COVID-19 Update: July 17, 2020: Take Action Now

As the stories below make clear, the pandemic in the US is not getting better. The live events industry remains at a standstill, with the livelihoods of thousands under existential threat. As you read this, a new relief bill is being written in Congress. It is of paramount importance that you raise you voice -- immediately. Contact you senators today, along with -- and this is vitally important -- their chiefs of staff and legislative directors. The more people heard from, the more likely that our businesses will receive paycheck protection and our freelancers will get unemployment relief, which will be needed at least through the end of 2020. The link below will take you to a template letter, put together by NAMM. which you can use. Also included is a list of chiefs of staff and legislative directors. Act now and help this industry survive: bit.ly/32v06Yo.

The latest:

The United States smashes another record, with 77,000 new coronavirus cases in one day: cnn.it/3fFkV74.

A document prepared for the White House Coronavirus Task Force identifies 18 states as "hot spots" and suggests that at least 12 should revert to more stringent measures: bit.ly/32r6cZF.

How a struggling company got $1.6 billion to make a COVID-19 vaccine: nyti.ms/3hcTkL8.

The CDC bans cruising in US waters until October 1 or the pandemic is declared over: hrld.us/2DJtnUL.

Food for thought:

How did Miami become the hottest of hot spots? hrld.us/394viig .

How to bring COVID-19 testing back from the brink of paralysis: nyti.ms/2ZADML6.

Around the country:

In Arizona:

"You can't bluff this virus;" doctors feel abandoned by their governor as new COVID-19 cases surge: bit.ly/2ZCxDOn.

In Arkansas:

The governor mandates the wearing of masks in public: bit.ly/2ZAx6wy.

In California:

Medical personnel report feeling overwhelmed as new coronavirus cases fill hospitals: lat.ms/32siHUN.

Hamilton, originally scheduled to open in Los Angeles last March, has targeted next April: bit.ly/3hfGA6t.

As the state faces another shutdown, tempers explode: bit.ly/2Wvb4cr.

In Florida:

The state reports another 11,500 infections and 138 deaths: bit.ly/3ez24ct.

Nearly one-third of children tested for the coronavirus are positive: bit.ly/3h6ylth.

The state's emergency operations center shuts down for the weekend after 12 staffers test positive for the coronavirus: bit.ly/3fKdegc.

Publix, CVS, and Target stores mandate the wearing of masks: bit.ly/32siReR.

In Georgia:

"When you have to start shipping patients out of state, it's bad:" A report from a hospital in the Navicent network: n.pr/30lTzMN.

In Illinois:

The governor lays out a highly targeted plan for reopening the state: bit.ly/2Ox2NAj.

Chicago's arts sector is hemorrhaging jobs: bit.ly/2Ox0HQX.

Even as cases rises among those under 30, the city's young people aren't alarmed: bit.ly/3eFgOXg.

In Texas:

Dallas County reports 1,027 new COVID-19 cases, making for two full weeks with more than 1,000 new cases a day. The death toll is now 500: bit.ly/2B9gXEN.

Around the world:

In Brazil:

The country passes two million cases, with more than 76,000 dead: cbsn.ws/2WrVqOY.

In China:

Rushing to get as much vaccine data as possible, scientists are cutting ethical corners: nyti.ms/2WxPDrs.

In France:

An eyewitness account from a reopened Paris theatre: tinyurl.com/yywzc8sd.

In the UK:

Indoor live theatre performances are okayed starting August 1: tinyurl.com/y3e8t9tk.

The musical Frozen, originally scheduled for November, will open in April: bit.ly/2DT0eXr.

Entertainment:

Doireann Glackin (fiddle) and Sarah Flynn (concertina) perform their debut duet album, The Housekeepers, a collection of rare traditional Irish songs -- original compositions and unique interpretations of common tunes -- drawn from the repertoires of five seminal early 20th century women artists: Ella Mae O'Dwyer, Nora Hurley, Aggie Whyte, Ellen Galvin, and Mollie Myers Murphy. It happens July 19 at 5:00pm EDT at tinyurl.com/yy7ca25b or tinyurl.com/yyzqs4q9.

Now through July 23, London's National Theatre is streaming its recent acclaimed production of Peter Shaffer's Amadeus, starring Lucian Masamati and Adam Gillen. Donations cheerfully accepted: tinyurl.com/y2nkraak.

Playbill hosts a watch party of the original Julie Andrews production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, beginning July 24 at 8:00pm; it will be available for 48 hours after that. Go to: tinyurl.com/y4tvfgc5.

For your pleasure:

The cast of Smokey Joe's Café, in "Stand by Me:" tinyurl.com/yyvvuqz7.

That's all for today. Have a good weekend. Stay safe. And write your senators. -- 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.