>> DON: GOOD EVENING.

FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M DON DAILEY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR SCHOOLS, A LOTTERY BILL, CURBSIDE VOTING AND DISTRACTED DRIVING WERE ALL ON THE LEGISLATURE'S AGENDA TODAY AS LAWMAKERS RETURNED TO WORK IN MONTGOMERY.

WE WILL BEGIN TONIGHT WITH THE OPEN ENROLLMENT LEGISLATION.

THE SENATE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE TODAY APPROVED THE BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW STUDENTS TO ENROLL IN SCHOOLS OUTSIDE THEIR DISTRICTS, FOR A FEE EQUAL TO THE PER-STUDENT SHARE OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL TAX.

AND IT WOULD GIVE PRIORITY TO UNDER-PERFORMING STUDENTS IN FAILING SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

THE LEGISLATION IS SPONSORED BY SENATOR DEL MARSH OF ANNISTON.

.

>> THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A MASS EXODUS OF PEOPLE LEAVING GOING TO MOUNTAIN BROOK OR MOBILE SYSTEM.

IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

WHAT IT DOES DO, IT GIVES SOME PARENTS AN OPTION THEY NEVER HAD IN THE PAST.

THE OPTION AT LEAST GOING TO THE ADJOINING SYSTEM, THEY WANT TO SAY IS THERE A WAY, DO HAVE YOU A POLICY, IS THERE A WAY MY CHILD CAN COME HERE.

I THINK IT PROVIDES HOPE IN SOME FAMILIES THAT DON'T HAVE ANY HOPE.

>> SENATOR MARSH SAYS HE SEES IT HIS OPEN ENROLLMENT SCHOOL BILL AS AN INCREMENTAL STEP TOWARD EXPANDING SCHOOL CHOICE FOR FAMILIES IN RESPONSE TO ALABAMA RANKING AT THE BOTTOM IN CERTAIN EDUCATION BENCHMARKS.

THE COMMITTEE VOTE WAS 7-3 TO APPROVE IT.

AMONG THE NO VOTES WAS DEMOCRATIC SENATOR VIVIAN DAVIS FIGURES OF MOBILE, WHO SAID THAT AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE PROPOSED FEE FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT UNDER MARSH'S PLAN WAS AN ISSUE FOR HER.

>> THAT LANGUAGE IN SUBSECTION A WHICH SAYS THEY SHALL PAY THE ENROLLMENT SCHOOL.

SO THERE WILL BE NO CHOICE, THERE WILL BE KIDS THAT NEED TO GET INTO BETTER SCHOOLS WHOSE PARENTS WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT.

SO I WOULD LOVE FOR A BILL TO COME FORTH WHERE WE MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SCHOOL BECOMES A HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL.

IT CAN BE DONE.

>> DON: TODAY'S COMMITTEE APPROVAL OF THE SO-CALLED OPEN SCHOOLS ACT NEXT SENDS IT TO THE SENATE FLOOR.

THE SPONSOR OF A NEW BILL THAT WOULD SET UP AN ALABAMA LOTTERY SAID TODAY THAT HIS LEGISLATION IS SCHEDULED TO BE ON THE SENATE FLOOR TOMORROW.

SENATOR JIM MCCLENDON OF SPRINGVILLE HAS PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW VOTERS TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO SET UP A LOTTERY THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE MULTI-STATE GAMES.

SENATOR MCCLENDON SAID TODAY THAT HE WANTS A CLEAN LOTTERY BILL, WITHOUT THE ELEMENTS OF A MORE COMPREHENSIVE GAMING MEASURE.. >> OF COURSE, POARCH CREEK INDIANS ARE AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE HERE.

BASICALLY UNREGULATED BY THE STATE.

WE HAVE VICTORYLAND, GREEN TRACK.

WE HAVE ACTIVITIES IN LOWNDES COUNTY.

WE HAVE ACTIVITIES GOING ON IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

AND WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS GET INVOLVED IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THEY HAVE WITH THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> DON: MCCLENDON'S LEGISLATION IS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND, IF APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE, WOULD ULTIMATELY GO UP FOR A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY HAS SAID THROUGHOUT THE LOTTERY AND GAMBLING DEBATE THAT SHE SUPPORTS GIVING CITIZENS A VOTE.

IVEY'S PRESS SECRETARY, GINA MAIOLA, SAID IN A STATEMENT TODAY.

"IT IS CLEAR THAT THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THE ISSUE OF GAMING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, AND GOVERNOR IVEY HAS COMMITTED TO THEM THAT SHE IS READY TO DIG HER HEELS IN AND WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO GET THAT ACCOMPLISHED.

LIKE WE HAVE SHARED OFTEN, GOVERNOR IVEY IS ACTIVELY HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND OTHERS TO DETERMINE OUR NEXT STEPS."

IF APPROVED IN FULL SENATE TOMORROW, THE LOTTERY BILL WOULD NEXT MOVE TO THE HOUSE.

THE SENATE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TODAY PASSED A CLOSELY WATCHED BILL THAT WOULD BAN CURBSIDE VOTING IN THE STATE.

THE LEGISLATION, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED IN THE HOUSE, IS SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE WES ALLEN OF TROY, WHO PREVIOUSLY SPOKE TO CAPITOL JOURNAL ABOUT THE CONCERNS THAT PROMPTED HIM TO BRING THE BILL.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ABOUT THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY FOR THAT BALLOT.

THAT BALLOT IS VERY SPECIAL.

WE NEED TO KEEP IT SECURE.

WE NEED TO BE SURE THAT THE PERSON THAT HAPPENS TO DRIVE UP TO THE CURBSIDE THAT THAT'S THE PERSON THAT SIGNED IN.

WE WANT TO BE SURE IT'S A SECURE ELECTION.

>> DON: THE CURBSIDE VOTING DEBATE BEGAN, OF COURSE, LAST YEAR DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

DEMOCRATS HAVE, BY AND LARGE, OPPOSED REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN'S PROPOSED BAN, VIEWING IT AS VOTER SUPPRESSION.

DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE NAPOLEON BRACY OF PRICHARD TODAY SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE CURBSIDE VOTING BAN AND OTHER VOTING LEGISLATION.

>> MANY OF THESE BILLS ATTEMPT TO SOLVE PROBLEMS THAT SIMPLY DON'T EXIST.

THEY SEEM TO HAVE ORIGINATED AS A CYNICAL POLITICAL RESPONSE TO REINFORCE A FALSE AND DISPROVEN NARRATIVE THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS SOMEHOW STOLEN.

>> DON: REPRESENTATIVE BRACY STOOD WITH OTHER HOUSE DEMOCRATS TODAY TO OFFER WHAT THEY CALLED A MIDTERM REPORT ON KEY CAUCUS OBJECTIVES IN THE ONGOING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

HOUSE MINORITY LEADER ANTHONY DANIELS OF HUNTSVILLE SAYS HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES ARE HOPING TO REACH ACROSS THE POLITICAL AISLE IN WORKING ON THEIR PARTY'S AGENDA ITEMS.

>> WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE HEALTHCARE, VOTING RIGHTS, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE WILL NOT BE DISTRACTED.

AND WE INTEND TO STAY FOCUSED FOR THE PRIORITIES OF ALABAMA.

>> DON: DANIELS AND OTHER HOUSE DEMOCRATS SAID TODAY THAT THEY ARE HOPEFUL OF SEEING MANY OF THEIR PRIORITY BILLS MAKE IT OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE BEFORE THE SESSION WRAPS UP.

THE SENATE TODAY PASSED A CLOSELY WATCHED BILL THAT WOULD GIVE STATE JUDGES MORE DISCRETION IN DENYING BAIL TO THOSE CONVICTED OF SOME OF THE MORE VIOLENT FELONY OFFENSES.

IT'S CALLED ANIAH'S LAW, AND ITS NAMED AFTER ANIAH BLANCHARD, AN ALABAMA COLLEGE STUDENT WHO WAS MURDERED IN 2019.

THE SUSPECT IN HER DEATH WAS OUT ON BAIL FOR ANOTHER CRIME AT THE TIME OF HER MURDER.

THE HOUSE HAS ALREADY PASSED THE MEASURE, BUT THE SENATE AMENDED IT TODAY SO IT WAS HEADED BACK TO THE LOWER CHAMBER.

THE HOUSE HAD ON ITS AGENDA TODAY A DISTRACTED DRIVING BILL.

IT WOULD BAR DRIVING IN THE STATE WITH A CELLPHONE IN YOUR HAND.

THE LEGISLATION HAS BEEN PROPOSED FOR THREE YEARS RUNNING AND IT'S SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE K.L.

BROWN OF JACKSONVILLE, WHO PREVIOUSLY SPOKE TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, YES, IT IS SOMEWHAT GOVERNMENT TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO KIND OF THING.

BUT WHEN YOU ARE ENDANGER SO MANY LIVES, I JUST, I'M WILLING TO TAKE A HIT FOR THAT.

>> DON: REPRESENTATIVE BROWN HAS CONTENDED THAT WITH SO MANY HANDS-FREE CELLPHONE OPTIONS, A LAW PROHIBITING HOLDING PHONES WHILE DRIVING WOULD HELP DEADLY ACCIDENTS DOWN.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST.

WE HAVE BRETT EASTERBROOK AND SHANE STRINGER HERE TOO.

>> NICE TO BE BACK.

>> NOW, YOU WERE IN THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION WHO STOOD TOGETHER YESTERDAY IN PRICHARD TO BRING ATTENTION TO AN ONGOING SERIOUS SITUATION WITH HIGHWAY 45.

IT'S CONSIDERED ONE OF THE DEADLIEST IN ALABAMA, IS IT NOT?

>> YES, IT IS.

AND WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT FROM THE LOCAL POLITICIANS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, COUNTY OFFICIALS.

AND THE MOBILE DELEGATION HAS BEEN WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

WE JUST RECENTLY SENT A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR BY EVERY MEMBER OF THE DELEGATION PLACING THIS ROAD ON THE DEADLY LIST, AND WITH OTHER ECONOMIC INTERESTS.

THE FACT THAT IT'S A HURRICANE EVACUATION ROUTE.

WE JUST RECENTLY HAD ANOTHER FATALITY WRECK INVOLVING FOUR PEOPLE.

ONE OF THOSE BEING A NINE MONTH OLD CHILD.

AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DRAW ATTENTION AND ASK THE GOVERNOR TO PLEASE, GIVE THIS ROAD SOME SERIOUS CONSIDERATION AND LET'S GET SOMETHING DONE ON THIS ROAD.

>> REPRESENTATIVE EASTERBROOK, YOU WERE ON THE PROGRAM AND THIS IS A DECADES LONG PROBLEM, IS IT NOT?

>> AND THE LEAST 30-40 YEARS THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS ROAD.

WHEN THE GAS TAX PASSED, PREVIOUSLY IN THE 1990, IT WAS SPECIFIED IN THE LAW THIS WOULD BE THE NEXT FOUR LANE ROAD TO BE WORKED ON.

THEN THEY TOOK THAT OUT.

AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTING BOTH OF OUR AREAS IN THE PAST, J.E.

TURNER, HIS DAUGHTER WAS KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY.

YOU KNOW, WE TALKED TO ALDOT AND THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT CONGESTION, AND IT'S ONE THING TALKING ABOUT TRAFFIC AND ANOTHER THING TO GO TO FUNERALS.

AT SOME POINT THIS HAS TO CHANGE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE SHANE STRINGER, IS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT CONGESTION ON ROADS IS A PRIORITY OVER SOME OTHER TYPE PROBLEMS?

>> THAT'S WHAT IT APPEARED TO US.

WE MET WITH ALDOT AND THEY ARE LISTENING TO US, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO MAKES THE DECISION AND PRIORITIES ON THE ROAD.

BUT LIKE BRETT EASTERBROOK SAID, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS THIS.

WE'RE TIRED OF GOING TO FUNERALS.

I'VE LOST LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS ON THE ROAD.

AND A LEGISLATOR THAT HAS LOST A DAUGHTER ON THE ROAD.

SO, SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE.

THE DEATH TOLL IS UNBELIEVABLE AND SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> TELL US, REPRESENTATIVE EITHER BROOK, HOW IS THE DISTRICT DOWN THERE?

>> IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, THE IT'S THE ONLY ROAD GOING NORTH AND SOUTH, FULL LENGTH FROM THE STATE LINE ALL THE WAY TO MOBILE.

IT COMES NORTH ALL THE WAY FROM CHICAGO TO THE ALABAMA LINE, IT'S FOUR LANE AND THEN WHEN THE TRAFFIC GETS THERE, IT'S BOTTLED NECKED DOWN TWO LANE, ON A ROAD THAT'S GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS, HOLLOWS, HILL I ALSO, NOT A LOT OF PLACES TO PASS THROUGH.

AND WITH FOUR LANE, THE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC IS WAY UP.

THE OPPORTUNITIES TUNES TO PASS THERE IS VERY LIMITED.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WRECKS THAT WITHIN YOUR DISCRETION ARE HEAD-ON COLLISIONS.

>> LET'S TALK BRASS TACKS, WHAT'S NEEDING TO BE DONE IN THE SHORT TERM.

>> WE NEED TO START WITH A PLAN.

WE NEED TO PUT A PLAN IN PLACE, LAST TIME I WET WITH THE ALDOT, THEY GAVE ME A LIST OF THE TOP 10 PROJECTS, HIGHWAY 45 WAS NOT ON IT.

AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ADDRESS THIS.

I UNDERSTAND ROUGHLY 50-MILE STRETCH OF ROAD, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT OVER THE YEARS, THEY COULD HAVE TACKLED THIS IN HALVES, THIRDS OR QUARTERS AND LIKE THE COUNTIES DO, PAY AS YOU GO, AND THIS WOULD BE COMPLETE NOW.

WE WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE AT NOW.

AND THE INCREASE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE LAST, IT'S TIME TO ADDRESS IT.

WE HAVE POTENTIAL FOR FEDERAL GRANTS, MONEY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TIME TO PUT IT ON A PLAN.

IT'S GOT TO START SOMEWHERE.

AND WE'VE DONE IT AS FAR AS TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, CUTTING THE TREES BACK, ADDING NEW ROAD SIGNS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, TO MAKE IT SAFER.

BUT AS REPRESENTATIVE EASTERBROOK SAID, THERE'S NO PLACE TO PASS BASICALLY FOR ABOUT 50 MILES.

PEOPLE GET IMPATIENT.

AND THE ROAD IS SO NARROW, YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE ROOM FOR ERROR.

VERY MINIMUM ROOM FOR ERROR.

IF YOU LOOK DOWN AT YOUR RADIO TO TURN THE STATION, YOU ARE LIKELY TO LOOK UP AND BE HEAD-ON WITH A CAR.

>> I KNOW CONSTITUENTS DOWN IN THE AREA, HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO DIE BEFORE THIS GETS THE PROPER ATTENTION IT DESERVES.

>> I GET THAT QUESTION ALL THE TIME.

THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE LEFT OUT FROM ALABAMA, AND RIGHTFULLY SO.

NO MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA IN MY DISTRICT IN 50 YEARS.

JOE MCCORKINDALE WAS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE LAST TIME THERE WAS AN IMPROVEMENT.

AND IT WAS FOUR-LANED UP TO THOMASVILLE AND NOT ONE THING SINCE THEN.

THE MAINTENANCE ON THE ROAD, GOOD.

NO PROBLEM WITH THE MAINTENANCE.

BUT NO IMPROVEMENTS.

AND SOONER OR LATER, SAFETY HAS TO BE A PRIORITY.

WELL, SOMEBODY IS IN CONTROL OF THE FORMULA THEY USE.

AND OBVIOUSLY, SAFETY IS NOT THE PRIORITY, OR IT WOULD BE ON THE LIST AND NOT ONLY ON THE LIST BUT SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE.

>> AND YOU TALKED ABOUT HIGHWAY 43 BEING FOUR-LANED TO THOMASVILLE, LAST MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE AREA AND OF COURSE, RECENTLY ANNOUNCED, IT'S GOING TO BE FOUR-LANED FROM THOMASVILLE TO TUSCALOOSA, WHILE THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR LOTS OF RESIDENTS BUT IT MUST HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATING TO HEAR BASED ON THE NEEDS YOU ARE DELINEATING ON WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT HIGHWAY 45.

>> THE DECLINE IN THE AREA IS RELATED DIRECTLY TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PLENTY OF PLACES THEY CAN LOCATE WHERE THERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE HAVE RAIL OVER THERE, TOMBIGBEE RIVER RIVER AND NO ACCESS.

AND THE HIGHWAY 45 IS A BIG PLUS FOR THIS, AND WE GO NORTH AND SOUTH BUT NOT EAST AND WEST.

HARD TO RECRUIT INDUSTRY THAT YOU CAN TELL THEM, ALL YOU CAN SAY IS, THE ONLY DIRECTION YOU CAN GO IS SOUTH.

THEY QUICKLY TELL YOU, WELL, OUR CUSTOMERS ARE NOT IN THE SOUTH.

WITH THE LACK OF THAT, YOU SPENT ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY AND ALL OF THE OTHER AREAS, DRAINED THE PEOPLE OUT OF RURAL ALABAMA AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT CONGESTION THAT YOU CREATED WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THOSE AREAS.

SO, IT'S PROBLEMS THAT WE CREATED OUR SELF WITH OUR OWN DECISION-MAKING AND THE SPENDING.

>> AND WE'RE OUT OF TIME UNFORTUNATELY.

BEFORE WE CLOSE, REPRESENTATIVE STRINGER STRINGER, WHAT'S THE PROBLEMS MOUNTING THERE ON HIGHWAY 45.

>> WELL, COME TO SOUTH ALABAMA AND DRIVE HIGHWAY 45 TO THE MISSISSIPPI LINE AND THEN MAKE YOUR DECISION.

TALK TO THE LOVED ONES LOOSING FAMILY MEMBERS BECAUSE OF THE ROAD.

TALK TO THEM AND THEN MAKE THE DECISION.

>> OKAY.

REPRESENTATIVE SHANE STRINGER OF CITRONELLE AND BRETT EASTERBROOK, THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NOW, DOCTOR DON WILLIAMSON BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH US.

>> NICE TO BE HERE.

>> HOSPITALIZATIONS FROM COVID-19 ARE CURRENTLY AS LOW AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN A YEAR.

WHAT'S THE COUNT?

>> WELL, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT BUT OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS WE'RE CONSISTENTLY GOING DOWN.

SEVEN DAY AVERAGE WAS DOWN TO 335.

EVERYDAY IT HAS GONE DOWN AND THAT'S BEEN DRAMATIC SINCE MID JANUARY.

>> HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ABOUT SEEING THE TRENDS IN OTHER STATES.

>> WELL, I THINK THE RIGHT WORD I WOULD USE IS, I'M CAUTIOUS.

I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'RE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE AS HOSPITALS THAN WE WERE FOR OUR SPIKE IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY.

I THINK THE FIRST THING THAT WE'VE GOT GOING FOR US, WE NOW HAVE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR POPULATION THAT HAVE SOME LEVEL OF IMMUNITY.

CERTAINLY, YOU HAVE A HALF MILLION PLUS PEOPLE WHO HAD DISEASE.

PRESUMABLY MOST OF THEM DEVELOPED ANTIBODIES AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE ANTIBODIES LASTED, BUT A PERIOD OF TIME OF THE AND SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE ANTIBODIES.

AND SECOND, WE'VE GIVEN OVER A MILLION OF TWO-DOSE VACCINES AND THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER, WELL OVER A MILLION PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF VACCINE.

AND EVEN WITH THE FIRST DOSE, WHILE IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT UNLESS IT'S THE J&J, STILL THAT CONFERS SOME LEVEL OF PROTECTION.

SO WHEN YOU ADD THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAD THE DID I DISEASE OR AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF VACCINE, WHILE WE'RE NOT AT HERD IMMUNITY, I'M CONVINCED THOUGH THAT THIS SLOWS TRANSMISSION.

AND THINK ONE OTHER THING, YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER STATES SEEING THE REAL SPIKES, THEY TEND TO BE IN THE NORTH.

WEATHER THERE IS NOT AS CONDUCIVE TO AS MANY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.

PERHAPS WE GET A BREAK RIGHT NOW BECAUSE MORE THINGS CAN BE DONE OUTDOORS.

AND WE KNOW THAT TRANSMISSION IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS EFFECTIVE WHEN YOU ARE OUTDOORS.

>> BECAUSE OF THE OPEN AIR.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THE VENTILATION?

>> RIGHT.

AND WITH THE VENTILATION.

>> AND WE'VE HEARD ABOUT SPIKES IN OTHER STATES, PARTICULARLY AMONGST YOUNG PEOPLE.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, YOU HAVE TO BE.

THE SPIKES RELATED LARGELY TO THE B117, THE U.K.

VARIANT.

IT'S MORE DEADLY, THE 117 VARIANT.

THE GOOD NEWS WITH THE 117, THE VACCINE PROTECTS YOU.

WHILE IT'S MORE INFECTIOUS, YOU DON'T LOSE ANYTHING IF YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

AND YOUNG PEOPLE, IF YOU THINK OF WHO WE TARGETED WITH THE PEOPLE FOR VACCINES, THE ELDERLY, MOST LIKELY TO BECOME ILL, MOST LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

SO OUR BIGGEST SUSCEPTIBLE POPULATION IS THE ONES EVEN WITH THE B117 TEND TO DO BETTER.

>> Don: THESE VARIANTS, U.K.

VARIANT AND NEW ONES OUT THERE.

HOW CONCERNING IS THAT?

>> WELL, WHAT'S THE THINGS THAT COULD TURN IT IN A BAD DIRECTION.

WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE TO DRIVE UP OUR HOSPITALIZATIONS?

ONE THING IS, IF AFTER APRIL 9 PEOPLE FAIL TO WEAR MASKS IN ENCLOSED SPACES WHEN THEY ARE AROUND OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED, THAT CAN CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTE TO A SPIKE.

INCREASING THE B117 COULD CERTAINTY INCREASE A SPIKE.

BUT THE BIGGEST FEAR ARE WHAT WE CALL THE VARIANTS OF EXTREME CONCERN, THE SOUTH AFRICAN, BRAZILIAN VARIANT AND AN INDIAN VARIANT THAT MAY SHOW ESCAPE FROM VACCINE PROTECTION.

THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WOULD LEAD US POTENTIALLY TO HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER VACCINE LATER IN THE YEAR OR SEE A MODIFICATION OF THE VACCINE.

FORTUNATELY, WE'RE NOT SEEING IT IN LARGE NUMBERS, MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT SEEING THE VARIANTS IN LARGE NUMBERS.

AGAIN, A VIRUS THAT CANNOT REPLICATE, CANNOT MUTATE.

SO, WHILE WE WORRY ABOUT THESE VARIANTS, WE NEED TO BE AWARE THERE'S NOTHING TO PREVENT A VIRUS HITTING THE SUSCEPTIBLE PERSON FROM MUTATING THAN WHAT WE POTENTIALLY DEALING WITH, THAN SPREADING A DIFFERENT VARIANT OF THE VIRUS.

SO, OUR HOPE IS TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE VACCINATED, AS POSSIBLE, TO GET TO HERD IMMUNITY AND STILL WEAR THE MASK, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT MANDATED.

>> AND YOU ARE REFERRING TO THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 9 WHEN THE STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE ENDS.

NOW, GOVERNOR IVEY AND THE STATE HEALTH OFFICER ARE STILL ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO WEAR THEIR MASKS.

JUST BECAUSE DOCTOR HARRIS SAYS THE MANDATE GOES AWAY ON THE NINTH DOESN'T MEAN YOUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY GOES AWAY.

>> DOCTOR HARRIS IS EXACTLY RIGHT, LOTS OF THINGS ARE NOT MANDATED BUT WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO DO THAT, AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

WEARING YOUR MASK, IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED AND PROTECT YOU FROM THE VIRUS COMING FROM SOMEBODY ELSE.

AND IF YOU HAVE ASYMPTOMATIC OR PRE SYMPTOMATIC DISEASE.

SO, ESPECIALLY IN LARGE GROUPS AND ENCLOSED SPACES, BOTH SOCIAL DISTANCING AND HAND HYGIENE WEARING YOUR MASKS MAKES SENSE WHERE THE VIRUS CAN'T BE TRANSMITTED BECAUSE WE HAVE 85% OF THE POPULATION WITH SOME LEVEL OF THE IMMUNITY.

>> I REMIND FOLKS THAT YOU CERTAINLY EMPATHIZE WITH THE POSITION, YOU YOURSELF BEING THE FORMER STATE HEALTH OFFICER.

I ASKED DOCTOR HARRIS THE QUESTION.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU, IS ANOTHER SPIKE HERE IN ALABAMA BOTH IN CASE COUNT AND HOSPITALIZATIONS INEVITABLE?

>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO DEFINE WHAT'S A SPIKE.

WOULD I BE SURPRISED AFTER EASTER, AND WHEN THE MASK MANDATE DISAPPEARS TO SEE THE CASE COUNTS GO UP A LITTLE BIT?

NO, I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED BY THAT.

WOULD I BE SURPRISED TO SEE ANYTHING APPROACHING WHAT WE SAW IN JANUARY?

I ABSOLUTELY WOULD.

DOES THAT MEAN IT COULDN'T HAPPEN?

CERTAINLY NOT.

ESPECIALLY IF WE GET A VARIANT THAT BECOMES VERY AGGRESSIVE.

I'M MORE HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL NOT SEE THE KIND OF HOSPITALIZATION NUMBERS THAT WE SAW IN JANUARY.

AGAIN, NUMBER ONE, THINK THERE'S IMMUNITY IN THE POPULATION THAT WILL LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT MAY GET INFECTED.

SECONDLY, WE'VE TARGETED VACCINATION ON OLDER PEOPLE AND THEY ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND THAT COMBINATION, COUPLED WITH THE FACT OF THE ANTIBODIES TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE HOSPITAL I BELIEVE IS GOING TO PLAY A LARGE ROLE IN KEEPING OUR HOSPITAL NUMBERS DOWN.

>> FINAL ANALYSIS, IT TRULY IS A RACE BETWEEN GETTING SHOTS IN ARMS AND STAYING ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE VARIANTS?

>> IT IS.

THIS IS A CLASSIC RACE BETWEEN A VACCINE AND A HUMAN VIRUS THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED ITSELF.

AND WE'RE SEEING DRAMATIC INCREASE IN VACCINATIONS ON A DAILY BASIS.

WE HAVE A REAL CHANCE.

WE JUST NEED TO HOLD ON.

>> AND THE NEW ELIGIBILITY CLASS, ALL ADULTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINE.

>> AND THAT'S INCLUDING ABOUT 80% OF THE POPULATION.

IF YOU ASSUME THAT'S 80% OF THE POPULATION, THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE APPROACHING THAT YOU NEED FOR HERD IMMUNITY.

SO, TO THE EXTENT GETTING ALL UNDER 16 VACCINATED, THAT'S GOING TO WORK A LONG WAY TOWARD HERD IMMUNITY THIS IS GOING TO HELP, AND KEEPING OUR PEOPLE WELL AND OUR HOSPITALS, UNCLUTTERED AND NOT OVERWHELMED BY COVID CASES.

>> ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, DOCTOR DON WILLIAMSON, ALWAYS GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> YOU BET.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> DON: AND THAT'S CAPITOL JOURNAL FOR TONIGHT.

COMING UP TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30, WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE, INCLUDING EXPECTED SENATE ACTION ON A LOTTERY BILL, SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION ON A CONTROVERSIAL BILL TO INCREASE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR RIOTING, AND HOUSE COMMITTEE ACTION ON A BILL TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE STATE.

AND OUR GUESTS ARE SCHEDULED TO INCLUDE REP. JOE LOVVORN OF AUBURN, WHO WILL DISCUSS HIS BILLS THAT WOULD BOTH OFFER TAX CREDITS FOR BUYING OR BUILDING A STORM SHELTER AND WOULD REQUIRE STATE EMERGENCY OFFICIALS TO ADOPT GUIDELINES FOR IDENTIFYING SAFE SHELTERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

FOR ALL OF US AT CAPITOL JOURNAL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M DON DAILEY.