COVID-19 Update, August 21, 2020: Figures in the Carpet

As summer winds down, Congress is stalled, the nation's attention is focused on political conventions, the live events industry gears up for action. But on this Friday, we find a series of developments that may be clues to the future.

The latest:

The vacation season plunges Europe back into a coronavirus crisis: wapo.st/2Qb0fcb.

When a vaccine arrives, distribution may be hampered unless the US can come up with more syringes: bit.ly/3himFnJ.

In what may be the only silver lining to the pandemic, the world's ecological footprint shrinks nearly 10% in a year: bit.ly/3j57m2m.

College and university faculties face the new semester with considerable nervousness: tinyurl.com/y5b4f7sa.

Despite what you've read, neck gaiters might not be that bad after all: tinyurl.com/y6d9tp9l.

Food for thought:

The sheer hell of living in the US without enhanced unemployment: bit.ly/2QgbFLL.

Around the country:

In California:

Three COVID-19 cases are diagnosed at Television City, home of The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless, and the Late Late Show: bit.ly/34lnOY4.

Airbnb pans house parties globally: tinyurl.com/y5vf2yus.

SeaWorld San Diego teases the possibility of reopening: tinyurl.com/y4by72h6.

In Florida:

Hundreds of Orlando Airport restaurant workers are let go permanently; the same thing is happening at airports around the state: bit.ly/3giLcb5.

Thanks to the pandemic, the Florida Gators are down $50 million; alumni support is sought: bit.ly/3kZDoyi.

A series between the Miami Marlins and the Mets is postponed when two members of the New York team test positive for the coronavirus: hrld.us/31iBW24.

The United Way of Miami-Dade's Pandemic Assistance Program runs low in record time: hrld.us/2QkazOR.

Attendance is up at Universal Orlando theme parks; at Disney World, not so much: bit.ly/31fcDOG.

With schools reopening and (socially distanced) crowds allowed at soccer games, can Central Florida keep its infection rate down? bit.ly/32gg0Uz.

In Illinois:

The teacher's dilemma: A Catholic instructor is fired for refusing to return to the classroom: bit.ly/2CMtpeu.

In Louisiana:

Senator Bill Cassidy tests positive for the coronavirus: bit.ly/3j37Upq. In Nebraska:

Cases in the state are linked to the motorcycle rally held recently in Sturgis, South Dakota: nbcnews.to/2YmMI5K.

In New York:

As people flee New York City, moving companies have more business than they can handle: nyti.ms/3hia6cb.

Around the world:

In France:

A theatre company tackles a classic drama, with masked actors: tinyurl.com/y4uw9rrf.

The country experiences its biggest daily spike in infections in months: tinyurl.com/y5lvupxx.

In Mexico:

The state of the country's entertainment industry looks a lot like ours: tinyurl.com/y6em8yvu.

The country will get 2,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik vaccine, as part of a Phase Three test: tinyurl.com/y65l76ap.

In Spain:

Inside the country's second wave: tinyurl.com/y35tpatb.

In the UK:

A new study suggests that singing is no riskier in terms of coronavirus spread than speaking at the same level -- but loudness counts: tinyurl.com/y4m7bync.

The government warns of a new coronavirus spread, with Birmingham put on alert: tinyurl.com/y3t2fqfm.

For your entertainment:

Richard Nelson will present a final Apple Family Zoom play, starting September 10: tinyurl.com/y48gmlfq.

Tomorrow at 12:00pm ET, Canto Vocal Programs is offering the last concert of its Summer Concert Series, feature singers from all over the world, including participants from the organization's online programs as well as guest Canto alumni. Tickets are $20. bit.ly/32cyZzF.

Tonight at 8:00pm, CT, Opera Omaha, in collaboration 90.7 KVNO, is offering its annual outdoor concert, Opera Outdoors, as a live audio broadcast:bit.ly/3aKWCD1.

New York and Los Angeles' 68 Cent Crew Theatre is streaming Primal Instincts, a one-act play festival now through September 22. For details: bit.ly/2ElS3Da.

On Sunday at 7:00pm, Skylight Music Theatre is offering "From Skylight with Love: A Concert for Unity," a virtual concert to open the Milwaukee Black Theatre Festival. The video will be available through September 12: tinyurl.com/yyzfpqxr.

Sunday at 7:00pm ET, Vocal Artists Management Services is offering a virtual online recital featuring mezzo-soprano Eunjoo Lee-Huls: tinyurl.com/yyaf9skt.

For your entertainment:

Joanne Shea offers "Blame It on the Summer Night," from the musical Rags: tinyurl.com/y3pyzyhf.

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

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