNTRY'S POLICY IS THE MINISTER.

TELL US FIRST: WHAT IS IT THAT FINALLY TIPPED YOUR PRESIDENT OVER THE EDGE AND MADE HIM DO THIS MANDATE AND BRING IN THESE VACCINE PASSES AND MAKE IT SUCH A CLEAR CUT MANDATORY DECISION AND POLICY?

WELL VERY SIMPLY THE DELTA VARIANT.

WE DON'T WANT TO GET BACK INTO LOCKDOWN.

WE DON'T WANT TO CLOSE SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND CINEMAS.

NOW THAT THE VACCINE IS AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE, STARTING AT THE AGE OF 12.

AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF VACCINES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, PLENTY OF PLACES WHERE YOU CAN GET YOUR JAB.

THE IDEA IS TO GIVE AN INCENTIVE TO PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.

THEREFORE THERE IS THIS NEW HEALTH PASS, WHICH IS, YOU CAN ENTER A RESTAURANT OR A BAR IF YOU ARE VACCINATED OR IF YOU TESTED NEGATIVE.

OR IF YOU ALREADY HAD COVID AND RECOVERED.

SO YOU ARE NOT FORCED TO VACCINATE.

OKAY.

BUT YOU PROVE THAT YOU ARE NOT CONTAGIOUS IF YOU GO INTO A PUBLIC PLACE.

SO LET'S READ SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS.

SO THE ONES THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE STARTING FROM JULY 26th ARE, FOR CINEMAS, NIGHTCLUB, MUSEUMS, THEATER, CONCERTS AND SFES VALUESES.

ZOOS, SWIMMING POOLS AND SPORTS FACILITIES.

NO ENTRY WITH NO EVIDENCE AS YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT CONTAGIOUS.

IN THE COMING WEEKS ALSO NO CAFES, RESTAURANTS -- AND THE LONG DISTANCE TRANSPORT LIKE AIRPLANES.

THE FAST TRAIN, CARE HOMES, RETIREMENT HOMES.

SOME MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCY ROOMS AND ALSO NO HOTELS AND HOLIDAY RESORTS.

IT IS A LOT OF PLACES YOU CAN'T GO.

ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT THERE IS PROTEST IN THE STREET?

AND HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE PROTEST WITH WHAT OR NOT THIS GAMBLE IS WORKING?

WELL, FIRST OF ALL.

AS YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR INTRODUCTION, THE GAMBLE IS WORKING.

ACTUALLY VERY VAST NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED IN FRANCE.

MORE THAN 60% OF ADULTS 12 AND ABOVE ARE VACCINATED TWO JABS OR AT LEAST ARE FULLY VACCINATED IN THE COUNTRY.

WHICH IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT.

SO IT IS WORKING, AND MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIMPLY WAITED, THEY HAVE THOUGHT OF GETTING VACCINATED.

BUT THEY WERE STILL PROCESSING THE DECISION, NOW THEY ARE GETTING VACCINATED.

BUT INDEED THERE ARE PROTESTS.

AND YOU SHOULD NOT DOWNPLAY WHAT'S TAKING PLACE AS WELL.

SOME PEOPLE VERY SINCERELY ARE FEARFUL OF THE VACCINE BECAUSE THEY READ OR THEY HEARD SO MUCH DISINFORMATION.

SO MANY FAKE NEWS FOR SO MANY MONTHS THAT THEY GOT CONFUSED.

AND THEN YOU HAVE ALSO POLITICAL EXPLOITATION OF THIS FEAR OR THIS CONFUSION COMING FROM THE FAR LEFT AND THE FAR RIGHT.

AND YOU ALWAYS HAVE IN MY BELOVED HOME COUNTRY THIS SORT OF ANTI-AUTHORITY CULTURE WHERE A MINORITY, WHICH IS NOT BIG, BUT A MINORITY OF PEOPLE WOULD PROTEST ANY DECISION WHATEVER THE DECISION MIGHT BE.

THIS WEEKEND THERE WERE SOME 200 THOUSAND PROTESTERS ACROSS VARIOUS CITIES IN FRANCE AND THERE HAVE BEEN PROTESTS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS SINCE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND ALSO YOUR PARLIAMENT PASS AD LAW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE HAD FOUR MILLION VACCINES.

THE DIFFERENCE IN NUMBER THERE IS IS HUMONGOUS.

SO YOU ARE RIGHT.

THAT THE FWAMABLE IS PAY OFF.

AND YOU ALSO SAY YOU MUST UNDERSTAND SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE HESITANT AND THOSE GIVEN FAKES NEWS AND THE REST.

WHAT ARE THOSE LIKE THIS PERSON WHO JUST KEEP TALKING ABOUT LIBERTY AND THIS AND THAT.

LET'S PLAY THIS SOUND BITE.

Translator: I WON'T GO TO RESTAURANTS.

I DON'T GIVE A DAMN.

I WON'T SELL MY SOUL TO GO TO THE CINEMA OR OTHER NONSENSE.

THAT'S IT.

THERE IS MORE AT STAKE.

FREEDOM.

SO THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF RESPONDS TO SOME OF THIS CRITICISM BY SAYING, WHAT IS YOUR FREEDOM WORTH IF YOU SAY TO ME I DON'T WANT TO BE VACCINATED BUT TOMORROW YOU INFECT YOUR FATHER, YOUR MOTHER OR YOU INFECT ME?

HOW IS HE DEALING AND HOW IS FRANCE DEALING WITH THIS FREEDOM THING, GIVEN IT IS RIGHT THERE IN YOUR DECLARATION OF EXISTENCE ON YOUR COINS AND EVERYWHERE, ARE FREEDOM, FRATERNITY AND BROTHERHOOD.

FREEDOM, EQUALITY AND ALSO BROTHERHOOD.

YOU HAVE TO THINK NOT ONLY ABOUT YOURSELF, EVEN IF VACCINATIONS PROTECTS YOURSELF BUT ALSO ABOUT OTHERS, ELDERLY, VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

NOT ALL OF THEM WERE VACCINATED.

A NUMBER OF THEM WERE IN REGIONS WHERE THE FIRST WAVE OF THE PANDEMIC WAS QUITE LOW.

THE FIRST PART OF THE PANDEMIC HERE IN THIS SOUTHWEST REGION OF FRANCE WAS VERY LOW.

SO YOU HAD A NUMBER OF ELDERLY WHO DIDN'T THINK THEY SHOULD GET VACCINATED.

THEY ARE VULNERABLE.

THEY SHOULD GET VACCINATED BUT THANK GOD PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE ALREADY VACCINATED SO WE CAN GO AND SEE THEM WITHOUT BEING A DANGER TO THEM.

SO FRATERNITY BROTHERHOOD IS AS IMPORTANT AS FREEDOM AND LIBERTY IN THE FRENCH DNA.

SO THE QUESTION THAT IS HOW DO YOU ENFORCE THIS POLICY?

AND LET'S JUST AGAIN STATE THE FACTS AND THE POLLS, THAT THIS IS A VERY POPULAR MOVE DESPITE THE PROTESTS AND DESPITE WHAT WE HEAR.

62% OF PEOPLE IN THE LATEST POLL FAVOR HEALTH PASSES WHILE 70% APPROVE OF VACCINE MANDATES FOR HEALTH WORKERS.

HOW DOES YOUR COUNTRY PLAN TO ENFORCE, OR DOES IT NEED TO BECAUSE OF THE TAKEUP HAPPENING, DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE WORKED TO DO TO ENFORCE IT?

OR DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE BROKEN, YOU KNOW, THIS HOLD OUT AND ACTUALLY A WHOLE NEW FLOOD GATE OF VACCINE TAKE UP IS OPENED.

WELL OBVIOUSLY TO BE VACCINATED NOW IS EASIER THAN EVER.

YOU CAN BE VACCINATED ON YOUR PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE HOLIDAYS.

YOU CAN BE VACCINATED IN SHOPPING MALLS.

IT IS REALLY SIMPLE.

SO I'M CONFIDENCE THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING VACCINATED.

FOR INSTANCE, FOR SCHOOL PUPILS, IT IS NOT MANDATORY BUT IN CASE THERE IS SOMEONE TESTED POSITIVE IN A SCHOOL, IN A CLASS, IF YOU ARE VACCINATED, YOU CAN GO TO THE CLASS.

IF YOU ARE NOT, YOU HAVE TO STAY HOME.

SO IT WILL BE A STRONG INCENTIVE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED AS WELL.

BUT WE STILL HAVE TO CONTINUE ANSWERING QUESTIONS, FIGHTING DISINFORMATION WHICH HAS BEEN EXTREMELY STRONG ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND STILL IS.

AND ALSO FIGHTING OR DEBATING AT LEAST WITH POLITICIANS WHICH DON'T SHOW LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY.

THEY FIND IT AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO PUT PRESSURE ON MACRON AND THE MAJORITY AND THEY ARE NOT REALLY EXERCISING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU COULD SAY THIS IS POLITICAL LIFE.

YOU COULD SAY THAT IS HOW IT HAS TO BE ONE YEAR BEFORE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

BUT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

SO WE HAVE TO BE UNITED AND WE HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

THE SAME IS HAPPENING IN THE UNITED STATES.

A WHOLE GROUP OF POLITICAL AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HOLD OUTS AND THEREFORE THREATEN THE REST OF THE HEALTH OF THE COUNTRY.

AND IT HAPPENS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

YOU CAN SEE IN EUROPE THERE ARE OTHERS NOW LOOKING TO ADOPT THE FRENCH METHOD.

WHETHER IT IS ITALY WHICH WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO HAVE A LOCKDOWN AND ONE OF THE FIRST TO BE SO SEVERELY AFFECTED BY COVID WHEN IT BROKE OUT.

AL VARIOUS MANDATES IN PARTS OF IRELAND AND THAT ECONOMIC SECTOR.

I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, WHAT HAS THE HOLD OUT DONE PHYSICALLY FOR YOUR COUNTRY?

YES, THE DELTA VARIANT IS HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE.

BUT WHAT HAS IT DONE TO THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

IS IT AFFECTING THE ECONOMY.

IT IS NOT REALLY SENDING HEALTHIER PEOPLE INTO THE HOSPITAL.

WHAT IS THE MOST FRIGHTENING THING ABOUT DELTA?

WELL OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITALS ARE NOT VACCINATED.

85% OF PEOPLE IN HOSPITALS RIGHT NOW WITH COVID ARE NOT VACCINATED.

WHICH REALLY SHOWS THE EFFICIENCY OF THE VACCINE.

BUT, FOR INSTANCE, OVERSEAS, GUADALUPE, MARTINIQUE WHERE THE VACCINATION RATE IS VERY LOW, NOT HIGHER THAN 20%. INTENSIVE CARE UNITS ARE ALREADY OVERWHELMED.

THERE IS ALREADY A NEED TO SEND PATIENTS TO THE MAINLAND TO FRENCH TERRITORY ABUSE HOSPITALS CANNOT DEAL WITH THE DELTA VARIANT.

SOO IT CAN GO VERY QUICKLY.

AND IT IS NOT ONLY ELDERLY PEOPLE CAN GET SERIOUSLY STRUCK BY COVID.

SO WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO ONE MORE LOCKDOWN.

ECONOMY IS RECOVERING AT A SPEEDY PACE.

THIS IS WHAT WE NEED FOR A GENERATION WHO WANTS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE.

AND NOW THAT VACCINE IS AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE, THIS IS PRECISELY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO OFFER THEM.

AS NORMAL A LIFE AS POSSIBLE.

AND THE HEALTH CERTIFICATE REALLY ALLOWS ALL OF US.

I WENT TO A MUSEUM, I WENT TO A CINEMA IT.

TAKES YOU 30 SECONDS TO SHOW YOUR PASS ON A SPECIAL APP.

I DON'T FEEL MY LIBERTY OR FREEDOM IS BEING THREATENED.

ON THE CONTRARY, I'M LIVING A NORMAL LIFE WHICH I WAS NOT ABLE TO LIVE SOME MONTHS AGO.

THAT'S DEFINITELY THE MESSAGE TO SPREAD AROUND.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

FRENCH MEMBER OF THE 2 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AS WE SAID THE DELTA SURGE IN THE UNITED STATES IS ALSO CAUSING ALARM AND AGAIN DISEASE AND DEATH IS CHIEFLY AMONGST THE UNVACCINATED.

AFTER LAGGING BEHIND THE REST OF THE U.S., SOUTHERN MOSTLY RED STATES ARE BOOSTING THEIR OWN VACCINATION NUMBERS BUT TILL STILL NOT ENOUGH.

MILLIONS ARE NOT GETTING THEIR DOSES.

IN A SPEECH LAST WEEK PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN REMARK TOPPED RESENTMENT BUILDING UP.

AMERICA IS DIVIDED BETWEEN THE MAJORITY OF ELIGIBLE PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OF YOU IN THE MAJORITY ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FEELING OF THE MINORITY TO GET VACCINATED.

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IS STILL TRYING TO RAISE VACCINE ENTHUSIASM WITH TREATS AND PERKS BUT MY NEXT GUEST ASKS WHAT IF THE UNVACCINATED CAN'T BE PERSUADED?

THAT IS THE TITLE OF EZRA KLEIN'S LATEST COLUMN FOR THE 'NEW YORK TIMES.'

EZRA, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

CAN I ASK YOU THE DEMOCRACY QUESTION T MINORITY MAJORITY QUESTION.

YOU WORK A LOT ON THAT.

YOU HEARD WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH THE FRENCH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.

JUST HEARD WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SAID.

HOW LONG CAN A POPULATION, A MAJORITY, PUT UP WITH A HOLD OUT MINORITY, A SIGNIFICANT MINORITY, BEING MOLLY CODDLED.

BEING COD LTD AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MAJORITY?

WELL THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

I'M NOT SURE I THINK ABOUT IT EXACTLY LIKE THAT.

BECAUSE YOU ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF STATES.

THIS IS VERY LOCAL WHERE IT IS PLAYING OUT.

WHERE I LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO VERY HEAVILY VACCINATED AND YOU HAVE PLACES IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE A MAJORITY WHO AREN'T VACCINATED.

YOU HAVE VERY DIFFERENT POLITICAL TRENDS AROUND THIS.

SO IN CALIFORNIA, THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS MAKING -- IS CREATING BASICALLY A VACCINE MANDATE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES.

IN FLORIDA THE GOVERNOR THERE IS CONSIDERED A LIKELY REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN 2024 IS MAKING IT ILLEGAL FOR INDIVIDUAL PLOYERS TO HAVE THEIR OWN VACCINATION MANDATES.

YOU HAVE VERY DIFFERENT SITUATIONS IN COUNTIES AND STATES AND IT IS THE COLLISION OF THESE DIFFERING MAJORITIES.

THESE DIFFERING PUBLICS.

THESE DIFFERENT POLITICAL CONSTITUENCIES THAT ENDS UP REALLY MATTERING HERE OF.

BUT AS PEOPLE OFTEN SAY THE VIRUS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR PARTY AFFILIATION.

VIRUS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR IDEOLOGY.

THE VIRUS IS HAPPY TO INFECT REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE.

SO ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT WEAKNESSES IN THIS ENTIRE PANDEMIC IS OUR POLITICAL DIVISION.

YOU MENTION FLORIDA AND POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

HOSPITALS IN MIAMI ARE SURGING, VERY HIGH LEVELS RIGHT NOW.

AND YOU SAW, AT LEAST THE NATION SAW THAT BY HIS OWN PEOPLE'S ADMISSION, PRESIDENT TRUMP LOST THE ELECTION CHIEFLY ON THE PERCEPTION OF HIS MISHANDLING COVID.

DO YOU THINK A GOVERNMENT DESANTIS WILL STICK TO THIS, YOU KNOW, BANNING PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AND COMPANYING FROM HAVING THEIR OWN VACCINE MANDATES, EVEN AS WE SEE REPUBLICANS AROUND THE COUNTRY NOW STEPPING OUT MORE LOUDLY TO URGE VACCINE TAKEUP?

I THINK SOME DEPENDS ON THE REALITY SITUATION, HOW MANY DELTA FILLS THE MORGUES AND ICUS IN FLORIDA.

HE'S BUILT A LOT OF HIS PUBLIC REPUTATION AND PROFILE ON TRYING TO WALK A LINE BETWEEN NOT BEING ENTIRELY ANTI-SCIENCE BUT ALSO A CHAMPION OF SKEPTICAL OF LOCKDOWN AND MANDATES.

MERGE A TRADITIONAL CONSERVATISM AND SKEPTICAL TRUMPIAN CONSPIRATORIAL CONS TISM AND THAT'S HARD TO HOLD TOGETHER WHEN REALITY WON'T COOPERATE.

THE THING I STILL CAN'T QUITE BELIEVE DID WAS NOT ALLOW PRIVATE EMPLOYERS TO PUT THESE POLICIES DOWN THEMSELVES.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN SUSTAIN AT THIS POINT A NATIONAL VACCINE MANDATE.

BUT I THINK A LOT OF INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYERS ARE DOING THEM, SHOULD BE DOING THEM.

THAT IS A GOOD FIRST STEP IN MIDDLE GROUND FOR NOW.

AND FOR REPUBLICANS TO TURN AGAINST, EVEN 'WALL STREET JOURNAL' SAID THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE EMPLOYERS HAVE A POLICY THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THEM.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A VERY CONSERVATIVE, YOU KNOW, PHILOSOPHY TO LET PRIVATE ENTERPRISE FRANK LI BE PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AND DO PRACTICALLY WHAT THEY WANT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK AMERICA COULD LEARN FROM THE FRENCH PRESIDENT?

HE'S ALSO A CONSERVATIVE.

HE'S NOT A RAGING LIBERAL.

HE'S A CENTRIST CONSERVATIVE AND HE'S DONE SOMETHING THAT WAS A GAMBLE AND SEEMS TO BE PAYING OFF.

DO YOU THINK AMERICA COULD EVER DO ANYTHING SIMILAR?

I THINK WE CAN AT LEAST LEARN FROM IT.

I'LL NOTE SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT FOR AMERICANS IN FRANCE.

BEGINNING OF JULY FRANCE LAGS BEHIND IN SHARE OF THE ADULT POPULATION.

VACCINATED BY THE END OF JULY WHICH IS BY THE WAY BEFORE THIS IS PASSED INTO LAW.

THEY ARE JUST TALKING ABOUT IT DURING THIS PERIOD.

THE ACCELERATION IN VACCINATION SIGNUPS HAD BOOSTED FRANCE WELL AHEAD OF AMERICA IN SHARE OF THE POPULATION VACCINATED.

SO ACTUALLY DOES WORK TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

ONE REASON I WROTE MY PIECE AND GLAD THE SEE CONVERSATION AMONG BIG EMPLOYERS AND PUBLIC EMPLOYERS IS I THINK SIMPLY TALKING ABOUT THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND WORTH DOING.

I THINK YOU NEED MIDDLE STEPS.

FOR INSTANCE, YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO BUILD A REALLY STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE FOR HOW YOU ARE ABLE TO SHOW THAT MEDICAL RECORD TO PEOPLE.

I'VE COVERED MANY DIGITAL INITIATIVES IN THE GOVERNMENT.

QUESTION OF WHAT IF YOU LOST THE CARD WHEN YOU INITIALLY GOT VACCINATED.

WHAT IF THEY ENTERED YOUR INFORMATION WRONG?

WHAT IF THEY DON'T HAVE A SMART PHONE?

TO DO A POLICY AT THE SCALE OF VACCINATION MANDATE YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PULL IT OFF WITH ALMOST A SEAMLESS TRANSITION PEOPLE.

THERE HAVE GOT TO BE PEOPLE TO CALL IF IT IS NOT WORKING.

YOU HAVE TO GET PEOPLE ON THE PHONE.

TESTS NEED TO BE AVAILABLE.

I'D LIKE TO SEE VERY BIG EMPLOYERS AND PUBLIC EMPLOYERS FOR THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE SO THEN IF WE DECIDE TO MOVE IN THE DIRECTION NATIONALLY IN WEEKS OR MONTHS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IT.

AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I'M LISTENING TO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

AND I HEAR, IF WE DECIDE WE NEED TO DO IT IN THE COUPLE OF WEEKS OR MONTHS.

THIS HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, THE SORT OF DESIGN OF THIS WHOLE PROBLEM IN AMERICA OF THE RESPONSE IS JUST WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

AS IF THAT'S SOME KIND OF MIRACLE SOLUTION WHEN WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE WAITS AND DOESN'T DO ANYTHING.

I WANT TO READ A LITTLE BIT FROM YOUR ARTICLE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS WHAT IF THE UNVACCINATED CANNOT BE PERSUADED.

YOU WROTE 'WE DO NOT SOLELY RELY ON ARGUMENTATION TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO WEAR SEAT BELTS.

A MAJORITY OF STATES DO NOT LEAVE IT TO INDIVIDUAL DEBATERS TO HASH OUT WHETHER YOU CAN SMOKE IN INDOOR WORKPLACES.

POLIO AND MEASLES WERE MURDERERS BUT THEIR NEAR ELIMINATION REQUIRED VACCINE MANDATED, NOT JUST PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND WHEN GEORGE WASHINGTON HIMSELF WANTS TO PROTECT HIS SOLDIERS FROM SMALLPOX, HE MADE INOCULATIONS MANDATORY.

IT WORKED.'

SO AGAIN, IT IS ABOUT TELLING THE STORY AND THE RIGHT NARRATIVE.

YOU KNOW, IT WORKED ONCE, WHAT IS IT THAT IS NOT WORKING NOW, PARTICULARLY AS YOU SAY WHAT IF THEY WILL NEVER BE PERSUADED UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE?

SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF GROUPS HERE.

ONE, THE COMPLICATED PART OF THIS IS YOU NEED TO BE ABE TO ENFORCE THE POLICY.

AND ONE BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE FRACTURE AUTHORITY THROUGHOUT THE GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENTS INTO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SOME AUTHORITY TO DO THIS.

BUT WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY SAYING FOR ENFORCEMENT HERE IN A WORLD WHERE THAT WOULD BE HIGHLY PROERLZING AND GOING INTO STATES LIKE FLORIDA THAT HAVE ACTUALLY MADE IT EL LISLE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN STATE LAW?

ARE WE GOING TO SEND NATIONAL GUARD IN TO ENFORCE IN?

ARE WE GOING TO THROW PEOPLE IN JAIL?

SO ONE REASON -- ABOUT PRETENDING THAT SIMPLY PUTTING SOMETHING INTO LAW WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN.

RIGHT NOW I DON'T SEE STOMACH OR CAPABILITY TO ENFORCE IT AND WE HAVEN'T SHOWN QUESTION DO THE BASIC RECORDKEEPING IN ORDER TO DO IT WELL.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US BUILD TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO YOU I NEED TO BUILD THINGS AND PUBLIC SUPPORT.

BUT IF YOU CANNOT, IF YOU CANNOT, THEN WE HAVE MUCH HARDER CHOICE THIS IS THE COUNTRY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SHARE OF THE POPULATION BUT I THINK IT IS BETTER TO LOOK AT PEOPLE OVER 18.

IT IS ABOUT 69% OF AMERICANS OVER 18 HAVE BEEN VACCINATED WITH AT LEAST ONE DOSE.

AND IF YOU BREAK THAT DOWN EVEN FURTHER, ABOUT HALF OF THOSE SAY THEY ARE STILL IN THE WAIT AND SEE CAMP.

SO THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO GET VACCINATED.

THEY JUST HAVEN'T DONE IT YET.

THEY ARE NOT SURE.

ANOTHER GROUP ABOUT 6% OF THE COUNTRY SAYING THEY WOULD ONLY GET VACCINATED UNDER SOME MANDATE BUT THAT IMPLIES IF THERE IS A MANDATE THAT MIGHT CONVERT A BUNCH OF THEM.

THEN I THINK IT IS STILL 14 POINTS OF THE COUNTRY SAY THEY WILL NOT GET VACCINATED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES AND THAT IS WHERE YOU MIGHT GET INTO FOLKS WHO THERE IS A REAL KIND OF COLLISION WITH.

I THINK THERE ARE MIDDLE STEPS THAT CAN GET US BASICALLY HALFWAY THERE.

AND IF WE GOT HALFWAY THERE, THAT WOULD BE A BIG DEAL AT THIS POINT.

YEAH.

AND JUST TO ASK A LAST QUESTION ON THE COVID ISSUE, DR. FAUCI WAS ON THE SUNDAY PROGRAMS, AND HE GAVE A SHOUT OUT TO A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WHO ARE NOW STEPPING FORWARD.

LET'S JUST PLAY WHAT HE SAID.

I'M ALSO GRATIFIED BY SEEING THAT EVEN PEOPLE WHO IN THE BEGINNING WERE RELUCTANT TO PROMOTE VACCINATION ARE NOW DOING IT.

PEOPLE LIKE REPUBLICANS, LIKE STEPHEN SCALISE, OR EVEN GOVERNMENT DESANTIS TALKING ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED.

ASA HUTCHISON OUT THERE BEATING THE BUSHES, GETTING PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.

JUST YOUR ASSESSMENT OF, YOU KNOW, GIVEN YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF AMERICAN POLITICS, DO YOU THINK THAT MORE OF THOSE PEOPLE LIKE THE ONES HE NAMED WHO COME OUT AND, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY CHANGE THEIR TUNE ABOUT THE VACCINE WILL ACTUALLY INFLUENCE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE?

I'M CERTAINLY HOPING SO.

SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS IS OUT THERE TELLING PEOPLE IT IS THE TRUMP VACCINE AND GETTING IT AS A WAY TO THUMB YOUR NOSE AS THE LOCKDOWNS ANTHONY FAUCI AND DEMOCRATS IN THE MEDIA WANT.

AND I APPLAUD HER.

IF SHE WANTS TO GET PEOPLE TO TAKE THE VACCINE AS A WAY OF STICKING IT TO ME, I SURE HOPE SHE SUCCEEDS.

I DON'T THINK REPUBLICANS WANT THEIR CONSTITUENTS TO DIE.

AND A LOT OF THEM WILL IF YOU KEEP SEEING A HUGE VACCINATION GAP.

THEY SAY HE COULD HAVE WON THE ELECTION HAD HE JUST TAKEN OWNERSHIP OF THE VACCINES.

HAD HIS VACCINE SHOWED IT, YOU KNOW, SHOWED THE PEOPLE WHAT COULD BE DONE.

AND WHAT WAS DONE UNDER HIS ADMINISTRATION IN TERMS OF THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF IT.

SO LET'S JUST TAKE THAT ATTITUDE AND MOVE ON TO POLITICS, DEMOCRACY, YOUR LATEST POD CAST WAS A FASCINATING CONVERSATION BETWEEN NICOLE HANNA JONES AND COATES ABOUT RACE, THE NATURE OF AMERICA AND ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE ACTUAL TRUTH I GUESS LIES IN TERMS OF MOVING FORWARD.

SO IF YOU SEE AS WE ALL DO THESE POLITICS AND, YOU KNOW, BEING PLAYED WITH SOMETHING LIKE A VACCINE AND A DISEASE, HOW DO YOU SEE AND WHAT WAS YOUR DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE, YOU KNOW, AMERICA'S STORY WILL COME OUT?

YOU KNOW, THE IDEA OF DEMOCRACY.

IF PEOPLE CAN'T BELIEVE BASIC SCIENCE, AND GATHER AROUND SORT OF BASIC FACTS, WHAT DO YOU THINK AND YOUR CONVERSATIONS FEEL ABOUT HOW THE COUNTRY WILL DEAL WITH HISTORY, WITH TRY TO SOLIDIFY A FRAGILE DEMOCRACY?

YOU KNOW, THE IDEA OF DEMOCRACY.

NOT WELL.

ONE OF THE PIECE OF THAT CONVERSATION IS ONE THING WE'RE DISCUSSING IS A MISTAKEN IMPRESSION MESHES HAVE OF THEIR OWN HISTORY IS THAT WE'RE A DEEPLY -- DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY.

YOU WILL HEAR THE WORLD'S OLDEST DEMOCRACY, WHICH IS TRUE IN A CERTAIN WAY, A VERY ATTENUATED DEFINITION OF DEMOCRACY FROM, YOU KNOW, COUPLE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

BUT WE DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING LIKE A DEMOCRACY IN WHICH MOST ADULTS WERE TREATED MOSTLY EQUALLY BY THE POLITICAL SYSTEM.

UNTIL AFTER THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE '60S.

SO TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE DECADES AGO.

TALKING ABOUT THE LIFETIME OF MANY PEOPLE LIVE TODAY.

TO THE EXTENT AMERICA IS IN ANY RESPECT A MULTIETHNIC DEMOCRACY, THAT IS SHALLOW SOIL.

SO A LOT OF THE FIGHTS WE'RE HAVING OVER WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND OR CONSTRICT THE FRANCHISE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO START WITH THE RECOGNITION THAT IT WOULD BE NOT A BREAK FROM AMERICA'S HISTORICAL TRADITIONS TO HAVE I'D SCALE VOTER EXPRESSION OR DISENFRANCHISEMENT.

BUT IT WOULD BE IN CONCERT WITH THEM.

IN ALIGNMENT WITH THEM.

IT WOULD BE HOW THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN FOR MOST OF ITS EXISTENCE WHICH MEANS MUCH REASON TO WORRY THESE FIGHTS ARE TRULY REAL.

THAT ANY TIME YOU ARE TRYING TO PULL A COUNTRY BACK INTO A HISTORICAL ALIGNMENT, YOU ARE IN WAYS GOING TO FACE LESS OPPOSITION THAN IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GRAFT SOMETHING NEW ON TO IT.

AND AT LEAST IN ONE TELLING MAKING AMERICA A TRUE MULTI ETHNIC DEMOCRACY WOULD BE BRINGING AMERICA INTO SOMETHING NEW.

SOMETHING ITS NOT TRADITIONALLY BEEN.

SO HOW WILL OUR FRACTURED EMPIRICAL REALITY PLAY INTO THIS?

NOT WELL BUT ON THE OTHER HAND IT IS NOT THE PLACE IN AMERICAN HISTORY AGREEMENT HAS BEEN FURNISHED.

WE DID NOT AGREE ON GETTING RID OF SLAVERY.

WE DID NOT AGREE ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

WE KID NOT AGREE ON GIVING WOMEN THE VOTE.

YOU HAD SUFFRAGETTES GETTING BEATEN BY THE POLICE.

CONFLICT OVER WHAT KIND OF DEMOCRACY WILL BE IS NOTHING NEW AND NOR IS CON SPIRITUAL THINKING AND --.

AND I JUST WANT TO PLAY THIS SOUND BITE FROM MITCH McCONNELL ABOUT WHAT THE ELECTION OF BARACK OBAMA HE THOUGHT SAID ABOUT THE UNITED STATES.

I DON'T THINK REPARATIONS FOR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED A 150 YEARS AGO FOR WHOM NONE OF US CURRENTLY LIVING ARE RESPONSIBLE IS A GOOD IDEA.

WE'VE, YOU KNOW, TRIED TO DEAL WITH OUR ORIGINAL SIN OF SLAVERY BY FIGHTING A CIVIL WAR, BY PASSING LANDMARK CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION.

WE'VE ELECTED AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT.

I THINK WE'RE ALWAYS A WORK IN PROGRESS.

IN THIS COUNTRY.

BUT NO ONE CURRENTLY ALIVE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.

SO -- HAD A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THAT POINT.

I WANT TO KNOW IN YOUR FINAL 30 MINUTES YOUR FINAL THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT HE SAID ABOUT ELECTING A BLACK PRESIDENT.

-- GREAT POINT WHERE SHE SAID TALKED WITH LOT OF VOTERS AFTER THE ELECTION AND SOMETHING THEY SAID WAS THEY HAD FELT AMERICA ELECTED A BLACK PRESIDENT AND THAT MEANT THEY ARE GOING STOP HEARING ABOUT RACIAL INEQUALITY AND STOP HEARING ABOUT HOW HARD IT WAS FOR BLACK PEOPLE AND WHEN THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN THEY FELT BETRAYED AND PART OF THE REASON THEY STARTED TURNING TO DONALD TRUMP.

I THINK YOU ARE HEARING THAT STRAIN.

THAT BARACK OBAMA WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF THE COUNTRY MOVING TOWARDS RACIAL EQUALITY.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE END OF HAVING TO HEAR ABOUT THAT I GUESS ANNOYING TOPIC.

AS YOU SAY, AMERICA IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.

EZRA THANK YOU SO MUCH.

> SO WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THE SPREAD T FEAR AND THE SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS OVER THIS COVID AND DELTA VARIANT BUT WHAT DO WE REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT?

WELL, A RECENT INTERNAL DOCUMENT FROM THE CDC REVEALS THAT IT IS AS CONTAGIOUS AS CHICKENPOX AND IT INCREASES THE RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS AND HOSPITAL ZAX AS WE KNOW.

THE DIRECTOR FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY AT UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IS HERE SPEAKING TO WALTER ISAACSON ABOUT HOW THE UNITED STATES SHOULD RESPOND AND WHAT CAN BE LEARNED FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

THANK YOU.

AND DR. MICHAEL OSCAR HOME.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

THANK YOU.

I'M DOWN HERE IN NEW ORLEANS.

LIKE MUCH OF THE COUNTRY WE'RE FIGHTING THE DELTA VARIANT THAT'S COME ALONG.

WITH THAT DELTA VARIANT IT SPUN UP IN INDIA AND RAGED THROUGH THE COUNTRY AND THEN SUBSIDED.

AND IT SEEMS IT IS DOING THE SAME IN ENGLAND.

IS THERE A CHANCE THAT VARIANTS LIKE THIS JUST BURN THEMSELVES OUT?

ONE OF THE OBSERVATIONS WE'VE HAD WITH COVID AND SARS-CoV-2 SPECIFICALLY, THE VIRUS, IS IT SEEMS TO WANT TO RUN SPRINTS AND NOT MARATHONS.

WHAT I MEAN IS WE HAVE A WHOLE OVERLAPPING SET OF THESE KIND OF WHACK A MOLE SPRINT MOMENTS COUNTRY BY COUNTRY.

THIS PAST WEEK, IRAN IS IN ITS FIFTH SURGE REPORTING THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF CASES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

I CAN GO COUNTRY BY COUNTRY, REGION BY REGION AND SHOW YOU THE SAME THING THAT.

WITHOUT REGARD TO NECESSARILY WHAT THE HUMANS DO, YOU WILL SEE THESE BIG SURGES OF CASES OFTEN LASTING 5-8 WEEKS AND THEN IT JUST ENDS.

EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE STILL AS I SAY A LOT OF HUMAN WOOD FOR THIS CORONAVIRUS FOREST FIRE TO BURN.

AND THEN IT STARTS BACK UP AGAIN LATER.

AND WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE IN PUBLIC HEALTH PREVENTION IN MESSAGING TO THE PUBLIC IS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND JUST THAT.

YOU JUST SAID IT SURGES AND THEN RECEDES IRRESPECTIVE AT TIMES OF WHAT HUMANS DO.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE SHOULD JUST ALL GET VACCINATE BUT NOT WORRY QUITE SO MUCH ABOUT SHUT DOWNS AND MASK MANDATES?

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, AGAIN WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT CAN WE REALLY DO ABOUT THE VIRUS?

CLEARLY IF WE ARE NOT IN CONTACT WITH OTHERS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET INFECTED OR TRANSMIT THE VIRUS.

SO DISTANCING CAN PLAY A KEY ROLE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE VIRUS IS GOING TO DO ITS SPRINT OR A MARATHON.

I HAVE HAD CONCERNS AND I -- DATES BACK TO APRIL OF 2020 ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF MASKING.

NEEDLESS TO SAY AS THE POLITICAL HOT BUTTON BEYOND ANYTHING I'VE EVER SEEN IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND YET AT THE SAME TIME I THINK WE'VE ALL DONE A DISSERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

WHEN YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT FACE CLOTH COVERINGS, THOSE CLOTH PIECES OF HANG OVER YOUR FACE.

THEY ACTUALLY ONLY HAVE VERY LIMITED IMPACT IN REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF VIRUS THAT YOU INHALE IN OR EXHALE OUT.

AND IN FACT IN STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE SHOW THAT IF AN INDIVIDUAL MIGHT GET INFECTED WITHIN 15 MINUTES IN A ROOM, BY TIME AND CONCENTRATION OF THE VIRUS IN THE ROOM.

ADD A FACE CLOTH COVERING YOU ONLY GET ABOUT FIVE MORE MINUTES OF PROTECTION.

I'VE BEEN REALLY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN PUBLIC HEALTH FOR NOT BEING MORE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT CAN MASKING DG OR NOT DO.

ON THE OTHER HAND IF YOU USE THE N95 RESPIRATORS AND FIT THEM FIGHT TO YOUR FACE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SPEND 25 HOURS IN THAT SAME ROOM AND STILL BE PROTECTED.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALL BE USING N95.

I MEAN I GOT MY MASK HERE.

WITH A SAINTS LOGO ON IT.

I MEAN, IT SEEMS WE CAN'T JUST DO THAT.

WELL, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO.

THE SCIENCE IS FIRST.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THEN YOU CAN DECIDE WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO.

THE BOTTOM LINE THOUGH IS BY TELLING PEOPLE THAT IN FACT JUST PUTTING A FACE CLOTH COVERING ON IS GOING TO PROTECT YOU IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

SO WHEN YOU ASK WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT ON N95 OR FELL LIKE YOU CAN'T, THAT IS YOUR CHOICE BUT BOTTOM LINE THE FACE CLOTH COVERING IS ONLY GOING TO PROVIDE YOU LIMITED PROTECTION.

SAME IS TRUE HOW YOU WEAR IT.

WE'VE BEEN DOING SURVEYS ON TELEVISION SCREEN SHOTS OF NEWS MEDIA EVENTS LOOKING AT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WEARING THE MASK OR CLOTH COVERING AND MORE IMPORTANTLY HOW DO THEY WEAR IT?

25% OF THE POPULATION CONSISTENTLY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC WORE IT UNDER THE NOSE.

THAT IS LIKE FIXING THREE OF THE FIVE SCREEN DOORS IN YOUR SUBMARINE.

SO WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

DISTANCING WORKS.

EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE RESPIRATORY PROTECTION WORKS AND MOST OF ALL, VACCINE WORKS.

SO THERE IS A LOT WE STILL CAN DO.

IF WE HAVE PROTECTION AGAINST SERIOUS ILLNESS, EVEN IF THE VIRUS STARTS TO SPREAD ISN'T THAT GOING TO HELP SOLVE THIS?

IF ENOUGH OF US JUST DON'T GET ALL THAT STICK IF THE VIRUS SPREADS AND IT IS A LITTLE LIKE A MILD CASE OF THE FLU?

YOU KNOW THAT IS A CRITICAL POINT.

I'M QUOTED IN THE NEW YORKER ARTICLE POSTED YESTERDAY JUST THAT VERY PIECE.

ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH WE'VE STILL GAINED FROM THESE VACCINES.

ITS BEEN REMARKABLE IN THE REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT ENGLAND.

IF YOU LOOK AT ISRAEL.

THAT IS THE CASE.

THE ONE THING HOWEVER WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL OF AGAIN, AND THIS IS AGAIN TRYING TO SEE A INTO TOO FUSMT EVERY MORNING FIRST THING I DO IS GET UP AND TRY TO SCRAPE THE FOUR INCHES OF MUD OFF MY CRYSTAL BALL AND THEN GO TO WORK.

AND IN THIS CASE IF WE LOOK AT ISRAEL, WHAT THEY HAVE FOUND IS A RATHER RAPID REDUCTION IN THE PREVENTION TO GET SERIOUS ILLNESS AFTER SIX MONTHS.

SO EVEN THERE WE ARE SEEING THIS WANE IN IMMUNITY HAVING IMPACT ON WHETHER YOU GET SERIOUS ILLNESS OR NOT, WHICH IS ALL THE REASON WHY YOU ARE GOING TO KEEP HEARING MUCH MORE IN THE DAYS AHEAD ABOUT BOOSTER DOSES.

THAT IS WHY THE ISRAELIS ARE INITIATED BOOSTER DOSES FOR THOSE OVER 60 AND THOSE WITH UNDERLYING IMMUNE CONDITIONS.

AND I THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN HERE.

AND THEN WE CAN MAINTAIN THE HIGH LEVEL OF PROTECTION AGAINST SERIOUS ILLNESS AND DEATH WHICH IS A TREMENDOUS GIFT IN TERMS OF FIGHTING THE VIRUS.

YOU MENTIONED SOCIAL DISTANCING.

HOW REALISTIC IS IT TODAY TO GET AS BACK TO SOCIAL DISTANCING?

FIRST WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT HAS A DIFFERENT MEANING THAN IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A SIX FOOT DISTANCE.

PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS TRANSPLANTED BY RESPIRATORY DROPLETS AND FALLING WITHIN SIX FEET OF US.

TODAY THAT IS NOT THE SCIENCE THAT WE KNOW.

WE KNOW THESE ARE TRANSMITTED WITH AEROSOLS.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

ALL THOSE PLEXIGLASS PLATES YOU SAW THAT WERE PUT UP THAT SUPPOSEDLY SEPARATED YOU FROM ME WITH SIX FEET HAVE NO REAL PURPOSE TODAY AT ALL.

THE AEROSOLS TO UNDERSTAND REALLY ARE THE BEST WAY I CAN TELL PEOPLE TO DO IT.

IF YOU ARE IN A ROOM WITH SOMEONE AND THEY ARE SMOKING AND YOU SMELL IT, YOU ARE GETTING BASICALLY INHALED AEROSOLS IN.

WALKING DOWN THE STREET, YOU KNOW, I JUST HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME THE PAST WEEKEND WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN I SMELLED CIGARETTE SMOKE AND I LOOKED AROUND AND I WAS DOWNWIND FROM SOMEBODY 20 FEET FROM ME ON THE SIDE OF THE SIDEWALK SMOKING.

AND NOW, IN THAT CASE YOU WOULDN'T LIKELY GET INFECTED FROM JUST THAT EXPOSURE.

AS THE TIME CONCENTRATION.

BUT WE NOW HAVE EVIDENCE THAT WITH THE DELTA VARIANT IN PARTICULAR, IT MAY WITH JUST A FEW MINUTES OF EXPOSURE BEFORE YOU GET INFECTED.

SO WHEN I SAY SOCIAL DISTANCE, I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU DO HAVE TO BE APART FROM SOMEONE SUFFICIENTLY THAT YOU WOULDN'T SMELL THEIR CIGARETTE SMOKE.

NOW, THAT IS A LOT LONGER THAN SIX FEET IN MOST CASES.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

EVERYBODY CAN'T DO THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH SPACE IN THE WORLD AND PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO DO IT ON MASS TRANSIT.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO IT IN GROCERY STORES, ETC.

SO THEN I SAY WELL, HOW LIKELY IF YOU GET INFECTED YOU MIGHT HAVE A VERY SERIOUS ILLNESS?

ARE YOU OLDER?

WHAT IS YOUR BODY WEIGHT?

DO YOU HAVE UNDERLYING IMMUNE DEFISHES OR IMMUNE SUPPRESSION BECAUSE OF THE DRUGS YOU ARE TAKING OR HEALTH CONDITION.

AND THEN I SAY YOU DON'T WANT TO BE AROUND PEOPLE ANY PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT AN N95 RESPIRATOR AND THAT DISTANCE.

I DON'T THINK IT IS GOING TO APPLY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

IT JUST CAN'T HAPPEN.

IT WON'T HAPPEN.

AND THAT IS THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE TODAY.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT RECENT STUDIES THAT THAT SHOW COGNITIVE PROBLEMS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVED COVID?

I DON'T THINK ANYONE REALLY YET UNDERSTANDS THE LEGACY OF COVID-19 WELL INTO GENERATIONS AHEAD.

I THINK THE ISSUES AROUND LONG COVID OR LONG HAULERS IS GOING TO BE A VERY SUBSTANTIAL ISSUE.

AND I THINK THE COGNITIVE DISFUNCTION IS GOING TO BE PART OF IT.

I THINK THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE MUCH, MUCH MORE COMING FROM THIS FIGHT BETWEEN OUR BODIES' IMMUNE SYSTEMS AND THIS VIRUS AND WHAT ITS DONE TO ALL THE REST OF OUR BODY.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE LIKE A CASTLE THAT'S BEEN TAKING INCOMING FROM THIS VIRUS AND THEN WE'VE FOUGHT BACK.

AND IN THE PROCESS WE BOTH DID DAMAGE TO OUR CASTLE.

AND SO I THINK THAT THIS IS A CHALLENGE.

AND I DO WORRY A LOT ABOUT THESE LONG HAULER-LIKE CONDITIONS, WHICH COGNITIVE DISFUNCTION IS ONE OF'EM.

DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA JUST TO PUSH AS HARD AS WE POSSIBLY CAN TO CONVINCE AND IN SOME CASES NUDGE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED AND FORGET ABOUT ALL THE OTHER PERIPHERAL STUFF THAT WE DON'T EVEN QUITE KNOW IF IT WORKS?

WELL I THINK AGAIN VACCINE IS AT THE VERY FOUNDATIONAL ASPECTS OF ANYTHING WE DO TO CHANGE THIS PANDEMIC.

LET HE JUST SAY THOUGH I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS 46 YEARS.

I HAVE SPENT MY CAREER PROMOTING VACCINES.

I ACTUALLY HELPED WRITE THE LEGISLATION HERE IN MINNESOTA IN THE 1980s TO LEGISLATE VACCINES FOR INSTITUTIONS IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

I HAVE BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT OF THIS.

AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.

PLEASE DO NOT TELL ME LESSOPS LEARNED FROM CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATIONS AND APPLY THEM HERE.

THEY JUST DON'T APPLY.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION.

WITH HAVE THREE GROUPS OF PEOPLE TODAY.

THEY ARE THE VACCINE AFFIRMATIVE.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT DROVE 120 MILES IN FEBRUARY SNOW STORMS TO FIND VACCINE IN A CLINIC SOME REMOTE TOWN.

THEY COULDN'T WAIT TO GET IT.

THEN THE VACCINE HESITANT.

THE GROUP THAT AT THIS POINT THEY HAVE STILL LEGITIMATE CONCERNS.

THIS ISN'T A LICENSED VACCINE.

I AM A PREGNANT WOMAN.

I AM A MEMBER OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY WHO'S BEEN EXPERIMENTED UPON BY GOVERNMENT.

AND THIS WAS OPERATIONAL WARP SPEEDY AND IT IS NOT A LICENSED VACCINE.

ALL REALLY LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS AND THEN THERE IS THE THIRD GROUP.

THE VACCINE HOSTILE.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO UNDER NO CONDITIONS WILL BE VACCINATED IN ANY WAY AGAINST THEIR WILL.

AND THEY ARE A GROUP THAT MANY CASES DON'T EVEN BELIEVE THE PANDEMIC IS REAL, ETC.

THE VACCINE HOSTILE, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET.

YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THEY HAVE TO DO TO NOT GET VACCINATED THEY WILL DO IT.

THE IT IS VACCINE HESITANT RIGHT NOW THAT WE NEED TO REALLY FOCUS ON.

AND CONVERT THOSE PEOPLE TO VACCINE RECIPIENTS.

AND WE'RE ACTUALLY MAKING PROGRESS THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE MORE INFORMATION WE GET ON THE VACCINES IN TERMS OF LICENSURE I THINK IS GOING TO HELP A LOT.

WE DO HAVE STOPS AND STAR STARTS.

THE LAST 72 HOURS I'VE TAKE AN NUMBER OF QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE.

TELEWAIT WHY WOULD I GET THIS VACCINE NOW?

BECAUSE I CAN STILL TRANSMIT THE VIRUS?

SO WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF IT, LATE OW WHY THIS IS STILL A VERY IMPORTANT TOOL WHAT THAT MEANS BUT I THINK THE VACCINE HESITANT GROUP THAT IF WE CAN BRING THEM ALONG, THAT IS GOING TO BE A GROUP THAT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT.

I WANT TO YOU LOOK INTO THE CAMERA AND GIVE A GREAT ONE SENTENCE PITCH TO A VACCINE HESITANT PERSON.

IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT YOURSELF, YOU CAN SAY I DON'T SEE THIS VACCINE.

I'M STRONG ENOUGH.

BUT IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE ONES YOU LOVE, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR COLLEAGUES, YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER, GRANDFATHER, YOUR KIDS, YOU WILL GET THIS VACCINE.

SHOULD RESTAURANTS REQUIRE VACCINES?

I WOULD SAY EVERY PLACE RIGHT NOW.

I DO THAT.

I, FOR EXAMPLE, THOUGH HAVE NOT SUPPORTED A VACCINE MANDATE AT OUR OWN INSTITUTION, THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE IN MINNESOTA LAW, THE WAY VACCINE EXEMPTIONS ARE SET UP IN OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, YOU HAVE TO OFFER DEFERMENTS FOR MEDICAL REASONS AND FOR PHILOSOPHICAL REASONS.

SO ALL I HAVE TO DO IS SIGN A SHEET OF PAPER AND SAY I'M DONE, I'M NOT GETTING IT.

HAVE IT NOTARIZED AND I'M EXEMPT.

AND IF WE PUT A MANDATE IN PLACE TODAY, WE'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF THOSE VERY COMMUNITIES I JUST MENTIONED.

THE BLACK COMMUNITY, SAID IF YOU MENTION THE WORD MANDATE WE'RE DONE.

WE'RE GOING TO SIGN OFF AND NOT GET IT.

WE NEED TIME TO BRING PEOPLE ALONG.

THIS ISN'T A CAMPAIGN LIKE WE USE FOR CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATIONS WHERE IT MAY TAKE YEARS BEFORE WE'RE ABLE TO GET VACCINE LEVELS UP.

LOOK AT EVEN IN ADULTS WITH VACCINES LIKE SHINGLES OR HPV HOW LONG ITS TAKEN US TO GET PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY TAKE THE VACCINE.

HERE WE'RE NOW EXPECTING IN JUST A FEW MONTHS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

IF WE PUT IN PLACE A MANDATE IN OUR STATE IN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITY, WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE SIGN THAT EXEMPTION AND WE'LL NEVER GET'EM BACK.

AND THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE TRYING TO GET ON BOARD.

SO I THINK THERE IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR MANDATES.

I HAVE SO TAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN I STARTED HERE IN MINNESOTA BACK IN THE MID 1970s WAS AT THE HEYDAY OF THE INDOOR AIR ACT AND CLEAN AIR.

AND WE HEARD FROM BARS AND RESTAURANTS AROUND THE STATE, OH MY GOD.

IF YOU PUT IN PLACE NON SMOKING, WE'RE DONE.

WE'RE COOKED.

WE CAN'T MAKE IT.

WELL IT TURNED OUT PEOPLE HAD FORGOTTEN THE 30% OF SMOKERS WERE VERY DIFFERENT THAN 70% OF PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T SMOKE AND THEY COULDN'T WAIT TO GET TO A BAR OR RESTAURANT THAT WAS ACTUALLY SMOKE FREE AND BUSINESS WENT UP.

SO I THINK RIGHT NOW IF YOU HAD RESTAURANTS AND BARS, YOU HAD VENUES WHERE PEOPLE REQUIRED TO BE VACCINATED SHOW THAT.

THAT YOU WOULD ACTUALLY SEE PARTICIPATION SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE BEYOND ANYTHING ELSE.

I'D FEEL SAFE TO GO THERE TODAY.

I WOULDN'T FEEL SAFE TO GO TO A RESTAURANT TODAY WHERE THAT WASN'T THE CASE.

THE MUSIC VENUES HERE IN NEW ORLEANS HAVE ALL JUST DECIDED TO SAY YOU NEED TO SHOW ON YOUR PHONE THAT YOU'RE VACCINATED.

AND THAT'S CAUSED AN UP TICK IN PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED.

THEY WANT TO GO HEAR MUSIC.

I LOVE THAT.

THAT IS THE INCENTIVE PIECE.

THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO GO AT THIS.

THERE IS VINEGAR AND THERE IS HONEY.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEREVER YOU CAN USE HONEY WE'VE SHONE IN PUBLIC HEALTH TIME AND TIME AGAIN IT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO GO.

YOU SAY THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH IN FACE OF THIS VIRUS IS TO GET VACCINATED.

WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN, YOUNG CHILDREN?

YOUNG CHILDREN RIGHT NOW ARE A CHALLENGE.

WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

WE NEED TO GET VACCINE FOR THOSE CHILDREN.

YOU KNOW, THESE STUDIES CAN'T GET DONE QUICK ENOUGH.

BUT ALSO WALTER, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES I HAVE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES OF HUMILITY.

IS THE FACT THAT HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE RICHES OF THE HIGH INCOME COUNTRIES ARE DEBATING WHETHER TO HAVE A BOOSTER DOSE, A THIRD DOSE AND WE HAVE 6.4 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIES AND LESS THAN 2% HAVE HAD ACCESS TO ANY DOSES AND WE CAN SURELY MAKE AN ARGUMENT ON HUMANITARIAN BASIS THE CRITICAL NEED TO GET VACCINE TO THE COUNTRIES.

BUT ALSO IN A VERY IMPORTANT WAY IS THE FACT THAT THESE NEW VARIANTS ARE NOT AS LIKELY TO COME SPINNING OUT OF A SMALLER POPULATION EXPERIENCE LIKE THE UNITED STATES.

BUT THEY SURELY COULD SPIN OUT IN LARGE NUMBERS IN THESE INFECTIONS AMONG THE 6.4 BILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIES.

SO IT IS IN OUR STRATEGIC INTEREST TO GET VACCINE TO THESE COUNTRIES JUST TO TRY TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR VACCINATIONS TODAY.

SO I THINK WE HAVE LOT OF WORK TO DO.

AS I'VE SIDE.

AND FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS HISTORIAN AND EXPERT IN THIS, WE NEED A MANHATTAN PROJECT NOW TO MAKE VACCINES.

WE NEED A WHOLE LOT OF MARSHAL PLANS TO GET IT DELIVERED.

AND DO YOU THINK VERY YOUNG CHILDREN SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED NOW TO BE VACCINATED?

I DON'T THINK THE DATA ARE THERE YET TO PROVIDE THE SATISFACTORY SAFETY INFORMATION THAT ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING PARENTS TO BUY THIS VACCINE FOR THEIR KIDS FOR A NUMBER OF THEM.

SOME PARENTS CAN'T GET IT QUICK ENOUGH.

BUT THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF PARENTS AND I'VE SEEN THE KIND OF COMMUNICATIONS FROM THESE PATIENTS THAT SAY NO WAY ARE MY KIDS GOING TO GET VACCINATED.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE AB EXPERIMENT.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.

WE'LL HAVE SCHOOLS WHERE SOME ARE VACCINATED AND SOME KIDS WON'T.

WE HAVE TO ANTICIPATE THAT NOW.

WHAT CAN WE DO NOW TO HELP BASICALLY PROVIDE THE SUPPORT T EDUCATION THE INFORMATION.

THE OTHER THING HAPPENING I THINK IS A GAME CHANGER IS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC RIGHT UP THROUGH THE TIME WHEN THE ALPHA VARIANTS REALLY STARTED TO EMERGE, WE DID SEE A VERY DIFFERENT EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INFECTION IN KIDS.

IT WAS MUCH LESS INFECTIOUS.

KIDS DID NOT TRANSMIT NEARLY AS READILY BETWEEN THEMSELVES OR OTHERS OR DID THEY GET INFECTED?

WE DIDN'T SEE NEARLY THE SAME SPECTACULAR OF SERIOUS ILLNESS.

THAT ALL CHANGED WITH ALPHA.

AND NOW WITH DELTA IT IS EVEN ACCENTUATED.

AND SO I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE DATA WE HAD A YEAR AGO ON KIDS AND INFECTION DOESN'T HOLD UP TODAY AND THE DATA TODAY SAYS KIDS ARE A LOT HIGHER RISK OF GETTING INFECTED, OF TRANSMITTING THE VIRUS AND POTENTIALLY EVEN HAVING SERIOUS ILLNESS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

THANKS WALTER.

> AND FINALLY, DESPITE COVID ALSO IN JAPAN THERE HAVE BEEN DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENTS AT THE OLYMPICS.

INSTEAD OF COMPETING, BELARUSIAN SPRINTER IS AT THE POLISH EMBASSY RIGHT NOW SPEAKING POLITICAL ASYLUM AFTER A DUST UP WITH HER COACHES AND NATION'S AUTHORITARIAN PRESIDENT OVER WHICH RACE SHE COMPETES IN.

AND THE OTHER BIG STORY IS SIMONE BILES WHO IS RETURNING TO COMPETE FOR A GOLD MEDAL AFTER HAVING PULLED OUT OF SOME EVENTS LAST WEEK.

SELENA WANG JOINS US FROM TOKYO WITH MORE.

IT IS EXTRAORDINARY.

EVERYONE HAS BEEN FOCUSING ON SIMONE BILES.

IS THERE A SENSE OF ANTICIPATION ABOUT HER COMING BACK?

WHAT SHE MIGHT ACHIEVE TOMORROW?

CHRISTIANE ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS A VERY HIGH STAKES RETURN FOR SIMONE BILES.

THIS WOULD BE HER LAST OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE HOME GOLD AT THESE OLYMPICS AFTER WITHDRAWING FROM SEVERAL EVENTS SAYING SHE WANTED TO FOCUS ON HER MENTAL HEALTH.

NOW SHE'S RETURNING TO THE BALANCE BEAM.

HOWEVER AS EARLY AS FRIDAY SHE POSTED ON INSTAGRAM SHE WAS STILL DEALING WITH THIS MENTAL BLOCK GYMNASTS CALL THE TWISTIES.

SHE SAID SHE LITERALLY COULD NOT TELL UP FROM DOWN AND THAT IT WAS TERRIFYING TO TRY SKILLS WITHOUT HER MIND AND BODY SYNCING TOGETHER.

BALANCE BEAM REQUIRES LESS OF THE TWISTING HOWEVER, SO IT COULD BE MORE MANAGEABLE GIVEN THAT SHE'S STIHL DEALING WITH THIS MENTAL BLOCK.

THE RECEPTION BY OTHER ATHLETES AND THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY POSITIVE.

SIMONE BILES MAY HAVE PULLED BACK BUT SHE'S SMARKD A GLOBAL CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AMONG ELITE ATHLETES.

SHE IS BEING APPLAUDED FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO KNOW WHEN TO STEP BACK TO PROTECT HERSELF BECAUSE PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT GYMNASTICS IS A DANGEROUS SPORT AND THAT WHEN SHE IS NOT MENTALLY IN THE RIGHT STATE IT COULD HAVE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS FOR HER PHYSICAL ABILITIES AND HER CHRISTIANE SHE'S DEFINITELY NOT HOLDING BACK I WAS AT THE INDIVIDUAL EVENT FINALS SUNDAY AND I COULD HEAR HER ACROSS THE STANDS CHEERING ON HER TEAMMATES ARE STANDING UP TAKING ON THIS ROLE ALMOST OF COACH AS.

EXTRAORDINARY AND WE'VE ALL BEEN FOLLOWING SO CLOSELY THAT.

TWISTY YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MAKES SENSE BUT IT IS EXTRAORDINARY AND IT IS ONLY THEM WHO CAN FEEL THAT.

THEY ARE THE ONES IN THE AIR WHO HAVE GOT TO FIGURE OUT THEY HAVE THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL CONFIDENCE TO LAND THAT MANEUVER.

BUT AS FOR JAPAN, AND YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING TO SOME OF THE ATHLETES, PARTICULARLY THE SWIMMER.

DESPITE COVID IS BEING VERY WELL RECEIVED THE GAMES IN JAPAN DESPITE OBVIOUSLY THE PROBLEMS THIS YEAR AND THE YEARS DELAY.

TALK TO US ABOUT HOW ATHLETES THERE ARE VIEWING THEIR OWN OLYMPICS.

ITS BEEN VERY INTERESTING AND VERY TOUGH ON THE ATHLETES.

I'VE BEEN LIVING IN TOKYO SINCE LAST YEAR AND BEEN TALKING TO RESIDENTS ALL THE TIME, REGULARLY LEADING UP TO THIS MOMENT.

AND THERE WAS SO MUCH IMMENSE OPPOSITION, FRUSTRATION AMONG PEOPLE.

AMONG ANTI-OLYMPIC PROTESTERS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS POURING SO MANY RESOURCES INTO A GLOBAL SPORTING EVENT WHEN SO MANY IN JAPAN AND AROUND THE WORLD WERE STILL SUFFERING FROM COVID-19 AND JAPAN HAS ALSO HAD A VERY SLOW VACCINE ROLLOUT AND AS OF TODAY LESS THAN A THIRD OF THE POPULATION FULLY VACCINATED.

AFTER THE OLYMPIC CEREMONY WE HAVE SEEN THE OPPOSITION START TO SOFTEN.

I SPOKE TO CEO OF OLYMPIC BROADCASTING SERVICES WHO TOLD ME THAT 90% OF THE JAPANESE PUBLIC HAS WATCHED SOME PART OF THE GAMES ON TV SINCE THEY STARTED.

AND WHEN I SPEAK TO RESIDENTS, I CERTAINLY FEEL THAT.

THEY ARE BECOMING INSPIRED BY THESE INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCES FROM ATHLETES AROUND THE WORLD INCLUDING THEIR OWN NATION'S ATHLETES.

JAPAN'S HAD A STUNNING RUN AT THE OLYMPICS TAKING HOME ALREADY A RECORD NUMBER OF OLYMPIC GOLDS AND I SPEAK TO YUI OHASHI, A SWIMMER AND FIRST JAPANESE WOMAN TO TAKE HOME MULTIPLE GOLD MEDALS AT THE OLYMPICS.

TAKE A LISTEN.

WE THE ATHLETES WENT TO THE OLYMPICS WITH A GREAT DEAL OF CONFIGURATION BUT I RECEIVED A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE WHO SID THEY WERE MOVED BY ATHLETES WINNING GOLD MEDALS AND OTHER MEDALS.

SEEING ATHLETES TRYING SO HARD SO I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

IT WAS A MIRACLE FOR ME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN MY OWN COUNTRY.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS EXCITEMENT FOR THE ATHLETES AND SUPPORT FOR THE ATHLETES ALSO COMES WITH DIFFICULT MIXED EMOTIONS.

I STILL SPEAK TO MANY WHO SAY THEY DON'T THINK IT IS THE RIGHT TIME TO CELEBRATE.

THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE SURGE IN COVID-19 CASES IN JAPAN.

CASES IN TOKYO HAVE BEEN REACHING REGULAR RECORD HIGHS.

TOKYO STILL UNDER STATE OF EMERGENCY AND COVID-19 CASES WITHIN THE OLYMPIC BUBBLE HAVE ALSO BEEN INCREASING.

IT IS REALLY SO INTERESTING.

THANKS FOR BRINGING IT TO US FROM TOKYO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AS WE LEAVE YOU WE WANT TO SAY ITALY'S BEEN HAVING A VERY GOOD 2021.

NOT ON THE EURO VISION SONG CONTEST AND THE FINAL BUT CREATED OLYMPIC HISTORY WITH THE HIGHEST JUMPING MAN WHO WON IN THE HIGH JUMP, AND ALSO THE WORLD'S FASTEST MAN.

THEY BOTH HAD THE MOST AMAZING OLYMPICS AND THE ITALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE SAYS THE GREATEST DAY IN ITALIAN SPORTS HISTORY.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME AND THE SHOW ON TWITTER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT.

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