COVID 19 Update, March 12: Independence Day

The first anniversary of the pandemic arrives; we've all been through hell, and it isn't over yet. Still, what a week. President Biden issues a series of key pledges, much more vaccine is becoming available, and the world is looking at reopening. Some areas may be opening too fast, which could cause fresh trouble. But a challenge has been laid down for us to reach relative normality by the Fourth of July. Will we meet it? The latest:

President Biden signs the American Relief Act into law: tinyurl.com/49np8e66. He also sets a deadline of May 1 for all states to make vaccines available to all adults: tinyurl.com/z97wyw7b.

An analysis of the American Relief Act's beneficiaries shows how concert venue owners skillfully lobbied to get the Save Our Stages Act included: tinyurl.com/5u9xk97b.

The CDC releases new guidance: Fully vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without masks or social distancing: tinyurl.com/5fs4rdn6.

The Biden Administration will buy an additional 100 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine: tinyurl.com/3tv4p5w8. States prepare for a flood of new vaccine: tinyurl.com/8zbcp2mm. Johnson & Johnson plans to make one billion doses available in the next year: tinyurl.com/7bpcv7rc.

A new Israeli study indicates that the Pfizer vaccine provides strong protection against asymptomatic COVID-10: tinyurl.com/2vz5wtfp. Trying to calm an outbreak of worries, the World Heath Organization says there is no evidence that AstraZeneca vaccine causes blood clots: tinyurl.com/e7zfxpns. Scientists race to keep up with the coronavirus variants: tinyurl.com/wzbedc. Researchers in San Diego say that the current vaccines work well against variants and new tweaks are on the way: tinyurl.com/hyr39ufc.

Dr. Anthony Fauci pushes back against governors who are reopening their states and abandoning mask mandates: tinyurl.com/xn2htukz.

Use this search engine to find out where your state is in terms of vaccinations: tinyurl.com/5x47mbsb.

Weekly new job claims come in at 712,000, beating expectations if only slightly: tinyurl.com/63865tvt.

Food for thought:

How the pandemic has disrupted global shipping: tinyurl.com/5k3e7y99.

A COVID buying boom overwhelms Los Angeles area ports: tinyurl.com/4kyv7zdw.

The CDC links restaurant dining and absence of masks mandates to the spread of the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/t8pcju2.

This useful primer explains how to interpret vaccine efficacy numbers: tinyurl.com/vznkn6ps.

Why the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is equally good as the others: tinyurl.com/pzxdbch5.

Why it's too soon to let your guard down just yet: tinyurl.com/rbzk8xu3.

Around the country:

In Alaska:

The state makes vaccines available to anyone 16 or older: tinyurl.com/yw9as76a.

In California:

Disneyland and the state's other theme parks (and stadiums, too) will be allowed to reopen April 1. The initial capacity is 15% and will increase over time if infection numbers stay low: tinyurl.com/4ryvvwps. Citing the need to get the place in shape, Disneyland will open in late April: tinyurl.com/3tpwzajj.

A new state program offers a jab to anyone volunteering to work at vaccination sites: tinyurl.com/wkse6t4w.

Applications to film in Los Angeles increased by 43% in February: tinyurl.com/js59j4yu.

Los Angeles cinemas can open next week at 25% capacity: tinyurl.com/5cmhn4uc.

In Florida:

One year after spring break was cut short by the pandemic, South Florida is ready to party on: tinyurl.com/3hawd67a. Daytona Beach's annual Bike Week draws from than 300,000 attendees: tinyurl.com/yz88hxhb.

The vaccine distribution process in Miami is getting complicated, even chaotic: tinyurl.com/4kmxdhtx. The vaccine eligibility age will be lowered to 60 starting March 15: tinyurl.com/2bmwvm66.

In Illinois:

Both the Cubs and White Sox will be allowed to have approximately 8,000 fans in the stands on opening day: tinyurl.com/2ntphc6a.

In Idaho:

Protestors burn their masks in front of the state capitol: tinyurl.com/mxjvpaae.

In Missouri:

St. Louis Shakespeare Festival returns to performances in its outdoor venue this summer: tinyurl.com/ce5wdhmp.

The AMC Cinema Chain lost $4.6 billion in 2020: tinyurl.com/z2bn2r54..

In Nevada:

The relief bill might not be enough for the state with arguably the hardest hit economy: tinyurl.com/2wj8tmbv.

In New York:

The state expands vaccine eligibility to anyone over the age of 60: tinyurl.com/fsfy2nm4.

Broadway producers start talking about the path to reopening: tinyurl.com/4bvkk4wm. A coalition of Broadway-related businesses approaches a prominent state senator with a proposal for pandemic relief: tinyurl.com/2thv9wu9. Consider the many obstacles to Broadway's return: tinyurl.com/pbch5aam. But touring Broadway shows are gearing up for a fall return: tinyurl.com/2khtpufc.

Actors' Equity rules for allowing performances include masked audiences, singers 12' apart and separated by Plexiglas, and no mass transit getting to work: tinyurl.com/ybbkwrdw.

New Yorkers return to cinemas, cautiously: tinyurl.com/xyvnup5t.

New York City high schools will reopen March 22, with sports to follow in April: tinyurl.com/sxby4sv8.

The New York City nightclub Green Room 42 will reopen in April, with many social restrictions in place: tinyurl.com/3m5wwvpc.

Park Avenue Armory will get back to business (at 10% of audience capacity) with a piece choreographed by Bill T. Jones. Others will follow: tinyurl.com/2zdcw4s.

The first Off Broadway play to open since the pandemic began, Blindness features no live actors and socially distanced audience members on headsets: tinyurl.com/xs3mz9r5.

Restaurants in New York and New Jersey can move to 50% capacity next week: tinyurl.com/3cewndf3.

The Shed, the arts center in New York City's Hudson Yards, will reopen next month for a handful of performances for small audiences: tinyurl.com/3kyeejt4.

In North Carolina:

A positive COVID test destroys Duke University's chances in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament: tinyurl.com/e9pbw5m8.

In Oregon:

A theatre company gives permission to the cast to stop the show if members of the audience aren't conforming to mask rules: https://tinyurl.com/mn3pnw62.

In Pennsylvania:

Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, of the 76ers, miss the NBA All-Star Game, because of an issue with contact tracing: tinyurl.com/v8rrtrkk.

In Virginia:

Like Duke University, University of Virginia drops out of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, thanks to a COVID-19 diagnosis: tinyurl.com/3e2zcj44.

Around the world:

In Australia:

The pandemic disrupts agriculture, leaving many crops to rot: tinyurl.com/ynacrscz.

In Brazil:

The hospital system is collapsing; the government refuses to act: tinyurl.com/2w5tdh3v.

In Ireland:

The country reaches 500,000 vaccinations: tinyurl.com/ybjswncw.

In Italy:

The country passes the point of 100,000 COVID-19 deaths: tinyurl.com/nkhwsd5e.

In the Netherlands:

A study attempts to determine the safety of reopening dance clubs: tinyurl.com/4s727ez8.

In New Zealand:

Auckland emerges from a weeklong lockdown: tinyurl.com/3etaz8az.

In Syria

President Bashar Assad and his wife test positive for the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/cxj8vvs4.

In the UK:

The West End production of the musical Frozen will open in August: tinyurl.com/b8vmuren.

Losses:

Playwright Bill C. Davis: tinyurl.com/s3sp5zff.

Education:

From JBL: Just the Hits! A History of Harman Audio Products from Cinemas to the Stage w/ Peter Moses, Wednesday, March 17, 7:00 PM CDT; register at tinyurl.com/2udyp5br.

Martin by Harman hosts a special product launch, March 17 at 1pm EDT. Register at tinyurl.com/2btm7rk4.

Entertainment:

From Boston Symphony Orchestra, March 18 - April 17: David Robertson leads an all-French program to include Milhaud's La Création du monde, Honegger's Pastorale d'été, and Ravel's Piano Concerto in G with Inon Barnatan as soloist; chamber music performance to feature American composer Marion Bauer's Forgotten Modes, Op. 29, for solo flute, with Elizabeth Klein, BSO assistant principal flute: tinyurl.com/284kwmc9.

The Goodman Theatre presents Encore, an on-demand video streaming opportunity, running March 15 - May 9 with four plays from the theatre's "video vault," each appearing in a limited streaming run over the next two months: How To Catch Creation by Christina Anderson, directed by Niegel Smith; Teatro Buendía's (Cuba) Pedro Páramo by Raquel Carrío, inspired by the novel by Juan Rulfo, directed by Flora Lauten; Smokefall by Noah Haidle, directed by Anne Kauffman; and Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare, directed by Robert Falls. Also available for streaming is Until the Flood by Dael Orlandersmith, directed by Neel Keller, presented in partnership with All Arts, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater and six additional regional US Tickets are free with reservations available now at GoodmanTheatre.org/Encore.

Irish Repertory Theatre presents The Aran Islands by J.M. Synge and adapted and directed by Joe O'Byrne. Starring Brendan Conroy, the virtual production will premiere March 16 at 7pm ET and run through Sunday March 28, 2021. For more information and to register for a performance visit IrishRep.org.

Keen Company presents a benefit broadcast of Kathleen Chalfant in Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking. This one-night only event will feature an exclusive talkback after the show with artists. Benefit tickets are $25 at www.keencompany.org. The one-woman show will run approximately 90 minutes with no intermission. All ticket buyers will have access on Saturday March 13 at 7pm EST when the event premieres, through March 17 at 7pm EST.

Lincoln Center Theater will inaugurate Private Reels from the LCT Archives, streamed recordings of some of its past productions. It kicks off with Christopher Durang's hit comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike with Kristine Nielsen, David Hyde Pierce, and Sigourney Weaver. It streams for free beginning March 18 on Broadway on Demand. Register at www.LCT.org.

The week of March 15, Lyric Opera of Chicago will stream Luisa Miller (2019) featuring Krassimira Stoyanova, Joseph Calleja, Quinn Kelsey, Soloman Howard and Christian Van Horn -- conducted by Enrique Mazzola; The Queen of Spades (2020) featuring Brandon Jovanovich, Sondra Radvanovsky, Lucas Meachem and Samuel Youn -- conducted by Sir Andrew Davis; Die Walküre (2017) featuring Christine Goerke, Eric Owens, Brandon Jovanovich, and Elisabet Strid-conducted by Sir Andrew Davis: lyricopera.org.

Metropolitan Playhouse presents a new free live screened reading: The Silent Waiter, by Alfred Kreymborg, beginning March 13 at 8pm through March 17 at 10m ET. Running time is one hour: www.MetropolitanPlayhouse.org/watchsilentwaiter.

Red Bull Theatre presents a benefit reading of John Luly's 1588 drama Gallathea, on March 15 at 7:30, ET. Directed by Emma Rosa Went, the cast includes Helen Cespedes, Jason O'Connell, and David Ryan Smith. Reserve at redbulltheater.com/gallathea.

Weekend Playlist:

The late, great Rebecca Luker, introduced by Julie Andrews, offers Rodgers and Hart's "Falling in Love with Love:" tinyurl.com/3duxrdxr.

Annie Golden lends her inimitable belt to "Veins," from the musical Broadway Bounty Hunter: tinyurl.com/49uxjz57.

Alanis Morissette and Elizabeth Stanley, the latter a star of the musical Jagged Little Pill, team up for "You Learn:" tinyurl.com/8zcujdwn.

Join a gang of Broadway performers for "Seasons of Love," the pandemic edition: tinyurl.com/pffjdpat.

Birthday girl Liza Minnelli's dramatic rendition of "Sorry I Asked:" tinyurl.com/spk5ayyw.

That's all for this week. Have a great weekend. Stay safe. Vaccinate. Keep wearing your masks. And don't give up. - DB

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