COVID-19 Update: December 4, 2020: Inching Toward Stimulus

As we zero in on the end of the year and benefits run out, attention turns getting a stimulus bill strong enough to prop up the economy until vaccines can be widely distributed. A new jobs report underscores just how dire the situation is. Suddenly, however, there seems to be movement in congress. Meanwhile, President-elect Biden suggests that he will provide radically different leadership on the coronavirus; one thing will stay the same, however: the presence of Dr. Anthony Fauci.

The latest:

The deaths keep mounting in the US, with the total reaching 3,157, another record-breaker, on Wednesday: tinyurl.com/y2hqd7nx. On Thursday, a record-breaking 213,000 new infections are reported: tinyurl.com/y3m6g8yx.

The US added 245,000 jobs in November, a dismayingly low number, far short of expectations: tinyurl.com/y633o587.

Why the jobs report is a bad news/bad news situation: tinyurl.com/yxuar9mm. Pressure is building from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for leaders to agree to a stimulus bill by Christmas: tinyurl.com/y6nwutbl. And, indeed, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi are holding talks: tinyurl.com/yxm97elf. Whatever happens, red and blue states alike are being forced to make deeply painful budget decisions: tinyurl.com/yxmelkbx . Opinion: center-right commentator David Brooks on the critical need for a COVID-19 relief bill: tinyurl.com/y5r9rwso.

President-elect Biden will ask Americans to wear masks for the first 100 days after he takes office: tinyurl.com/y2pcux5e. The president-elect also names the leaders of his coronavirus response team: tinyurl.com/yxehnkyd. Dr. Anthony Fauci will stay on as the president's chief medical adviser: tinyurl.com/y66mzh6d.

The American Ambulance Association begs the Department of Health and Human Services for funding, saying that the nation's 911 system is at the breaking point: tinyurl.com/y64aw7aj.

New data indicates that Americans basically ignored travel warnings at Thanksgiving: tinyurl.com/y6d3wjye.

By November 30, at least 25 Congresspersons and 130 staffers had been infected with the coronavirus: tinyurl.com/y225wqps.

Food for thought:

Since prisons are super-spreader locations, when should inmates and staff get the vaccine? tinyurl.com/yy54dmjo.

How 700 epidemiologists are living now -- their precautions and expectations for the future: tinyurl.com/yyhvky3f.

How Europe sleepwalked into a second wave; a rush to reopen and the desire to protect the summer vacation season had a lot to do with it: tinyurl.com/y2s959r8.

Around the country:

In California:

The governor unveils a new plan in which regional lockdowns will kick in when hospital ICUs in an area has under 15% of ICU beds left: tinyurl.com/y6tea45k.

Warner Bros. will release all of its 2021 films both in theatres and HBO Max: tinyurl.com/y48zwpq7. Unsurprisingly, cinema chains stocks plunge: tinyurl.com/y4hs6z5a.

In Florida:

The state logs 10,870 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday: tinyurl.com/y3y59n5a.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel finds that Governor Ron DeSantis "engaged in a pattern of spin and concealment that misled the public on the gravest health threat the state has ever faced:" tinyurl.com/y28mvj8u.

South Florida plans to vaccinate all healthcare workers beginning possibly a week from today: tinyurl.com/y5wjzcv3.

In Illinois:

The state records 957 COVID-19 deaths over seven days, the highest figure in the US: tinyurl.com/yyxkkjxs.

In Maryland:

The state sets a new record, with 3,792 cases in one day: tinyurl.com/yysl69e9.

In Nevada:

Las Vegas reports its deadliest day since the pandemic began: tinyurl.com/yxr26vou.

Airbnb announces a plan to prevent big house parties in Vegas on New Year's Eve: tinyurl.com/y4lpsng3.

Around the world:

In Italy:

With 993 dead, Italy registers its highest one-day toll yet: tinyurl.com/y49ocwep.

In Sweden:

Support for anti-lockdown measures is dropping as the number of deaths rises: tinyurl.com/yxoybr2n.

In the UK:

A drive-in legit theatre is scheduled to open in Manchester in 2021: tinyurl.com/y58wjttu.

Education:

New webinar from Barco: "Projection Mapping: Creating Immersive Canvasses for Unforgettable Experiences," December 10, at 2:00pm ET; register at tinyurl.com/y6n88che.

Entertainment:

Barrington Stage Company will present BSC's Holiday Getaway, a virtual concert starring Alan H. Green, Alysha Umphress, and Joel Waggoner. The concert will be filmed in advance at BSC's Boyd-Quinson Mainstage and will be streamed from Friday, December 18 at 7:30 pm ET through Wednesday, December 23 at 7:30pm ET. BSC's Holiday Getaway will be available for a donation of $25 or more at the following link on ci.ovationtix.com/34860/store/donations/35892.

Metropolitan Playhouse presents its next free screened readings, livestreamed at no charge, with talkback to follow: The Widow's Veil, by Alice Rostetter. It takes place December 5 at 8:00pm ET. Running time is 60 minutes and it will be available through December 9. www.metropolitanplayhouse.org.

Williamstown Theatre Festival has made available A Streetcar Named Desire, produced on Audible. The production is directed by Robert O'Hara, and features Joel Reuben Ganz, Joe Goldammer, Carla Gugino, Carmen M. Herlihy, Sullivan Jones, Brian Lucas, Audra McDonald, Stacey Raymond, Cesar J. Rosado, and Ariel Shafir. The running time is approximately two hours 30 minutes: www.audible.com.

On Wednesday, December 16 at 7:00pm EST, New York Theatre Workshop will host a one-night-only holiday variety show, New York Theatre Workshop's Holiday Follies. A hundred years ago, New York City was in the grips of a global pandemic, but the Ziegfeld Follies soldiered on, featuring the stars of the day, including WC Fields, Will Rogers, and Fanny Brice. NYTW wants to honor this tradition and have the show go on -- virtually. It features Annaleigh Ashford, Bridget Everett, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Michael Urie, Bruce Vilancgh, Michael Cerveris, and Loose Cattle, and more. Kevin Cahoon directs. Tickets at www.NYTW.org.

For your pleasure:

Ben Platt offers "Grow as You Grow" from his debut album Sing to Me: tinyurl.com/yxg7vdlp.

That's all for today. Have a good weekend. See you Monday. 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.