US: Over 13.9M Cases - 274K Dead - 8.2M Recovered
Worldwide: Over 63.8M Cases - 1.4M Dead - 44.2M Recovered

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 225   Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 154
*Red indicates change in total deaths

COVID in November: 50 Americans died every hour; 99 new cases every minute
The total case count in November is nearly what the nation reported in August, September and October combined. An average rate of 99 cases were reported every minute through the month. In November alone, one of every 22 North Dakota residents tested positive. In South Dakota, it was one of 26; Wyoming, one of 29; Iowa, one of 31.

The U.S. also reported 36,918 deaths in November, a toll higher than all months but April and May. The fatalities totaled more people than the U.S. lost in the entirety of the Korean War. On average, 50 Americans died every hour. usatoday.com

After 4.2 million COVID-19 cases in November, U.S. pins hope on vaccine
The United States entered the final month of the year hoping that promising vaccine candidates will soon be approved to halt the rapidly spreading novel coronavirus after 4.2 million new cases were reported in November.

The new COVID-19 cases were more than double the previous monthly record set in October, as large numbers of Americans still refuse to refuse to wear masks and continue to gather in holiday crowds, against the recommendation of experts.

With outgoing President Donald Trump's coronavirus strategy relying heavily on a vaccine, a Food and Drug Administration panel of outside advisers will meet on Dec. 10 to discuss whether to recommend the FDA authorize emergency use of a vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc.

A second candidate from Moderna Inc could follow a week later, officials have said, raising hopes that Americans could start receiving inoculations before the end the year, although widespread vaccinations could take months.

Other global pharmaceuticals including AstraZeneca PLC and Johnson & Johnson also have vaccines in the works, leading a member of the Trump administration's "Operation Warp Speed" program to predict the country could be vaccinated by June. reuters.com

Economic Impact
Global Economy Faces Hard Winter Despite Covid-19 Vaccine Hopes

Pandemic is seen speeding China's ascent as an economic power,
with recent case surges holding back recovery in Europe, U.S.

Government restrictions and consumers' fear of infection will continue to weigh on the global economy well into next year, even as vaccine developments offer hope of an end to the pandemic, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Tuesday.

The group cut its growth forecasts for most leading economies, citing a recent surge in infections across the Northern Hemisphere that had prompted new restrictions on households and businesses and caution among consumers.

It now expects the global economy to grow by 4.2% in 2021, having contracted by the same degree this year. In September, when it last released quarterly forecasts, it expected the economy to grow by 5% next ear.

The OECD cut its forecast for economic growth in 2021 in the U.S. to 3.2% from 4%, and its forecasts for the eurozone to 3.6% from 5.1%. It left its growth forecast for China at 8%. wsj.com

State COVID Restrictions Still All Over the Map
These states have been hit hard by COVID-19 yet balked at strict mask mandates
In an already divided America, the holidays are going to look different this year.

Arkansas still allows indoor dining, albeit with limited capacity and reduced hours. California has not only seen indoor restaurant dining banned in its most populous county, Los Angeles, but outdoor tables are roped off as well, and it issued a new stay-at-home order.

Florida's governor extended suspension of enforcement of mask-wearing laws. Hawaii authorities have cited or warned thousands for not wearing a mask in public.

If anything is consistent about the coronavirus pandemic, it's a lack of consistency. While states and cities receive attention when they impose restrictions, other locales feel confident that their citizens are no worse off with a hands-off approach.

To get a sense of how states without strict rules concerning the virus are coping, USA Today looked at four of them and talked to officials and residents. Here are some snapshots:

Texas: Divided over rules
Wyoming: Virus stokes fear in range country
South Dakota: Warming up to masks
Florida: 'People are still afraid'
usatoday.com

Nonpartisan report warns of COVID-19 testing shortages
in over half US states, territories
Rapid tests and reagents -- the medical devices used to process COVID-19 tests -- are in short supply as the U.S. heads deeper into the winter months, according to a survey of 47 states and territories conducted by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office in their latest report on the CARES Act. The report also looks ahead to vaccine distribution and administration concerns.

One-third to one-half of states said they'd already experienced shortages in either reagents, testing instruments or rapid tests in the last 30 days. The survey was conducted in October.

Half the states and territories that responded said they expected further shortages in rapid tests over the next two months and nearly half said they expected to see a shortage in reagents over the same period. abcnews.com

14 States Now Offer Covid-19 Contact-Tracing Apps, but Adoption Is Uneven
Covid-19 contact-tracing apps from Apple Inc. and Google are coming to more states, along with evidence that they can help slow infections as long as enough people use them.

Fourteen states and Washington, D.C., have recently adopted the "exposure notification" technology the companies built into their smartphone operating systems - Big Tech's most significant contribution to the fight against Covid-19. California, and other states are piloting the technology and could release it soon. It lets people who have tested positive for Covid-19 alert others they have previously been in close contact with that they should take precautions or get a test.

Yet many of the millions of Americans who have access so far are skeptical, suspicious or simply unaware of it. That has been the struggle in Virginia, which in early August became the first state to roll out an exposure notification app. Three months later, downloads of the app, known as Covidwise, amounted to roughly a 10th of Virginia's population of about 8.5 million. wsj.com

Covid-19 Likely in U.S. in Mid-December 2019, CDC Scientists Report
New analysis of blood donations finds virus was present on West Coast earlier than previously believed

New York Unveils 5-Strategy Winter COVID Plan

California: Gov. Newsom says stay-at-home order likely if COVID-19 surge continues

Ohio: Articles of impeachment filed against Gov. DeWine over coronavirus orders

Minnesota's COVID-19 spike might lead to Christmas restrictions

Michigan doctors urge restaurants to keep customers safe by avoiding rush to reopen

NYC: Restaurant Rapid Tests Guests, Employees For COVID-19 Before Entering

VR Training for LP
eLearning Brothers looks to help retail stores avoid theft using virtual reality
With the holiday shopping season underway, eLearning Brothers, based in American Fork, Utah, have developed virtual reality training to help train retail stores and employees on possible theft risk factors. With its CenarioVR tool, people can build courses in virtual reality using videos or 360-degree photos. While some may think of virtual reality as being advanced technology, CenarioVR has made it possible for people to create VR courses using commonly held knowledge.

One of the retail stores that has put the course to work and seen success is Fendi. Fendi's sales associates take the course directly on their phone, learning how to prevent in-store thefts.

"For Fendi, because the price point is so high for specific merchandise they sell, preventing even one sweater from being stolen is actually a big deal," said Christie Calahan, director of marketing for eLearning Brothers. "In the course, employees learn how to navigate through these 360 degree photos, circle areas that are risk factors, and they learn how to spot it so when they are in their environment in store, they can know what to look for."

Virtual reality courses allow for a much more immersive and realistic experience, allowing employees to see around a room through photographs and acknowledge the risk factors present.

Through the training, Fendi reduced the amount of thefts by several hundred instances - a 55% total reduction that resulted in a 400% return on investment. This was measured based on the six months prior to training and the six months after. heraldextra.com


Seven Amazing Innovation Leadership Videos of the Surreal Year 2020

By Tony D'Onofrio, Global Retail Influencer

The Internet, mobile and social media have forever transformed the distribution of viral messaging. No longer the best kept secret, at the center of successful communication is the medium of video. If you still need convincing, here are a few statistics on the future of video.

Having a passion for powerful visual communications, weekly through my personal website I share multiple new videos focused on retail, emerging technologies, and leadership.

As we reach the end of this surreal pandemic year, here are my top 7 amazing innovation leadership videos of 2020:

● JD.com and The Future of Retail
● Future of Shopping: Voice as a Retail Channel
● Inditex (Zara) Customer Focused Innovation
● Nike Paris, House of Innovation 002
● PwC: A Day with the Internet of Things
● Visual Artificial Intelligence (AI) Revolutionizing Retail
● 2020 China's Double 11 Alibaba $74.1 Billion Shopping Holiday 
tonydonofrio.com


50+ brands and retailers that are giving back this Giving Tuesday
While many amazing deals from the year's biggest shopping event are still live across the internet, some retailers have shifted their attention from Cyber Monday to Giving Tuesday, a global movement for generosity. To help you make the most of your Giving Tuesday, we've rounded up a list of some of the online stores that are offering up a chance for you to make a difference with your money. cnn.com

  Giving Tuesday 2020: A short history of the international day for giving back


LPRC IMPACT 2020 Videos On-Demand

LPRC is excited to release its IMPACT 2020 videos for all to watch, learn, and enjoy. Fill out the quick form to receive access to the recorded presentations and panels throughout the two-day virtual conference. Visitors can also download the IMPACT 2020 Research Collection PDF, a compilation of research posters from this year's event, by clicking here.

Save the Date: LPRC IMPACT 2021 - Oct. 4-6


Retailers Seize on Pandemic Fallout to Become Property Owners
The coronavirus pandemic and its debilitating effect on shopping centers are providing growing retail operators with an opportunity to achieve something many have hoped to do for a while - become owners. In a recent example, Swiss high-end clothing retailer Akris purchased three buildings on New York City's Madison Ave. for $45 million - a decade-low price for the ritzy neighborhood on a per square foot basis - including the building that accommodates its Manhattan store.

Other retailers are taking advantage of the times to upgrade their rental space. Home Depot Inc. is planning to relocate its basement store in Manhattan's Upper East Side a few blocks away to a four-story store currently occupied by Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. The home-furnishings retailer, which has struggled with falling sales for years, is not renewing its lease as it works to close 63 stores by the end of its current fiscal year. wsj.com

Pandemic puts franchisees and brands at odds
Franchisees and brands tend to get along when things are going well for each party. The same can not be said of 2020 when business pressures created by the novel coronavirus has strained relationships between the parties. Some McDonald's franchisees, for example, claim that the fast-food giant was slow to defer rent and offer other help in the early months of the outbreak. McDonald's, for its part, claims it has taken "unprecedented actions" to assist franchisees during the current crisis. retailwire.com

Department stores' fall followed the decline of America's middle class
Moderate-income Americans shopped at department stores for decades, but that changed as income disparity hollowed out the nation's middle class. The result has been record numbers of department store closures in recent years with the number of stores falling from 8,600 in 2011 to 6,000 today. The number of people employed by department stores has fallen to fewer than 700,000 today, down from more than 1.2 million nine years back. retailwire.com

UK: 25,000 jobs at risk as Debenhams closure follows Topshop collapse

Walmart to lay off more than 1,200 in omnichannel reorganization

Sephora will open mini shops inside 850 Kohl's stores by 2023

Abercrombie closing several flagship stores

FDA issues baby spinach recall after salmonella concerns

Frontline workers get free coffee at Starbucks