COVID-19 Update, November 25, 2020: Thanksgiving Approaches

COVID-19 Update, November25, 2020: Thanksgiving Approaches Thanksgiving is upon us, offering plenty of reason to hope again. But there's still the holiday season to get through and the COVID-19 numbers aren't encouraging at the moment. The pressure is on to hold tight, stay at home, and stay socially distanced until the vaccine starts to arrive in January. It's a tall order, with the economy struggling and food insecurity growing. Our holiday wish: Washington gets its act together and issues some serious relief.

The latest:

As the pandemic rages from coast to coast, millions of Americans hit the airports, determined to travel for the holiday: tinyurl.com/y5b4fr9h. If you're flying this week, here's what you need to know: tinyurl.com/y3dzsyg9.

The US adds two million new COVID-19 cases in just two weeks: tinyurl.com/y4r4bd7m.

It's a food-bank Thanksgiving for many Americans, as hunger becomes a byproduct of the pandemic: tinyurl.com/y5xosj93.

Weekly unemployment claims come in at 778,000, rather higher than expected: tinyurl.com/y4a8e8dv.

The federal government plans to send out 6.4 million doses of vaccine within 24 hours of authorization in December: tinyurl.com/y2kvphn2.

Some retailers forge ahead with Santa Claus traditions, accompanied by plenty of safety measures: tinyurl.com/y4jrmfdk.

Around the country:

In California:

The state records 20,654 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, shattering all previous records: tinyurl.com/yymme6up.

Hospitalizations in San Diego County reach a pandemic high: tinyurl.com/y4avjbrz.

In Florida:

The state records 8,555 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday: tinyurl.com/yyn9sgfs.

Here's a list of COVID-related changes to the Disney parks: tinyurl.com/yy6w4pum.

A display of 1,500 tombstones is installed in Liberty City to highlight the pandemic's devastating effect on the Black community: tinyurl.com/y4mdjxux.

In Illinois:

The state is running low on hospital beds: tinyurl.com/y55uf2he.

In Massachusetts:

Food pantry struggles to keep up with the demand: tinyurl.com/y47rdkqn.

In Nevada:

The mayor of Las Vegas pushes back against the governor's COVID pause: tinyurl.com/yybupzs7.

In New York:

Inside Macy's socially distanced Thanksgiving Day Parade: tinyurl.com/y4nmqwev.

The governor warns that the state's positivity rate could pass 12% if people aren't careful: tinyurl.com/yxrd5ld9.

Local 802, the musicians' union, sends out a call for donation to its emergency relief fund: tinyurl.com/y5hhmwn4.

Around the world:

In France:

Restrictions having to do with shopping and church attendance will be eased: tinyurl.com/y3p37zt3.

In Germany:

The loss of the trade show market this year has been devastating to the country's economy: tinyurl.com/y3qohopy.

The UK:

Restrictions will be eased for the Christmas holiday; among other things, families can create a three-household bubble for festive gatherings: tinyurl.com/y6t97nkq.

For your entertainment:

From Boston Symphony Orchestra, Thursday, November 26, at 12:00pm: Thomas Wilkins leads the BSO in Jessie Montgomery's "Starburst;" William Grant Still's "Out of the Silence," and Duke Ellington's "New World A-Comin'," both featuring piano soloist Aaron Diehl; Ellington's "Come Sunday," with Charlotte Blake Alston as narrator, and the fourth movement from Still's Symphony No. 4; BSO musicians to be featured in chamber music performance of Osvaldo Golijov's Lullaby and Doina; available for viewing through December 26 at www.bso.org/now.

On Thursday, December 3 at 7:30pm EST Carnegie Hall invites viewers to a celebration of Beethoven's 250th birthday in a program focusing on the "Ode to Joy" from the composer's Ninth Symphony. Originally scheduled to lead a yearlong project with performances of the Ninth Symphony across six continents, conductor Marin Alsop has transformed this celebration into the digital Global Ode to Joy, inviting organizations, artists, and people worldwide to share videos that inspire joy online. Along with Alsop, this special Live with Carnegie Hall program includes violinist and president of Beethoven-Haus Bonn Daniel Hope and former US poet laureate Tracy K. Smith, plus performances by Joyce DiDonato with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and the Stay At Home Choir with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Metropolitan Playhouse presents its next free screened readings, live-streamed at no charge, with talkback to follow: Aunt Betsy's Thanksgiving, by Katherine Davis Chapman Tillman and The Downfall of Justice, And the Farmer Just Returned From Meeting on Thanksgiving Day, by an unknown author. It takes place November 28 at 8:00pm EST at www.metropolitanplayhouse.org. The video will be available through Wednesday, December 2, on the Playhouse webpage, the Metropolitan Playhouse YouTube channel, and the Metropolitan Playhouse Facebook page.

The riotous Submissions Only, a sitcom set in a casting office featuring a roll call of Broadway guest stars, is available for streaming: tinyurl.com/y2zrrnup.

For your pleasure:

Sierra Boggess and Julian Ovenden offer Lerner and Loewe's "The Heather on the Hill," from Brigadoon: tinyurl.com/y6nrmnsn.

That's all for today. Have a terrific Thanksgiving weekend. See you Monday. And stay safe. -- DB

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