COVID-19 Update, August 4, 2020: Holding Patterns

There's no agreement on a stimulus bill. Schools are reopening -- bumpily at best -- or they aren't but the president insists they must. And, in a shocking interview, he reveals how little he understands about the pandemic. Today, real progress is in short supply.

The latest:

Negotiators remain far apart on the stimulus bill: cnn.it/3i0N5Ky. Rather than get involved, the president chooses to sit this one out: nyti.ms/3keruAb.

An unsettling interview on HBO leaves the impression that the president has no grasp of the pandemic's scope: tinyurl.com/y5m56nyz.

Inside the unresolved national controversy about reopening schools: wapo.st/2XtZajD.

Meanwhile:

Cruise ships in Norway and Tahiti face new COVID-19 outbreaks: bit.ly/33rpyhJ.

Lena Dunham goes public about her bout of COVID-19: bit.ly/33rXew2.

When the vaccine becomes available, who will be first in line? bit.ly/3go53Gu.

Around the country:

In California:

Hospitalizations are dropping in Los Angeles and Orange Counties: bit.ly/2Dt9pgZ.

The state's unemployment system is stressed to the breaking point by the pandemic: bit.ly/3fzjfLO.

In Florida:

It may be because of reduced testing thanks to Tropical Storm Isaias, but new cases drop below 8,000 for the third straight day: hrld.us/2BXAU1T.

Opera Orlando delays its fall productions: bit.ly/3ijjT1N.

In Missouri:

The outbreak affecting the St. Louis Cardinals apparently began with two team members visiting a casino: bit.ly/3klCGv8.

In New York:

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is off this year: tinyurl.com/y65olzy5.

A news story from WPIX highlights the stress on the city's events industry: bit.ly/2C2C1gQ.

The Broadway musical Sing Street, which had yet to open when lockdown began, has officially postponed until some unspecified time next season: tinyurl.com/y5wpfqsd.

In Texas:

Dallas County reports its lowest daily total of cases in six weeks: bit.ly/2DiR8TU.

Around the world:

In Israel:

The country's schools reopen, unleashing a super-spreader event: tinyurl.com/y5ohjhbj.

In the Philippines:

Manila goes back under lockdown: bloom.bg/3gz3Igk.

In the UK:

Job losses in the theatre industry have jumped from 3,000 to 5,000 in a month: tinyurl.com/y2cbswo3.

The #WeMakeEvents movement enters its red alert stage: bit.ly/3k9MEzB.

Mobilization:

Attention music crew: Action is needed for a targeted Senate outreach: bit.ly/2DvquHh.

On August 6 at noon, live events industry professionals will join IATSE Local 8 and the Philadelphia chapter of Live Events Coalition to educate the federal government about the industry's specific plight during the pandemic. This is a strictly masked and physically distancing event: bit.ly/30sjpQM.

Training:

New webinars from JBL: "History of Audio Technology with Peter Moses," August 5, at 7:00pm CT; register at bit.ly/3i9PW3M. "Network Design Considerations and Techniques for AV Systems with Thomas Hejnicki," August 6, at 11:00am CT, register at bit.ly/39TCnmp.

New webinars from Martin by Harman: "Transitioning from Touring to Corporate with Matt Mills," August 11 at 11:00am; register at bit.ly/30pcnw3. "Architectural Lighting Products and Lighting Techniques," August 19 at 7:00am CT; register at bit.ly/33rZvHo. "Conceptual Design Principles with Craig Rutherford," August 20, at 11:00am CT; register at bit.ly/3gvZOVa.

New webinars from Soundcraft: "Mixing the Main Stage with Raphael Williams," FOH engineer for Stormzy, August 10, at 7:00am CT; register at bit.ly/3i8vIaU. "System Engineer Skills for the Mix Engineer Part II with Cookie Hoff and Pooch Van Druten," September 16 at 1:00pm, CT; register at bit.ly/3fqePqs. "Tips for Mixing In-Ears on a Soundcraft Vi Console," September 17 at 2:00pm CT; register at bit.ly/3kfj0ZU.

Entertainment:

Alvin Ailey Dance Theater is screening Robert Battle's Awakening: bit.ly/3kax4Um.

Classical Theatre of Harlem reprises its performance of Cuttin' Up, by Charles Randolph Wright, starring Joe Morton, Blair Underwood, Tisha Campbell, and Dyllón Burnside, August 6 - 9: bit.ly/39Z7A7B.

Here's the latest lineup of streams from Metropolitan Opera: bit.ly/3fuPnQx.

Next from Tanglewood Online: August 5 at 8:00pm: Recitals from the World Stage featuring the Danish String Quartet from Copenhagen performing Shostakovich's Quartet No. 10 in A-flat, Op. 118, and a folk song arrangement to be announced from the stage, hosted by Karen Allen. August 7 at 8:00pm: BSO Musicians in Recital, featuring Bonnie Bewick, Mickey Katz, and Lawrence Wolfe performing traditional, folk, and contemporary selections arranged and composed by Bewick and Wolfe, as well as a performance of #cellominute -- a world-premiere compilation of small works for solo cello featuring works by Nico Muhly and Marti Epstein, among others. Cynthia Meyers, Robert Sheena, Michael Wayne, Richard Ranti, and Jason Snider round out the program with a performance of Umoja by celebrated composer Valerie Coleman and works by Paquito D'Rivera, hosted by Lauren Ambrose. August 8 at 8:00pm: Great Performers in Recital from Tanglewood featuring pianist Daniil Trifonov performing Bach's The Art of Fugue, hosted by Nicole Cabel. www.tanglewood.org.

For your pleasure:

West End star Hadley Fraser presents the touching "Looking at the Moon," winner of the Song for Our Time contest: bit.ly/30oMFb0.

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

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