COVID-19 Update, October 21, 2020: The Third Surge

As scientists predicted, the coronavirus has come roaring back. The government remains paralyzed. But there are signs of hope: COVID-19 is less fatal than previously. Vaccines are on the way. And, maybe, a stimulus bill. Don't count on the latter right away.

The latest:

The third surge hits the US, spreading the coronavirus far and wide: tinyurl.com/y5xln9b3.

Even as Nancy Pelosi and Steven Mnuchin make progress on a stimulus bill, Mitch McConnell tells the president to pay no attention: tinyurl.com/y4z8vh2o. At the same time, the president demands a bigger bill: tinyurl.com/y4m5r7qd.

COVID-19 death rates are dropping, and not just among the young and healthy. It remains risky, however: tinyurl.com/y649wa47.

Get ready for the vaccine trials to start showing results: tinyurl.com/yybpgcat.

Hit by the pandemic, Amtrak faces tough choices: tinyurl.com/yxgg8ntc.

Exposure to air pollution may be fatal for those with COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y53guckz.

The pandemic unleashes a struggle between Actors' Equity and SAG/AFTRA over jurisdiction on livestreamed theatre and readings: tinyurl.com/y4gtse76.

Get ready for contactless ticketing: tinyurl.com/yxpvz2vt.

Around the country:

In Alabama:

How the University of Alabama moved heaven and earth to get football coach Nick Saban back on the field days after testing positive for the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/y6nt5p79.

In California:

The state releases new guidelines for reopening theme parks, which won't be happening soon: tinyurl.com/y2uypbcn.

Members of the Muslim Coalition for America are getting masks distributed to the homeless: tinyurl.com/y5p5qke9.

In Florida:

The Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando reopens, with plenty of new rules: tinyurl.com/yxjkq2zj.

In Illinois:

The Chicago suburbs reels from new pandemic restrictions: tinyurl.com/y2xrhkw6.

In New York:

Not having been paid since April, one-third of the musicians in the Metropolitan Opera's orchestra have left New York: tinyurl.com/y2eljxks.

Despite spikes in COVID-19 cases in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, the states will remain off New York's quarantine list: tinyurl.com/yyp6ctq5.

One-fourth of New York City's transit workers have probably contracted COVID-19: tinyurl.com/yycwaax7.

In Ohio:

Columbus schools postpone in-person learning until January: tinyurl.com/y4jtv6uh.

Around the world:

In Bulgaria:

The country mandates the wearing of masks: tinyurl.com/y2kp5497.

In Italy:

Lombardy and Campania are imposing nighttime curfews: tinyurl.com/y4p2vesw.

In the UK:

The greater Manchester area moves to the highest level of COVID-19 restrictions: tinyurl.com/y2n8cn3y.

Education:

USITT begins a series of Collaboration Conversations by welcoming Tony Award-winning collaborators, Julie Taymor and Donald Holder to discuss the process of working together to build a production. The online event will be held November 9 at 7:00pm EST and is offered free of charge for USITT members. Non-members may attend for $15. Everyone must register in advance at www.usitt.org/events.

For your entertainment:

Barrington Stage Company will present a virtual reading of Typhoid Mary, a play Mark St. Germain and starring two-time Tony Award winner Judith Ivey, T.R. Knight, Kate MacCluggage, Joe Morton, and Frances Evans, directed by Matthew Penn. It will be available to stream on October 30 and 31 at 7:30pm ET. Tickets ($25) can be ordered from www.OvationTix and a link will then be sent to the ticket holder within 24 hours of the scheduled performance.

Jazz at Lincoln Center's new live concert experience, Live from Dizzy's present pianist Christian Sands, October 22 at 7:30pm ET. It's free for JALC members with a suggested ticket price of $10 for everyone else. Tickets at tinyurl.com/y6gucqew.

Metropolitan Playhouse presents its next free screened reading: Vote the New Moon, by Alfred Kreymborg, with talkback to follow, on October 24 at 8:00pm, ET. Running time is 30 minutes. Talkback to follow including audience questions via chat. Watch at www.metropolitanplayhouse.org.

Off Broadway's The New Group continues its Reunion Reading Series with two plays by Wallace Shawn. Each reading, broadcast live and streaming on demand, benefits The New Group and other local initiatives and organizations. On October 28 at 7:00pm EST, the company will present Evening at the Talk House, featuring Matthew Broderick, Jill Eikenberry, John Epperson, Larry Pine, Wallace Shawn, Claudia Shear, Annapurna Sriram, and Michael Tucker. On October 29 at 7:00pm EST, the company will present Aunt Dan and Lemon, featuring Kristen Johnston, Lili Taylor, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Thomas Bradshaw, Liam Craig, Melissa Errico, Carlos Leon, Emily Cass McDonnell, Maulik Pancholy, Stephen Park, and Bill Sage. Both readings will remain available on demand for viewing through November 29. thenewgroup.org/.

Off Broadway's Signature Theatre will present a free virtual reunion reading of the Obie Award-winning The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World AKA the Negro Book of the Dead by Suzan-Lori Parks. Directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz the cast includes Roslyn Ruff, Mirirai Sithole, David Ryan Smith, Daniel J. Watts, and Amelia Workman. It happens October 27 at 6:00pm EDT. It's free, but RSVP at www.signaturetheatre.org/dlbm-reunion. The reading will be available to stream on demand until October 31 6:00pm EDT.

For your pleasure:

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra finds the cool in Charlie Parker's "Quasimodo:" tinyurl.com/y4zrs6lx.

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

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