COVID-19 Update: May 4, 2020: The Great Race

The seventh week of lockdown begins.

The global race to produce a vaccine is on, with speed being valued over safety: tinyurl.com/yat48m5z.

The FDA approves an antibody test said to be 100% accurate: tinyurl.com/y785pfnd.

US government scientists design a new test that could identify carriers before they become infectious: tinyurl.com/y8a7zpvt.

But a vaccine will demand a massive effort to produce it on the necessary scale: tinyurl.com/yavfyasy.

The FDA okays Gilead Sciences' remdesivir, which reduces hospital stays by at least a few days: tinyurl.com/y8ekw7hu. And Gilead donates its supply to the effort: tinyurl.com/ybqp43cf.

The president now predicts 100,000 deaths; he adds that the press treats him worse than any previous chief executive, including Lincoln: tinyurl.com/yd92quoo.

Meanwhile:

Is your state open? Is it reopening? Here's a helpful guide: tinyurl.com/y85a5jyg.

A powerful reminder that "R-naught" is the metric to which we should all be paying attention: tinyurl.com/ycl3o4p7.

In reopening states, dining out comes with rules and regulations: tinyurl.com/y88pmo8y.

Signs of progress: In Chicago, the city is shutting down its improvised hospital at McCormick Place: tinyurl.com/y8lfpjv9. Same thing with New York's Jacob Javits Center: tinyurl.com/y8z6bkr6.

The mystery of "happy hypoxia:" patients who have drastically low oxygen levels but don't feel sick: tinyurl.com/y9qwea7u.

In California:

The governor gets pushback over beach closures and other restrictions: tinyurl.com/ybmp4y4t.

An Antioch city planner sees an upside in the coronavirus killing off the elderly, sick, and weak: tinyurl.com/ybp642gx.

For the first time in decades, the Disney empire looks vulnerable: tinyurl.com/ycyb3s54.

The presidents of Warner Brothers TV lay out what production may be like in the near future: tinyurl.com/y972z8vl.

In Georgia:

The state reports a spike in coronavirus cases: tinyurl.com/yb957ydz.

In Mississippi:

The governor has second thoughts about reopening: tinyurl.com/yawb57wv.

In Missouri:

The governor says concerts can begin today: tinyurl.com/y6ucogjl.

In New Jersey:

The curve has been flattened at the Actors Fund Home: tinyurl.com/yam2fply.

In New York:

Film and television set builders put their skills to work, building needed hospital equipment in the training workshop of the IATSE Local 52 Studio Mechanics Union: tinyurl.com/y7pmc3sv.

The Broadway League insists it is on the same page as Governor Cuomo: tinyurl.com/ybqqz4jo.

Off Broadway theatres work to hold it together, plan for the future: tinyurl.com/yalv6czu.

In Russia:

The country reports 10,633 cases in a single day: tinyurl.com/yacax8ny.

In Texas:

Some cinemas are open, with health and temperature checks: tinyurl.com/y99fsl95.

In the UK:

Cameron Mackintosh says the West End is probably closed until 2021: tinyurl.com/y6vpjyxe.

The impromptu hospital in London's ExCel Centre is closing, due to lack of demand: tinyurl.com/ycb6rbvu.

In Vegas:

The Nevada Gaming Board issues casino requirements for reopening, and they don't make for a carefree atmosphere: tinyurl.com/yavshoqo.

MGM Resorts lays off the presidents of Bellagio, New York-New York, Luxor, and Excalibur: tinyurl.com/yc2a4nzr. Also, Bellagio and New York-New York are slotted to open first.

Station Casinos, which owns, among others, The Palms, Red Rock Resort, and Green Valley Ranch Resort, is laying off employees: tinyurl.com/ydfssyml.

But even in tough times, the abandoned site of the Skyvue observation wheel project draws interest from potential buyers: tinyurl.com/yaechzst.

Training:

On Wednesday, May 6, from 12:00 - 2:00pm, Barco hosts a seminar that takes in comprehensive information about VPUs (video processing units) and layer resources, along with some advanced programming, specifically source vs. input. Register at: tinyurl.com/y7rtau6j.

City Theatrical hosts an Introduction to Multiverse, presented by Harrison Hohnholt, on Thursday, May 7, from 11:00 - 11:30am EDT. In it, you'll learn more about the company's vision of wireless DMX and how Multiverse technology is innovating wireless DMX/RDM for future lighting projects. Register at: tinyurl.com/ybl7fk2k.

Fulcrum Acoustics hosts a webinar led by Stephen Siegel, president and co-founder. He will discuss the unique attributes, technology, and application of the Prophile, CX, DX, GX, and RX product families. The webinar will take place on YouTube Live (tinyurl.com/y95s6gdj) on Thursday, May 7 at 11:00am EDT and will be available on our YouTube channel and social media networks afterwards.

On Tuesday, May 5, from 7:00 - 8:00am ET, Genelec hosts an exclusive online tutorial, "G*Connect Webinar: Choosing the Right Loudspeakers," hosted by Andy Bensley, regional business development manager at Genelec Oy. Register at tinyurl.com/y8xahvty.

Company news:

Robe reports that the guys from UK-based Clearsound are back with an even bigger lighting display designed to lift the hearts of their fellow citizens: tinyurl.com/yaq9xks3.

Scheduling:

The Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois, the oldest outdoor music festival in the US, is off this year: tinyurl.com/yagwaevf.

Maine's Ogunquit Playhouse cancels its summer season: tinyurl.com/yc47noh9.

Entertainment:

Wednesday, May 6, New York's Ballet Hispánico streams Tito on Timbales, a 1984 piece choreographed by William Whitener to music by Tito Puente, with costumes by Patriciz Zipprodt and lighting by Roger Morgan. Go to tinyurl.com/y9dlcwmj or tinyurl.com/ya4h6ogj.

San Francisco Opera will stream performances from its archives beginning Saturday, May 9 with Arrigo Boito's Mefistofele. Each streamed opera will be presented on Saturdays at 10:00am PT at sfopera.com and remain available until midnight the following day. Mefistofele is a production by Robert Carsen starring Russian bass-baritone Ildar Abdrazakov in his staged role debut as the devil Mephistopheles, Mexican tenor Ramón Vargas as Faust, and American soprano Patricia Racette in the dual roles of Margherita and Elena.

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