COVID-19 Update, October 30, 2020: Denial

The US passes another grim milestone, one ignored by the president and his associates -- a fact that -- eight months into the pandemic -- is still difficult to process. As never before, denial is shown to have deadly consequences. Europe is struggling as well, with many counties going on partial or total lockdown. But the election is four days away and progress is being made on vaccines. It's time to hang on tight.

The latest:

With no end in sight, the US passes nine million cases of COVID-19: tinyurl.com/yy7uskxz. The country also records 90,456 new infections in one day, a new record: tinyurl.com/y6mqj5xq.

The schism widens, with the president on the campaign trail ignoring and contradicting his own health advisors: tinyurl.com/y2osowxq. Winter is coming; health experts say that the last eight months represents a lost opportunity with more trouble on the horizon: tinyurl.com/y6y5ds2h. Even as the country records 1,000 deaths a day, the president and his namesake son insist that deaths are down to "almost nothing:" tinyurl.com/y25tb68b.

Europe has ten million cases: tinyurl.com/y5r5d62e.

A growing number of health experts agree that Joe Biden's plan for a national mask mandate is the right idea: tinyurl.com/y37o7sr8.

It's curtains for the Nancy Pelosi -- Steven Mnuchin stimulus bill rapprochement: tinyurl.com/y3gz5ah3.

It's coming down to the wire for three leading vaccines, leaving open the possibility that some or all could be approved by Christmas: tinyurl.com/yy2j46qe.

America's luxury hotels are on the brink, and some may never reopen: tinyurl.com/y2r5uthq.

Food for thought:

Interestingly, a new poll shows that more Americans blame the GOP and the president for the lack of a pandemic stimulus bill: tinyurl.com/yxbplyht.

Around the country:

In California:

San Francisco has effectively curbed the coronavirus, but its downtown is empty: tinyurl.com/y4snzbh3.

The coronavirus is spreading again in Los Angeles County, which registers the highest one-day rise since August: tinyurl.com/yy6vz7pg.

With the cruise industry in limbo and 264,000 fewer passengers expected in 2020-21, San Diego stands to lose millions of dollars: tinyurl.com/yy5b99mf.

In Florida:

The state adds 5,592 cases, the biggest one-day jump in months: tinyurl.com/yxke74l6.

Miami's hotels look for a way forward amid pandemic-induced uncertainty: tinyurl.com/y4ztyyjx.

Universal theme park revenues drop 81% in the third quarter: tinyurl.com/y2rr3a2y.

The state's tourism marketing agency reaches out to prospects in Canada and England: tinyurl.com/yxz5rxuo.

The mayor of Hollywood posts a warning, detailing how he became infected with the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/yypvokt6.

In Illinois:

The state sets another record with 3,363 new coronavirus cases in a single day: tinyurl.com/y3oxdvu3.

Chicago restaurants that invested in new COVID-19 safety measures are left out in the cold by the governor's new ban on indoor dining: tinyurl.com/y5k3vywc.

In Massachusetts:

Boston's mayor launches a new initiative to get more people tested for the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/y6ewpecy.

New data collected by the state identifies COVID-19 clusters as coming from child care settings, nursing homes, senior living centers, restaurants and food courts, and from organized athletic activities: tinyurl.com/y6ddutve.

The state racks up 1,000 cases for the sixth day in a row: tinyurl.com/y4ryobcp.

Barrington Stage and Berkshire Theatre Company, each of which presented Equity-approved productions this summer, gets $1-million donations to stay open for the next several months: tinyurl.com/y5e5fj3b.

In New York:

NYC's mayor warns of a "meaningful jump" in new COVID-19 infections: tinyurl.com/yy24vekw.

Some companies roll out the perks to get employees back into offices: tinyurl.com/yy8dog46.

Carnegie Hall cancels all shows through next April 5, 2020: tinyurl.com/yyksmvzg.

Lincoln Center cancels its 2021 American Songbook series: tinyurl.com/y47xfnnw.

Around the world:

In Greece:

Several areas of the country are put under localized lockdowns: tinyurl.com/yxr282je.

In Italy:

Pope Francis ends his general public audiences and limits participation in Masses including those on the upcoming holidays: tinyurl.com/y6n7ee53.

In Russia:

The healthcare system in some regions is being pushed to the brink: tinyurl.com/yy9yzwwb.

In Slovakia:

Every citizen over the age of ten will be tested for COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y62g744y.

For your entertainment:

Returning to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra after her acclaimed premiere of Christopher Cerrone's violin concerto Breaks and Breaks, Jennifer Koh performs the world premiere of Tyshawn Sorey's concerto For Marcos Balter, which -- like the work by Mr. Cerrone -- was composed for her commissioning project The New American Concerto. This multi-season project explores the form of the violin concerto and its potential for artistic engagement with contemporary societal issues and concerns. It's on November 6 at 7:30pm ET. Tickets at www.DSO.org.

Metropolitan Playhouse presents its next screened reading: The War of the Worlds: The 1938 Radio Script, by Howard E. Koch, based on the novel by H.G. Wells, live-streamed, with talkback to follow, on October 31 at 8:00pm ET. Running time is 60 minutes. This special presentation will be presented through Broadway on Demand at a charge per viewer of $2.95. Watch at www.metropolitanplayhouse.org.

As part of the Minnesota Orchestra's series of live Friday night concerts presented with Twin Cities PBS (TPT) and Classical MPR, the orchestra's musicians perform Sibelius's Overture for Brass Septet, Nebojša Jovan Živkovic's Trio per Uno, Louis W. Ballard's Ritmo Indio, A Study in American Indian Rhythm, and Mendelssohn's Octet. It's on November 6 at 8pm CT. Livestream via www.MinnesotaOrchestra.org and social media; performances subsequently will be available for free on-demand access via www.MinnesotaOrchestra.org.

For your pleasure:

Tap-dancing sisters Chloe and Maud Arnold in Irving Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek:" tinyurl.com/y43yedv6.

That's all for today. Have a good weekend. See you Monday. Stay safe. Vote. -- DB

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