COVID-19 Update, May 28, 2021: The Last Update

COVID-19 Update, May 28, 2021: The Last Update Is it over? Not really. Is the end in sight? Definitely. After so many months, infection rates are plunging, lockdowns are easing up. This week brings more encouraging news: Vaccines probably last longer than originally thought. They work in teenagers; get ready for an announcement about younger children, too. Also, they are standing up to all the global variants. And the US is within shooting distance of herd immunity after all. Yes, things can still go wrong, and we have to get the rest of the world vaccinated -- especially in worrying hotspots like Brazil and India -- for everyone to be truly free. Also, don't ask us to put down money on whether the Tokyo Olympics will happen. Still, the live events industry is ramping up on every front, heralding a wildly busy fall.

With all this in mind, we've decided that this series has run its course, and this will be the last update. There may be trouble ahead but, overall, the future is once again looking bright. Remember: We can do this.

The latest:

As of last Sunday, eight states had reached the goal of vaccination for 70% of its population: tinyurl.com/sv2njcw. And half of US states have fully vaccinated 50% of their adults: tinyurl.com/436t3uj2. A new poll suggests that the magic 70% figure may be within reach: tinyurl.com/9xzb9pc.

Moderna reports that its vaccine is safe and effective for use in adolescents: tinyurl.com/6u6pksen.

The CDC says people who have been fully vaccinated can skip getting tested for the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/usyrhcev.

New research indicates that immunity after vaccination may last for years: tinyurl.com/2vnkkjbd. And the race is on to determine when boosters might be needed: tinyurl.com/2r4czefh.

Two doses of the standard vaccines prove effective against the Indian coronavirus variant: tinyurl.com/5a89n4wn.

CVS will offer the chance for cash prizes and Super Bowl tickets for those who get vaccinated: tinyurl.com/yh3ypzpm.

President Biden orders US intelligence agencies to vigorously investigate the origins of the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/589p8sej.

Horror stories abound of COVID patients getting saddled with onerous bills: https://tinyurl.com/hy89mrr2.

Planning a trip to Europe? Make sure you read the fine print regarding COVID testing: tinyurl.com/4krx36pn.

Many more oxygen supplies are needed to keep healthcare systems from collapsing in Nepal, Iran, and South Africa: tinyurl.com/2eewy3ef.

New jobless claims drop again, coming in ahead of expectations: tinyurl.com/amc2st8e.

Food for thought:

What activities are safe for unvaccinated children? A legion of experts weighs in: tinyurl.com/vtv8st2s.

Around the country:

In California:

The state reopens, fully dropping capacity and distancing requirements, June 15: tinyurl.com/nw4dkmy7.

The state also gets in on the vaccination lottery craze, offering those who get a jab a chance for $116.5 million in cash prizes: tinyurl.com/7u2ehf85.

In Florida:

SeaWorld employees who have been vaccinated can now go maskless: tinyurl.com/25usnhwh.

The state will drop the $300 federal unemployment benefit as of June 26: tinyurl.com/varusu74.

Test cruises may be ready to sail from Port Canaveral by July: tinyurl.com/trmzsyjn.

In Illinois:

United Airlines offers a shot at free flights to customers who get their shots: tinyurl.com/2z6xjcts.

In Indiana:

An Indianapolis theatre reopens following the death, from COVID, of its founder: https://tinyurl.com/dwvrn44t.

In Massachusetts:

The state's schools will return to in-person learning in the fall: tinyurl.com/e45ktsts.

In Missouri:

Kansas City's Starlight Theatre will reopen to full capacity audiences this summer: tinyurl.com/ze5arwvr.

In Nevada:

Las Vegas preps for its grand reopening June 1, with the trade show World of Concrete opening a week later: tinyurl.com/fzzbatj4.

In New Jersey:

Giants and Jets games will be played to full-capacity crowds: tinyurl.com/2yee3nyj.

In New York:

All New York City public school classes will be in-person only, starting in September, says Mayor De Blasio: tinyurl.com/ppuvvtey.

The Broadway musical Hadestown returns September 2: tinyurl.com/56z8sm9k. Girl from the North Country opens October 13: tinyurl.com/sf7xtshc.

As this press conference makes clear, many questions about reopening Broadway remain unanswered: tinyurl.com/znzaspn2. But could Broadway shows begin reopening before September? tinyurl.com/55t6ypyp.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will perform in front of live audiences starting June 14: tinyurl.com/3tmr3977.

Actors' Equity urges US states to continue federal pandemic unemployment insurance: tinyurl.com/jur5699x.

In Wisconsin:

The state becomes ground zero in the fight against vaccine hesitancy: tinyurl.com/a7f57twc.

Around the world:

In Austria:

The country, worried about the prevalence of the Indian coronavirus variant, bans flights from the UK: tinyurl.com/9uzfewur.

In China:

The Wall Street Journal reports that several staff workers at the much talk-about Wuhan clinic fell ill shortly before the first COVID-19 case was detected; the country issues furious denials: tinyurl.com/d4k958ww.

In France:

The country imposes a seven-day quarantine on visitors from the UK: tinyurl.com/549y7a5y.

In Thailand:

The country is the latest to employ sniffer dogs to detect the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/3pusc33a.

In the UK:

The government urges people not to move in and out of eight areas that have been especially hard-hit by the Indian coronavirus variant: tinyurl.com/5e4zunh9.

Encouraging test results from events with crowds raise expectations for a full reopening of the West End on June 21: tinyurl.com/yk463s6p.

A performance of the West End production Walden is canceled after a member of the backstage team is exposed to COVID-19: https://tinyurl.com/kaujjzxw.

Entertainment:

June 3 at 7:30pm ET, Live with Carnegie Hall returns with Remembering Greenwood, reflecting on the 100th anniversary of the Greenwood Massacre. The prosperous Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma -- nicknamed "Black Wall Street" -- was the site of a race-based massacre in 1921. Derrick "D-Nice" Jones presents a civic-special edition of his popular Club. Joining him is Valeisha Butterfield Jones, the Recording Academy's first-ever chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer. The program will also feature Dialtone and Jerica Wortham, artists from Tulsa who are part of Fire in Little Africa, a compilation hip-hop album and documentary that commemorates the anniversary: tinyurl.com/uy2mjxj4.

June 3, at noon ET; available through July 3: Boston Pops presents An Evening with Chris Thile and the Stars of Tomorrow, starring the multiple Grammy-winning mandolinist and MacArthur Fellow in his Boston Pops debut and sharing the stage with the winners of the 11th annual Fidelity Investments Young Artists Competition, chosen by audition from high school students throughout the Commonwealth. Keith Lockhart also leads the Pops in audience favorites drawn from acclaimed Pops recordings of the last 25 years WWW.BSO.ORG/NOW.

Weekend Playlist:

Eydie Gormé torches her way through the Gershwins' "The Man I Love:" tinyurl.com/5a4fhqng.

Morgan James and Jose Llana team up for Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Younger Than Springtime:" tinyurl.com/254wdbpv.

Britney Spears takes you on a wild flight in "Toxic:" tinyurl.com/3dwdyvy8.

Jason Danieley offers "I Miss the Music," by Kander and Ebb, from the musical Curtains: tinyurl.com/3ebakx74.

Raul Esparza, Sutton Foster, Kelli O'Hara, Wren Rivera, and Joaquina Kalukango offer "Bring Me to Light," by Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawley, from the musical Violet: tinyurl.com/svscz7z9.

That's it. Have a great holiday weekend. Stay safe and enjoy. And vaccinate! -DB

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