COVID-19 Update: July 27, 2020: Without a Net

Negotiations for a new stimulus bill stall, and the funding runs out. Senator Mitch McConnell says the GOP will be need weeks to come up with a bill. A storm of criticism follows. Today, the party is ready to make an announcement, which will significantly cut benefits for workers. Of course, the Democrats are pushing a far more expansive bill. Let the negotiations begin.

The latest:

As the Republican Party struggles come up with a plan for a new stimulus bill, the current plan of extra unemployment expires: bit.ly/30OPC3o.

Facing criticism for not coming up with a plan, the GOP offers a bill that cuts enhanced unemployment insurance from $600 to $200 until states implement a new program that will pay workers 70% of their income before losing their jobs: tinyurl.com/y64g3g3x.

FEMA sends faulty protective gear to nursing homes around the country: nyti.ms/3hNbraP.

Three out of four Americans, including a majority of Republicans, favor the mandating of wearing masks in public: bit.ly/30L5kNh.

Food for thought:

New York actor Nick Westrate makes a passionate argument about the need for government relief the industry: tinyurl.com/y467kct2.

The pandemic threatens New Orleans' live music scene: tinyurl.com/y4d22c5a.

Around the country:

In Alabama:

More than 40 people test positive for the coronavirus after attending a multi-day revival: tinyurl.com/y2l2dmjy.

In California:

Seventy-eight percent of San Diego parents are worried that sending kids back to school will expose them to the coronavirus: bit.ly/32TjfDn.

San Joaquin is overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases, because, well, masks: lat.ms/32REzt6.

In Orange County, contact tracing proves to be frustratingly difficult: bit.ly/2OSBxMY.

Google extends it work-at-home order to summer 2021: tinyurl.com/y6rgo63u.

Violating social distancing rules, hundreds attend a religious event in Shasta County; officials ask them to self-quarantine: cnn.it/3hBAvkI.

The Art Directors Guild releases an 11-page document detailing best practices for working in the pandemic: bit.ly/2EgtDLb.

Warner Bros. pulled Tenet from its US release schedule but may open the film in Europe this summer: bit.ly/3jGVIf9.

In the District of Columbia:

National security adviser Robert O'Brien tests positive for the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/y6mfv95o.

The Kennedy Center cuts 30% of its administrative staff: tinyurl.com/y39zduof. The center also plans to returns to large-scale performances in January: tinyurl.com/y44gvnbn.

In Florida:

The state, once touted as a coronavirus success story, surpasses New York in total cases: bit.ly/3jEqgOm.

The state registers 12,199 infections and 124 deaths on Saturday: hrld.us/2WVBcOa.

The state reports 9,344 new cases on Sunday: bit.ly/3hzuTaG.

The state adds 8,892 new cases on Monday, the lowest number in weeks: tinyurl.com/yxgb74aw.

But one in 50 Floridians have tested positive: tinyurl.com/y32dgrd6.

COVID-19 is also spreading dangerously at nursing homes in 23 hot-spot counties: hrld.us/2D2UYAb.

The state's top politicians are split on the issue of sending their kids to school this fall: hrld.us/30NeIjq.

The state agency that tracks COVID-19 hospitalizations collects much more information than it shares with the public: hrld.us/2CDruZR.

How following politics, not science, brought the state to its current conditions: wapo.st/2WTBFAc.

Game off: Eleven Miami Marlins test positive for the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/yyj9tt8h.

Universal Orlando has canceled its Halloween Horror Nights for 2020: bit.ly/2OXORj3.

Jousting with masks: That's the new protocol at Medieval Times: bit.ly/39ttHD9.

In Illinois:

The state reports more than 1,500 new cases and four counties reach the "warning level:" bit.ly/39udRrN.

In Maryland:

Stations in the Sinclair Broadcast Group, planning to air a conspiracy-theory video about the epidemic, are forced to backpedal when word gets out that it baselessly accuses Dr. Anthony Fauci of helping to create the coronavirus: wapo.st/3f2rP5k.

In Massachusetts:

Phase three of the Moderna vaccine trial begins: tinyurl.com/y4nej8mm.

In Minnesota:

COVID-19 cases have surpassed the 50,000 mark: strib.mn/301FhSS.

In New York:

The states reports only three deaths in one day, along with a 1% positive test rate: tinyurl.com/y36cr82m.

Following the news about the Miami Marlins outbreak, Monday night's game between the Yankees and the Phillies is called off: tinyurl.com/y2ub6af6.

New York City plots a "robust comeback" for film and television production in September: tinyurl.com/y3cw47qs.

Actors' Equity issues a statement criticizing Congress for its inability to expeditiously pass a new relief package: tinyurl.com/yxfxts8w.

This graphic from the Broadway Community Project shows the enormous economic reach of the Broadway industry: tinyurl.com/y5u3a2yt.

In Pennsylvania:

The Live Events Coalition stages a demonstration to draw attention to the plight of the industry's workers: bit.ly/32QjwqV.

In Texas:

The canceled state fair is spreading economic pain among those who typically work at it: bit.ly/300Nd6J.

Around the world:

In the Bahamas:

Visitors from the US are welcome after all, but they must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival: hrld.us/3hzcGtW.

In Brazil:

The country reports record infection numbers as the coronavirus spreads to all areas: wapo.st/2OZ42II.

In Spain:

Following a spike in cases, the country faces the possibility of a second wave: n.pr/2BtwBLl.

In the UK:

Check out the video promoting the sanitary plan proffered in West End theatres owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber: bit.ly/301FHZs.

The Theatre Artists Fund, started by Sam Mendes, raised 1.6 million pounds: tinyurl.com/y3rgnlpt.

For your pleasure:

In honor of Alan Mencken, a newly minted EGOT, MJ Rodriguez and George Salazar perform "Suddenly Seymour" from Little Shop of Horrors: tinyurl.com/yyb6rxt6.

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

To receive your LSA copies at home (no charge), please email LSA@plasa.org or go to www.ezsubscription.com/lsa/mysubscription.

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