COVID-19 Update, August 27, 2020: Back-to-School Blues

As the country confronts a series of new developments, including a hurricane, urban unrest, a sports boycott, and the Republican National Convention, the pandemic gets put on the media's back burner. But arguments are flying over the CDC's inexplicable decision to stop testing those without COVID-19 systems. And as many of the stories below indicate, the business of reopening the world's schools is fraught with difficulty and peril. As for the economy -- don't ask.

The latest:

Controversy swirls around the CDC recommendation to stop testing the asymptomatic for COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y54cn6yt. Health authorities insist the decision was not subject White House pressure: tinyurl.com/y56cmz2f. Governor Andrew Cuomo has no intention of following the guidelines: tinyurl.com/y4qpxqyu.

Another million Americans apply for jobless benefits: tinyurl.com/y3zpwnkn.

Meanwhile:

Corona goes to college: Keeping track of infections in institutions of higher learning nationwide: tinyurl.com/yyt8nmr2.

The CDC issues new guidance for keeping retail workers safe. Lesson #1: Don't argue with maskless shoppers: tinyurl.com/y5wjmuaq.

Food for thought:

How Oxford went from planning to offer its vaccine to any interested pharmaceutical company to cutting a deal with AstraZeneca: tinyurl.com/y6bp998c.

As it happens, men -- particularly those over 60 -- producer a weaker immune response to the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/y4tg6goh.

Around the world:

In Arizona:

The Navajo Nation has been ravaged by COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y3zyuw9j.

In California:

The state senate cancels a session when a lawmaker tests positive for COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y6oqymwy.

Workers on commercial shoots officially complain to IATSE about the lack of safety precautions on sets: tinyurl.com/yyg2exd2.

University of California San Diego has had 250 COVID-19 cases since April: tinyurl.com/y5vbj4dt.

In Florida:

At least 175 students and staffers from Seminole County public schools are in quarantine: tinyurl.com/y459wfye.

The state's COVID-19 death toll passes 11,000: tinyurl.com/y6mxuw7f.

The state's nursing homes will allow visitors without requiring COVID-19 tests: tinyurl.com/y2rgdswq.

The governor applies for the $300-a-week unemployment benefited in the president's recent executive order for the state: tinyurl.com/y3w4j3jx.

An Orlando man is arresting for striking a security guard at Disney World over mask wearing: tinyurl.com/y3qcn358.

In Illinois:

The state experiences the highest number of COVID-19 deaths since early July: tinyurl.com/y3u3nvrr.

Like Florida, the state is applying for the $300-a-week unemployment benefit from the president's executive order: tinyurl.com/y3ywhnr9.

In Massachusetts:

A COVID-19 cluster in the state is traced to a bachelorette party in Rhode Island: tinyurl.com/y6zy5hyw.

In Nevada:

The Mirage hotel casino reopens today: tinyurl.com/y2nccwvw.

In New York:

The American Guild of Musical Artists and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society issue a playbook for a safe return to work: tinyurl.com/y2r8vmmw.

New York City's Metropolitan Transit Authority, devastated by the pandemic, will be forced to make drastic cuts without federal aid: tinyurl.com/y6owl5ea.

In Texas:

Houston's creative arts sector has lost tens of thousands of jobs, nearly $2 billion in sales: tinyurl.com/yxgxde23.

Around the world:

In Canada:

The Shaw Festival season has devolved down to one production -- A Christmas Carol: tinyurl.com/y45bhh2o.

In France:

It's back to wearing face masks outdoors in Paris: tinyurl.com/y3nb42jz.

In Gaza:

Largely spared the coronavirus, Gazans chafe under tough new travel restrictions: tinyurl.com/y295beat.

In Germany:

Even in a country where the coronavirus is under control, reopening schools is "a roller-coaster:" tinyurl.com/y4qfgmys.

In Haiti:

The school system is in turmoil, as students and teachers stage protests: tinyurl.com/y5c85369.

In Russia:

Advanced trials are announced for the country's vaccine: tinyurl.com/yxgmz86a.

In the UK:

New government guidance allows performers to stand closer together onstage: tinyurl.com/y2dt2tzj.

A quartet of concerts featuring West End stars will raise money for Backup, the technical theatre charity: tinyurl.com/y2pp3pbl.

The Theatre Artists Funds, started by director Sam Mendes, has raised 3.5 million pounds so far: tinyurl.com/y4at8c6b.

Education:

Starting September 2 and every Wednesday for at least the following eight weeks, rigging maven Bill Sapsis will be offering seminars on subjects like fall arrest harnesses, working at height rescue, and the fly rail. Each seminar is 90 minutes long. Each seminar will be devoted to a single topic. Seminars are limited to 30 attendees ("so, we have time to discuss stuff"). You can earn 1.5 ETCP re-certification credits for each session. The seminars are free. Registration is required www.sapsis-rigging.com/remoteseminars.html for all the details and to register. Registration for the September 2 session is now open. Registration for each following seminar will open on the Friday before the seminar.

For your entertainment:

Tonight at 7:00pm EDT, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will make its broadcast debut in Artistic Director Robert Battle's stirring No Longer Silent, which will be available online through September 3. It is set to the percussive Ogelala by Erwin Schulhoff, who died in a concentration camp in 1942. Ahead of the Thursday broadcast, Ailey will be sharing behind-the-scenes footage of the creation of No Longer Silent where Robert Battle further discusses composer Erwin Schulhoff's life and how it helped inspire the choreography for the ballet: tinyurl.com/y7hxvdxp.

For your pleasure:

The Broadway and national tour casts of Newsies reunite for "Seize the Day:" tinyurl.com/y564wkxd.

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

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