COVID-19 Update, October 27, 2020: Lost Honor

As the pandemic continues unabated, the president on the campaign trail, disavows it altogether. The herd immunity plan, advocated by Dr. Scott Atlas, looks more unworkable than ever. And morale at the CDC is at an all-time low. But COVID-19 is causing another side effect, in lost American prestige. Even as countries around the world struggle with the coronavirus, the US has become the leading model of what not to do. When this finally ends, we will have much work to do.

The latest:

The number of COVID-19 deaths in the US is rising again: tinyurl.com/y4bpfata. But the president says the pandemic is ending: tinyurl.com/y2fu4876. He predicts that all discussion of it will end as of November 4: tinyurl.com/yy4tug9f.

So much for herd immunity: A new study in the UK finds that levels of antibodies in COVID-19 patients wane rapidly after infection: tinyurl.com/y4vts3fq.

A majority of 26,000 respondents surveyed in 25 countries faults governments for not responding rapidly enough or decisively enough to combat COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y69o7fdu. American prestige is dropping around the world, and the pandemic has plenty to do with it: tinyurl.com/y2k5deb7. How Presidents Trump and Bolsonaro facilitated the spread of the coronavirus through Latin America: tinyurl.com/yxefq4pk.

CDC staffers report a "toxic" atmosphere at work, warn of mass departures if the president is re-elected: tinyurl.com/y3e2u56c.

China's image, too, has suffered thanks to its handling of the pandemic: tinyurl.com/y4jrceee.

Crucial new vaccine data from Pfizer, originally scheduled for this week, won't be coming until after November 3: tinyurl.com/y6jwztt3.

Around the country:

In California:

How San Francisco has successfully contained the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/y2o6qmqu.

In Florida:

The state adds 4,298 new COVID-19 infections: tinyurl.com/y6k5ukj4.

In Illinois:

Suburban Cook County is placed under tougher COVID-19 restrictions: tinyurl.com/y2yccxdw.

The state's seven-day average for coronavirus infections passes 4,500 for the first time: tinyurl.com/y4ljp3jd.

In Massachusetts:

The number of new COVID-19 infections keeps rising: tinyurl.com/y3lfxncu.

In Montana:

"We are the last line of defense:" With no leadership coming from the state, a small town city council goes it alone in combatting the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/yyopfjrp.

In New York:

After 46 years, Westchester Broadway Theatre, in Elmsford, will close, a casualty of the pandemic: tinyurl.com/y6fgvdbc.

Only 26% of New York City students are attending in-person classes: tinyurl.com/y2c6re56.

Eight small theatres -- each with fewer than 199 seats -- sues the governor for the right to reopen: tinyurl.com/y2gt98mz.

In North Dakota:

As hospitalizations in the state reach an alarming level, Dr. Debora Birx, visiting Bismarck sees the "least use" of masks anywhere in the country: tinyurl.com/yysgljpq.

Around the world:

In France:

A doctor warns that the country "has lost control of the epidemic:" tinyurl.com/yy8lypqm.

In Germany:

The country's commissioner for nursing care advises families to celebrate the upcoming holidays in "shifts," meaning more get-togethers with fewer people: tinyurl.com/y3xafxrh.

In Italy:

Protestors angry over coronavirus-related restrictions clash with police: tinyurl.com/y3gjgcrb.

In Switzerland:

MSC Cruises plans a new air sanitation system on its forthcoming ship: www.cruisecritic.com/news/5675/.

In the UK:

The coronavirus spreads through London, reaching 13,000 cases in a single week: tinyurl.com/y6qnymvr.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces increasingly assertive calls for a clear, comprehensible pandemic exit strategy: tinyurl.com/y4xj9l9a.

The COVID-19 death toll passes 60,000: tinyurl.com/y49goagp.

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine apparently works in people of all ages: tinyurl.com/y2m5e7ca.

Education:

New webinars from JBL: "Subwoofer Alignment with Full-Range Systems in the Time Domain with Charlie Hughes," November 5 at 1:00pm CT: tinyurl.com/y4h9hwdc. "Setting Up and Monitoring Power Distribution for Lighting and Audio with Richard Cadena," November 12 at 11:00am CT: tinyurl.com/yyde7nfv.

New webinars from Martin by Harman: "A Brief User's Manual for A Lighting Career with Benny Kirkham," October 28 at 11:00am CT: tinyurl.com/yxmg7xfc. "The ABC's of Awesome Lighting Terminology," October 29 at 11:00am CT: tinyurl.com/yywovffz.

For your entertainment:

The Boston Symphony Orchestra's Encore BSO Recitals stream features a diverse program of folk-style pieces including some of BSO violinist Bonnie Bewick's own arrangements and compositions, two contemporary works for woodwind quintet, and a world premiere recording of one-minute cello miniatures solicited and performed by BSO cellist Mickey Katz. Available for viewing at www.bso.org beginning Thursday, October 22 at noon through November 19; the Encore BSO Recitals series is offered as a nine-concert series for a donation of $25.

Live with Carnegie Hall kicks off its fall season on October 29 at 7:30pm ET with an episode inspired by the Hall's Virtual Opening Night gala broadcast earlier this month. This program provides a behind-the-scenes peek of how the event came together across three continents, including a full, extended performance by 2020-2021 Carnegie Hall Perspectives artist Rhiannon Giddens with Our Native Daughters along with archival footage of musicians who have graced the stages throughout the Hall's history. The full program from the Hall's Virtual Opening Night gala is now available for on-demand viewing through January 7: www.carnegiehall.org/live.

Off Broadway's Keen Company presents a benefit reading of the notorious Orson Welles radio version of The War of the Worlds on October 30 at 8:00pm ET. The cast includes Jason Tam, Arnie Burton, and Dan Domingues. Tickets are only $25 and are available on at www.broadwayondemand.com.

Sing Out For Freedom, a benefit concert for the American Civil Liberties Union, will stream on November 2 at 6:30pm. Participants include Lea DeLaria, André De Shields, Adrienne Warren, Rachel Brosnahan, Katrina Lenk, Heidi Schreck, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Phillippa Soo, Brandon Victor Dixon, Ephraim Sykes, Keala Settle, Eisa Davis, Jo Lampert, George Salazar, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Jelani Alladin, Larry Owens, Shaina Taub, Jomama Jones, and many others: www.SingOutforFreedom.com.

For your pleasure:

In honor of Dear Evan Hansen's win at the Olivier Awards this week, Sam Tutty, of the West End cast, and three other Evan portrayers offer "For Forever:" tinyurl.com/wxl4xfm.

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

What is your plan to vote? Please note: the LSA offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 3rd for Election Day. vote.gov/.