COVID-19 Update, July 21: Let's Make a Deal

The pandemic continues unabated. The president returns to daily briefings. And negotiations begin in Congress on the all-important relief bill. The next couple of weeks are going to be busy, with implications for us all.

The latest:

The global death rate from the coronavirus passes 600,000: bit.ly/2WCcuSH.

Negotiations for the next stimulus bill begins. One sticking point: Many legislators (including Republicans) are pushing back against the president's attempt to cut out funding for testing and contact tracing: wapo.st/32BYRqt.

The president to return to daily coronavirus briefings: bit.ly/2ZNaAk3.

The president's campaign to reopen schools is falling flat, even in GOP strongholds: wapo.st/2CzXRZ5.

The new COVID-19 hot spot is Latin America: hrld.us/2WF8cKo.

Actor Brendan Bradley invents Future Stages, "a 3D virtual theatre-going experience," designed to keep theatre vital until a vaccine arrives: bit.ly/30x3wr0.

Around the country:

In Alabama:

A local doctor, himself a COVID-19 survivor, confronts the fact of fellow citizens who don't follow social distancing rules: bit.ly/3eSEnfj.

In California:

After bending the curve, the state is poised to take over from New York as the state with the most COVID-19 cases: cnn.it/2OLXtcI.

The surge in new cases is being driven by young people; the majority of those infected are under 41: bit.ly/32ChkTP.

Warner Bros. has removed Christopher Nolan's eagerly awaited new film, Tenet, from its release schedule: bit.ly/2CXDBRi. The head of the National Association of Theatre Owners isn't happy about it: bit.ly/2OMcOtA.

In Florida:

The state posts 9,440 new cases and 134 deaths in a day: bit.ly/30wa2OJ.

Industry experts says that state's nursing homes face a "category 5 emergency:" hrld.us/3jy0M5x.

The state's teachers' union sues the governor and education commission over a "reckless, unsafe reopening:" hrld.us/32B4l4K. An organization representing thousands of pediatricians writes the governor, urging him to reconsider reopening schools: bit.ly/2WIS8ah.

The sheriff of Duval County, which includes Jacksonville, says that safely hosting the Republican National Convention is no longer an option: bit.ly/3hlhZwN.

Palm Beach delays opening schools for three weeks: bit.ly/30vUdYd.

Miami deploys a police squad to enforce mask violations: bit.ly/32FZGi0.

The governor urges Floridians who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate blood: hrld.us/2ZNDRLF.

Disney World, face with a grievance from Actors' Equity regarding safety, has a workaround for its live shows: bit.ly/3jt1XTp.

In Illinois:

Bars, gyms, and restaurants prepare for re-imposed restrictions as new cases rise: abc7.ws/2WIX2nH.

In Michigan:

Thirteen nuns from one convent die from the coronavirus, 12 in one month: dailym.ai/2BooUpW.

In Minnesota:

The state sees the biggest single-day increase in cases since the pandemic began: bit.ly/3eMiKNR.

In New York:

Saturday Night Live plans a return to the studio in the fall: bit.ly/2WK4yyR.

In South Carolina:

The state posts record numbers of new cases: bit.ly/3jtUvHJ.

In Texas:

Dallas County reports 1,000 cases for the 18th straight day: bit.ly/2Cyrw53.

Around the world:

In Brazil:

Deaths from COVID-19 reach 80,000 as two top government ministers test positive: n.pr/3eMiQFd.

In Hong Kong:

A new wave of infections has experts puzzled: nyti.ms/2WHbZXD.

In the UK:

The country's arts sector pushes back against the government's plan for socially distanced performances starting August 1: tinyurl.com/y4pd79uo. Andrew Lloyd Webber seconds the motion: tinyurl.com/y5zatfpa.

Training:

New webinars from JBL: "fixingtogetintomixin -- How to Get Your Best Mix! Part II with Brad Divens," July 24 at 12:00pm CT; register at: bit.ly/2BizpLg. "Tips for Mixing for Houses of Worship, with Jim Yakibuski," July 30, at 11:00am CT; register at bit.ly/32EOfHl.

"Become a WYSIWYG CAD Specialist," a two-part webinar, will be held on July 30 and 31, 2:00 - 4:00pm EDT each day. Register at bit.ly/2WDuego.

Entertainment:

New from Tanglewood: "Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Isaac Stern's Birth," July 23 at 8:00pm ET; "Recitals from the World Stage," with the string quartet Brooklyn Rider and host Karen Allen, July 22 at 8:00pm ET; "BSO Musicians in Recital" in a program of Bach, Paganini, Mendelssohn, and others, hosted by Laurent Ambrose, July 24 at 8:00pm ET; and "Great Performers in Recital from Tanglewood," featuring Augustus Hadelich and Orion Weiss performing Debussy, Brahms, and John Adams, hosted by Nicole Cabell, July 25 at 8:00pm. Details at www.bso.org/Home.

A reading of George Bernard Shaw's Misalliance, to benefit The Actors Fund, will take July 25 at 2:00pm. The production, directed by Shaw specialist David Staller, features Dan Domingues, Peter Francis James, Teresa Avia Lim, Thom Sesma, Ryan Spahn, and Sharon Washington. Go to www.starsinthehouse.com/pith.

For your pleasure:

Erika Chen, a frontline health worker and clarinetist, offers "Amazing Grace:" bit.ly/3ju7xF9.

That's all for today. Stay safe. -- DB

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Previous LSA COVID-19 Updates: plasa.me/lsacovid19resources.