COVID-19 Update, July 15, 2020: A New Hope

There's good news today: The vaccine being testing by Moderna shows real promise: tinyurl.com/y7f7yl9k. Unsurprisingly, shares of Moderna stock soar: cnb.cx/2Orobab.

And we've never needed good new more than now.

The latest:

The worldwide surge in coronavirus cases is being shared by the developing world and the US: tinyurl.com/yagguzrr.

Dozens of leaders across Latin America test positive for COVID-19: bit.ly/2C4FhIE.

Why most big school districts aren't ready to reopen: nyti.ms/3erodJH.

Why a vaccine taken through the nose would be superior to a needle: nyti.ms/2Ou4Rcx.

Losing their hero status: Many retailers are doing away with pandemic-related pay raises: nyti.ms/2OsJPec.

The war on science:

The Trump Administration has ordered hospitals to bypass the CDC and send all COVID-19 related patient information to a new central database: nyti.ms/2CGExZO.

The White House trade advisor attacks Dr. Anthony Fauci: bit.ly/3fvTRqN.

Food for thought:

Looking for more good news about the pandemic? Check this out: wapo.st/2OEYJ1j.

Around the country:

In California:

The next season of the CBS series Survivor is on hold, for obvious reasons: bit.ly/2B1ZHRZ.

In Colorado:

The Telluride Film Festival, scheduled for early September, has been canceled: bit.ly/38Xit9w.

In the District of Columbia:

A survey of area theatregoers reports, ominously, that most won't be comfortable with theatre attendance until May or June 2021: tinyurl.com/ybdu73gw.

In Florida:

The state reports 10,181 new COVID-19 cases, pushing its total past 300,000: bit.ly/3j3CDmV.

South Florida's ICUs are at capacity, mostly with older patients: hrld.us/2OrrQEX.

Several lab companies reporting coronavirus test results, haven't been including negative cases: bit.ly/2Ch8lwv.

The superintendent of Broward County recommends that the school system stay online for the fall: hrld.us/3er4ji4.

A St. Johns county commissioner who voted against wearing masks is in the hospital, in critical condition, with COVID-19: bit.ly/2B6tbhC.

French entrepreneurs and culinary specialists, once drawn to Miami, are fleeing: hrld.us/30cX2NN.

In Illinois:

Thirty-six Lake Zurich high school students test positive, having attended summer athletic camp and summer parties: bit.ly/3h57hL4.

Chicago's Court Theatre plans a February reopening, with streamed performances also available: bit.ly/32rjJRf.

In New Jersey:

A federal judge denies an effort to reopen cinemas: bit.ly/38XCqwY.

In New York:

Following yesterday's revelations that 5.4 million Americans have lost their health insurance since March, Actors' Equity calls on Congress to pass a COBRA subsidy: tinyurl.com/ycy37zlz.

The state tries to insulate itself from the risks posed by visitors from Florida and Texas: nyti.ms/32g3o1A.

How one performer's Broadway debut was thwarted by the coronavirus: cnb.cx/2ZtCWzC.

In North Dakota:

The band Great White apologizes for performing in front of a maskless audience: cnn.it/30c7k0G. In other news, the state sets new records for coronavirus diagnoses and hospitalizations: bit.ly/2Zw2Z9x.

In Texas:

The state's hospitals are running out of drugs, beds, ventilators, and staff: bit.ly/32nZa82.

FEMA ships 14 mobile morgues to cope with the rising death toll: bit.ly/2DLV4wj.

Around the world:

In Ireland:

The country's tourism industry is forced to deal with quarantine-flouting Americans: nyti.ms/3gYMubV.

In the UK:

Boris John's mandating of masks while shopping has Tory voters up in arms: bit.ly/2OtTx04.

London's Donmar Warehouse will reopen in August, temporarily, with a socially distanced sound installation based on the novel Blindness, by José Saramago.

Entertainment:

Obie Award-winning Metropolitan Playhouse will present a reading of The People, a one-act play by Susan Glaspell, via live stream video, with talkback to follow, on July 18 at 8:00pm EST. The running time is 30 minutes. The talkback will feature Glaspell scholar Cheryl Black, including audience questions via Zoom and YouTube chat. It is available via Zoom and YouTube at bit.ly/32liMK8. All links available at bit.ly/3eyxD6l.

Off Broadway's Red Bull Theater will live stream its 2020 Short New Play Festival as a free online benefit event July 20. The company's 10th annual festival of short works will feature new commissions from Slave Play writer Jeremy O. Harris and Theresa Rebeck (Bernhardt/Hamlet, Seminar), alongside six new plays by Ben Beckley, Avery Deutsch, Leah Maddrie, Jessica Moss, Matthew Park, and Mallory Jane Weiss. The 2020 Short New Play Festival will stream July 20 at 7:30pm ET at RedBullTheater.com. The evening will also include short interviews with the playwrights and host Craig Baldwin.

For your pleasure:

Ruben Blades performs "El Cantante:" bit.ly/2OqVwCn.

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.