Current Events in March 2020

During an interview on NBC’s “Today” show on Monday, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams warned that the coronavirus outbreak is poised to take a turn for the worse this week. 

"I want America to understand -- this week, it's going to get bad," Adams said. He echoed the advice of health officials nationwide in saying, "We really, really need everyone to stay at home.” 

Nearly half of people polled recently by STAANCE said they are fearful of the virus, but just 17 percent said they think they will get it. Health officials, including Adams, are concerned that many Americans -- especially young people -- aren’t taking the threat of the virus seriously. Adams specifically called out people going to California beaches and looking at cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C.

“I think that there are a lot of people who are doing the right things, but ... we're finding out a lot of people think this can't happen to them,” he said. 

Serious threat

The number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. has risen dramatically in recent weeks. The latest figures from Johns Hopkins University place the number of infected people in the U.S. at more than 35,000. The virus has been reported in all 50 states, and at least 473 people have died. 

Americans are strongly urged to adhere to the guidance of staying at home and practicing social distancing when it’s necessary to leave the house. Symptoms of the virus could take as many as 14 days to surface, meaning individuals who go out could unwittingly be spreading the illness to others. 

Consumers are also advised to step up their hygiene practices in light of the discovery that the coronavirus can contaminate and live on certain surfaces for up to three days. 

“Everyone needs to act as if they have the virus right now. So, test or no test, we need you to understand you could be spreading it to someone else. Or you could be getting it from someone else. Stay at home,” Adams said.

In an effort to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Apple is donating “millions of masks” to health care workers in the United States and Europe. Company CEO Tim Cook announced the move on Saturday, confirming a statement made earlier in the day by Vice President Mike Pence. 

“The president and I literally heard directly from Apple that they’re donating 2 million industrial masks to this effort around the country and working with our administration to distribute those,” Pence said at a White House press conference Saturday.

Cook said on Twitter that Apple has been working to “help source supplies for healthcare providers fighting COVID-19.” 

“We’re donating millions of masks for health professionals in the US and Europe. To every one of the heroes on the front lines, we thank you,” he added. 

Masks in high demand 

When worn correctly over a wearer’s mouth and nose, N95 masks filter at least 95 percent of airborne particles. The masks are in high demand but short supply as the number of coronavirus cases continues its upward trajectory. 

Neither Pence nor Cook said where the protective masks were ordered from or when they would be available. Pence urged other companies to donate masks as well. 

"It's a great time to go to your storeroom if you have N95 masks — if you've got 100 of them, if you've got 10,000 of them," Pence said. "Load them up, drive them to your local hospital."

Apple announced earlier this month that it’s temporarily shuttered all of its stores outside of greater China until at least March 27. The company has also committed $15 million to “help lessen the economic and community impacts of the pandemic.” 

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. has surged in recent weeks. A tally compiled by Johns Hopkins University researchers places the current number of infected individuals in the U.S. at more than 33,000. 

Without the swift implementation of support from the government, U.S. airlines may have to furlough workers. 

A coalition of U.S. airlines warned over the weekend that, without the approval of a $58 billion aid package, thousands of airline employees could lose their paychecks.  

“Time is running out,” wrote the CEOs of Southwest, Delta, Alaska, American, United, JetBlue, Hawaiian, UPS Airlines and FedEx, and their lobbying group, Airlines for America. “Unless worker payroll protection grants are passed immediately, many of us will be forced to take draconian measures such as furloughs.”

Barring the approval of “sufficient government support” in the form of loans, outgoing United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz said the airline will “begin to take the necessary steps to reduce our payroll in line with the 60% schedule reduction we announced for April.” 

“May’s schedule is likely to be cut even further,” he added. 

Flights cancelled 

The novel coronavirus has infected more than 200,000 consumers across the globe, leading to a sharp decline in the number of air travelers. Earlier this month, airline executives said the financial repercussions stemming from coronavirus restrictions and concerns have been worse than those following 9/11. 

As demand for flights continues to tumble, “even more cost-cutting measures will be required soon to keep our company afloat,” United officials said in a memo on Friday. 

Airlines are asking for government aid by the end of March to help offset the impact of coronavirus.

“We are working night and day on support and ideas to keep as much pay as we possibly can flowing to you — even if [it] gets worse from here and demand temporarily plummets to zero,” Munoz and President Scott Kirby said in a joint statement.

Mortgage rates are still cheap, but they’re not as cheap as they were just a couple of weeks ago. After touching record lows, rates have moved sharply higher over the last two weeks, even though other interest rates are plunging.

Freddie Mac reports that the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at the end of last week was 3.65 percent -- still very low but 29 basis points higher than the previous week. But a year ago, the prevailing mortgage rate was much higher -- 4.28 percent.

The rate rose even though the Federal Reserve slashed its federal funds rate to 0 percent. The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond -- which directly influences mortgage rates -- also fell back below 1 percent.

Freddie Mac says the upward movement in mortgage rates is due to supply and demand. It says lenders increased rates to “help manage skyrocketing refinance demand.”

Help from lenders

With the cononavirus (COVID-19) triggering a wave of layoffs in the last two weeks, lenders are reaching out to their customers who are wondering how they're going to pay their mortgage. Ally Bank, Bank of America, Quicken Loans, TD Bank, and Wells Fargo are among the lenders that have offered assistance to homeowners.

The assistance ranges from bank to bank, so homeowners will need to reach out to their particular lender to find available options. Ally Bank will defer mortgage payments for up to 120 days for homeowners suffering a virus-related loss of income. Bank of America will consider forbearance on a case by case basis, but it has suspended all foreclosure sales, evictions and repossessions.

Keep in mind that a mortgage forbearance is simply an agreement between the borrower and the lender to alter or suspend payments for a temporary period due to hardship. Eventually, the money has to be repaid. If you need help, check with your bank’s customer service department.

Rush to refinance

Meanwhile, mortgage lenders have remained extremely busy. Homeowners have rushed to refinance their mortgages to lower monthly payments, and people buying homes also contributed heavily to the spike in loan applications. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports that purchase applications surged 25.9 percent in February from year-ago levels, a trend that is not expected to last.

"The ongoing situation around the coronavirus led to further stress in the financial markets late last week, with unprecedented volatility and widening spreads,” said Joel Kan, MBA's associate vice president of Economic and Industry Forecasting. “This drove mortgage rates back up to their highest levels since mid-February and led to a 10 percent decrease in refinance applications. However, refinance activity remains very high.”

In fact, MBA’s Market Composite Index, a means of measuring mortgage demand, remains at its highest level since October 2012, and Kan says refinancing accounts for 75 percent of those applications.

"The Federal Reserve's rate cut and other monetary policy measures to help the economy should help to bring down mortgage rates in the coming weeks, spurring more refinancing,” he said. “Amidst these challenging times, the savings that households can gain from refinancing will help bolster their own financial circumstances and support the broader economy." 

Among the things to consider before refinancing is your present interest rate and how long you expect to remain in the house before selling it. Here’s where to look for the best mortgage lenders and refinancing companies.

In an effort to prop up the U.S. economy, promote employment, and stabilize prices during the COVID-19 upheaval, the Federal Reserve is pulling the trigger on its “full range of tools.”

The Fed’s Open Market Committee (FOMC) is at the forefront of the changes, taking action towards supporting the flow of credit to households and purchasing Treasury securities and agency mortgage-backed securities.

How far is the Fed prepared to take it? “In the amounts needed to support smooth market functioning and effective transmission of monetary policy to broader financial conditions,” the agency said in a press release.

“The Committee will include purchases of agency commercial mortgage-backed securities in its agency mortgage-backed security purchases. In addition, the Open Market Desk will continue to offer large-scale overnight and term repurchase agreement operations. The Committee will continue to closely monitor market conditions, and will assess the appropriate pace of its securities purchases at future meetings.”

Added security for creditworthy consumers

The Federal Reserve Board also announced on Monday that it’s made a “technical change” to support the domestic economy and permit banks to continue making loans to financially trustworthy households and businesses.

Simply put, that “technical change” allows the Fed to provide additional cushions for emergency capital and long-term debt to help recapitalize a bank if it finds itself close to the brink. The agency notes that this rule is strictly precautionary. 

“Over the past decade, U.S. banks of all sizes have built up substantial levels of capital and liquidity in excess of their minimum requirements,” the Fed remarked, showing confidence that banks have the wherewithal to withstand some pressure. However, if the economy starts to tank, the Fed is prepared to phase that rule in gradually.

Is the Fed just printing money?

If you’re thinking that the Fed is just running the money-printing presses ad nauseam, you’re basically correct. In actuality, the FOMC sets the target for the fed funds rate every month. To make sure that target is hit as close to dead center as possible, the Fed uses something called “open market operations.” That process allows the Fed to buy or sell securities from its member banks. 

“It creates credit out of thin air to buy these securities. This has the same effect as printing money,” said Kimberly Amadeo of TheBalance. “That adds to the reserves the banks can lend and results in the lowering of the fed funds rate. Knowledge of the current fed funds rate is important because this rate is a benchmark in financial markets.” 

The takeaway

The takeaway for the consumer is that the Fed is going to do whatever is absolutely necessary to keep the U.S. economy from failing.

One such action was an emergency rate cut of 0.5 percent just a couple of weeks ago when the pandemic was picking up steam. Last week, the Fed’s Board of Governors also told banks that the agency is giving them additional flexibility and wants the banks to use that latitude to help consumers and businesses.

A new study conducted by researchers from Washington University School of Medicine explored how mothers’ breast milk could help protect their premature infants. 

The researchers learned that a molecule found in breast milk -- epidermal growth factor -- has properties that can prevent preemies from developing sepsis. Their study revealed that epidermal growth factor keeps the bloodstream free of gut bacteria that could cause sepsis. 

“Late-onset sepsis is a major problem in premature babies,” said researcher Dr. Rodney D. Newberry. “These findings give us a better understanding of one of the scenarios that triggers sepsis, and a potential new tool to combat this condition.” 

Protecting preemies

To better understand how breast milk can protect preemies from sepsis, the researchers conducted their study on newborn mice. The researchers took E.coli bacteria from infants with late-onset sepsis and injected them into the newborn mice. 

The second part of the study involved observing mice who were breastfed. The researchers explained that higher levels of epidermal growth factor are better for fighting off infection, and levels are typically highest when a mother first starts lactating. 

For this study, the newborn mice were either breastfed by their own mothers, or by another mother who had previously given birth. 

The researchers found that the longer a mother had been lactating, the more likely the newborn mice would develop an infection in the bloodstream that could turn into sepsis. Those who had been fed from their own mothers were less likely to develop such infections, as their breast milk had more epidermal growth factor. 

“The critical realization here is that bacteria from the gut can invade the bloodstream,” said researcher Dr. Phillip I. Tarr. “Understanding how bacteria moves from the gut into the blood gives us an opportunity to do something about these infections. And the study suggests that breast milk, preferably a mother’s own breast milk from her earliest days of breastfeeding, appears to be a very effective way to fend off these infections.” 

Moving forward, the researchers believe that these findings can serve as preventative measures to protect premature infants from developing infections that lead to sepsis. 

A new study explored the trends behind fatal drunk driving accidents across the U.S, specifically when it comes to blood alcohol concentration (BAC). 

According to the team of researchers, the drivers in 15 percent of all fatal crashes tested for a BAC under the legal limit, which is 0.08. In more than half of these cases, the passengers were at a greater risk of death than the drivers. 

“Our study challenges the popular misconception that alcohol-involved crashes primarily affect drinking drivers, or that BACs below the legal limit don’t matter,” said researcher Dr. Timothy S. Naimi. 

Staying off the road

The researchers evaluated data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, spanning 16 years worth of alcohol-induced crashes. In that time, there were over 600,000 drunk driving fatalities. 

The researchers learned that drivers in nearly 40 percent of those crashes had alcohol in their systems, though 15 percent were technically under the legal alcohol limit. 

These findings highlight the danger associated with driving with any alcohol in a consumer’s system, particularly for young people. The study found that in cases where drivers were still under the legal limit, fatalities were most common among young passengers. The researchers explained that a BAC as low as 0.03 can make it risky for consumers to get behind the wheel. 

Moving forward, the team is looking to policymakers to tighten up restrictions around alcohol in the hopes of reducing the number of crashes and fatalities. While some states have lowered the legal limit from 0.08 to 0.05, they also suggested raising alcohol taxes and making alcohol harder to come by in convenience stores. 

“Lower alcohol crashes have been underestimated as a public health problem,” said Dr. Naimi. “Our research suggests that stringent alcohol policies reduce the likelihood of fatal accidents involving drivers with all levels of alcohol blood concentration.” 

Yokohama Tire Corporation is recalling 4,209 of the following tires:

• RY023 tires, size 255/70R22.5 16H (DOT date code 0320 and 0520 through 0620);
• RY023 tires, size 295/75R22.5 16H (DOT date codes 0320 through 0520);
• RY023 tires, size 285/75R24.5 14G (DOT date codes 0320 and 0520);
• RY617 tires, size 11R22.5 16H (DOT date code 0320);
• RY617 tires, size 11R24.5 16H (DOT date codes 0220 and 0420 through 0620);
• TY517 MC2 tires, size 295/75R22.5 14G (DOT date codes 0220 through 0620);
• TY517 MC2 tires, size 285/75R24.5 14G (DOT date codes 0420 through 0620);
• TY517 MC2 tires, size 11R22.5 16H (DOT date codes 0320 through 0620);
• TY527 tires, size 11R24.5 16H (DOT date code 0520);
• 712L tires, size 295/75R22.5 16H (DOT date codes 0420 through 0620);
• 712L tires, size 11R22.5 16H (DOT date codes 0620 and 0320 through 0420);
• 709ZL tires, size 285/75R24.5 14G (DOT date code 0420);
• 709ZL tires, size 11R24.5 14G (DOT date code 0220);
• LY053 tires, size 11R24.5 16H (DOT date codes 0320 through 0620);
• 109L tires, size 11R22.5 14G (DOT date codes 0220 and 0420 through 0620);
• 109L tires, size 285/75R24.5 14G (DOT date codes 0620 and 0320 through 0420);
• 109L tires, size 295/75R22.5 14G (DOT date code 0420);
• 108R tires, size 11R24.5 16H (DOT date codes 0320 and 0620); and
• 715R tires, size 295/75R22.5 16H (DOT date codes 0320 through 0420).

Due to improper manufacturing, the tire tread or bead may detach, possibly resulting in loss of vehicle control.

A sudden loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.

What to do

Yokohama will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tires free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin March 31, 2020.

Owners may contact Yokohama customer service at (800) 423-4544.

General Motors is recalling about 1,909 model year 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500s & 3500s, and GMC Sierra 2500s & 3500s.

The hood-latch striker wires may not have been heat-treated properly, possibly causing them to fracture.

If a striker wire fractures, the hood may open unexpectedly while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hood assembly free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin April 26, 2020.

Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020 or GMC customer service at (888)988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192284960.

Experts have been advising consumers to practice social distancing and double down on their hygiene practices due to the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19). But a recent study suggests that maybe tripling or quadrupling down might be more appropriate. 

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has revealed that the coronavirus can contaminate and live on certain surfaces for up to three days before losing their ability to infect others. 

"This virus is quite transmissible through relatively casual contact, making this pathogen very hard to contain," said study co-author James Lloyd-Smith, a UCLA professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. 

Coronavirus survivability

The researchers came to their conclusions after mimicking how the virus would respond from being deposited on several types of surfaces that are commonly found in the public and in consumers’ homes. 

They found that the virus was detectable for up to three hours in aerosols, up to four hours on a copper surface, up to 24 hours on a cardboard surface, and up to 2-3 days on plastic and stainless steel surfaces.

"If you're touching items that someone else has recently handled, be aware they could be contaminated and wash your hands," Lloyd-Smith warned.

Follow health guidelines

The study findings show that it’s extremely important for consumers to practice proper hygiene and take precautions when interacting with the world around them. 

Some commonsense practices that consumers can employ include the following:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick;

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth;

• Stay home when you are sick;

• Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue, and dispose of the tissue in the trash;

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a household cleaning spray or wipe; and

• Frequently wash your hands to kill any germs that you may have come into contact with.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University:

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 14.631

Total U.S. deaths: 210

Total global cases: 254,996

Total global deaths: 10,444

Proposed cash for small businesses that keep their payrolls intact

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has introduced a coronavirus aid bill -- two others have already been signed into law -- that provides direct aid to small businesses that do not lay off employees. Businesses with no more than 500 employees would be eligible for loans under Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act.

The money could be used to pay rent, other loans, and payroll for a four-month period from March 1 through June 30. The payroll portion of the loan would be forgiven if the small business had not laid off any employees during the four-month period.

The measure also appropriates direct payments to taxpayers. Individuals would receive $1,200 and couples would get $2,400.

California locks down, Pennsylvania closes businesses

The governors of California and Pennsylvania have urged residents to stay in their homes for the next few weeks and not leave unless absolutely necessary. California Gov. Gavin Newsom asked residents to remain at home for the next eight weeks, predicting half the residents of the state would eventually get the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has taken similar action. He ordered all "non-life-sustaining" businesses to shut down, an order he said would be enforced by the state police.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo today ordered non-essential businesses to keep their workforce at home. It was among other stringent measures imposed on state residents as the number of cases in the state more than doubled overnight. “This is not life as usual. Accept it. Realize it and deal with it,” the governor advised his constituents

More hopeful news from China

China has gone two straight days without reporting a new confirmed case of COVID-19, and deaths from the virus have also leveled off. In fact, Italy now has more deaths.

Now, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reports that the Chinese economy appears to be getting back to normal after two months of catastrophic losses, giving hope to U.S. policymakers that the economic damage might be contained. 

IMF officials say most larger Chinese firms have reopened, and many employees have returned to work. But officials warn that a revival of infections would derail the recovery. But adding to the hopeful signs, China today ordered $700 million in U.S. corn, the first such order under the Phase One trade agreement.

Tax filing deadline reversal

A day after saying taxpayers would still have to file their tax returns by April 15 -- but would have until July 15 to pay -- the Treasury Department has walked it back. The administration now says taxpayers have a July 15 deadline to both file and pay their taxes.

Restocking shelves

Unemployment will likely skyrocket, but at Kraft Heinz, three shifts are working around the clock. Consumers’ panic buying last week has stripped store shelves of most staples. In an interview with CNBC today, CEO Miguel Patricio said company employees are proud to be doing their part to meet the crisis. 

Meanwhile, Walmart is awarding its employee bonuses for their work over the last two weeks. JP Morgan Chase is giving bonuses to its branch tellers.

Around the nation

• Massachusetts: Sen. Ed Markey is askingtravel insurance companies to provide coverage to consumers who purchased travel insurance plans but whose claims related to the coronavirus are being denied. Markey says the request is reasonable in light of the State Department’s travel advisory telling Americans not to leave the country.

• Washington state: Washington remains the epicenter of the outbreak with 74 deaths. As of today, there are 1,377 confirmed cases in the state, second behind New York.

• Connecticut: Attorney General William Tong has asked Amazon for information regarding efforts to detect and combat price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter follows a complaint from a Connecticut consumer who said they were assessed for $400 in shipping charges for face masks.

Taxpayers got an extra reprieve on Friday as U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced that Tax Day was officially moving from April 15 to July 15.

“At [President Trump’s] direction, we are moving Tax Day from April 15 to July 15. All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties,” Mnuchin said.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mnuchin had already moved the date when citizens had to pay taxes, but his latest move includes when filing is due as well.

“This deferment allows those who owe a payment to the IRS to defer the payment until July 15 without interest or penalties,” Mnuchin previously wrote. “The Treasury and IRS are ensuring that hard working Americans and businesses have additional liquidity for the next several months.” 

Mnuchin estimates that those liquid assets will be nearly $300 billion over the coming year.  

Got a refund due? Don’t delay.

While consumers now have extra time to get their taxes done, Mnuchin said anyone who’s due a refund should file now rather than waiting until mid-July. 

"I encourage all taxpayers who may have tax refunds to file now to get your money," he said.

However, taxpayers who need even more time can ask for a six-month extension to file returns, just like they normally could.

States are still working out their own changes

Some states had already moved filing deadlines and, with Mnuchin’s latest move, it’s possible that others will follow accordingly.

Staying on top of that is a lot like herding cats, but ConsumerAffairs search for a good guide on the situation turned up the state-by-state filing guidance from the American Institute of CPAs. That guide also has links to each individual state’s updates as they become available.

Cruise lines were some of the first businesses caught in the eye of the coronavirus storm, but Carnival Cruise Lines is hoping to reverse course by offering its ships to be used as temporary hospitals for non-coronavirus patients. The company says the move would allow hospitals on dry land to focus on patients with COVID-19.

President Trump announced Carnival’s offer at a press conference on Thursday, praising the gesture as a welcome add-on to the Navy ships that were previously deployed to help reduce the pressure on hospitals and physicians. Carnival’s offer includes selected ships from its brand network, which includes Holland America and Princess Cruises.

“In addition to the big medical ships that you have coming, if we should need ships with lots of rooms, they will be docked at New York and Los Angeles and San Francisco, different places,” the President said. 

Carnival’s offer can’t come at a better time. The U.S. is in a jam when it comes to the number of hospital beds available for virus patients. According to statistics from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United States is woefully lacking in terms of number of beds per 1,000 people. 

There are only 2.8 beds per 1,000 people from sea to shining sea -- putting the U.S. in 31st place behind much smaller countries like Latvia and Slovenia and miles behind the metric’s leader, Japan, with 13.1 beds per 1,000 people.

What Carnival is offering

The cruise line’s Roger Frizzell told ConsumerAffairs in an emailed statement that medical services aboard ships “would be provided by the government entity or hospital responsible for fighting the spread of COVID-19 within that community.” He also said that the ship’s crew would operate maritime operations, which includes food and beverage and cleaning services.

“If needed, cruise ships are capable of being quickly provisioned to serve as hospitals with up to 1,000 hospital rooms that can treat patients suffering from less critical, non-Covid-19 conditions,” Carnival Corp. said.

On top of the 1,000 staterooms, Carnival is also offering to upgrade its existing hospital rooms so medical personnel on land can monitor patients on the ship, covering health aspects like oxygen and cardiac functions. Typically, ships have around seven intensive care units on board as part of their normal set-up, and that alone is a huge plus.

Strategic value for Carnival

Market watchers like the Motley Fool are giving Carnival a standing ovation for this move. The publication thinks it’s a definite win-win for both the company and the public.

“There's also strategic value for Carnival,” Fool’s Jon Quest wrote on Thursday. “Many of the company's cruise lines have paused operations for one month. Its Princess Cruise line is on a two month pause.”

“In short, Carnival is in a difficult situation with no income. In this way, it can help slow the spread of the coronavirus, and also find a way to generate some non consumer-discretionary revenue.”

The U.S. State Department has advised all Americans to avoid traveling to other countries because of the coronavirus (COVID-19). On Thursday, it issued a Level 4 advisory with the headline “don’t travel.”

Where possible, the government says Americans who are overseas should arrange for their immediate return home.

“U.S. citizens who live abroad should avoid all international travel,” the government said in its advisory. “Many countries are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and implementing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines, closing borders, and prohibiting non-citizens from entry with little advance notice.”

The State Department also warns that airlines have already canceled many international flights and cruise lines are mostly shut down at this point. It warns that Americans who keep to their international travel plans are likely to encounter disruptions and could be “forced to remain outside of the United States for an indefinite timeframe.”

A week ago, the government allowed U.S. personnel and family members at diplomatic or consular posts to leave if they are at higher risk of a poor outcome if exposed to COVID-19. Because of their departure, the government warns that U.S. embassies and consulates may be less able to provide services to American citizens.

Advice

If after these warnings, you decide to travel anyway -- or are already outside the U.S. -- the State Department offers this advice:

• Consider returning to your country of residence immediately using whatever commercial means are available.

• Have a travel plan that does not rely on the U.S. Government for assistance.

• Review and follow the CDC’s guidelines for the prevention of coronavirus.

• Check with your airline, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.

• Visit travel.state.gov to view individual Travel Advisories for the most urgent threats to safety and security.

• Visit our Embassy webpages on COVID-19 for information on conditions in each country or jurisdiction.

• Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States.

• Visit Keeping workplaces, homes, schools, or commercial establishments safe.

Another business has decided to shut its doors in the U.S. until the coronavirus outbreak is better contained. 

Kohl’s announced on Thursday that it would be temporarily closing all of its stores nationwide until next month. The company said that customers will still be able to shop at its online site or through the Kohl’s app and have the items delivered to their homes in the meantime.

“To demonstrate our support of the efforts underway to contain the spread of the coronavirus, we are closing all Kohl’s stores through at least April 1. We will support store associates with two calendar weeks of pay,” Kohl’s said in a company press release.

Coronavirus effects on business

Kohl’s announcement comes in the wake of more bad news from other companies and organizations in the U.S. 

Earlier this week, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) announced that it would be shutting down its trading floors in New York and San Francisco due to health concerns related to COVID-19. However, the organization noted that the markets will not be shutting down; they will just continue on electronically. 

Ridesharing platforms Uber and Lyft also reported a financial hit to their businesses in the wake of the outbreak. Stocks of both companies were in freefall earlier this week when compared to February; Uber shares dropped from $39.98 last month to $16.24 on Wednesday, and Lyft shares fell from $39.69 to $16.24 during the same time period.

Recent studies have highlighted the health benefits associated with walking more, especially when it comes to heart health. 

Now, researchers from the American College of Cardiology found that taking more steps throughout the day can help consumers lower their blood pressure. The team says that tracking steps can ensure that consumers are staying on top of their physical activity. 

“This study solidifies our understanding of the relationship between physical activity and blood pressure and raises the possibility that obesity or body mass index accounts for a lot of that relationship,” said researcher Dr. Mayank Sardana. 

Boosting heart health

The researchers had over 630 participants involved in the study. Each person wore an Apple Watch and checked their blood pressure every week. The watches tracked all of the participants’ daily physical activity, including how many steps they took each day. 

The researchers learned that those who were taking more steps throughout the day had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure than those who weren’t walking as much. They found that consumers could actually lower their blood pressure enough to no longer be considered at risk by taking 10,000 steps each day. The findings also suggest that consumers can lower their systolic blood pressure as much as 0.45 points for every 1,000 steps they take throughout the day. 

Though this was an observational study, other recent studies have also found that exercise can be a great way to keep blood pressure at healthy levels. The researchers say that tracking physical activity can be a great way for consumers to set fitness goals and boost their overall health.

“Going forward, it would be useful to look at how smart devices might be leveraged to promote physical activity, reduce the burden of obesity, and potentially reduce blood pressure,” said Dr. Sardana. 

Gasoline prices have plunged in the last week as oil prices fell to financial crisis levels and coronavirus fears limited travel.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gasoline is $2.17 a gallon, down from $2.30 just seven days ago. The average price of premium gas is $2.83 a gallon, 11 cents a gallon cheaper than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel dropped another seven cents a gallon during the seek, to $2.70 a gallon.

In some states, the plunge has been nothing short of breathtaking. Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Indiana -- not known for low fuel prices  -- are among the 10 states with the lowest gas prices in the nation, displacing Alabama, Louisiana, and Virginia. AAA says two-thirds of all states experienced a double-digit drop in gas prices in the last week.

Oklahoma has the lowest average price this week at $1.80 a gallon, but Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, has found it even cheaper.

“99 CENTS IS HERE,” DeHaan tweeted on Thursday. “Just got off the phone to verify, but a BP station in London, Ky., has dropped its price to 99 CENTS PER GALLON.”

“AAA expects gas prices to continue trending cheaper, with the high likelihood of the national average hitting $2/gallon before the end of March,” said AAA’s spokesperson Jeanette Casselano.

The states with the most expensive regular gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• Hawaii ($3.51)

• California ($3.28)

• Washington ($2.96)

• Oregon ($2.97 

• Alaska ($2.81)

• Nevada ($2.78)

• Arizona ($2.63)

• Idaho ($2.51)

• Utah ($2.46)

• New York ($2.45) 

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Oklahoma ($1.80)

• Ohio ($1.85)

• Indiana ($1.88)

• Texas ($1.91)

• Kentucky ($1.91)

• Mississippi ($1.91)

• Missouri ($1.91)

• South Carolina ($1.92)

• Michigan ($1.93)

• Wisconsin ($1.94)

With many states struggling to effectively handle the opioid crisis, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Cincinnati sought to identify groups across the country that were at the highest risk of opioid addiction. 

They studied opioid use throughout the state of Ohio in the hopes that lawmakers can better serve their communities and help reduce the number of overdoses. 

“This area has a history of high rates of drug consumption and illegal drug flow,” said researcher Andres Hernandez. “I think understanding the characteristics of the population with higher risk will result in better strategies to mitigate the pandemic.”  

Who is most at risk?

The researchers analyzed medical records across Ohio from 2010 through 2017 to best determine the groups across the state at the highest risk. 

In addition to finding groups that were most likely to overdose on opioids, the researchers’ work also discovered a dozen sites across the state where opioid overdoses and related deaths were the most common. The more urban parts of Ohio were the most affected in this way. 

As for demographic groups, the researchers learned that men were more likely than women to abuse opioids and experience opioid-related fatalities. Both white and black men in their thirties were the most likely to struggle with their opioid use, more so than any other group involved in the study. 

“We’re just beginning the conversation to figure out what is driving this,” Hernandez said. 

Developing prevention strategies

The researchers explained that there are several factors at play when thinking about the rapid spread of the opioid crisis. Recently, experts have found that the time of year and age can play a role. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope to expand this kind of work to discover other vulnerable groups around the country. Knowing what groups are at the highest risk can hopefully lead to prevention strategies to help consumers. 

“If not nationwide, we’d like to conduct the same analysis for Kentucky and West Virginia, the epicenter of the opioid epidemic,” said researcher Diego Cuadros. “It’s a regional problem. So it’s important knowing what’s going on.”