COVID-19 Update: August 11, 2020: Disunited States

The president's executive orders regarding pandemic relief are looking more and more like mirages, impossible to implement and of little real value. Indeed, their main effect has been disunion and dissatisfaction. Meanwhile, the effects of no relief are starting to be felt, especially in state houses. As for Congressional negotiations, an icy silence prevails, although rumors persist of something happening this week. It can't come soon enough.

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The latest:

In news that will surprise nobody, the president's surprise announcement that states will take up part of the enhanced unemployment benefit has gone over like a lead balloon with the nation's governors: https://nyti.ms/31NCSLg. The business community pans the payroll tax holiday as well: https://nyti.ms/3ivis01.

As the economy craters, cities and states across the US face painful budget decisions: https://bit.ly/2DQ6y1Y. The understandably alarmed National Governors Association calls on Congress to pass a stimulus bill: https://bit.ly/3itM6Tu.

While most governors reject the president's unemployment benefits plan, Florida's scheme is already so skimpy that Governor DeSantis is being urged to trade up to it: https://hrld.us/2XPCr1K.

The treasury secretary says a stimulus bill could still come this week; of course, he says the holdup is the Democrats' fault: https://bit.ly/3afSudZ.

Meanwhile:

People without a country: The president considers banning US citizens who may have COVID-19 from returning home: https://nyti.ms/3fPHaXj.

Keeping up with the Ivans: Even as Putin announces Russia has a vaccine (see below), Alex Azar, the US health secretary, predicts the US will have one by December: https://bit.ly/3iBteCd. The government is also quietly piloting vaccine distribution working groups: https://bit.ly/3kyOYA9.

College football players assert themselves, push for a fall season: https://nyti.ms/30Jd7fE.

Even in Europe, young people party on the edge of disaster: https://nyti.ms/3fI6gaw.

Alarmingly, COVID-19 cases in US children have increased by 90% in the last four weeks: https://cnn.it/33L82p7.

Food for thought:

For anyone who thinks COVID-19 is little more than a bad case of the flu, the case of Broadway leading man Danny Burstein: https://tinyurl.com/y5aoffay.

The combination of previous vaccines and masks may be an effective barrier against COVID-19: https://cnn.it/30RaCrT.

Around the country:

In California:

The state says its coronavirus tracking program has been fixed: https://bit.ly/3fMV2lg.

The disastrous situation at San Quentin raises questions about the concept of herd immunity: https://bit.ly/3gR8iXo.

Warner Bros. and HBO start laying off employees: https://bit.ly/3ajVXIz.

In Florida:

Royal Caribbean Group posts enormous second-quarter losses, considers testing passengers when cruising resumes: https://hrld.us/3fKWNiz.

The story of father-and-son doctors, both dead from COVID-19: https://hrld.us/33RWqk2.

SeaWorld attendance and revenue drop 96%: https://bit.ly/2DWQETb.

In New Jersey:

The full-service prop rental company Anything But Costumes is closing: https://tinyurl.com/y3ubdnr5.

In New York:

One-quarter of New York City public school students sign up for remote learning this fall: https://bit.ly/3izrWHR.

Marcus Stroman declines to play for the Mets this season, the second big loss of the year: https://bit.ly/2FhTKCh.

Broadway producer The John Gore Organization permanently lays off 100 furloughed workers: https://tinyurl.com/y64fbvhs.

The long-running Off Broadway show Then She Fell closes: https://tinyurl.com/yykegvka.

In Pennsylvania:

Inovio Pharmaceuticals says it has a promising vaccine, but the company's history is a cautionary tale: https://nyti.ms/33V1UuB.

Around the world:

In Cuba:

Havana goes back on lockdown to fight a surge of new COVID-19 cases: https://hrld.us/3ahuY0w In New Zealand:

The country takes a step back after a couple of infections are found: https://bit.ly/2DO0gjf.

In Russia:

Vladimir Putin says Russian scientists have an effective COVID-19 vaccine; not everyone believes him: https://cnn.it/3izZPs1.

In the UK:

In a strange, but oddly logical, twist, reopening the country's schools may lead to closing the pubs again: https://nyti.ms/3fLdXgg.

Boris Johnson vows to revamp the country's flawed contact tracing scheme: https://nyti.ms/2PW1wUt.

Association news:

The live-and-in-person NAMM Show, scheduled for January, has been canceled, replaced by the creative solution of Believe in Music Week: https://bit.ly/3kymDKo.

Here's what is happening today with the #WeMakeEvents day of action in the UK: https://bit.ly/3arHTNv.

For your entertainment:

Here's this week's list of streams from the Metropolitan Opera: https://bit.ly/2PH6PGS.

Coming up from Tanglewood Online: August 12 at 8pm: Recitals from the World Stage featuring Boston Symphony Chamber Players, joined by pianist Vivian Choi, in works by Poulenc, Allison Loggins-Hull (played by BSO Principal Flute Elizabeth Rowe), Henze, Stravinsky, and Brahms, hosted by Karen Allen. August 14 at 8pm: BSO Musicians in Concert with Alexander Velinzon, Danny Kim, Adam Esbensen, Toby Oft, Stephen Lange, James Markey, and Mike Roylance, hosted by Lauren Ambrose, performing music by Beethoven and Baroque and 20th-century works for brass ensemble. August 15 at 8pm: Great Performers in Recital, featuring pianist Conrad Tao performing pieces by Beethoven, Crawford Seeger, David Lang, Tania León, and Conrad Tao, hosted by Nicole Cabell.

For your pleasure:

British cabaret singer Barb Jungr in her own inimitable take on Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark:" https://tinyurl.com/yxvz3fqj.

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

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