COVID-19 Update, October 9, 2020: Make Me an Offer

Whiplash yet? It's not surprising. The idea of pandemic stimulus bill has been off and on so many times this week that it's hard to keep up. As we get ready to post this update, it appears on again, with the president making an offer that is tantalizingly close to what the Democrats have in mind. A breakthrough? Hard to say. By the time you read this, it could all be off. And on again later. As they used to say in the early days of television, don't touch that dial...

The latest:

In late-breaking news, it appears that the president is once again in favor of a wide-ranging stimulus bill: tinyurl.com/y3nc6wgc. He makes an offer for a $1.8 billion bill, which is $400 below the Democrat's ideal: tinyurl.com/y6ppy8x7.

The federal deficit reaches $3.1 trillion: tinyurl.com/y3n2g8b9.

With no systematic testing and tracing plan in place, it won't be possible to track infections stemming from events attended by the president: tinyurl.com/yxn2ydwy.

Europe tries targeted steps to combat the new wave of COVID-19 infections: tinyurl.com/y3uqz8yz.

There's always a silver lining: The world's air quality has improved markedly during the pandemic: tinyurl.com/y3q2ogje.

Food for thought:

COVID-19 death rates are lower worldwide: a blip or a trend? tinyurl.com/yy9bxet8.

Brain fog, the scourge of many COVID-19 survivors: tinyurl.com/y5y6k4pb.

It's hard enough being a healthcare professional during the pandemic. Then you have to deal with the coronavirus skeptics: tinyurl.com/y4kdy2ww.

Around the country:

In California:

Pixar's much-postponed Soul, expected to be one of the year's blockbusters, is skipping theatres altogether, heading to Disney+: tinyurl.com/y29bqf72.

SAG/AFTRA makes its third round of job cuts: tinyurl.com/y4u2u6r5.

Amazon is fined for safety violations at two sites in the state: tinyurl.com/y3nqpoel.

In Florida:

Miami allows for looser restrictions in restaurants: tinyurl.com/y5pnx6kp.

A dinner theatre production of Mamma Mia! is put on hold when an employee tests positive for COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y57ugvfw.

Carnival Corporation has a $2.9 billion net loss for the second quarter: tinyurl.com/y4pdqwv5.

In Hawaii:

The state looks to reboot its stalled tourism industry: tinyurl.com/y3r3ovc4.

In Illinois:

The state experience its biggest one-day increase in COVID-19 infections since May: tinyurl.com/y6aszob7.

In Massachusetts:

The Boston teacher's union sues the city, accusing it of going back on an agreement that would close schools in areas where the COVID-19 rate is over 4%: tinyurl.com/yydboc56.

In New Hampshire:

A ten-day indoor prayer session -- you read that right -- at Gate City Church in Nashua leads to a COVID-19 outbreak: tinyurl.com/y5ulnnr7.

In New Jersey:

Former governor Chris Christie, diagnosed with COVID-19, has been in the hospital for six days: tinyurl.com/y3vkq9pm.

In New York:

To the surprise of no one, Broadway will remain closed through May 2021: tinyurl.com/y32tdwxp. The Hugh Jackman revival of The Music Man is rolled back to the fall sometime: tinyurl.com/y4zxfzkt. MJ, the Michael Jackson bio musical, will now start previews in September: tinyurl.com/y338dfzc.

The New York Jets are sent home after a team member tests positive for COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y2qgryma.

With the governor and NYC mayor working at cross-purposes, the new lockdown rules in certain areas spurs confusion, lawsuits, and protests: tinyurl.com/yynrvtpw.

In Texas:

After attending the Rose Garden super-spreader event, the pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake held a service, hugging someone onstage and preaching without a mask: tinyurl.com/y6e2uanj. The pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, was also in the Rose Garden, refuses to socially distance: tinyurl.com/y3sfwjmh.

The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo is canceled: tinyurl.com/y3odfl2q.

In Wisconsin:

As COVID-19 cases spike alarmingly, the GOP pushes back against the governor's use of an emergency authorization to control the outbreak: tinyurl.com/yxg5twrr.

Around the world:

In Brazil:

The country struggles with pandemic fatigue as COVID-19 cases pass five million: tinyurl.com/y496t6nr.

In Canada:

IMAX Corporation lays of 150 employees: tinyurl.com/y2qywdbj.

In China:

The nation joins the global vaccine initiative, designed to get two billion doses delivered by the end of 2021. The US has not joined: tinyurl.com/y5d75zae.

In France:

Inside the pandemic edition of the French Open: tinyurl.com/y38lypkq.

In India:

The pandemic ravages the nation's rural areas: tinyurl.com/y4fhwr.

In the UK:

Panto season is on, as London's Palladium plans an all-star show in December: tinyurl.com/y2kggxnr.

Losses:

Director Maurice Edwards: tinyurl.com/y2tnvbau.

Education:

PLASA Online takes place October 12 -16. Here's information about the seminar lineup: www.plasashow.com/plasa-online.

For your entertainment:

Brooklyn's St. Ann's Warehouse streams Phyllida Lloyd's all-female production of Julius Caesar, starring Harriet Walter, tonight at 7:30pm ET: tinyurl.com/y4mmfbm8.

Tonya PInkins stars in Molière's The School for Wives, in Richard Wilbur's translation, in a production featuring Mirirai Sithole, directed by Lucie Tiberghien. It streams live on October 24 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm ET. The reading is free, but donations are cheerfully accepted. (It is presented by New York's Theatre for a New Audience and French Institute Alliance Française.) RSVP at tfana.wufoo.com/forms/s1omvcm31wqn9xt/.

For your pleasure:

Phillipa Soo delivers "Ultraluminary," from the new Netflix animated film Over the Moon: tinyurl.com/yxfdtqd8.

That's all for today. Have a good weekend. The office is closed on Monday, so we'll reconvene on Tuesday. Above all, stay safe. -- DB

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