COVID-19 Update, December 8: V-Day in the UK

The global rollout begins: The first vaccines are administered in the UK, raising hopes worldwide for a better 2021. (The first recipient is named Margaret Keenan; the first man to receive it is named William Shakespeare; we swear we aren't making this up.) In the US, it's a mixed picture, with new questions about distribution and availability of vaccines. Still, they look set to arrive here by next week. Meanwhile, work continues on a stimulus bill and, if you ask us, Congress finally seems to realize the seriousness of the situation. And the pandemic continues to upend the world in unexpected ways, causing an ugly labor dispute at the Metropolitan Opera and raising the possibility of a revolution in the making and distribution of theatrical films.

The latest:

The UK launches the first mass vaccination: tinyurl.com/y2vw6jxu.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar says a vaccine will be available to any healthy adult by the second quarter of 2021: tinyurl.com/yy9zseku. But the government failed to expand its order of the Pfizer vaccine when it could, meaning the US won't get more beyond its initial order until June at the earliest: tinyurl.com/y6r4sxh6. In any case, the Pfizer vaccine gets a big thumbs-up from the FDA: tinyurl.com/yxmlmzne.

The stimulus relief bill hits a snag over aid to states and localities and liability protection for businesses: tinyurl.com/y53on2al. But Congress will likely pass a stopgap spending bill that will allow stimulus talks to continue: tinyurl.com/y3eg8l6k.

The CDC wants personal data on everyone getting the vaccine: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo calls it a scheme to get information on undocumented immigrants: tinyurl.com/yyz58699.

The AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine is the first to have its results published in a peer-reviewed journal, with results that suggest more testing is needed: tinyurl.com/y6pnwt7u.

American Airlines will offer pre-flight COVID testing for domestic travel. The cost: $129. tinyurl.com/yxsm26ak.

Food for thought:

Could better messaging convince more people to stay at home during the pandemic? tinyurl.com/y445wxya.

What seven ICU nurses want you to know about caring for patients in the pandemic: tinyurl.com/y6s6jfyd.

Around the country:

In California:

Film production company Legendary Entertainment threatens to take Warner Bros. to court over its plan to release films simultaneously in theatres and on HBO Max: tinyurl.com/y336tqrq. Filmmaker Christopher Noland condemns the Warner Bros. plan: tinyurl.com/y56md4t9. John Stankey, CEO of AT&T weighs in on the debate: tinyurl.com/y5juwmtf.

In Florida:

The state adds 7,711 new cases on Monday: tinyurl.com/yy65695o.

Why did the state's department of law enforcement invade the home of data analyst and critic of the governor's handling of COVID-19 statistics? tinyurl.com/yy4re48u.

Rapper Luther Campbell tests positive for COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y5o7vqrw. So does the mayor of Coral Gables: tinyurl.com/y5yzgg5r.

In Maryland:

The state reports 50 COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, the highest number in the state since May: tinyurl.com/y3f42prc.

In Massachusetts:

Hospitals will temporarily curtail inpatient elective surgeries that can be safely put off, in order to manage the new spike in cases: tinyurl.com/y2wod7uc.

In New York:

The mayor says the vaccine will arrive in New York City a week from today: tinyurl.com/yy2lj8jz.

The Metropolitan Opera locks out its stagehands in a dispute about pandemic-related pay cuts: tinyurl.com/y3w6jkkk. Musicians at New York Philharmonic agree to substantial pandemic pay cuts: tinyurl.com/y3zg7b9o.

In Ohio:

The state's House of Representatives cancels meeting for two days when three lawmakers test positive for COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y3tckbqj.

In Texas:

A Houston doctor fighting on the frontlines of the pandemic, dies of COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y3qwauh2.

Around the world:

In Canada:

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the country will get 249,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine by the end of the year: tinyurl.com/y2ts64or.

In Slovakia:

Mass COVID-19 testing, combined with stringent quarantine rules, brought down the country's infection rate by 60%, researchers say: tinyurl.com/yy25d4eh.

In the UK:

Margaret Keenan, 90, is the first Brit to receive the COVID-19 vaccine: tinyurl.com/y5lzumae.

The West End shows signs of life, including the return of Les Miz: tinyurl.com/y6gdpcks.

Education:

New webinar from JBL: "Talking Cat5/Cat5S Connections, RJ45 Connectors & Ethercon Housings w/ Fedj (Jeff) Sylvanus," January 7 at 12:00pm, CST; register at tinyurl.com/y5325vuc.

New webinars from Martin by Harman: "Budgeting for Concert Lighting: Determining How Much Your Show Should Cost with Chris McMeen," December 15 at 11:00am CST; register at: tinyurl.com/y6ftbuuv.

"Trade Show Booth Lighting Design from Start to Finish with Michael Mahoney," December 17 at 11:00am, CST; register at tinyurl.com/y6qqeony.

Entertainment:

Boston Symphony Orchestra presents the Boston Pops Holiday Concert, launching December 10 at noon: tinyurl.com/yy5yep28.

For your pleasure:

Jimmy Fallon and Andrew Rannells relive the recent past in 2020: The Musical: tinyurl.com/y38npjoz.

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

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