JOHN: TONIGHT ON PBS NEWS WEEKEND.

RUSSIAN FORCES INTENSIFY STRIKES INSIDE UKRAINE, AS U.S. AND UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS HEAD TO SAUDI ARABIA FOR TALKS ABOUT A POTENTIAL CEASEFIRE.

THEN, 5 YEARS AFTER COVID-19 STRUCK, THE LASTING MENTAL AND PHYSICAL TOLL OF ONE OF THE DEADLIEST PANDEMICS IN HISTORY.

AND WILD BEAVERS ARE RE-INTRODUCED INTO THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THEY WERE HUNTED INTO EXTINCTION THERE 400 YEARS AGO.

>> IT'S A REALLY HISTORIC DAY FOR NATURE IN THIS COUNTRY.

TO SEE THE FIRST WILD BEAVER RELEASE IS A REALLY IMPORTANT STEP IN NATURE RECOVERY.

JOHN: GOOD EVENING, I'M JOHN YANG.

RUSSIA AND UKRAINE TRADED HEAVY DRONE STRIKES OVERNIGHT INTO THIS MORNING, EVEN AS AMERICAN AND UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS PREPARE TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO END THE WAR.

KYIV SAYS MOSCOW'S BLOODY WEEKEND OF AERIAL ATTACKS HAS LED TO AT LEAST 22 DEATHS.

IT COMES AMID A U.S.

FREEZE ON WEAPONS SHIPMENTS AND INTELLIGENCE SHARING.

RUSSIA RELEASED THIS VIDEO OF WHAT IT SAYS ARE DRONE STRIKES ON A UKRAINIAN MILITARY COLUMN IN RUSSIA'S KURSK REGION.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS THERE ARE AT RISK OF BEING ENCIRCLED.

TONIGHT, SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO HEADS TO SAUDI ARABIA WHERE HE'LL MEET WITH UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS ON TUESDAY TO EXPLORE DIPLOMATIC PATHS TO ENDING THE WAR.

JOHN HERBST IS THE FORMER U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE AND UZBEKISTAN.

HE'S NOW SENIOR DIRECTOR OF THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL'S EURASIA CENTER.

TRUMP'S SPECIAL ENVOY SAYS THE GOALS OF THIS MEETING IN SAUDI ARABIA ARE TO COME UP WITH A CEASE-FIRE AND A FRAMEWORK OF A PEACE AGREEMENT.

HOW LIKELY DO YOU THINK THAT IS TO HAPPEN?

>> I BELIEVE THAT MOSCOW WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS.

ONE TO PICK UP MORE UKRAINIAN TERRITORY BEFORE SITTING DOWN TO TALK, AND TWO TO DRIVE UKRAINIAN FORCES OUT.

IF THE ADMINISTRATION'S OBJECTIVE IS TO ACHIEVE AS IT SAYS A DURABLE PEACE, WHICH BELIEVES UKRAINE SOVEREIGN AND INDEPENDENT, ECONOMICALLY VIABLE, AND IT IS GOING ABOUT IT THE WRONG WAY.

JOHN: WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?

>> BECAUSE MOSCOW BELIEVES, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE GIFTS PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN BESTOWING ON HIM, THAT HE WILL BE ABLE TO IN FACT TAKE THE UKRAINIANS OUT OF RUSSIA AND PICK UP MORE UKRAINIAN TERRITORY BECAUSE WE ARE WEAKENING UKRAINE'S DIFFERENCE.

WE STOPPED MILITARY SHIPMENTS, WE STOPPED PROVIDING INTEL AND IT'S NOT A SURPRISE THE RUSSIANS ARE TRYING HARD TO CONDUCT AN OFFENSIVE WHERE UKRAINIAN FORCES HAVE BEEN SINCE AUGUST.

JOHN: SO ENDING ARMS SHIPMENTS, ENDING INTELLIGENCE SHARING.

YOU SAID THOSE ARE GIFTS TO PUTIN?

>> HE HASN'T REALLY ENDED IT.

HE POSITIVE.

BUT FIRST, IT SEEMED TO BE A PAUSE BECAUSE OF THE UNFORTUNATE MEETING BETWEEN HIMSELF AND ZELENSKY ON FEBRUARY 28TH, IN THE OVAL OFFICE.

BUT THEN AFTER ZELENSKYY APOLOGIZED AND TRUMP SEEMED SATISFIED, THEY PUT ON NEW CONDITIONS LIKE NOW THIS WILL BE PAUSED UNTIL WE SEE PEACE TALKS REALLY STARTING TO MOVE OR NEGOTIATIONS SET.

SO THE END IS UNDETERMINED.

AGAIN, PUTIN IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS ABSENCE OF AMERICAN HELP TO MAKE GAINS ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

SO IF YOU WANT TO EMPOWER PUTIN, THE AGGRESSOR, DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S TRUMP'S GOAL, BUT THAT'S THE IMPACT OF HIS DECISIONS.

JOHN: ON THIS POINT, THERE WAS AN INTERVIEW WITH TRUMP THAT WAS BROADCAST THIS MORNING ON FOX NEWS, AND HE WAS ASKED WHETHER HE'S BEING TOUGH ON RUSSIA.

AND HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> I THINK I'VE BEEN VERY TOUGH TO RUSSIA, TOUGHER THAN ANYBODY ANYBODY'S EVER BEEN TO RUSSIA.

PUTIN WOULD BE THE FIRST TO SAY IT.

NOBODY'S BEEN TOUGHER THAN TRUMP.

JOHN: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> WELL, IF HE'S TALKING ABOUT HIS DECISION IN 2017 TO GIVE JAVELINS TO UKRAINE, I SAY ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

OBAMA WAS TOO TIMID TO DO THAT.

IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW, NO.

HE'S AGAIN TAKING SERIOUS MEASURES THAT ARE WEAKENING UKRAINE'S ABILITY TO DEFEND ITSELF HE'S DONE NOTHING TO THE AGGRESSOR.

I BELIEVE, BECAUSE HE'S BEING CRITICIZED PRECISELY ALONG THESE LINES.

HE SAID, WELL, MAYBE WE'LL PUT SOME ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON IT.

BUT HE TALKS ABOUT ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON RUSSIA.

HE TAKES STRONG MEASURES AGAINST UKRAINE.

IT'S EASY TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

JOHN: IN THAT OVAL OFFICE MEETING YOU REFERENCE TO, HE TOLD ZELENSKYY HE DID NOT HAVE THE CARDS TO KEEP GOING.

USING THAT ANALOGY, WHAT CARDS OR HAND IS VLADIMIR PUTIN HOLDING?

>> THE PRESIDENT JUST TOOK SEVERAL CARDS OUT OF ZELENSKY'S - - ZELENSKYY'S HANDS.

ONE STOPPING AMERICAN MILITARY SHIPMENTS, TWO STOPPING AMERICAN INTEL SHARING, AND THREE, WE'RE HEARING REPORTS THAT HE'S TRYING TO STOP EUROPEAN SUPPLIES FROM GETTING TO UKRAINE.

THEY ARE TRYING TO STOP COMMERCIAL SATELLITE COMPANIES FROM PROVIDING IMAGERY WHICH COULD HELP UKRAINE IF THEY DO HAVE AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE.

SO THESE ARE THE CARDS HE'S TAKING OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE VICTIM.

THIS MAY BE A SELF-FULFILLING STATEMENT.

JOHN: I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE BROADER U.S. AND EUROPEAN RELATIONSHIP.

WE HEARD PRINT -- FANS -- FRANCE SAY WE WILL USE HER OWN NUCLEAR WEAPONS AS A DETERRENT.

WHAT HAS THIS DONE TO THAT ALLIANCE?

>> IT HAS CERTAINLY SHAKEN THE ALLIANCE AND NOT JUST IN EUROPE.

PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD ARE SEEING THIS.

I THINK IT'S BASED UPON AN APPROACH THAT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW OUR ALLIANCE SYSTEM HAS SERVED OUR INTERESTS GREATLY.

NOT PERFECTLY, TRUMP IS RIGHT, HE'S DONE WELL I GETTING ALLIES MORE DEFENSE COME UP WITH THIS ALLIANCE SYSTEM HAS BEEN THE PILLAR OF WORLD PEACE SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II.

NOT THE ONLY REASON, BUT THE PRINCIPAL REASON WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A MAJOR WAR BETWEEN GREAT POWERS.

AND THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE GREATEST DANGER TO THE UNITED STATES IS ONE MAJOR WARS THREATEN A MAJOR POWER THAT THREATENED MAJOR WAR WITH THE GREAT POWER.

THE WAY YOU BUNGLE A MAJOR WAR WITH AN ADVERSARY AS TO APPEAR WEAK.

I HAVE TO SAY THE ADMINISTRATION APPEARS IF NOT WEEK, THEN FATUOUS.

JOHN: FORMER AMBASSADOR JOHN HERBST, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MY PLEASURE.

JOHN: IN OTHER NEWS, A FOURTH DAY OF DEADLY CLASHES IN WESTERN SYRIA IS TESTING THE COUNTRY'S NEW LEADERSHIP.

GOVERNMENT SECURITY FORCES ARE FIGHTING GUNMEN LOYAL TO OUSTED PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD.

BUT HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SAY HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE ALAWITE MINORITY THAT WAS ASSAD'S BASE OF SUPPORT HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF REVENGE KILLINGS.

IN A STATEMENT, SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO SAID, THE UNITED STATES STANDS WITH SYRIA'S RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC MINORITIES AND OFFERS ITS CONDOLENCES TO THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

SYRIA'S INTERIM PRESIDENT CALLED FOR PEACE AND SAID THE KILLINGS WOULD BE INVESTGIATED.

ISRAEL SAYS IT'S CUTTING OFF THE ELECTRICITY IT SENDS TO GAZA.

GAZA'S PLANTS THAT PRODUCE DRINKING WATER FROM SEA WATER ARE POWERED BY ELECTRICITY.

ISRAEL HAS ALREADY STOPPED ALL GOODS AND AID FROM ENTERING THE TERRITORY.

ISRAEL IS PRESSING HAMAS TO EXTEND THE FIRST PHASE OF THE CEASEFIRE THAT ENDED LAST WEEKEND.

HAMAS IS PUSHING TO START PHASE TWO NEGOTIATIONS.

NEITHER SIDE HAS BUDGED, BUT ISRAEL SAYS IT'S SENDING NEGOTIATORS TO QATAR ON MONDAY TO CONTINUE TALKS.

IN WASHINGTON, SECRET SERVICE OFFICERS SHOT A MAN BRANDISHING A GUN NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE EARLY THIS MORNING.

THE AGENCY SAID THE SUSPECT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN SUICIDAL AND TO HAVE TRAVELLED FROM INDIANA.

HE WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL, HIS CONDITION IS UNKNOWN.

NO SECRET SERVICE OFFICERS WERE INJURED.

MR. TRUMP HAS BEEN AT MAR-A-LAGO SINCE FRIDAY EVENING.

THIS WEEKEND MARKS 60 YEARS SINCE STATE TROOPERS BRUTALLY ATTACKED CIVIL RIGHTS MARCHERS ON THE EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE IN SELMA, ALABAMA.

IT CAME TO BE KNOWN AS BLOODY SUNDAY.

PICTURES OF THE DAY'S VIOLENCE SHOCKED THE NATION AND STIRRED SUPPORT FOR THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965.

SUPREME COURT RULINGS OVER THE LAST DOZEN YEARS HAVE GUTTED KEY PARTS OF THAT LAW.

THIS PAST WEEK DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN TERRI SEWELL OF ALABAMA INTRODUCED A BILL TO RESTORE SOME OF THOSE PROVISIONS.

THE MEASURE HASN'T DRAWN ANY SUPPORT FROM REPUBLICANS, WHO CONTROL THE HOUSE.

STILL TO COME ON PBS NEWS WEEKEND.

THE ENDURING IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FIVE YEARS LATER.

AND, CENTURIES AFTER THEIR EXTINCTION, BEAVERS RETURN TO THE WILD IN ENGLAND.

JOHN: IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO THIS WEEK THAT THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION CALLED THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK A PANDEMIC.

IN THE UNITED STATES, OFFICIALS DECLARED A NATIONAL EMERGENCY, TRIGGERING TRAVEL BANS FOR NON-U.S. CITIZENS AND SHUTDOWNS NATIONWIDE.

MANY WHO LIVED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, INCLUDING THOSE WHO TREATED INFECTED PATIENTS, ARE STILL DEALING WITH THE FALLOUT.

ALI ROGIN HAS THEIR STORY.

ALI: JOHN, THE EVENTS, WHICH BEGAN IN 2020 CHANGED PEOPLE'S LIVES.

NEARLY 75% OF PEOPLE SAID THE PANDEMIC TOOK A TOLL ON THEM, ACCORDING TO A NEW PEW RESEARCH SURVEY.

WE SPOKE WITH PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT HOW THE PANDEMIC TRANSFORMED THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES.

AUBREY: MY NAME IS AUBREY NAGLE.

I LIVE IN PHILADELPHIA.

KRISTIN: MY NAME IS KRISTIN URQUIZA AND I LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MEI: MY NAME IS MEI'LANI EYRE AND I LIVE IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

STEPH: MY NAME IS STEPH FOWLER AND I LIVE IN CHICAGO.

RACHEL: MY NAME IS RACHEL VALDES AND I LIVE IN PORTLAND, OREGON.

AUBREY: LIFE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC FOR ME WAS VERY ACTIVE.

I WAS SUPER BUSY.

LOVED HIKING, DOING THINGS ON THE WEEKENDS AND GOING TO LOTS OF CONCERTS.

KRISTIN: BEFORE COVID STARTED, I WAS FINISHING UP GRADUATE SCHOOL.

MEI: MY LIFE BEFORE COVID, I WAS WORKING AS A SOFTWARE ENGINEER.

STEPH: THESE ARE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, WAS THE PHRASE.

AND IT REALLY WAS.

THERE WAS NO CLASS IN GRAD SCHOOL THAT PREPARED YOU FOR HELPING PEOPLE THROUGH A PANDEMIC.

AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE TRYING TO COPE WITH IT YOURSELF.

RACHEL: I WAS A LABOR AND DELIVERY NURSE.

AND SO THE TRAUMA OF HAVING PREGNANT PEOPLE HAVE COVID GET REALLY SICK AND DIE, AND THEN TRYING TO SAVE THE BABY.

IT MADE ME NOT WANT TO BE A LABOR AND DELIVERY NURSE ANYMORE.

IT WAS SCARY.

KRISTIN: THE PANDEMIC COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED MY LIFE.

I LOST MY DAD MARK URQUIZA EARLY ON TO COVID 19.

IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST AGONIZING EXPERIENCES I'VE HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

TO HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE TO HIM OVER A COMPUTER SCREEN WAS SO FOREIGN.

AUBREY: ONCE I DID GET INFECTED, I PRETTY QUICKLY WAS IN LIKE SIX WEEKS OR SO, NOTICED SOME DRASTIC CHANGES TO MY HEALTH.

EVENTUALLY WE DID DETERMINE IT WAS LONG COVID.

MEI: YEAH, SO LONG COVID HAS TAKEN A LOT FROM ME.

I'M SEEING MY MOBILITY IS GREATLY LIMITED.

I'M ALSO SEEING MY COGNITIVE ABILITY BE LIMITED.

AUBREY: COVID HAS NOT GONE AWAY.

COVID 19 IS STILL WITH US.

IT'S STILL WITH ME EVERY DAY.

STEPH: IT'S REALLY HARD TO WRAP MY BRAIN AROUND ALL THE CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

I THINK PARTIALLY BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES I FEEL LIKE I'M LIVING IN A DIFFERENT REALITY THAN OTHER PEOPLE.

KRISTIN: BECAUSE OF COVID, I'VE BEEN NAVIGATING, YOU KNOW, PERSONAL GRIEF AS WELL AS COLLECTIVE GRIEF OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS REMEMBERED THROUGH A NATIONAL COVID MEMORIAL.

ALI: FOR MORE ON THE PANDEMIC AND ITS LASTING EFFECTS, WE TURN TO SACHA MCBAIN, A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AT RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER, AND DOCTOR FRITZ FRANCOIS, CHIEF OF HOSPITAL OPERATIONS AT NYU LANGONE HEALTH.

DOCTOR MCBAIN, I'D LIKE TO START WITH YOU.

MANY OF THE PEOPLE WE HEARD FROM IN THAT CLIP AND THROUGH THE YEARS IN OUR REPORTING, CITE A SENSE OF LOSS, EITHER OF A OF A LOVED ONE OR OF THEIR OWN SENSE OF IDENTITY FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ADVISING PEOPLE MOVING THROUGH THOSE FEELINGS?

SACHA MCBAIN: THE FIRST THING IS TO LABEL IT AS GRIEF AND LOSS.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, I THINK WE HAD A NARROW IDEA OF WHAT GRIEF MEANT.

AND OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE BEEN VALIDATING DIFFERENT FORMS OF GRIEF IN A BIGGER WAY.

AND SO I THINK THAT LABELING IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST PIECE AND GIVES US NEW AVENUES FOR COPING AND EMOTIONAL PROCESSING WHEN WE CAN VALIDATE THESE EXPERIENCES ARE JUST THAT GRIEF.

ALI: DOCTOR FRANCOIS, WE HEARD FROM A NURSE WHO SPOKE ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO GET THROUGH THAT PERIOD IN IN LABOR AND DELIVERY.

TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ON THE FRONT LINES.

DR. FRITZ FRANCOIS: INDEED, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T -- YOU CAN'T PREPARE FOR.

FOR US AT NYU LANGONE, THE EXPERIENCE WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH A CRISIS BACK IN 2012, SUPERSTORM SANDY, THAT THEN ALLOWED US TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WHICH IS TO START PREPARING FOR WHAT IFS.

AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BACK IN THE FALL OF 2019, WE PREPARED FOR SUCH A WHAT IF WE ASKED THE QUESTION, WHAT IF THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK OF MIDDLE EAST RESPIRATORY SYNDROME?

AND WE HELD THAT TABLETOP EXERCISE ON JANUARY 8TH, 2020 AND HAD MORE THAN A SIX WEEK LEAD TIME TO PREPARE, AND THAT HELPED OUR STAFF TO DEAL WITH ALL THE UNCERTAINTIES THAT COVID BROUGHT.

ALI: TO THAT END, DOCTOR FRANCOIS, IF I COULD STICK WITH YOU, WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES DERIVED FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC THAT THEY MIGHT APPLY TO SUCH EMERGENCIES IN THE FUTURE?

DR. FRITZ FRANCOIS: I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON IS, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, TO BE PREPARED.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT THAT WE DON'T KNOW DURING CRISES, BUT YOU AT LEAST TRY TO ANTICIPATE, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE OF WHAT YOU MIGHT NEED AND THE BASICS SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT APPROPRIATE STAFFING, THINKING ABOUT SUPPLIES, THINKING ABOUT EQUIPMENT, ASKING THE QUESTION OF WHAT IF AND BEING PREPARED TO PIVOT.

YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN WITH THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE AND WE HAVE NEW INFORMATION.

THEN YOU ADJUST.

AND THAT LESSON, I THINK, CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.

ALI: DOCTOR MCBAIN, WE HEARD IN THAT CLIP FROM SOME PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH LONG COVID, AND THEY TALK ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE EXISTING IN A REALITY THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PEOPLE, FOR WHOM COVID IS GHT BE DEALING WITH LASTINGHO IMPACTS OF A COVID INFECTION?

SACHA MCBAIN: IT'S INCREDIBLY ISOLATING, IN YOUR SOCIAL CIRCLES, WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCESS CARE, THINKING ABOUT NAVIGATING WORK AND FAMILY ROLES.

MY EXPERTISE IS IN MEDICAL TRAUMATIC STRESS, AND SO THESE SENSATIONS THAT ARISE IN THE BODY CAN ALSO BE REMINDERS OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN THE PAST IN TERMS OF HOSPITALIZATION AND RECOVERY AND CAN CREATE THIS THIS DISTANCE IN THE PEOPLE THAT WE PREVIOUSLY FELT VERY CONNECTED WITH.

SO I THINK THAT ISOLATION, UNCERTAINTY ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD IS REALLY COMMON.

ALI: I WANT TO ASK BOTH OF YOU THIS NEXT QUESTION.

WHAT LESSONS DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD LEARN WRIT LARGE FROM THIS PANDEMIC?

DOCTOR MCBAIN, WHY DON'T YOU START?

SACHA MCBAIN: ONE OF THE POSITIVES THAT'S COME FROM THIS TIME IS AN INCREASING AWARENESS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, AND THE WAYS THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR MENTAL HEALTH EVERY DAY, HOW TO PULL IN APPROPRIATE RESOURCES FOR RESILIENCE, AND HOW TO ACCESS THE CARE THAT WE NEED.

SO I THINK THAT ONE OF THE LESSONS LEARNED IS HAVING A REALLY STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHEN THESE TYPES OF CRISES COME UP, WHEN PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH THE LONG TERM EFFECTS IN WAYS THAT SUPPORT WELLNESS INTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY AND INDIVIDUAL MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL.

ALI: DOCTOR FRANCOIS, THE SAME QUESTION FOR YOU.

WHAT ABOUT ON THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL FOR DOCTORS?

HOW ARE THEY THINKING ABOUT THE LESSONS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THIS PERIOD?

DR. FRITZ FRANCOIS: I WILL ECHO DOCTOR MCBAIN'S COMMENT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND FOR DOCTORS, FOR OTHER PROVIDERS, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING PREPARED AND BEING PROACTIVE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHAT IS TO COME.

FOR US AT NYU LANGONE, HAVING A CULTURE IN WHICH WE CONTINUE TO ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT WHAT IF AND TO TAKE STEPS TO SUPPORT OUR STAFF HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.

THE IDEA THAT WE WANT TO ASK THE QUESTIONS, WE WANT TO DO RESEARCH, WE WANT TO LEARN NEW THINGS THAT CAN HELP US TO BETTER SERVE OUR PATIENTS, AND CAN BETTER HELP US TO SUPPORT OUR STAFF AND HELP US TO ALSO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES.

ALI: DOCTOR SASHA MCBAIN AND DOCTOR FRITZ FRANCOIS, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

DR. FRITZ FRANCOIS: PLEASURE.

SACHA MCBAIN: THANK YOU.

JOHN: BEAVERS WERE HUNTED INTO EXTINCTION IN ENGLAND IN THE 17TH CENTURY.

AND THIS PAST WEEK, FOR THE FIRST TIME, BEAVERS WERE LEGALLY RELEASED INTO THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE.

CONSERVATIONISTS HAILED IT AS A WATERSHED MOMENT FOR THIS KEYSTONE SPECIES WHICH HELPS COMBAT FLOODING AND DROUGHT BY ENGINEERING THE LANDSCAPE WITH DAMS AND CHANNELS.

ALEX THOMSON OF INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NEWS WAS AT PURBECK NATURE RESERVE IN DORSET FOR THE HISTORIC EVENT.

REPORTER: THE SEA MIST WREATHED CORFE CASTLE FROM DAWN, BUT THE WAY IS NOW CLEARED FOR BEAVERS HERE AND BEYOND.

THE SHORT WALK TO THE EDGE OF THE NATIONAL TRUSTS PURBECK X LITERALLY MARKS THE SPOT SO MANY HAVE WORKED FOR SO LONG TO ACHIEVE.

>> IT'S EXCITING FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO HAS WORKED 40 YEARS FOR THIS.

TODAY SOUNDS REALLY EXCITING, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A SMALL THING, TWO PAIRS OF BEAVERS BEING RELEASED HERE, BUT ACTUALLY IS A BOLD STEP IN REVERSING THE DECLINE OF BEAVERS.

REPORTER: ALL BUT CUT OFF FROM THE MAINLAND PURBECK'S THIS STUNNING LANDSCAPE OF LAGOON, BOG, FOREST.

AT THE DESIGNATED RELEASE SPOT, THE COURT IS UP.

THEY ARE READY.

FINAL PREPARATIONS, REMOTE CAMERAS IN PLACE, AND THEY ARRIVE.

TWO BEAVERS DRIVEN OVERNIGHT FROM NINE HOURS NORTH.

BANG ON TIME THE CRATES ARE SET DOWN.

THEY EMERGE, A LITTLE STRESSED, HESITANT EVEN.

THIS, THE FIRST OF MANY LEGAL RELEASES AFTER A 400 ABSENCE AS THESE ANIMALS WERE HUNTED TO EXTINCTION FOR THEIR FUR, MEAT AND EVEN THE SCENT GLANDS.

>> IT'S A REALLY HISTORIC DAY FOR NATURE IN THIS COUNTRY, TO SEE THE FIRST WHILE BEAVER RELEASED IS A REALLY IMPORTANT STEP IN NATURE RECOVERY.

REPORTER: NOT EVERYONE IS CONVINCED.

THE NFU SKEPTICAL VERGING ON HOSTILE TO GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED REINTRODUCTION ACROSS ENGLAND.

>> IT IS JUST NOT A REALISTIC OPTION FOR FARMERS TO MANAGE THE IMPACT OF BEAVERS.

THERE WILL BE CASES WHERE THEY NEED TO REMOVE BEAVERS.

THERE WILL BE PLACES WHERE OUR MEMBERS WILL NOT WANT TO.

SEE THEM.

.

.

WE JUST DON'T THINK THAT IS THERE IN THE CURRENT PLAN.

REPORTER: BUT THE GOVERNMENT INSISTED TODAY ROBUST IMPACT MANAGEMENT IS IN PLACE.

>> THERE WILL BE CAPITAL PLANS AVAILABLE TO DEAL WITH ANY BEAVER IMPACTS, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO REMOVE BEAVER DAMS WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF CONSTRUCTION SHOULD THEY POSE A RISK TO CROPS.

ALSO, IN EXTREMISTS TO USE LEGAL CONTROL.

REPORTER: SPRING HEDGE PLANTING THIS MORNING, LOCAL FARMER IAN BAGGS IS, WELL, CONSTRUCTIVELY SKEPTICAL.

IT COULD WORK, SHOULD WORK, BUT NEEDS MORE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.

>> SO THE CHALLENGE WE'VE GOT IS THAT THERE'S LOTS OF BENEFITS AND A POSITIVE STORY HERE, BUT ALSO RISKS AND THE BENEFITS OF SOCIETAL, THE RISKS ARE TO INDIVIDUAL SMALL BUSINESSES.

INCLUDING FARMERS AND POTENTIALLY OTHER LAND OWNERS AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN HOUSES THAT ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

REPORTER: BEAVERS OF COURSE CREATE DAMS, WHICH FILLED WITH RIVER WATER, PURIFYING IT.

THAT WATER PROTECTS RIVER SYSTEMS FROM DROUGHTS AND FLOODS.

BUT PURBECK'S IDYLLIC NATURE RESERVE IS THE EASY BIT.

STUDDED WITH HEATH, FOREST, LAKES AND NO FARMING.

SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

THE MESSY REALITY IS THAT THE BEAVERS WILL BREED, AND BREED A LOT.

FROM THIS AND OTHER SIGNS ON THE SPREAD OUT ACROSS ENGLAND.

DOWN THE LINE WE WILL ARRIVE AT A BALANCE, PERHAPS UNCOMFORTABLE WHERE IN SOME AREAS THEY WILL BE CHERISHED AND WILL THRIVE AND BE LOVED, AND OTHER AREAS WERE FRANKLY THEY WILL GET REMOVED OR BE SHOCKED, LEGALLY OR ILLEGALLY.

THAT MIGHT SOUND BRUTAL, BUT ULTIMATELY WE WILL HAVE REPLACED A KEY SPECIES, A MISSING PIECE OF OUR BIODIVERSITY JIGSAW AFTER CENTURIES.

AND THAT SURELY IS PROGRESS.

SO TODAY'S LEGAL RELEASE JOINTS WHAT ARE KNOWN AS BEAVER BOMBINGS, THE ILLEGAL RELEASE OF ANIMALS ALREADY THRIVING IN ENGLAND.

HUNDREDS OF THEM.

ACHIEVING THE RIGHT BALANCE IN ALL THIS WILL TAKE TIME, BUT THE OFFICIAL BEGINNINGS OF THAT STARTED TODAY.

AMNA: JOHN: THAT'S JOHN: ALEX THOMSON OF INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NEWS.

AND THAT IS PBS NEWS WEEKEND FOR THIS SUNDAY.

I'M JOHN YANG.

FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.