COVID-19 Update: August 31, 2020: Six Million and Counting

As the nation's attention is focused on events in Kenosha and Portland, a flurry of developments, both good and bad, continue. The good news: progress is being made on medical front. The bad news: The country passes a grim new milestone and the vaccine process is becoming increasingly politicized. Meanwhile, the live events industry organizes for the Red Alert Restart Day, which takes place tomorrow.

The latest:

The United States passes 6,000,000 cases of COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y4twecto.

Public health officials are alarmed by the FDA head suggesting that he might release a COVID-19 vaccine before Phase III trials are completed: tinyurl.com/yxaddwsg. In response, he promises the process will be transparent: tinyurl.com/yxttx7mp.

The government's virus-hunting program, which was dropped last year just before COVID-19 broke out, is being quietly brought back, under a different name: tinyurl.com/y3hrmqvz.

A new study from the American Academy of Pediatrics reports that new COVID-19 cases (including hospitalizations and deaths) are rising faster among children and adolescents than the general public: tinyurl.com/y5jc2zj5.

Other evidence suggests that pre-schoolers are resistant to the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/y2nrgycv.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccine trials continue apace: tinyurl.com/y6jxpcjv.

Scientists see evidence of strong COVID-19 immune response even in those with mild cases: tinyurl.com/y2l5qcqk.

In a new development, a theory emerges that boosting interferons could help fight COVID-19: tinyurl.com/yxszdro2.

Meanwhile:

New COVID-19 cases are surging in Europe, although with fewer deaths: tinyurl.com/y3trunww.

The pandemic tears through Latin America's evangelical communities: tinyurl.com/yyg3efxv.

Overwhelmed by medical bills, some families of COVID victims are forced to crowdfund the funerals: tinyurl.com/yyypz5bj.

College towns around the country, alarmed by partying students, are imposing restrictions: tinyurl.com/y5fr7j9u.

A peer-reviewed study suggests that Vitamin B can be used to mitigate the worst effects of COVID-19: tinyurl.com/yys686cj.

Investigators begin to unearth the extent of PPP fraud: tinyurl.com/y4r4glgo.

In spite of everything, hotels continue to open nationwide: tinyurl.com/yye8tmas.

Around the country:

In California:

The governor offers a new four-tier planning for reopening communities: tinyurl.com/y5phe2d4. He also sets strict guidelines for reopening cinemas: tinyurl.com/yy54wwas.

FEMA approves the state's application for three weeks of enhanced unemployment benefits of $300 a week: tinyurl.com/yy98plhv.

The Foster Farms poultry plant in Merced County closes following an outbreak of eight COVID-19 deaths: tinyurl.com/y3yohxw3.

The Hollywood Bowl is repurposed as a drive-in food bank: tinyurl.com/yyrvyrn2.

San Diego State University students ignore distancing rules, leading to new COVID-19 cases: tinyurl.com/y4sgb2yz.

Cancelations at San Diego Convention Center lead to $1.2 billion in losses: tinyurl.com/y4el6v7t.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium struggles to survive without tourists: tinyurl.com/yykn593j.

The one-two punch of fires and the pandemic devastate the state's wine country: tinyurl.com/y6cyb3xf.

A University of California San Diego study finds a surge in pandemic-related panic attacks: tinyurl.com/y5ybze9m.

In Florida:

The state posts the lowest daily rise in new cases in months: tinyurl.com/y6fvjzwn.

Hundreds of infections are found at schools around the state: tinyurl.com/yywhx2sx.

The Central Florida economy is stuck in idle: tinyurl.com/yxpchzlj.

Universal Orlando hotels are letting go 840 employees: tinyurl.com/yy6rugfh.

EDC Orlando is canceled for this year: tinyurl.com/y4okygmp.

Osceola County schools close for two weeks over coronavirus concerns: tinyurl.com/y3lznm5k.

The Miami-Dade school year gets off to a rocky start when the online learning system crashes: tinyurl.com/y2agbqmp.

The governor, trying to get the economy started, insists that flying is safe: tinyurl.com/y67m8sav.

Casinos reopen in Miami-Dade County: tinyurl.com/yy9hc72x.

In Illinois:

No freshman or sophomores at Northwestern University this fall, and fraternity and sorority houses will remain closed: tinyurl.com/y2h4xmt6.

Chicago-area Catholic schools are delaying the opening of in-person classes: tinyurl.com/y5ajmk4.

Conductor Riccardo Muti, "a prisoner" in Italy, plots the future of the pandemic-assailed Chicago Symphony Orchestra: tinyurl.com/y66nckve.

In Indiana:

Classes will start up again at University of Notre Dame: tinyurl.com/y5trsfrd.

In Louisiana:

COVID-19 devastates New Orleans' Black community: tinyurl.com/y3n97q84.

In Massachusetts:

An off-campus party at Worcester's Holy Cross College yields 21 COVID-19 cases: tinyurl.com/yyvs7zut.

In Nevada:

MGM Resorts lays of 18,000: tinyurl.com/y33dp98j.

In New Jersey:

The state is set to allow indoor dining, at 25% capacity: tinyurl.com/yxjjymg3.

In New York:

The state's infection rate hits a new low: tinyurl.com/y5b4kcws.

In New York City, rapid COVID-19 tests are available -- if you can afford one: tinyurl.com/y6z659jh.

New York City is making virtual inspections of reopening gyms: tinyurl.com/y2ofcrfh.

The classical music agency Columbia Artists Management is a victim of the pandemic: tinyurl.com/y5yc2o22.

The pandemic threatens the city's plan to reduce carbon emissions: tinyurl.com/y5yc2o22.

Despite all the predictions of doom, many New York City businesses are prepared to hang on for the duration: tinyurl.com/y5yc2o22.

In North Carolina:

Four attendees at the Republican National Convention in Charlotte test positive for COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y53zh2el.

Around the world:

In Cuba:

Curfew is imposed as authorities to try to tamp down a surge in new COVID-19 cases: tinyurl.com/y435hgcn.

In France:

The government is set to permit events with audiences of up to 5,000: tinyurl.com/y2n5nwha.

But a new surge in cases threatens the country's back-to-school plan: tinyurl.com/y2s9yan7.

In Germany:

Police halt an 18,000-strong anti-mask demonstration because marchers weren't following social distancing rules: tinyurl.com/yyprn5r4. The government condemns the demonstration, which involved members of the far right trying to storm the Reichstag: tinyurl.com/y2yrrtyp.

In Greece:

Two hundred passengers are told to self-quarantine following a flight filled with "selfish covidiots and an inept crew:" tinyurl.com/y3rlca52.

In India:

The country has the largest number of daily cases in the world: tinyurl.com/y3jjjw3h.

In Mexico:

Cabo San Lucas tries to lure back tourists: tinyurl.com/y2sswlmb.

In the UK:

Police break up illegal gatherings around the country: tinyurl.com/yyypjhvz.

Mobilization:

Billboard reports on the Red Alert Restart day, scheduled for tomorrow: tinyurl.com/y4qb577k.

For your entertainment:

Barrington Stage Company (BSC) will present a virtual reading of Eleanor, a new play about Eleanor Roosevelt, by Mark St. Germain (Off-Broadway and BSC's Freud's Last Session) and starring Tony Award winner Harriet Harris. It will be filmed at the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage on September 2 without an audience and will be available to stream on September 4 and 5 at 7:30pm ET. Tickets ($15) can be ordered from OvationTix and a link will then be sent to the ticket holder within 24 hours of the scheduled performance: tinyurl.com/y4olc9fr.

Here's this week's lineup of streams from the Metropolitan Opera: tinyurl.com/y3ddwqeb.

For your pleasure:

Lilli Cooper offers "Come to Your Senses," from the musical Tick...Tick...Boom!: tinyurl.com/y5vzps5x.

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

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