COVID-19 Update, November 20, 2020: Season's Greetings

It now looks like we all might be getting a Christmas present in the form of a COVID-19 vaccine, which, if the FDA approves, could start rolling out in mid-December. The full rollout will take months, of course, but with other viable vaccines on the horizon, the pandemic could end sooner than we previously believed. Then again, we still have to get through the next few months, which are looking increasingly tough. And what are your Thanksgiving plans?

The latest:

Pfizer and BioNTech are requesting emergency authorization from the FDA for its COVID-19 vaccine, raising the possibility of it getting early distribution by Christmas: tinyurl.com/y676umju. Staffers at five US government agencies are told they could be getting the vaccine in as soon as eight weeks: tinyurl.com/y2tu4hlh.

The incoming Biden administration issues a call for access to government vaccine distribution plans: tinyurl.com/y3yletaa. Nearly 200 public health experts urge the General Services Administration chief to authorize the presidential transition: tinyurl.com/yycmwfy5.

Healthcare workers launch a campaign urging Americans to wear masks: tinyurl.com/y5ag28ey.

Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin closes off emergency Federal Reserve lending programs; the central bank pushes back, saying the money is needed to keep the economy going in the pandemic: tinyurl.com/y52cke9q. Mnuchin responds that plenty of money is still available: tinyurl.com/y5hm83gh.

Actors' Equity and SAG/AFTRA have come to an agreement about jurisdiction over streaming productions, a point that became especially sore after the pandemic hit and everyone began streaming productions: tinyurl.com/y63bw8az.

A high-ranking Pentagon official tests positive for COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y2hw3fh2.

The World Health Organization recommends against using remdesivir to treat COVID-19, contradicting the FDA: tinyurl.com/y2kjab9h.

Signs of the times:

Viacom/CBS imagines a post-COVID environment in which 70% of its employees split their work time between home and the office: tinyurl.com/y6g7fb6r.

Food for thought:

New research indicates that striving for herd immunity can make the coronavirus more powerful: tinyurl.com/yyhsmefn.

Taking stock of the toll of 250,000 COVID-19 deaths: tinyurl.com/y32mf4gq.

Around the country:

In California:

The state imposes a 10:00pm curfew in several counties: tinyurl.com/y4tornfu.

LA's Center Theatre Group announces plans for productions starting in March: tinyurl.com/y6scq9of.

In Florida:

The state reports another 9,085 new COVID-19 cases: tinyurl.com/y5m5q7sr.

Tourist visits to the state were down 32% in the third quarter year on year, but that's better then the numbers last spring: tinyurl.com/y4y2uhoa.

Key West imposes a strict new mask law: tinyurl.com/y64jd2by.

Senator Rick Scott becomes the sixth member of Congress to test positive for COVID-19: tinyurl.com/yy39r3a3.

Manny Diaz, coach of the University of Miami Hurricanes, also tests positive: tinyurl.com/y5ybpjp2.

In a sign of optimism: Disney World will bring back its Park Hopper pass on January 1: tinyurl.com/y5bde4ub.

In Illinois:

The state reports 168 COVID-19 deaths, the most in a single day since mid-May; the daily new case total is 14,612: tinyurl.com/y54pns5u.

Some Chicago restaurants are opting to close for the winter: tinyurl.com/y2g6hvjt.

Rapper Jeremih is in critical condition with COVID-19: tinyurl.com/y45932o9.

In Indiana:

The state adds 6,092 new cases: tinyurl.com/y33o4fep.

In Iowa:

The COVID-19 positivity rate is now 50%. That's not a misprint: tinyurl.com/y6g6fmk3.

In Michigan:

University of Michigan takes drastic steps to control its outbreak: tinyurl.com/yys2o95j.

In Nevada:

New infections surge, passing a total of 100,000: tinyurl.com/y4yu7dlc.

Members of the state assembly's GOP caucus urges the governor to keep businesses open: tinyurl.com/y629bome.

In New York:

The coronavirus is once again spreading throughout New York City: tinyurl.com/y3dnzkbw.

Around the world:

In Australia:

A restaurant worker's lie causes an entire state to go into an unnecessary lockdown: tinyurl.com/y56v7bm6.

In Germany:

Protests against social distancing rules turns ugly, with water cannons unleashed on protestors: tinyurl.com/y4urdxnn.

In India:

The country confirms it has now had nine million COVID-19 infections: tinyurl.com/y549jwa9.

In Mexico:

The country has now had 100,000 COVID-19 deaths: tinyurl.com/y4ad5os4.

In the UK:

A hopeful sign: A new West End revival of Anything Goes is announced for May: tinyurl.com/y5x9a6ec.

Entertainment:

The Gilmore's virtual Rising Stars series continues with Dominic Cheli, a "mesmerizing" and "graceful young pianist" (Los Angeles Times), in a program works by Beethoven, Brahms, Couperin, and Liszt, as well as less frequently heard music by Leslie Adams, Erwin Schulhoff, Clara Schumann, and Carl Vine. The stream is available until 11:59pm on November 29. Tickets at www.TheGilmore.org.

A video version of the Broadway production Holiday Inn, featuring songs by Irving Berlin, airs on PBS tonight. Check your local listings. The cast includes Bryce Pinkham, Megan Lawrence, Corbin Bleu, Danny Rutigliano, and Megan Sikora: tinyurl.com/y2l5ztxd.

For your pleasure:

The cast of Everyone's Talking About Jamie performs "And You Don't Even Know," the opening number from that musical: tinyurl.com/y25s78v7.

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

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