COVID-19 Update, January 15, 2020: The $2 Trillion Dollar Plan

It was an extraordinary, even heartbreaking week, with Washington, DC convulsed by violence and controversy, followed by the second impeachment of the president. At the same time, the pandemic continues unabated, bringing states like California to a near-halt. But the president-elect has announced a plan to get the coronavirus under control and jump-start the economy. The $2-trillion-dollar price tag may be a heavy lift, even with the new Congress, but look for there to be legislative action as January gives way to February. More vaccines are coming. Dr. Anthony Fauci says life will be vastly improved by next fall. And once herd immunity is achieved, experts say COVID-19 will be no worse than the common cold. Help is on the way.

The latest:

The global death toll from COVID-19 reaches two million: tinyurl.com/yxlkczuv.

The US sets another record for COVID-19 deaths -- 4,200 in one day: tiny url.com/yyvepbe4.

The president-elect announces his $1.9-trillion-dollar plan to beat the pandemic and get the economy back on track: tinyurl.com/yyexrsbj.

The pressure is on as states step up the effort to get vaccines distributed: tinyurl.com/y3xun75w. Rural states with relatively small populations have been the most successful so far in getting vaccines distributed: tinyurl.com/y2e7q793. It seems that mask-wearing and other social distancing measures have kept the flu at bay this year: tinyurl.com/y5vdhhxh.

The CDC expands its vaccination guidelines to anyone over the age of 65: tinyurl.com/yy5r9bsj.

Inheriting a vaccine distribution plan with no infrastructure, the president-elect has his work cut out for him: tinyurl.com/y25jhnyy.

The World Health Organization warns that even with vaccines herd immunity in 2021 is unlikely tinyurl.com/yx9robwt . However, once herd immunity is attained, you can expect COVID-19 to be no more annoying than the common cold: tinyurl.com/y25jhzgn.

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is looking good, but getting it mass produced is proving to be a challenge: tinyurl.com/y46lpav3.

Out of the first 1.9 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, only 21 severe allergic reactions have occurred: tinyurl.com/y4cr7s5h.

Most COVID survivors experience suffer from badly scarred lungs: tinyurl.com/yxtxmuh2.

Dr. Anthony Fauci continues to assert that the theatres will be reopen come fall: tinyurl.com/y4a3h56n.

New unemployment claims hit 965,000 last week -- much, much worse than expected: tinyurl.com/y4bb7us9. Retail sales dropped .7% in December: tinyurl.com/y5pprwf3.

A half-million hospitality workers lost their jobs in December: rb.gy/a.mgmbf.

The US will require that all arriving international travels have proof that they have tested negative for the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/y3jluo8r.

US cinema box office receipts plunged 80% in 2020: tinyurl.com/y5wbgez4.

Here's an update on Ticketmaster's mobile ticketing plan, to help ensure safe attendance at events: tinyurl.com/y5j8glhe.

Around the country:

In California:

The bad news continues with someone dying of COVID-19 every eight minutes: tinyurl.com/yy9xdw9.

The state records 10,000 deaths in a single month, hitting 30,000: tinyurl.com/y24pml8z.

"The horror stories are countless:" inside an LA hospital: tinyurl.com/y3gdv8l8.

More blockbusters, more delayed release dates, as Hollywood plays the waiting game: tinyurl.com/y5gkmvpd.

Disneyland will become a mass vaccination site: tinyurl.com/yxnnsayf.

Film and TV production permits in the state plunged in December: tinyurl.com/y6xx6f63.

Actors' Equity pauses its consideration of safety plans to reopening live theatre in the devastated state: tinyurl.com/y3g89xck.

The Screen Actors' Guild Awards will be postponed until April 4, to avoid a conflict with the Grammy Awards, which, in turn, were postponed because of the currently raging pandemic: tinyurl.com/yxmuwpf8.

In Florida:

The state is beginning to attract "vaccine tourists" from Argentina, Brazil, and Canada, among other countries: tinyurl.com/y6td6b2y.

Asolo Reportory Theatre in Sarasota announces plans for a 2021 outdoor season: tinyurl.com/y5s7ukvb.

As Disney World recalls workers, about 30,000 are on the job while 13,000 remained furloughed: tinyurl.com/y4sllask.

In Nevada:

The state's COVID restrictions, which include 25% capacity at restaurants, will continue for an additional 30 days: tinyurl.com/yy7ucoj7.

In New York:

Citi Field, home of the Mets, will become a vaccination station: tinyurl.com/yyyk32ho.

The state expands eligibility for vaccination: tinyurl.com/y2c73aoa.

The governor announces plans to revive the state's arts scene: tinyurl.com/y5dvchmw.

The Broadway industry awaits guidance on what help is forthcoming in the Save Our Stages Act: https://tinyurl.com/yy6o6au.

In Ohio:

Researchers identify two US-based variants of the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/y6jgbcco.

Around the world:

In Brazil:

Officials report that the Chinese Sinovac vaccine is showing a disappointing 50% efficacy rate: tinyurl.com/y6tq32u4.

In Canada:

Even livestream performances are off as Ontario tightens its social restrictions: tinyurl.com/y494tdqf.

In China:

New restrictions are put in place following a new surge of COVID-19 cases near Beijing: tinyurl.com/y4qd2cml.

The country records its biggest one-day tally of new infections since July; meanwhile, the World Health Organization, which had previously been barred from entering the country, is on the way: tinyurl.com/y223dbqb.

In France:

Vaccine skepticism is a major issue; as much as 60% of the population is against getting inoculated: tinyurl.com/y6novjn6.

In Indonesia:

The government rolls out its mass vaccination initiative: tinyurl.com/y626w5op.

In Ireland:

How the country went from one of the lowest per-capita rates of COVID-19 in Europe to one of the highest: tinyurl.com/y4qu9wal.

In Japan:

Despite a rising COVID case count, officials insist that the summer Olympics will go on as planned: tinyurl.com/y5ccbvuv.

In Kenya:

The African Union obtains 300 million doses of vaccine for the continent: tinyurl.com/yxozmlrk.

In Lebanon:

The country orders am 11-day, 24-hour lockdown to combat the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/y3pmja4h.

In Malaysia:

The country declares a state of emergency, suspending Parliament until August: tinyurl.com/y2bga88d.

In Peru:

The country's ICUs are filling up with COVID-19 cases: tinyurl.com/y5bdgpdh.

In Singapore:

The nation-state has managed to keep its campuses almost totally free of the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/yxgqk46s.

In South Africa:

The country struggles with a post-holiday surge in COVID018 cases: tinyurl.com/yy4e7jcb

In Sweden:

The country, once known for its "light-touch" approach to COVID-19, has passed a law allowing the government to restrict the number of people in public places and to fine those who break the law: tinyurl.com/y35gbmbx.

In the UK:

New modeling indicates that one in five are infected with COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y5sqtqjv. The government gears up to run its vaccination program 24/7: tinyurl.com/y4eqmmjp.

The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients outpaces the spring peak by 70%; unsurprisingly, hospitals are overwhelmed: tinyurl.com/yyj4hq4t.

Last year was the deadliest in a century in England and Wales: tinyurl.com/y58tmxs8.

Andrew Lloyd Webber sticks to the idea of a mid-May opening for Cinderella, his new musical; the plan is to run the show with a 75% capacity audience: tinyurl.com/y2wuhf3y.

In Ukraine:

The country is in a pickle. Denied immediate access to Western vaccines and unhappy about accepting help from Russia, it turns to China for help: tinyurl.com/y5ob7xc9t.

Education:

Episode 30 of 4Wall Entertainment's Sunday Roundtable features some of the top designers and design educators in the country. Hosts Jeff Croiter and Drew Quinones are joined this week by Tony Award winner Chris Barreca, Helen Hayes Award nominee Regina Garcia, Tony Award winner Jennifer Tipton, and Obie Award winner Jason Lyons to discuss how they've adapted to teaching during the pandemic, what inspired them to become teachers, and why they're passionate about what they do.

Episode 30 will be available to stream on Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 7:00pm EST on 4Wall's Facebook Live and YouTube pages, and will remain available afterwards. Facebook: bit.ly/4Wall-Sunday-Roundtable-Ep-30-FB YouTube: bit.ly/4Wall-Sunday-Roundtable-Ep-30-YT.

New webinar from JBL, Soundcraft, and Studer by Harman: Finding and Providing Help in the Entertainment Industry Panel Discussion, Moderated by Brad Schiller, Martin senior business development manager and featuring industry foundation panelists: Lee Dennison, Erik Parker, Lori Rubinstein, and Nurit Smith. It happens January 20 at 11am CST: tinyurl.com/y3tpzxbe.

New webinar from Powersoft: D-Tools Cloud is an award-winning web-based application for AV system integrators that automates AV proposal processes and manages product procurement and sales processes. Designed to allow for collaboration with clients through browser-based drawings, and allow for approval and payment on the spot, the single software solution greatly reduces time spent on accounting, purchasing, and invoicing -- helping to close more sales in less time. Learn more about D-Tools Cloud in Powersoft's upcoming live webinar on January 21 at 2pm EST: tinyurl.com/y4zrdzum.

New webinar from Vectorworks: When no two sets are the same, you need the flexibility to design every corner of the space. Join owner and art director of GvZ Media, Grant Van Zevern, to learn best practices for televised stage production. Learn non-standard file organization like setting up files with draft-specific layers and symbols. Further, see his tips and tricks for designing industry-specific elements like drapery, lightboxes, and internal lighting in Vectorworks Spotlight. It happens January 20 at 2pm EST: tinyurl.com/y5t2w3bz.

Entertainment:

Next up from Boston Symphony Orchestra: Stefan Asbury leads a program including Thomas Adès' Dawn, Debussy's Printemps, Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending with violin soloist Elena Urioste, and Smetana's The Moldau; the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, with guest conductor Jorge Soto, perform Elena Langer's Five Reflections on Water; available for viewing through February 13 at www.bso.org/now.

Bobby Cannavale and Marisa Tomei star in a reading of Jon Robin Baitz's drama Three Hotels, directed by Moisés Kaufman, January 26 - 30. It's a benefit for Broadway Cares: tinyurl.com/y6blfppt.

Metropolitan Playhouse presents its next free "screened" readings with talkback to follow: Aftermath, Mary P. Burrill. It happens January 16 at 8pm EST. Running time is 60 minutes: www.metropolitanplayhouse.org. The video will be available through Wednesday, 1/20/21 on the Playhouse webpage, the Metropolitan Playhouse YouTube channel, and the Metropolitan Playhouse Facebook page.

Pittsburgh Playhouse's extraordinary production of the musical Ordinary Days, soon to be featured in Lighting&Sound America, returns today through January 17: tinyurl.com/create.php.

Red Bull Theatre presents a free reading of Frances Burney's 18th-century satire The Woman Hater. Directed by Everett Quinton, it features Bill Army, Arnie Burton, Veanne Cox, Matthew Saldivar, and Nick Westrate. It happens January 25 at 7pm, EST: tinyurl.com/y6xzy8ap.

St. Ann's Warehouse, Landmark Productions, and Project Arts Centre present Mark O'Rowe's enigmatic play The Approach, live-streamed from the Project Arts Centre stage in Dublin (January 21, 23, and 24) and then offered on-demand for a limited time only (January 25 - 31). The Approach is a "psychological thriller that brings together a dream team of actors at the top of their game" (The Sunday Times): Cathy Belton, Derbhle Crotty, and Aisling O'Sullivan. Tickets start at $20: www.stannswarehouse.org.

Vineyard Theatre's original cast benefit reading of Gloria, the Pulitzer Prize finalist play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Evan Cabnet, will begin streaming on January 19 at 7:00pm EST and will be available through January 24, allowing for two additional days of viewing on demand. Featured are original cast members Kyle Beltran, Catherine Combs, Michael Crane, Jennifer Kim, Jeanine Serralles, and Ryan Spahn. The original production was a seven-time Critic's Pick and received notable nominations from the Lortel Awards, Drama League Awards, Drama Desk Awards, and Outer Critics Circle Awards. Tickets are $25: www.vineyardtheatre.org.

Weekend Playlist:

Barbara Cook offers a distinctive interpretation of Irving Berlin's "I Love a Piano:" tinyurl.com/yytcymzh.

Lena Horne finds all of the sass in Rodgers and Hart's "The Lady is a Tramp:" tinyurl.com/m5ostmw.

Patti LaBelle offers "On My Own," featuring Michael McDonald: tinyurl.com/nc8ayek.

Norm Lewis, who starred Phantom of the Opera, offers "Music of the Night," by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Christopher Hart: tinyurl.com/yy26adpb.

Rob McClure offers "I Love Betsy" by Jason Robert Brown, from the musical Honeymoon in Vegas: tinyurl.com/y62qtumh.

That's all for today. Have a great weekend. Stay safe. - DB

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