Dear Gov1 Subscriber, Even with two vaccines and COVID cases waning from a winter peak, Florida's pandemic future has been obscured in recent weeks by the rapid spread of a new and more contagious variant of the virus. And scientists worry the impact could reach far beyond state lines. We're also highlighting this week the push in communities across the country to rethink public safety response to mental health emergencies. While a new progress report reveals that Denver's program sending health care workers instead of police to non-violent calls appears to be working, a police Crisis Intervention Training instructor explains why such programs shouldn't come at the cost of police department funding. — The Gov1 Team