COVID-19 Update: August 17, 2020: Return to DC

Speaker Nancy Pelosi reconvenes the House of Representatives to deal with the US Postal Service mess. Anyone for bringing back the Senate to deal with unemployment relief? Alas, no. But, as you can read below, plenty is going on -- much of it the fruit of inaction or denial.

The latest:

Some in Congress don't want to extend relief to states, but not doing so may only prolong what promises to be a long and agonizing recovery: nyti.ms/2PY4RSR. Consider the case of Florida, now facing a $5.4 billion deficit: hrld.us/2DYRwr1.

And remember those executive orders? As the Southeast girds for hurricane season, the president proposes taking billions of dollars from FEMA to fund his version of enhanced unemployment benefits: hrld.us/2CtFWD.

A Fox News poll indicates that a majority of Americans want more government relief, including enhanced unemployment benefits: fxn.ws/3h1hfgO.

For live music venues, Congress adjourning with a deal is "a kick in the gut:" bit.ly/2Ea2M3m.

The new doctor on the White House task force totally agrees with the president's policies. Of course, he's a specialist in neuroradiology, with no expertise in public health or infectious diseases, but whatever: bit.ly/3133fxf.

The president's latest unproven coronavirus cure is oleander plant extract; it is embraced by Ben Carson and the CEO of MyPillow: bit.ly/2CzA8sd.

A "twindemic"? Doctor want everyone to get their flu shots: nyti.ms/31UgNKU.

The evidence points to a lasting COVID-19 immunity in survivors, even those with mild symptoms: nyti.ms/3aus3BF.

Meanwhile:

The CDC asks four states and one city to draft plans for distribution of the vaccine when limited doses become available: bit.ly/2DWRQX5.

The CDC also reports that infections among children are rising steadily: bit.ly/311nCv1.

Clinical trials of some COVID-19 drugs are taking longer than expected: nyti.ms/3kY1866.

A study suggests, inconclusively, that survivor plasma helps fight COVID-19: bit.ly/3iRvSUx.

A surge of new infections disrupts Europe's summer vacation season: bit.ly/3kY51rI.

More US churches file lawsuits against rulings that prevent services from taking place: bit.ly/2Y5Q9xw.

The NCAA calls off its fall championships, with the fate of football TBD: bit.ly/2Y1Svh2.

Cinema box offices are slowly coming back to life: bit.ly/34bKxWj.

Colleges are asking students to sign COVID-19 liability waivers before arriving on campus: bit.ly/34bMjqr.

Food for thought:

A solid think piece on the plight of unemployed road crews: bit.ly/33ZeCZb.

Masks weren't popular during the 1918 pandemic; then authorities took strong action: bit.ly/3iKL8lR.

Can Las Vegas survive a year without conventions? bit.ly/31YPb7p.

Around the country:

In Arizona:

A public school district is forced to cancel in-person classes with 100 teachers and staff members call in sick: bit.ly/3kRpq1y.

The number of new infections appears to be on the downward slope: bit.ly/2DOpHBN.

In California:

The state logs 11,000 deaths, although hospitalizations are declining: bayareane.ws/30ZAwtt.

Many workers are worried about workplace safety and many of them are afraid to speak out: bit.ly/33Zeg4N.

More than 11,000 sign a petition against changes in the SAG/AFRTA healthcare plan: bit.ly/3h2iuvX.

Demonstrators in Carlsbad call for reopening of businesses and schools: bit.ly/3h1ncud.

In Florida:

On Sunday, the state reports the lowest infection numbers since June: hrld.us/3kVej7y.

What is slowing the rate of infection in Miami-Dade county? hrld.us/3iGGIMQ. Then again, overwhelmed medical examiners are facing an enormous backlog of suspected COVID-19 deaths: hrld.us/33ZdnJv.

Despite what certain politicians insist, COVID-19 is killing more young adults in the state, and race is a factor: nyti.ms/2FvXmAJ.

Faced with underwhelming visitor numbers, two signature Universal Orlando hotels will close: bit.ly/30XiCY4.

IAAPA is the only industry trade show not to cancel this year but, as several major exhibitors pull out, a major decision looms: bit.ly/3iK0iI8.

In Georgia:

The White House Task Force warns that the coronavirus is spreading throughout the state: yhoo.it/2Y7aVga.

In Illinois:

Fourteen counties are put on the warning list for a COVID-19 resurgence: bit.ly/3fVE04d.

On Saturday, the state reports 1,828 new cases: bit.ly/2FpwXUV.

In Nevada:

The show Le Reve, at Wynn Las Vegas, goes dark, permanently: bit.ly/346y2LI.

In New Jersey:

At least 30 Rutgers football players test positive for COVID-19: bit.ly/3iKmvpm.

The McCarter Theatre in Princeton cancels performances through January: tinyurl.com/y4jhjzfk.

In New York:

Police bust raves in a section of Brooklyn where new cases are spiking: 7ny.tv/2Q0RIs4.

Will Congress bail out New York City's cash-strapped mass transit system? politi.co/34789LD.

The Tribute in Light will take place after all: bit.ly/2Y7LICq.

In Texas:

The state approaches 10,000 deaths: bit.ly/2FAKlWB.

Around the world:

In Brazil:

The former health minister accuses the president of leading the country into a deadly "canyon" in his handling of the coronavirus: bit.ly/341pKEV.

Yet nearly half of Brazilians says the president is not to blame: reut.rs/3g3JPwL.

Ironically, the country's widespread contagion makes is an ideal laboratory for testing vaccines: nyti.ms/2E0aY6K.

In Canada:

As many as 550 people were exposed to the coronavirus at a Toronto strip club: bit.ly/2DQ25wF.

The closure of the Canada -- US border is extended to September 21: bit.ly/3avFtx2.

In France:

The country reports more than 3,000 new infections for the second day in a row: bit.ly/3g08uSF.

The government sends riot police to enforce mask-wearing in the south: bit.ly/3kM5Vau.

In Japan:

The country shrinks at the fastest rate on record: bbc.in/3h4sDIT.

In New Zealand:

Lockdown in Auckland is extended as seven new COVID-19 cases are diagnosed: bit.ly/3kJG6rP.

The country postpones its election by a month: bit.ly/2E3DBzZ.

In South Korea:

A new COVID-19 outbreak is linked to a church: nyti.ms/34dU9A5.

In the UK:

As cases rise in France, British vacationers are told to return home immediately or face a 14-day quarantine: wapo.st/31XGGcz.

The country's staycation nightmare is marked by overcrowding, piles of trash, and more: cnn.it/3g1zjpw.

Producer Cameron Mackintosh lets go of 200 employees: bit.ly/2CA5pet.

Education:

Shocks + Stressors: A conversation about COVID, social justice, and climate, will be hosted by Arup on August 20, at 2:00pm ET: COVID-19 has shocked our systems, revealing deep underlying stressors related to racism and inequality. This facilitated discussion explores what experts in the built environment are learning about our systems and what we can do to better prepare for future shocks and stressors. Moderated by Arup's Los Angeles resilience leader Heather Rosenberg, panelists include Danielle Antonellis, of Kindling; Melissa Burton, of Arup; Richard France, of Estolano Advisors; Laurie Schoeman, of Enterprise Community; and Kate White, of Arup. Register at bit.ly/3kHBK4p.

Opportunities:

La MaMa DesignFest is a juried competition to celebrate and support emerging theatre designers in this time of pandemic. The goal of the festival is to encourage emerging designers from around the world to create no matter where, when, or how, and to provide a platform to showcase designers' work. This festival will cover the following categories: lighting, scenic, sound, projection, costume, and multidisciplinary design. The winning participants from each design category will receive award recognition for their work, which will be presented in La MaMa's virtual gallery. They will also be invited to present their work in a livestreamed celebration on September 29 at 7:00pm ET. The event will be followed by a livestreamed discussion with the judges and the winning designers. One outstanding designer will be chosen from the winning participants to receive the opportunity to design a show in La MaMa's 60th season. The judging committee is comprised of Mimi Lien (scenic), Jiyoun Chang (lighting), Justin Hicks (sound), Gabriel Berry (costumes), and Hao Bai (projection). Applicants should visit lamama.org/designfest/ for more information, rules, guidelines, and to fill out the submission form. The deadline for submissions is September 9, at 11:59 ET.

For your pleasure:

Capathia Jenkins, aided by Martin Short and other members of the company, in "A Big Black Lady Stops the Show," from the musical Fame Becomes Me: bit.ly/322zBrd.

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

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