COVID-19 Update, October 8, 2020: Viral Politics

And around and around we go, as everything about the pandemic is made into a political bargaining chip: the presidential debate, the White House outbreak, the president's illness, and the possibility (or not) of a stimulus bill. There's lots of action but little movement. Meanwhile, people are without jobs, food insecurity grows, and the coronavirus remains uncontrolled. Somebody needs to get their priorities straight.

The latest:

After the Commission on Presidential Debates decides, for reasons of COVID-19 safety, to stage next week's debate online, the president bows out: tinyurl.com/y6p4xjwz.

At least 34 people connected to the White House have tested positive for COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y4an4hwe.

Despite the numbers of the sickened around him, the president calls his COVID-19 infection "a gift from God," which allowed him to demonstrate the benefits of the drug cocktail from Regeneron: tinyurl.com/y2248wpv. Indeed, he adds, he is "a perfect physical specimen:" tinyurl.com/yxfrx8h5.

The New England Journal of Medicine condemns the president's handling of the pandemic: tinyurl.com/y22denlt.

After shutting down negotiations for a stimulus bill yesterday, the president now says that talks are back on: tinyurl.com/y6r8jcr5. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refuses to consider an airline bailout (or any kind of carve-out) unless it is part of a larger stimulus package: tinyurl.com/yxh7tk7o. Meanwhile, the US economy dangles by a thread: tinyurl.com/y34dolbs.

Gold Star families learn that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 at the White House: tinyurl.com/y3webqnr.

Weekly jobless claims hits 840,000, slightly worse than expected: tinyurl.com/yyc4j9rx.

The pandemic spread in the US in part because hospitals lacked crucial protective equipment; they still lack it: tinyurl.com/y6l5z5mr.

Europe struggles with a new COVID-19 surge: tinyurl.com/y5nfyh65.

As many as 150 million people could slip into extreme poverty, thanks to a pandemic-wracked global economy: tinyurl.com/y52wa9xe.

Meanwhile:

Production on the film Jurassic World: Dominion is halted following positive COVID-19 tests on set: tinyurl.com/y6mhdb4v.

More players on the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots test positive: tinyurl.com/y5fum68z.

Food for thought:

The term "outbreak" means different things in different states, sowing confusion and impeding progress against the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/y4f883nb.

The pandemic is giving a megaphone to the anti-vaxxer movement: tinyurl.com/y65rwfg3.

Sarah Jessica Parker pens an urgent plea for beleaguered Broadway: tinyurl.com/yxajhmqa.

The future of cinemas in the age of COVID-19; Variety's film staff weighs in: tinyurl.com/y34pmz7p.

What happened to an Off Broadway production shut down in previews by the pandemic: tinyurl.com/y223nowz.

Around the country:

In California:

The governor spreads confusion by asserting that diners in restaurants should keep their masks on between bites: tinyurl.com/yygtfmwl.

The governor is also in no rush to reopen the state's theme parks: tinyurl.com/y2yjzh3c.

Two members of the governor's staff test positive for COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y4oqjw5q.

The Oscars will include drive-in releases for awards consideration: tinyurl.com/yy3q9s7u.

In Florida:

More Disney layoffs: 8,857 part-time union employees are permanently let go: tinyurl.com/y3599zaz.

Unsurprisingly, the state's unemployment numbers are up: tinyurl.com/yy4kxj8k.

Rapid COVID-testing kits will be made available to the state's elders: tinyurl.com/y3gxneks.

The daily number of COVID cases jumps to 3,306 cases, with 15,000 dead: tinyurl.com/y36sagpg.

In New York:

The Orthodox community reacts with fury to the governor's new restrictions, especially those regarding religious services: tinyurl.com/y56duyc5.

Country music star Morgan Wallen is out as host for Saturday Night Live for ignoring social distancing measures: tinyurl.com/yxaav3qo.

Thirty-three more NYC schools close: tinyurl.com/yy6auul6.

Blindness, recently staged at London's Donmar Warehouse, will be New York's first new theatre production since March: tinyurl.com/y3wbbdu4.

The Tony Award nominations will be announced next week, with an awards ceremony to follow probably in December: tinyurl.com/y4cd7a7j.

In Wisconsin:

The hard-hit state is setting a field hospital for COVID-19 patients at the state fairgrounds: tinyurl.com/y3w57ewb.

Around the world:

In Canada:

Production restarts on the TV series Batwoman, Riverdale, and Maid: tinyurl.com/y3v4fmys.

In the Netherlands:

The country faces a COVID-19 surge that puts it in the global top ten for per capita cases: tinyurl.com/yxsydqco.

In Singapore:

You can now sign on to a luxury cruise to nowhere: tinyurl.com/y4c58naa.

In the UK:

The academy for the Arsenal soccer team closes after a staff members positive for COVID-19: tinyurl.com/yxfpoacz.

Royal Shakespeare Company warns that more than 150 jobs are at risk: tinyurl.com/y6laq84t.

Pubs are closed in Glasgow and Edinburgh because of high COVID-19 infection rates: tinyurl.com/y3wx4s23.

For your entertainment:

The Gilmore's Rising Stars series continues with a recital by Chaeyoung Park, who performs Brahms's Sonata No. 3, Debussy's Pour le piano, Unsuk Chin's Etude No. 5 ("Toccata"), and selections from Ligeti's Musica Ricercata. Purchase tickets at www.TheGilmore.org.

Metropolitan Playhouse presents Michele LaRue in a performance of Representing T. A. Buck, by Enda Ferber, October 17 at 8:00pm ET. The event is free, with donations cheerfully accepted: tinyurl.com/y3vp8qpz.

Off Broadway's Mint Theater Company streams a performance of Conflict, Miles Malleson's comedy of love and politics, which was a big hit for the company. It's available October 19 through November 15 at www.MintTheater.org.

Forward. Together, an evening of songs and stories produced by the Public Theatre, features a starry lineup that includes Jelani Alladin, Antonio Banderas, Laura Benanti, Danielle Brooks, Jenn Colella, Elvis Costello, Daniel Craig, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Danai Gurira, David Henry Hwang, Oscar Isaac, Nikki M. James, Alicia Keys, John Leguizamo, John Lithgow, Audra McDonald, Grace McLean, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kelli O'Hara, Suzan-Lori Parks, David Hyde Pierce, Phylicia Rashad, Live Schreiber, Martin Sheen, Phillipa Soo, Meryl Street, Trudie Styler and Sting, Will Swenson, Shaina Taub, and Kate Wetherhead. The event, on October 20 at 8:00pm ET, is free, but donations are strongly encouraged. Details at tinyurl.com/y2unofzo.

Broadway's Norm Lewis stars in Dracula, presented by Resounding, a live immersive audio entertainment company, on October 30 and 31 at 8:00pm. It's based on Orson Welles' radio play and it also features Lindsay Nicole Chambers, among others. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by visiting www.Resounding.live.

Off Broadway's Red Bull Theatre presents a livestream reading of Keith Hamilton Cobb's American Moor, an Off-Broadway success last fall. It will premiere live October 12 at 7:30pm ET. A recording will be available until 7:00pm on October 16. The event is free; reservations are recommended: tinyurl.com/y56vfvjt.

Annette Bening will return to the role that earned her first Tony nomination in Coastal Disturbances -- live on Plays in the House. Bening will also direct many of her fellow original cast members from the Broadway production the reading, airing October 10 at 8:00pm ET. Also featured are Angela Goethals, Heather MacRae, May Kay Place, and Ed Begley, Jr.: www.StarsInTheHouse.com.

For your pleasure:

Bernadette Peters leads an all-star Broadway ensemble in a pop-up Times Square rendition of "Sunday," from Sunday in the Park with George. The music starts at about 3:35: tinyurl.com/y6e4wvuj.

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

To receive your LSA copies at home (no charge), please email LSA@plasa.org or go to www.ezsubscription.com/lsa/mysubscription.

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