Today on AirTalk, we cover the latest COVID-19 headlines. Also on the show, we hear how outreach workers are fighting vaccine hesitancy and look into the state of movie theater reopenings.
DOC AMA: AstraZeneca Vaccine Is 79 Percent Effective In US Trials, Miami Beach Spring Break Crowds And More
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Kimberly Shriner, infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena.
Today’s topics include:
AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine is safe, 79% effective in late-stage U.S. trials
COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing in US races ahead
Hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo may be associated with coronavirus, research suggests
A rapid COVID-19 vaccine rollout backfired in some US states
Miami Beach imposes a spring break curfew amid crowding and COVID-19 concerns
California adopts 3-foot-spacing rule for classrooms, changing reopening equation
Guest:
Kimberly Shriner, M.D., infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena
How Local Advocates Are Fighting COVID-19 Concerns In Latino Communities
As more COVID-19 vaccines become available and the number of shots going into arms is ramping up, so too have efforts across Southern California to bring vaccine awareness and assuage concerns about getting the shot, especially in some communities of color where both vulnerability to COVID-19 and hesitancy about getting the vaccine are high.
As part of its vaccine awareness efforts, Los Angeles County has partnered with more than 50 community-based organizations who have been doing outreach in communities across the county that are disproportionately affected by the virus. And as the Wall Street Journal reports, one area of focus of this outreach has been in some Latino communities, particularly among agricultural workers, where vaccine myths about government tracking and deportation can fuel hesitancy to get the vaccine.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll look at some of the strategies these outreach workers and organizations are employing to fight vaccine hesitancy in Latino communities and find out what’s working.
Guests:
Conrado Bárzaga, M.D., CEO of Desert Healthcare District & Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Palm Springs that connects Coachella Valley residents to health and wellness services and programs through philanthropy, health facilities, information and community education, and public policy
Marisela Blancas, coordinator of community health programs at Vision y Compromiso, one of the organizations partnering with the Los Angeles County Community Equity Fund to do outreach on COVID-19 prevention and vaccination in underserved communities; she is also a “promotora,” a community health liaison that does outreach and connects residents in the area she serves with health and social services, and during the pandemic has been focused on vaccine hesitancy in Latino communities
State Of The Arts: As Movie Theaters Reopen, We Look At The Safety Protocols, Guidance And More
For months, the studios behind a live-action Mulan and Christopher Nolan's drama Tenet have been hoping movie theaters could reopen in time to show their films. Now, California has answered their prayers, saying multiplexes can indeed start firing up their popcorn poppers.
The state announced last week that theaters can begin showing movies as soon as last Friday, but with dramatically lower capacities than before the pandemic. AMC Theatres announced that the company expected to have about 98% of its locations across the country reopened by last Friday. Cinemark Theatres said it’d have about 90% of locations opened by March 15, and the company plans to gradually reopen more. Laemmle Theatres shared in a blog post that it’s working to reopen L.A. locations in the coming weeks. The recommendations from California's Department of Public Health and Department of Industrial Relations come just weeks before Tenet (July 17) and Mulan (July 24) were set to premiere as the most prominent studio releases since the nation's theaters were shuttered in mid-March. The guidelines for exhibitors stipulate that cinemas must "limit attendance to 25% of theater capacity or a maximum of 100 attendees, whichever is lower." The state also recommended that multiplex visitors and staff wear face coverings and practice "physical distancing to the maximum extent possible." They want seats to be taped off and have washable or disposable covers. They also want arrival times to be staggered so moviegoers don't enter the auditorium at the same time. The state's advice also applies to businesses such as bowling alleys and miniature golf courses. Today on AirTalk, we discuss plans for getting movie watchers back in front of the big screen, what the safety protocols and guidance will look like and the challenges for operators going forward. We also want to hear from you! Did you hit the movie theatre over the weekend? What was it like? Do you have plans to go soon, or are you holding off for now? Tell us by calling 866-893-5722 or commenting below.
With files from LAist. Read John Horn’s full story here.
Guests:
John Horn, arts and entertainment host for KPCC; he tweets
Greg Laemmle, president of Laemmle Theatres; he tweets