>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, MORE STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL IN OUR REGION, AS TENSIONS FLARE BETWEEN FEDERAL, STATE AND DISTRICT OFFICIALS OVER MASK MANDATES.

MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS SAYS ORANGE COUNTY'S POSITIVITY RATE IS LEVELING OFF, BUT WASTEWATER SAMPLES SUGGEST MORE TROUBLE AHEAD.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M NANCY ALVAREZ.

WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT, WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT ALL OF US.

WE DO THIS EVERY WEEK, BY BRINGING TOGETHER A TEAM OF JOURNALISTS FROM DIFFERENT LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS, FOR IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.

JOINING US THIS WEEK, STEVE HUDAK FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL AND JESSICA BAKEMAN, WHO COVERS EDUCATION FOR WLRN.

MY COLLEAGUE, STEVE MORT, IN THE STUDIO WITH ME ONCE AGAIN THIS WEEK.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, FIRST TONIGHT, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND STAFF TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 IN CENTRAL FLORIDA SCHOOLS IS MOVING HIGHER, AS MORE CHILDREN RETURNED TO CLASS.

THIS WEEK, IT WAS THE TURN OF SCHOOLS IN VOLUSIA COUNTY TO WELCOME BACK STUDENTS.

FACE COVERINGS FOR STUDENTS ARE OPTIONAL.

THE RETURN TO SCHOOL COMES AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF RISING CLASSROOM COVID CASES.

ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECENTLY SET A NEW DAILY RECORD, WITH HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS TESTING POSITIVE OR IN QUARANTINE SINCE THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THE TEACHERS UNION IS DEMANDING A STRICTER MASK POLICY IN ORANGE COUNTY, WHERE PARENTS ARE ALLOWED TO OPT THEIR KIDS OUT OF MASK REQUIREMENTS.

THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS OPTING OUT IN ORANGE COUNTY HAS RISEN FROM ABOUT 4% TO 7%, SINCE THE FALL SEMESTER BEGAN.

THE STATE'S BOARD OF EDUCATION, THIS WEEK, VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO PUNISH BROWARD AND ALACHUA COUNTIES FOR MANDATING MASKS FOR STUDENTS.

BOTH DISTRICTS HAVE DEFIED THE STATE'S REQUIREMENT THAT PARENTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL WITH A FACE COVERING.

MEANWHILE, GOVERNOR DESANTIS, THIS WEEK, SPOKE AT THE OPENING OF A MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENT SITE AT CAMPING WORLD STADIUM IN ORLANDO.

DESANTIS HAS BEEN PROMOTING REGENERON INFUSIONS, SAYING VACCINES HAVE PROVEN LESS EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING INFECTIONS THAN HAD BEEN HOPED.

>>IF SOMEBODY TESTS POSITIVE, IF THEY'RE UNVACCINATED, THE VACCINE ISN'T GOING TO TREAT IT.

THEY NEED IT TO BE TREATED.

SO, DO BOTH.

BUT JUST UNDERSTAND, PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED ARE STILL TESTING POSITIVE.

PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY HIGH RISK, THE VACCINE IS REDUCING THEIR EXPOSURE TO SERIOUS ILLNESS, BUT IT'S STILL SOMETHING WE WANT THEM TO KNOW.

IF YOU DO IT, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR.

MAYBE YOU STILL WANT TO DO THIS.

I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE DONE THAT, AS THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON.

YES, SIR?

>>GOVERNOR DESANTIS THERE.

WELL, I ASKED A SEMI-DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN, DARREN SOTO THIS WEEK, ABOUT THE ONGOING COVID WAVE IN OUR STATE AND THE DEBATE OVER MASKS IN SCHOOLS.

>>I TRUST OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS TO KNOW BASIC THINGS, LIKE WHETHER OR NOT THEIR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO HAVE MASKS IN SCHOOLS.

THAT SHOULD BE A LOCAL DECISION FOR OUR SCHOOL BOARDS.

SO, PENALIZING THEM, SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO WITHDRAW FUNDS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT COMPLYING WITH THAT, MAKES NO SENSE.

>>CONGRESSMAN, IS THE WHITE HOUSE RIGHT TO GET INTO THIS BACK AND FORTH WITH GOVERNOR DESANTIS ABOUT MASKS, PARTICULARLY IN SCHOOLS?

I MEAN, THERE'S VERY LITTLE, ISN'T THERE, THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO.

>>THE PRESIDENT IS RIGHT TO GET INVOLVED, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMBATING AN EXTREME POSITION LIKE BANNING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM TAKING LOCAL COVID MEASURES.

THAT IS AN EXTREME ISSUE TAKEN BY THE GOVERNOR, BY THE LEGISLATURE, THAT 60 SOMETHING, ALMOST 70% OF FLORIDIANS OPPOSE, DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT IS HE SAYING?

THE PRESIDENT AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL INTERVENE IF THEY TRY TO DEFUND THOSE SCHOOLS.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO DEFUND OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY DEFY THE GOVERNOR'S MISGUIDED POLITICAL BAN ON MASK MANDATES.

>>WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE GOVERNOR'S ASSERTION THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID, WHO ARE CHILDREN, HAS NOT CHANGED FROM PREVIOUS SPIKES AND THEREFORE, CHILDREN REMAINED AT A VERY LOW RISK FROM COVID-19 EVEN WITH THE DELTA VARIANT?

>>WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER OUR KIDS, WHO GO TO SCHOOLS OF LEARNING, HAVE TO GO TO HOSPITALS OR DIE AS A RESULT OF COVID.

THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING WE'RE FOCUSED ON.

WE'RE FOCUSED ON WHETHER KIDS GET COVID AT ALL, BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S LONGTERM EFFECTS WE'RE JUST BEGINNING TO LEARN ABOUT.

SO, WE HAVE TO AT LEAST GIVE THEM A FIGHTING CHANCE.

THEY CAN'T GET VACCINATED RIGHT NOW, BUT WE WON'T LIKELY SEE AN APPROVAL TILL THE EARLIEST, TOWARDS THE END OF THIS YEAR.

I DON'T THINK THAT THE FACT THAT WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF KIDS DYING OR HOSPITALIZING IS THE REAL ISSUE.

IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT KIDS DON'T GET THIS VIRUS, THAT COULD HAVE LONG-TERM EFFECTS, IN ADDITION TO POTENTIAL HOSPITALIZATION OR DEATH.

>>WELL, THE HILLSBOROUGH, MIAMI-DADE AND PALM BEACH SCHOOL BOARDS, WEDNESDAY, JOINED BROWARD AND ALACHUA IN INSTITUTING MASK MANDATES WITH ONLY A MEDICAL OPT-OUT.

>>LET'S START WITH THE VOTE BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THIS WEEK, JESSICA, TO CONTINUE INVESTIGATING AND TAKE SOME FORM OF ACTION AGAINST ALACHUA AND BROWARD.

EDUCATION COMMISSIONER RICHARD CORCORAN HAS SORT OF FLOATED THIS IDEA OF REMOVING SUPERINTENDENTS AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENS NOW AFTER THAT VOTE?

>>I REALLY DON'T THINK WE KNOW.

WHAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION DID WAS TAKE A VOTE, BASICALLY SAYING THAT THE COMMISSIONER, RICHARD CORCORAN, SHOULD EXPLORE ALL LEGAL STEPS AVAILABLE TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

AND THEN, THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION LISTED SOME POTENTIAL PUNISHMENTS THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE EXPLORED, INCLUDING THE REMOVAL OF OFFICERS LIKE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, WHO ARE ELECTED, THE WITHHOLDING OF SALARIES.

AND ALSO A LOT OF OTHER STUFF, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG HEADACHE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IN TERMS OF A LOT MORE SCRUTINY FROM THE STATE, A LOT MORE STRICT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

I THINK, TO SOME EXTENT, THAT MEETING, DURING WHICH THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION REALLY GRILLED THE SUPERINTENDENTS IN BROWARD AND ALACHUA COUNTY, WAS KIND OF LIKE A WARNING TO THE REST OF THE STATE.

IF OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS TAKE THIS STEP, THEN THEY'LL BE IN THE HOT SEAT NEXT.

BUT AS FAR AS THE ACTUAL PUNISHMENTS THAT CAN COME DOWN, I THINK IT'S NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR.

AND TO SOME EXTENT, I WONDER IF THE STATE THOUGHT THEY HAD THE POWER TO TAKE SOME OF THESE STEPS, THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE DONE SO ALREADY.

>>NO DOUBT, TO YOUR POINT, ALL OF THESE DISTRICTS ARE SORT OF WATCHING EACH OTHER STATEWIDE, TO SEE WHO DOES WHAT.

ENTER PRESIDENT BIDEN, NOW.

HE HAS SPOKEN WITH THE BROWARD SUPERINTENDENT, AGAIN CRITICIZED GOVERNORS LIKE RON DESANTIS THIS WEEK, ON MASKING.

ACCUSING THEM OF SETTING WHAT THE PRESIDENT CALLED A DANGEROUS TONE.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>>I'M DIRECTING THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, AN EDUCATOR HIMSELF, TO TAKE ADDITIONAL STEPS TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.

THIS INCLUDES USING ALL OF HIS OVERSIGHTS AUTHORITIES AND LEGAL ACTION, IF APPROPRIATE, AGAINST GOVERNORS WHO ARE TRYING TO BLOCK AND INTIMIDATE LOCAL SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND EDUCATORS.

AS I SAID BEFORE, IF YOU AREN'T GOING TO FIGHT COVID-19, AT LEAST GET OUT OF THE WAY OF EVERYONE ELSE WHO'S TRYING.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO SIT BY AS GOVERNORS TRY TO BLOCK AND INTIMIDATED EDUCATORS, PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF A GOVERNOR WANTS TO CUT THE PAY OF A HARDWORKING EDUCATION LEADER WHO REQUIRES MASKS IN THE CLASSROOM, THE MONEY FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN CAN BE USED TO PAY THAT PERSON'S SALARY 100%.

>>ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE HEARD IT RIGHT THERE, JESSICA.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SAID IT WILL STEP IN IF THE STATE CUTS FUNDING.

HAS THAT CHANGED THE WAY THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION CAN PUNISH DISTRICTS?

>>I DON'T THINK IT NECESSARILY CHANGES ANYTHING, EXCEPT THAT IT RATCHETS UP THE POLITICAL ASPECT OF THIS.

IN SOME WAY, IT MIGHT BE MOTIVATING ON BOTH SIDES.

IT MIGHT BE MOTIVATING FOR COMMISSIONER CORCORAN AND THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO SAY, "WE'RE GOING TO DIG IN BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING THIS THREAT COMING FROM A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSING POLITICAL PARTY."

IT MIGHT BE MOTIVATING FOR SCHOOL BOARDS TOO, WHO FEEL LIKE, "OKAY.

WELL, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THIS PROMISE TO HELP US AND BACK US UP FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, IF WE DECIDE TO TAKE THIS STEP."

BUT AS FAR AS THE WITHHOLDING OF SALARIES, ESSENTIALLY, THE STATE CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT SCHOOL BOARDS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO OPERATE AND SUPERVISE THE SCHOOLS IN THEIR DISTRICTS.

THE STATE REALLY CONTROLS THE MONEY, WHICH IS WHAT HAS GIVEN THE STATE A LOT OF POWER.

THAT WAS THE ISSUE THAT TOOK PLACE LAST YEAR, WHEN THE STATE REQUIRED ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OPEN SCHOOLS FIVE DAYS A WEEK, FOR ANY STUDENTS WHO WISHED TO ATTEND IN PERSON.

IN THAT CASE, IT WAS BASICALLY, DO THAT OR WE COULD WITHHOLD SOME FUNDING OR WE COULD CUT YOUR FUNDING.

THAT WAS PRETTY CONVINCING FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BACK THEN.

WE DID SEE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE ALL OPEN.

IN THIS CASE, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE REASON THEY'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WITHHOLDING THE SALARIES OF SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, IS BECAUSE THE STATE BOARD DOESN'T WANT TO BE SEEN AS TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM CHILDREN.

BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE WAY THAT THEY WOULD GO ABOUT DOING THAT WOULD BE TO...

THE MONEY THAT THEY SEND DOWN TO THE DISTRICT, IT FLOWS THROUGH THE STATE, WOULD BE MINUS THE EXACT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT SUPERINTENDENT AND THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS MAKE.

THAT'S THE THREAT.

BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IT HASN'T BEEN REALIZED YET.

>>LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THESE DISTRICTS ARE JUSTIFYING THEIR POSITIONS.

DO THEY THINK THEY'RE ON SOLID LEGAL GROUND HERE?

>>THEY DEFINITELY DO THINK THEY'RE ON SOLID LEGAL GROUND.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE LAWSUITS THAT ARE WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS, AROUND SOME OF THE BIG LEGAL QUESTIONS.

ONE OF THEM, LIKE I REFERENCED, IS A CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION OF AUTHORITY.

WHO SHOULD REALLY BE IN CHARGE OF MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT SCHOOL DISTRICTS?

THE SCHOOL BOARDS WOULD ARGUE IT'S THEM.

ALSO, THE STATE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES SCHOOLS TO BE SAFE, REQUIRES THE STATE TO MAKE ADEQUATE PROVISION FOR SAFE, SECURE SCHOOLS.

THERE ARE A BUNCH OF OTHER WORDS, BUT SAFE BEING THE KEYWORD IN THAT CASE.

BASICALLY, THE SCHOOL BOARDS ARE ARGUING THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE SAFE SCHOOLS, THEY NEED TO HAVE MANDATORY MASK POLICIES.

THE OTHER REALLY COMPELLING LEGAL ARGUMENT THAT THE BROWARD COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT HAS MADE MULTIPLE TIMES, IS THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THERE HAS 37,000 STUDENTS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES OR SEVERE MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

MANY OF THEM ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.

AND AS WE KNOW, THERE ARE SOME, IN A SMALL NUMBER OF SITUATIONS, STUDENTS WITH MEDICAL SITUATIONS OR DISABILITIES THAT ACTUALLY KEEP THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO WEAR A MASK.

IN THOSE SITUATIONS, THOSE FAMILIES ARE SAYING, "A MASK IS NOT A TOOL THAT I CAN USE TO KEEP MY CHILD SAFE."

WHAT WE KEEP HEARING OVER AND OVER, FROM MEDICAL EXPERTS, IS THAT MY MASK PROTECTS YOU AND YOUR MASK PROTECTS ME.

SO, IF EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE PROTECTED, EVERYONE NEEDS TO WEAR A MASK.

THAT'S THE ARGUMENT THEY MAKE.

SO IN THOSE CASES, THEY'RE BASICALLY SAYING, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A MASK MANDATE, THEN FAMILIES OF STUDENTS WHO ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, ESSENTIALLY LOSE THEIR RIGHT TO A PUBLIC EDUCATION ENTIRELY.

>>TURNING TO THE NUMBERS NOW, STEVE, ORANGE COUNTY HAS NOT SEEN THE NUMBERS EXPERIENCED IN HILLSBOROUGH, FOR EXAMPLE.

BUT WHAT ARE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA SAYING ABOUT POSITIVE CASES AND QUARANTINES HERE SO FAR?

>>WELL, THEY'RE WORRIED.

PROBABLY, THE WORD WORRY IS NOT RIGHT.

SCOTT HOWAT, WHO IS THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR ORANGE COUNTY, HE SAID IT'S A CONCERN.

IT IS OBVIOUSLY A CONCERN.

THAT'S WHY THEY CONTINUE TO TELL PEOPLE, WEAR MASKS.

ABOUT 7% OF THE STUDENTS HAVE OPTED OUT.

WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW IS...

THEY WEREN'T SURPRISED BY THE RECORD NUMBER BECAUSE WHEN THEY WERE OPEN LAST YEAR AND WERE TESTING, IT WAS ONLY ABOUT HALF THE STUDENTS WERE THERE.

THEY EXPECTED, WITH A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE RECORD NUMBERS.

SO, THAT WASN'T A BIG CONCERN.

WHAT IS A CONCERN, IS IF IT CONTINUES TO GO UP.

BUT AROUND CENTRAL FLORIDA, SEMINOLE IS CONCERNED.

ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SEMINOLE COUNTY HAS OPTED OUT OF WEARING A MASK.

IN LAKE COUNTY, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME DRIVE ON MONDAY, SOME RALLY TO MAKE FACE MASKS MANDATORY IN THOSE SCHOOLS.

I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK THAT THE WAY THAT OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE HANDLING THIS, THEY'RE WATCHING THE NUMBERS AND THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY CAN DO AT THIS POINT.

I THINK THEIR HANDS ARE A LITTLE BIT TIED.

>>STEVE, JUST BRIEFLY IF YOU CAN, I MEAN, HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, UCF BEGINS CLASSES ON MONDAY.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE VACCINATION RATES AMONG COLLEGE AGED PEOPLE IN THE STATE AND HOW CONCERNED ARE HEALTH OFFICIALS HERE LOCALLY?

>>WELL, LET ME ANSWER THE LAST QUESTION FIRST.

DR. PINO HAS SAID, AS FAR AS UCF COMING BACK, HE HASN'T CONSULTED, REALLY WITH THEM.

HE SAID, "I DON'T NEED TO CONSULT WITH THEM.

THEY'VE GOT A MEDICAL SCHOOL, FOR GOODNESS SAKE.

THEY CAN DO THAT THEMSELVES."

HE SAID HE'S NOT WORRIED ABOUT ANYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, ON CAMPUS OR IN CLASSROOMS.

HE'S WORRIED ABOUT OUTSIDE, OFF CAMPUS, THE BARS, THE CLUBS, WHATEVER.

THEY ARE CONCERNED.

NOW, BACK TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE VACCINATION RATES, AN INTERESTING THING ABOUT FLORIDA'S VACCINATION RATES.

WHEN THEY DO IT BY AGE, THERE'S NOT A SPECIFIC AGE.

IT'S JUST NOT LIKE 18 TO 24, WHICH WOULD BE YOUR COLLEGE STUDENTS.

I THINK IT'S LIKE 19 TO 29.

BUT IF YOU START AT THE OLD PEOPLE, LIKE ME, WHO ARE 65 AND OLDER, WE HAVE THE GREATEST VACCINATION RATE AND EACH LEVEL YOU GO UP.

I MEAN, THE YOUNGER YOU GET, THE SMALLER THE VACCINATION RATE.

BUT IT'S ABOUT 48, 49% IN FLORIDA, BETWEEN 20 AND 29, I THINK.

>>WELL, YOU CAN FIND MORE OF MY CONVERSATION WITH CONGRESSMAN DARREN SOTO, INCLUDING HIS THOUGHTS ON THE CHAOTIC US WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN, ON OUR WEBSITE AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT TONIGHT, LET'S DISCUSS THE TRENDS AND WHAT MIGHT LIE AHEAD FOR THIS PANDEMIC.

MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS SAID THIS WEEK, ORANGE COUNTY'S POSITIVITY RATE MAY BE LEVELING OFF AT AROUND 20%.

BUT DATA GATHERED FROM WASTEWATER SAMPLING, SHOW THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF COVID-19 SINCE MID-MAY, INDICATING A POTENTIAL SPIKE IN CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS TO COME.

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?

I SPOKE WITH IRA LONGINI, A BIOSTATISTICIAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, WHOSE DATA SHOW CASES ARE LIKELY TO HAVE PEAKED IN THE STATE, BUT OFFER LITTLE CLARITY ABOUT THE FUTURE.

>>THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS PEAK, WE CAN'T PREDICT MUCH AT ALL.

WE CAN PREDICT THAT, PROBABLY THE EPIDEMIC WILL GO BACK TO THE LOW LEVEL OF WHAT WAS BEFORE PANDEMIC LEVEL IN FLORIDA, FOR EXAMPLE.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE NEXT VARIANT WILL COME AND WHAT ITS PROPERTIES WILL BE.

WE CAN'T, OTHER THAN JUST PREDICTING A FAIRLY CONSTANT ENDEMIC STATE AFTER THE PEAK, WHICH SHOULD COME BACK TO THE LOWER LEVELS MID-OCTOBER OR SO, IN FLORIDA.

BEYOND THAT, ALL'S WE CAN PREDICT IS ENDEMIC COVID-19 IN THE STATE, AT A RELATIVELY LOW LEVEL.

>>EPIDEMIOLOGISTS OFTEN PUSH FOR MORE MEASURES TO BE TAKEN, TO TRY TO CURB TRANSMISSION.

BUT HERE IN FLORIDA, WE OFTEN HEAR THE MANTRA FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, THAT LOCKDOWNS DON'T WORK.

>>WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

DO LOCKDOWNS WORK?

HAVE WE DONE ANY WORSE THAN PLACES WHERE THEY DID HAVE HARDER LOCKDOWNS?

>>I DON'T AGREE WITH THE TERM LOCKDOWNS DON'T WORK.

THEY DO WORK.

WE'VE SHOWN THAT REPEATEDLY, IN MANY, MANY POPULATIONS, BUT WE DON'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING THAT DRASTIC.

WE DON'T NEED TO SHUT DOWN SOCIETY.

WE JUST NEED TO REACT IN A WAY THAT WE CAN CONTROL THE VIRUS, UNTIL WE CAN GET MORE AND MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED.

AT SOME POINT, WITH THE PROPER VACCINES AND THE PROPER STRATEGIES, PROBABLY NOT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, BUT EVENTUALLY, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CONTROL THIS VIRUS WITH INTELLIGENT STRATEGIES AND VERY HEAVY USE OF VACCINES.

>>STEVE, THE SAMPLING OF WASTEWATER HAS PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN THIS ORDEAL.

SO, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THOSE SAMPLES ARE SHOWING IN OUR AREA NOW, WHAT EXPERTS CAN PREDICT FROM THOSE SAMPLES.

>>WELL, WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO SHOW, IT'S KIND OF JUST SNAPSHOT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WHEN THEY TEST.

MICROSCOPIC FRAGMENTS OF THE VIRUS ARE IN THAT WASTE STREAM.

THE MORE OF THOSE MICROSCOPIC FRAGMENTS THEY FIND, THE MORE PREVALENT THE VIRUS IS.

THINK OF IT SORT OF AS A DOPPLER RADAR FOR THE VIRUS.

IT TELLS YOU WHAT'S COMING.

WHAT IT'S STILL SHOWING US IS THAT WE'RE PROBABLY TWO, THREE WEEKS OUT BEFORE WE HIT OUR PEAK, IN TERMS OF OUR CASES, BECAUSE IT'S STILL RISING IN ALL THE THREE AREAS THAT ORANGE COUNTY TESTS.

>>STEVE, WE JUST HEARD IRA LONGINI, IN OUR INTERVIEW, TALK ABOUT THE NEED TO AGGRESSIVELY USE VACCINES TO GET OUT OF THIS MESS.

SO ARE VACCINATION EFFORTS GOING... HOW ARE THEY GOING NOW, LOCALLY?

>>WELL, THEY'RE STILL GOING SLOWLY.

I MEAN, THEY'RE DOING BETTER THAN THEY WERE.

BUT I THINK THE CAMPING WORLD STADIUM VACCINATION SITE WAS SET UP TO DO 750 VACCINATIONS A DAY.

I DON'T THINK THEY'VE HAD ONE DAY WHERE THEY HAD MORE THAN 300.

THE BIG HEADLINE THIS WEEK, SEE THE BOOSTER SHOTS NOW.

NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BOOSTERS, POSSIBLY FOR EVERYONE BY NEXT MONTH.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

BOOSTER SHOTS ALREADY BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO SOME PEOPLE AT OUR PHARMACIES, PLACES LIKE WALGREENS AND CVS.

WHO QUALIFIES RIGHT NOW?

>>WELL, YOU HAVE TO BE SEVERELY IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.

YOU HAVE TO BE IN CANCER TREATMENT.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE HAD MAYBE A HEART TRANSPLANT.

YOU HAVE SOME UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITION THAT REALLY MAKES YOU VULNERABLE TO THE VIRUS, ESPECIALLY AN AGGRESSIVE ONE, LIKE THE DELTA VARIANT.

>>STEVE, WHAT ARE OFFICIALS HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA SAYING ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO ROLL OUT THOSE BOOSTER SHOTS TO THOSE WHO WANT THEM?

>>WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU TALK TO.

SEMINOLE COUNTY'S ALREADY ROLLED IT OUT.

SEMINOLE COUNTY IS THE ONE COUNTY THAT ACTUALLY HAS A COUNTY-OPERATED BOOSTER SITE SET UP.

ORANGE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE THAT YET.

I WAS JUST SPEAKING WITH KENT DONAHUE FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THIS MORNING.

HE SAID, "WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT.

BUT WHAT WE WOULD SUGGEST AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE OF THE LIMITS ON WHO'S ELIGIBLE TO GET IT, THAT THEY SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR PHYSICIAN AND THEN GO TO THE PHARMACIES, " BECAUSE THE PHARMACIES WILL DO IT.

I WILL TELL YOU THIS.

THIS IS NOT TO BE SNEAKY ABOUT IT.

BUT I TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE IN MY CIRCLES WHO DON'T REALLY FIT THOSE CATEGORIES AND THEY'VE GOTTEN THEIR BOOSTER SHOT.

I HAD TALKED TO DR. PINO ABOUT THAT.

HE SAID, "REMEMBER THE PHONY GRANNIES, THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT GOT DRESSED UP IN WIGS AND STUFF AND SNUCK IN TO GET THEIR ORIGINAL VACCINE BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T YET AGE ELIGIBLE?"

HE SAID, "DON'T BE SURPRISED THAT, THAT'S HAPPENING."

>>NO, NOT THE PHONY GRANNIES.

WE DON'T NEED THOSE COMING BACK.

ALL RIGHT, STEVEN.

DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN JOIN IT THIS CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE AT WUCF ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM.

>>WELL, MUCH OF THE NATIONAL NEWS THIS WEEK HAS BEEN DOMINATED BY THE EVENTS IN AFGHANISTAN.

BUT ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL STORY IS HITTING CLOSE TO HOME HERE IN FLORIDA, THE EARTHQUAKE LAST WEEK IN HAITI AND THE TROPICAL SYSTEMS THAT HAVE DRENCHED THE COUNTRY.

IT COMES JUST WEEKS AFTER THE ASSASSINATION OF THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT.

FLORIDA, OF COURSE, HAS THE LARGEST HAITIAN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

WELL, I SAT DOWN THIS WEEK WITH ISAIAH MARK.

HE'S A MEMBER OF THE HAITIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HAS RELATIVES STILL IN HAITI.

HE ALSO WORKS FOR A UNION REPRESENTING HOSPITALITY WORKERS, AN INDUSTRY THAT EMPLOYS MANY HAITIANS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

>>IT'S KIND OF A MESS RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?

OVER 1,400 PEOPLE DIED.

THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW FOR NOW.

THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE HELP THAT THEY NEED FAST ENOUGH, LIKE MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

NONE OF THE STUFF IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, SO PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.

THE COUNTRY'S BEEN DEALING WITH A LOT OF STUFF.

PASSING THE PRESIDENT, STILL DEALING WITH THAT AND STILL DEALING WITH 2010 EARTHQUAKE.

>>BACK THEN, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HOW HELP WAS NOT FORTHCOMING IN A TIMELY FASHION.

DO WE SEE THAT KIND OF THING HAPPENING AGAIN?

>>YES.

I MEAN, TO ME, I FEEL LIKE IT'S THE SAME THING.

I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT HAITI'S LIKE DOWN THE STREET.

IT'S NOT FAR FROM US.

IT'S NOT FAR FROM A LOT OF COUNTRY.

I KNOW A LOT OF COUNTRY TRY TO HELP, BUT IT'S JUST NOT COMING FAST ENOUGH.

>>WELL, YOU MENTIONED THE ASSASSINATION OF THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT.

>>YES.

>>HAITI DOESN'T HAVE A HIGHLY FUNCTIONING GOVERNMENT.

CORRECT?

HOW DOES THAT HINDER THINGS LIKE RECOVERIES FROM NATURAL DISASTERS AND THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNTRY?

>>I MEAN, YEAH, I THINK THAT PLAY A BIG ROLE ON THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL DEALING WITH THAT.

THEY STILL DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PRESIDENT.

THEY'RE STILL TRY TO FIND OUT.

>>YEAH.

RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE A LEADER THAT STAND UP, TO MAKE SURE THE COUNTRY IS RUNNING THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO RUN.

I THINK THAT PLAY A BIG ROLE ON THAT.

>>WHAT DO YOUR FAMILY THERE TELL YOU ABOUT HOW LIFE IS, ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS?

IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN MORE THAN A DECADE SINCE THE PREVIOUS EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI.

WHAT DO THEY SAY ABOUT HOW LIFE IS NOW, WHAT IT'S LIKE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS?

IS IT STILL DIFFICULT?

>>I MEAN, IT'S STILL HARD.

THE FIRST EARTHQUAKE PASSING HAITI 2010, IT WAS HARD.

RIGHT?

PEOPLE ARE STILL LIVING IN TENT FROM THAT, AND THEN THIS HAPPENED.

7.2, THAT'S A BIG EARTHQUAKE.

>>PEOPLE STILL NEED FOOD.

THEY STILL WANT TO LEAVE.

THERE IS NO JOB, NOTHING LIKE THAT.

SO, LIFE GET HARDER.

>>WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE DIASPORA NOW, IN TIMES LIKE THIS, HERE IN FLORIDA?

OBVIOUSLY IN 2010, A LOT OF HAITIANS HERE IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA MOBILIZED.

IS THE SAME THING HAPPENING AGAIN IN THE COMMUNITY HERE?

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

>>I MEAN, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT TRY TO HELP.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION TRY TO COLLECT MONEY, CLOTHES, STUFF LIKE THAT.

ONLY THING THAT I'M KIND OF WORRIED ABOUT, DO THE PEOPLE REALLY GOING TO GET THE HELP, THE PEOPLE THAT'S IN NEED?

TO ME, I FEEL LIKE IT'S THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED IN 2010.

BILLION OF DOLLAR...

TRILLION GO TO HAITI.

A LOT OF DONATION AND PEOPLE STILL LIVING IN TENT TODAY.

IT'S JUST KIND OF CRAZY TO ME.

SO, I FEEL LIKE THAT KIND OF SCARED PEOPLE TO GIVE AND TRY TO HELP PEOPLE THAT'S IN NEED, BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THE PEOPLE REALLY DIDN'T GET THE HELP.

IF YOU SEND SOME MONEY, PEOPLE THAT NEED IT DON'T GET IT.

SO, I THINK THE COMMUNITY, WE TRY TO DO STUFF, TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.

>>STEVE, I REALLY HOPE THAT CONVERSATION THAT YOU JUST HAD REALLY SERVED AS A REMINDER, THAT THIS ISN'T JUST SOME FAR AWAY PROBLEM AND ISSUE IN A FAR AWAY COUNTRY.

WE HAVE SUCH A RICH, BEAUTIFUL HAITIAN COMMUNITY HERE.

THEY'RE A HUGE PART OF OUR WORKFORCE.

>>IT'S A VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY.

IT'S AN HOUR AND A HALF'S FLIGHT FROM FORT LAUDERDALE.

SO IT'S ON OUR DOORSTEP AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MOBILIZING HERE TO HELP.

>>YEAH, SO MANY IMPACTED.

ALL RIGHT.

>>WELL, BE SURE TO HEAD ON OVER TO OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE ON TONIGHT'S EPISODE.

JUST GO TO WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO STEVE HUDAK FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL AND JESSICA BAKEMAN FROM WLRN.

ON BEHALF OF STEVE MORT AND I, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30, RIGHT HERE ON WUCF.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, HAVE A GOOD AND SAFE WEEKEND.