Current Events in April 2020

Amazon has been forced to waitlist new shoppers amid a surge in demand for food delivery via Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh. Starting this week, Amazon said it will require new customers to “sign up for an invitation” to use those services. 

In a blog post, the company explained that it’s struggling to keep up with grocery delivery demand from its Amazon Prime subscribers despite having increased its order capacity by 60 percent in recent weeks. 

“While we have increased order capacity by more than 60 percent due to COVID-19, we still expect the combination of restricted capacity due to social distancing and customer demand will continue to make finding available delivery windows challenging for customers,” the company said. 

“To help, in the coming weeks, we will launch a new feature that will allow customers to secure time to shop. This feature will give delivery customers a virtual ‘place in line’ and will allow us to distribute the delivery windows on a first come, first served basis. Simultaneously, we will continue to add capacity as swiftly as possible.” 

‘Unprecedented demand’ 

The company said it’s temporarily requesting that new Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market delivery consumers sign up for an invitation to join during this time of “unprecedented demand.”

“With the new world of social distancing and stay-at-home orders in place for most of the country, customers have generated unprecedented demand for grocery delivery,” the company said. “Our Amazon associates, Whole Foods Market Team Members, and delivery partners are among the many retail heroes of this COVID-19 crisis.” 

In addition to boosting its order capacity, Amazon -- which purchased Whole Foods for $13.7 billion in 2017 -- said it added pick-up to around 70 new Whole Foods locations. The company said it also modified its opening hours at some locations to enable employees to “focus exclusively on fulfilling online grocery orders during this time.” 

In the midst of a severe shortage of N95 respirators, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for a decontamination process that could re-sterilize millions of used masks per day. 

The agency said the EUA was issued to the Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP) for the STERRAD Sterilization Cycles, which uses vaporized hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization. The process could put as many as four million single-use N95 respirators back into use by health care workers each day. 

“Our nation’s health care workers are among the many heroes of this pandemic and we need to do everything we can to increase the availability of the critical medical devices they need, like N95 respirators,” FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. said in a statement. 

“FDA staff continue to work around the clock, across government and with the private sector to find solutions. This authorization will help provide access to millions of respirators so our health care workers on the front lines can be better protected and provide the best care to patients with COVID-19.”

Decontaminating masks

The agency had previously issued authorization of the use of Battelle’s vaporized hydrogen peroxide process, which involves gassing the filters for two and a half hours to destroy bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants, including the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

The process cleared for use most recently also utilizes hydrogen peroxide vapor.

“Hydrogen peroxide vapor is generated by injecting aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution into the vaporizer subassembly where the solution is then concentrated and vaporized at relatively low temperatures through a process that utilizes a combination of heating and sub-ambient pressures,” the FDA said.

The latest clearance is expected to pave the way for the authorization of even more processes that will lead to masks being rendered effective again following use by those in the health care workforce. 

Researchers at cybersecurity intelligence firm Cyble were able to find and purchase more than 500,000 Zoom accounts from hacker forums and the dark web earlier this month, according to BleepingComputer. 

Many accounts could be purchased for less than a penny each, while others were being sold in bulk for free. 

Cyble said victims’ email addresses, passwords, personal meeting URLs, and their HostKey (the 6-digit pin number Zoom meeting hosts can use) were out there and available for purchase. After buying the credentials, the researchers were able to gain an increased reputation in the hacker community.

BleepingComputer said it reached out to a subset of the owners of the exposed email addresses, and many confirmed that the listed credentials were correct. However, one user said that the listed password was an old one.

A large number of the accounts for sale were owned by companies or institutions including Chase, Citibank, and educational institutions. 

What to do

The information leaked was obtained through "credential stuffing" attacks, meaning hackers took password-email combinations from previous hacks and carried them over to Zoom accounts.

Those concerned about the possibility of exposure are encouraged to change their Zoom password if used elsewhere. Using a unique password will help lower the chance of having information exposed during a past breach being leaked again at another site. 

Consumers can also check to see if their email address has been leaked in data breaches through the Have I Been Pwned website or Cyble's AmIBreached data breach notification service, Bleeping Computer said. 

The fact that most of us have never been through anything like COVID-19 before isn’t lost on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It’s created a Security Summit composed of IRS, state tax agencies, and private-sector tax industry to keep an eye open for cybercriminals bent on taking advantage of any pandemic-related scams centered around the outbreak or the government’s Economic Impact Payments.

In addition, the IRS’ criminal investigation unit is also on the case and has already uncovered actual cases where cybercrooks try to prey on vulnerable taxpayers who are unaware of how they’ll get their stimulus checks. 

“Identity thieves view the pandemic as a chance to exploit tax professionals as well as taxpayers,” IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig told ConsumerAffairs. “They are using every trick of their criminal trade to con people as well as steal valuable personal and financial information to help enable tax-related identity theft. In many ways, tax pros are one of the first lines of defense. We urge the entire tax community to take additional steps and protect their sensitive data.”

Heads up, tax pros

The IRS wants tax pros to take the interconnection of the pandemic and taxpayers personal data seriously. Here are the things the agency is asking tax preparers to do:

Use a virtual private network for extra security

“All tax professionals who are teleworking should be using an encrypted Virtual Private Network or VPN,” the IRS wrote. “A VPN provides a secure, encrypted tunnel to transmit data between a remote user via the internet and the company network.”

VPNs are a foreign concept to a lot of people, but, basically, they are a tool that connects two computers on the internet so they can send and receive data securely and privately.

If someone doesn’t have a VPN, a cybercriminal can exploit vulnerabilities and make off with user data. It could even allow a hacker to complete and file a person’s tax return by simply changing the bank account information so the refund goes into their account and not the real taxpayers.

Use multi-factor authentication to help protect data

Over the last couple of years, the option of multi-factor authentication has become a staple of larger platforms as they try to give end users an added layer of security. It allows users to prove that they are who they say they are, generally via a text to a mobile phone.

The Security Summit partners urge tax pros to use this option if it’s available as part of their tax preparation software. This could help stop a thief from simply stealing log-in credentials and accessing an account because they would also need the device that verifies the actual user’s identity.

Avoid phishing scams

Identity thieves have turned up the volume of consumer-directed phishing scam efforts to try and get their hands on COVID-19 and Economic Impact Payments. However, those same crooks are targeting tax professionals as well.

“Tax professionals should beware of emails from criminals posing as potential clients. As people practice social distancing these days, criminals may exploit this process to try to trick tax practitioners into opening links or attachments,” the IRS said. “For example, crooks may present themselves as a new client and ask the practitioner to view the wage and income information they have in an attachment.”

The Security Summit says that tax professionals can prevent this with some rather simple steps: know your customers; use the phone to confirm identities; and don’t take the bait. 

Taxpayers can report suspicious emails posing as the IRS to our *PHISHING mailbox at phishing@irs.gov.

“Hi, I’m from the IRS…”

The IRS is simply not in the habit of calling people, much less emailing them or texting them. The agency will not call, email, or text anyone about Economic Impact Payments, either. 

“These are impersonation scams by thieves seeking to steal bank account or other sensitive data. Do not fall for these scams,” the IRS warns.

Don’t forget security software

If you haven’t spent the money on getting well-reviewed security software, the COVID-19 security scare should be reason enough to. 

The IRS recommends that consumers look for broad-based security software that protects computers and mobile phones so hackers can’t deposit some malware eggs which could, in turn, infect digital networks.

Apple should be breathing a little easier today. It appears that the company has allayed the fears of the Senate Finance Committee -- the group that sets national health policy -- regarding the committee’s concerns over the tech giant’s COVID-19-related website and app.

In Apple’s original announcement, it underlined that it will collect "some information" to help improve the site, but it stumbled by not identifying exactly what that information would include.

That faux pas caught the Committee’s eye, and when it started poring over Apple’s announcement, more questions came to light. To get those answers, it spared no time in going straight to the top of Apple’s org chart. 

“While we acknowledge Apple’s statements regarding user privacy and that the questionnaire tools ‘do not require a sign-in or association with a user’s Apple ID, and users’ individual responses will not be sent to Apple or any government organization,’ we are nonetheless concerned for the safety and security of Americans’ private health data,” Sens. Menendez, Blumenthal, Harris and Booker wrote to Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook.

Concerns and answers

Triggering the Senators’ concerns were several things, including:

1. Is Apple’s screening site and app governed under the terms of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?

2. What personal data is Apple going to retain?

3. Will Apple promise that it will not share or sell any of the data gathered?

4. What cybersecurity safeguards does Apple have to secure the personal data?

5. Will the website be accessible to those with disabilities?

Regarding HIPPA 

As a quick background, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) supervises the stream of healthcare information and guarantees how personally identifiable information is maintained and shared.

In Apple senior government affairs director Timothy Powderly’s response to the Senate, he stated that the company’s tools are not covered by the health privacy law HIPAA -- specifically the governance of HIPAA regarding when a company can disclose data to a third party. Powderly went on to say that there aren’t any third parties involved in collecting the information, since “data (is) entered into the website and app directly by users.”

Retention of personal data

Reminding the Committee that it does not currently collect any information entered into the website and app by individuals, Apple responded that its COVID-19 resources are no exception.

“Guided by this principle, Apple currently collects only the information necessary to support the operation of the COVID-19 website and app, such as users’ usage of the tool and app; this information does not include information entered by individuals,” wrote Powderly.

“Apple only retains this information for so long as is necessary to support the operation of the COVID-19 website and app. Information no longer needed is deleted or rendered permanently unrecoverable in accordance with industry standards.”

Will Apple commit to refraining from sharing or selling the data collected on the website and app to third parties?

There was no pussyfooting from Apple here. 

“Yes, no data collected from either the website or app will ever be sold to third parties,” Powderly said.

How Apple will protect the user data

Apple’s answer was a little technical, but its bottom line response was that the company has developed layers of “technical and administrative safeguards” to protect data as it’s being transported. It has also restricted access to that data to authorized personnel only.

Accessibility of the website to those with disabilities

Again, the answer was another straightforward “yes” from Powderly. 

“Apple’s COVID-19 app and website support features such as Apple’s VoiceOver technology, a screen reader which describes exactly what’s happening on the screen of an Apple device so that individuals can navigate just by listening, as well as Switch Control and Voice Control, which support individuals with physical motor limitations to use devices without touch,” he wrote.

Besides sending cash payments to Americans, the CARES Act allows homeowners suffering from the economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) to put off making mortgage payments for up to a year. A new industry report shows many people are doing just that.

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports that the percentage of mortgage loans that were placed in forbearance -- meaning they don’t have to be paid right away -- rose from 2.73 percent during the last week of March to 3.74 during the first week of April.

That might not sound like a big move, but it is. It’s a 37 percent increase in just seven days, and it shows just how many people have been thrown out of work by the mitigation efforts to slow the spread of the virus. 

"The nationwide shutdown of the economy to slow the spread of COVID-19 continues to create hardships for millions of households, and more are contacting their servicers for relief in accordance with the forbearance provisions under the CARES Act," said Mike Fratantoni, MBA's senior vice president and chief economist.

Call center volume rose

Fratanoni says there was also a surge in call center volume to go along with the rising number of loans in forbearance, with homeowners asking to place their loans on hold.

"The share of loans in forbearance grew the first week of April, and forbearance requests and call center volume further increased. With mitigation efforts seemingly in place for at least several more weeks, job losses will continue and the number of borrowers asking for forbearance will likely continue to rise at a rapid pace."

Under the law, homeowners are able to seek forbearance on their federally-backed mortgage, allowing them to skip principal and interest payments for 180 days. At the end of that time, they are able to seek relief for another 180 days.

The skipped principal and interest payments are added to the end of the loan, so they will eventually be paid back.

Liquidity issue for lenders

An analysis by Black Knight, a data analytics firm, suggests this sharp rise in mortgage forbearances could present liquidity issues for some lenders. It shows that the forbearance requests are inundating servicers' operations and will require payment of billions of dollars per month in principal and interest advances to government-backed securities holders.

If just 5 percent of homeowners seek forbearance, servicers would need to pay more than $2.1 billion in principal and interest per month to security holders. So far, there’s no indication of how many people will try to stop paying their mortgages, but the MBA’s numbers show it could be staggering, calling into question its long-term sustainability.

Black Knight CEO Ben Graboske notes there was no mandate for mortgage forbearance during the 2008 financial crisis, and previous programs have been offered on a smaller scale in local disaster areas. He says the current situation represents uncharted waters.

"Trying to gauge the impact of COVID-19 on mortgage performance is as much an art right now as a science," said Graboske. "The fact is that there is no true point of comparison in the nation's recent history for analysts to model against.

Though experts have warned parents about their kids’ screen time, a new study conducted by researchers from Ohio State University explored how time in front of screens can affect kids’ social skills. 

The researchers learned that despite how much time this generation of kids spends with screens, they are just as adjusted socially as the generation that preceded them. 

“In virtually every comparison we made, either social skills stayed the same or actually went up modestly for the children born later,” said researcher Douglas Downey. “There’s very little evidence that screen exposure was problematic for the growth of social skills.” 

Developing social skills

To better understand what effect screen time can have on kids’ social development, the researchers evaluated data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS). Downey and his team were most interested in comparing social skills between two generations, so the dataset they analyzed included kindergarten-aged children in 1998 and 2010. 

The children’s social skills were assessed by both their parents and teachers. Teachers evaluated the children annually from kindergarten through fifth grade, while parents were able to report on their children’s average screen time. Ultimately, the researchers learned that time spent in front of screens doesn’t affect how children socialize. 

“Overall, we found very little evidence that the time spent on screens was hurting social skills for most children,” Downey said. 

Screen time doesn’t inhibit socialization

The researchers explained that parents often worry about their kids' social development and that their time in front of screens will eclipse their face-to-face interactions. However, the study found that even those who had the most screen time were able to socialize as well, or better than, those with the least screen time. 

While experts have recommended that parents limit their kids’ time in front of screens for any number of health reasons, when it comes to social skills, parents should feel at ease. 

“The introduction of telephones, automobiles, radio all led to moral panic among adults of the time because the technology allowed children to enjoy more autonomy,” said Downey. “Fears over screen-based technology likely represent the most recent panic in response to technological change.” 

Food allergies are not to be taken lightly, but researchers have found that many consumers tend to overestimate whether or not they’re actually allergic to certain foods. 

Now, researchers from Imperial College London have found that current guidelines for cow’s milk allergies could lead many infants and young kids to receive allergy diagnoses that are incorrect. 

“Many infants who are labelled as having milk allergy don’t have the condition,” said researcher Dr. Robert Boyle. “Having a child with suspected milk allergy can be a stressful time for any family. Misdiagnosing milk allergy could lead to another condition with similar symptoms being missed, or breast-feeding mothers needlessly following restricted diets -- or even stop breast-feeding altogether.” 

Understanding the guidelines

The researchers analyzed guidelines for a cow’s milk allergy from various countries and medical organizations, all published between 2012 and 2019. 

The researchers explained that there are a wide range of symptoms to be aware of because there are different types of cow’s milk allergies. 

Allergies can either affect the immune system, which are known as IgE mediated allergies, or affect the gastrointestinal system, which are known as non-IgE mediated allergies. In the former group, allergies can appear as intensely as anaphylaxis, or more mildly in the form of hives or vomiting. 

Things tend to get complicated in cases of non-IgE mediated allergies when it comes to children. The researchers explained that the symptoms in these instances include extreme fussiness, vomiting, and diarrhea. However, these signs don’t always indicate an allergy. 

“In the nine guidelines we studied, seven of them suggested including milder symptoms as indication of non-IgE cow’s milk allergy, such as regurgitating milk, crying, and rashes -- but many of these symptoms are present normally in babies, and will get better in time,” said researcher Dr. Daniel Munbilt. “Non-IgE cow’s milk allergy affects less than one percent of infants whereas troublesome vomiting, crying, or eczema each affect 15-20 percent of babies.” 

Though cow’s milk allergies affect just one percent of infants, ambiguous guidelines can lead to an influx of misdiagnoses. Moving forward, the researchers hope that guidelines can be more straightforward for patients. 

“We must not only critically appraise our current guidelines, and dissociate the development of guidelines from those who may profit from them, but also ensure we are giving each family the best possible care by avoiding overdiagnosis of cow’s milk allergy,” said Boyle. 

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling 151 model year 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos.

The front differential may have been assembled with pinion gears that are insufficiently hardened, which can lead to the gear teeth wearing down.

If both pinion gears have their teeth sufficiently worn off, torque power can not be transferred from the front wheels to the driveline, resulting in loss of power while while the vehicle is being driven, and loss of the PARK function when stationary.

What to do

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front differential free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin May 15, 2020.

Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at (800) 853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W22.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 558,526  (555,313)

Total U.S. deaths: 22,146 (22,020)

Total global cases: 1,872,073  (1,846,680)

Total global deaths: 116,052 (114,090)

Smithfield warns of a pork shortage 

You may have noticed your supermarket meat counter looking a little thin lately. First, it was because of panic buying. Lately, it appears to be a supply issue.

South Dakota’s largest pork plant, operated by Smithfield, remains closed because of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The company’s CEO, Ken Sullivan, says that’s bad news for both consumers and farmers.

“We have a stark choice as a nation: we are either going to produce food or not, even in the face of COVID-19,” Sullivan said in a statement. “It is impossible to keep our grocery stores stocked if our plants are not running.”

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem ordered the Sioux Falls plant to remain closed after more than 200 employees tested positive for the virus.

Hopeful comments from Dr. Fauci

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAD), expressed some hope over the weekend that the coronavirus may be slowing. But on CBS’ Face the Nation, he warned that the country is still “struggling” to keep it under control.

Fauci also warned that the number of new cases hasn’t peaked and that it is likely to get worse before it gets better. He also prepared Americans for the fact that deaths will probably rise as the number of cases falls, calling deaths a “lagging indicator.”

Airlines may sell miles to raise cash

The nation’s airlines have been among the businesses hardest hit by the coronavirus because consumers have abruptly stopped traveling. By some estimates, traffic is down over 90 percent.

To raise cash, The Wall Street Journal reports that United and Delta are considering selling future miles to meet today’s cash needs. The report says the two airlines are in discussions with JPMorgan Chase and American Express to dump the miles ahead of schedule. If it did, it’s not clear if it would create bargains for consumers.

New York City having a good day

New York City, which has seen the worst of the coronavirus illnesses and deaths in the U.S., appears to be on the mend. The city’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, says the rate of hospitalizations from the virus has fallen for another day, relieving some of the pressure on health care workers.

But the mayor did not let up in his urging of the city’s residents to maintain social distancing measures, saying they appear to be helping. De Blasio also said the percentage of people who are testing positive for the virus has declined, along with the number of people in hospital intensive care units.

Around the nation

• New Jersey: The pandemic is causing a lot of changes that would be unthinkable under normal circumstances. The state Supreme Court has ruled that recent law school graduates can practice law in the state -- at least temporarily -- without passing the bar exam.

• Colorado: State officials are expressing some frustration because they say personal protective equipment for health care workers remains hard to get. They also say testing remains sporadic. “We are relieved that we have finally received materials from the Strategic National Stockpile, but it’s not nearly enough,” said Scott Bookman, incident commander at the state health department.

• Wisconsin: The closely followed model of coronavirus cases indicates hospitalizations from the virus peaked on Sunday. However, state health officials say that all depends on whether the state’s residents maintain required social distancing measures.

Auto insurance customers have a couple more insurance company jingles to sing out loud. State Farm and Nationwide have joined Allstate, Geico, and American Family in announcing dividends that will go directly back to its customers. 

State Farm’s Good Neighbor Relief Program

The total program:  $2 billion

The amount of credit per customer: On average, State Farm Mutual auto customers can expect to receive a credit of about 25 percent of premium on their coverage. The percentage will vary state-to-state.

Dates the credit applies toward: The credit applies to coverage from March 20 through May 31 

When the credit will go out: State Farm says that every single auto insurance customer will receive credits applied against bills, beginning as early as June.

Could this continue if COVID continues: The company didn’t say if it would extend the program should COVID-19’s rampage continue, but it did say that it would “continue to monitor our loss experience and respond appropriately.”

Nationwide’s premium refund

Nationwide also announced that it is offering a one-time premium refund on top of existing discounts that customers may have already earned.

Here are the program’s particulars:

Who will receive the refund? Anyone who has a personal auto policy active as of March 31, 2020. PowerSports and motorcycle policies are excluded.

The amount per policy: A one-time payment of $50 -- equivalent to about 15 percent in Nationwide’s estimation.

Dates the credit applies toward: Nationwide said the refund is for two months worth of premiums, but it did not specify exact dates. 

What customers have to do: “You don't need to do anything,” Nationwide wrote in an email to its customers. 

How it will show up:  It will be returned to customers in the last form of payment they have made, whether electronic or paper. The refund will arrive in the next 30 days and is subject to individual state regulatory approval.

When will customers see theirs? “Refunds will automatically be credited to your most recent method of payment (for example, automatic withdrawal, credit card, personal check) within the next 30 days, subject to regulatory approval,” Nationwide said. 

Could this continue if COVID-19 continues: The company didn’t say if it would extend the program should COVID-19’s rampage continue.

As a side note, Nationwide is also offering extended payment terms for customers who might be experiencing hardship due to the pandemic. 

Giving back to the communities

State Farm and Nationwide are both taking a chunk of what they’ve saved in out-of-pocket costs during COVID-19’s impact on traffic.

State Farm is taking its good neighbor mantra past the customer level by providing $5 million in donations across the country. Nationwide is matching that with a $5 million contribution from its  Nationwide Foundation. The company said those funds will be directed toward local and national charities to support pandemic response efforts.

Questions?

As it typically goes with things like this, consumers are going to have questions that State Farm or Nationwide didn’t cover in their announcements. 

If that’s the case, State Farm and Nationwide both have FAQ pages that might answer any additional questions. State Farm’s can be accessed here, and Nationwide’s can be found here.

Companies are continuing to step up their efforts to support consumers during the coronavirus crisis. On Friday, Google and Apple announced a new partnership that will allow them to help track the spread of the disease and alert consumers who may be affected by it. 

A new program called “Contact Tracing” will allow the companies to reference information from public health authorities and send alerts to consumers who may have been in contact with someone who was exposed to the coronavirus.

“Google and Apple are announcing a joint effort to enable the use of Bluetooth technology to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the virus, with user privacy and security central to the design,” the companies said in a joint announcement. 

Working together to create solutions

To allow the program to work, Google and Apple will be rolling out Contact Tracing in two steps. First, the companies will release new APIs that enable devices from both the Android and iOS platforms to communicate with each other and receive information from apps run by public health authorities. 

In the second step, the companies plan to build a more expansive platform that allows them to track the spread of the virus through Bluetooth technology. Officials note that consumers will need to opt into these programs for them to work, which may give some relief to those who have privacy concerns.

“Privacy, transparency, and consent are of utmost importance in this effort, and we look forward to building this functionality in consultation with interested stakeholders. We will openly publish information about our work for others to analyze,” the companies said.

“All of us at Apple and Google believe there has never been a more important moment to work together to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems. Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments and public health providers, we hope to harness the power of technology to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return of everyday life.”

For more information on Contact Tracing, readers can find more specifications released by Apple here.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has extended its No Sail Order for all cruise ships.

Despite all the efforts of the medical communities on land, cruise ship travel has proved problematic and has dramatically increased the risk and impact of the COVID-19 outbreak within the United States when passengers disembark and return to their homes.

Over the past few weeks, at least 10 cruise ships were reported to have either crew or passengers that tested positive or showed symptoms of respiratory or influenza-like illnesses. Currently, the U.S. Coast Guard says there are more than 100 cruise ships still at sea with close to 80,000 passengers on board, either in or near U.S. ports and waters.

COVID: An ever-changing landscape

The path of the pandemic is proving to be a long and winding road. Estimates change almost daily, curves flatten in different places at different times, and the travel industry has been forced into a constant state of flux.

“We are working with the cruise line industry to address the health and safety of crew at sea as well as communities surrounding U.S. cruise ship points of entry,” said CDC Director Robert Redfield. 

On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated its guidelines for cruise ships to help U.S. cruise ship travelers (passengers and crew) get back to America as soon and safely as possible while the COVID-19 pandemic lingers on. Additions to those guidelines include putting considerable weight on the shoulders of those cruise lines, making it their responsibility to get passengers and crew home on private or charter transportation.

Will cruising ever be the same again?

The next time someone goes cruising, they might be in for some major changes.

When Genting Cruise Lines’ -- owner of upscale Crystal Cruises, et al -- returns to service after the COVID-19 shutdown, it’s removing self-service buffets and limiting tour coaches for shore excursions to 50 percent capacity. In addition, passengers aged 70 and up must provide a doctor’s certificate before they’re allowed to travel. 

Those alterations only scratch the surface of Genting’s more than 50 proposed changes. Company president Kent Zhu said that those and other changes will become the “new safety norm” for all brands and likely become industry-wide standards.

Will other cruise liners make changes, too? ConsumerAffairs reached out to the major cruise lines and asked if they’ll be following Genting’s lead.

As of press time, Carnival Cruise Line (Carnival, Princess, Costa, Holland America, Cunard, Seabourn et al) was the only one to respond, saying that it is “still formulating our plans which will build on the enhanced protocols we put in place previously.”

Cruise ships are not the cause of this virus

Despite their heavy involvement in the current crisis, cruise industry officials want to make it clear that cruise ships are neither the source or the cause of COVID-19.

“The tragic reality is that even the best efforts of all—cruise ships, hotels, concert venues, movie theaters, universities, conferences, and even cities—could not keep this virus from affecting settings where people come together to socialize and enjoy shared experiences,” Laziza Lambert, an official with the Cruise Lines International Association, told ConsumerAffairs. 

“There is no doubt that we, along with the rest of the world, will emerge from this crisis stronger for the challenges we have faced, and the lessons learned.”

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said on Friday that the coronavirus outbreak has spurred more than 15,000 fraud complaints, and scams related to the coronavirus have cost consumers nearly $12 million since the beginning of the year. 

Scammers have attempted to profit off of the health crisis in a number of ways, including by posing as government officials, pretending to have the ability to issue travel and vacation refunds or cancellations, or promoting an Amazon work-from-home scam. 

In March, call-screening app YouMail reported a surge in robocall messages pushing coronavirus scams and bogus products. The same month, the FTC sent warning letters to seven companies warning them to stop promoting unapproved products -- including teas, essential oils, and colloidal silver -- that “may violate federal law by making deceptive or scientifically unsupported claims about their ability to treat coronavirus (COVID-19).” 

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has warned Medicare recipients that scammers have started using the virus as a way to steal Medicare numbers via email and telemarketing schemes. 

“In some cases, they might tell you they'll send you a coronavirus test, masks, or other items in exchange for your Medicare number or personal information,” the agency said in a statement in March. “Be wary of unsolicited requests for your Medicare number or other personal information.”

Justice Department taking action

The Justice Department has asked consumers to report any suspected fraud schemes related to the coronavirus so that it can take the appropriate actions as quickly as possible. The Department said known coronavirus scams include: 

• Individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud;

• Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;

• Malicious websites and apps that appear to share Coronavirus-related information to gain and lock access to your devices until payment is received;

• Seeking donations fraudulently for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations; and

• Medical providers obtaining patient information for COVID-19 testing and then using that information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures.      

"We will use every resource at the government's disposal to act quickly to shut down these most despicable of scammers, whether they are defrauding consumers, committing identity theft, or delivering malware," Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt said in a statement.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 473,093 (432,579)

Total U.S. deaths: 17,836 (14,830)

Total global cases: 1,631,310  (1,506,936)

Total global deaths: 98,401 (90,057)

The U.S. is now second in deaths

The United States has moved into second place in coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths, passing Spain and trailing only Italy. The U.S. has recorded nearly 17,000 deaths from the virus while Italy has more than 18,000.

However, Italy’s death rate has begun to level off while U.S. deaths are not expected to peak for another two weeks. That means the U.S. could overtake Italy as the most deadly country for the coronavirus sometime next week. 

The U.S. already leads the world by a wide margin in the number of confirmed cases. Those numbers are driven by New York state, which now has more cases of the virus than any country (other than the U.S. as a whole.)

New tests are rolling out

After a halting and widely criticized start to coronavirus testing in the U.S., hospitals and corporations have innovated to produce a number of new tests that can generate results within minutes.

Among the latest is a test that scans subjects’ blood antibodies for signs that would indicate whether subjects have already had the virus. A number of patients have actually tested positive for the disease but have not had any symptoms. 

“This could be an extraordinarily important piece of how we’re going to get over this epidemic,”  Eran Bendavid, an infectious-disease physician at Stanford University, told The Wall Street Journal.

Health officials say this test and others like it can help paint a picture of where the virus has spread and assist with measures to control it.

Money for hospitals and health workers

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today began delivering $30 billion in financial aid to health workers who are supporting the national response to the coronavirus and to health facilities treating patients. The money is the first installment of $100 billion allocated for that purpose under the $2.2 trillion CARES Act.

HHS officials say the $100 billion will be used to support healthcare-related expenses or lost revenue attributable to coronavirus. It will also be used to ensure that uninsured Americans can get the testing and treatment they need without receiving a surprise bill from a provider. The initial $30 billion in immediate relief funds is being delivered to providers today.

Slow response to loan requests

If you’re a small business owner still waiting to hear about your application for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan, you aren’t alone. The loan program, dubbed the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) because it forgives loans if borrowers don’t lay off employees, has drawn a huge number of applications from participating banks that have struggled to meet the demand.

The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) reports that around 72 percent of businesses applying for a PPP loan were able to submit an application. But NFIB says some banks are pre-screening applicants before having them fill out the full application, so it is unclear how many have successfully applied or have just completed the first step in a longer process. Twenty-eight percent of small business owners were not successful in applying for a PPP loan.   

Feds will continue to fund drive-through testing

The Trump administration has reportedly walked back a plan to phase out federal support for drive-thru testing stations after local officials complained. The Wall Street Journal cites various local officials who say the support will continue into late May. It had been scheduled to end today.

The drive-thru test stations, set up mostly in retailers’ parking lots, provide a way to implement fast and convenient testing. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency supported the effort by supplying medical personnel, personal-protective equipment, and test kits.

Some private companies, including Walgreens and CVS, are continuing to add testing stations in some of their stores’ parking lots.

Around the nation

• Louisiana: A member of the state legislature has died of the coronavirus. Rep. Reggie Bagala, whose district includes suburban New Orleans, had been on a ventilator for more than a week. He was 54 years old.

• Pennsylvania: A nursing home near Pittsburgh is an epicenter of the pandemic in the state as all 750 residents and staffers may be infected with COVID-19. NBC News reports the facility was slapped with a “below average grade” by state inspectors last year.

• West Virginia: As one of the last states to report a case of the coronavirus, West Virginia now has seven “hot spots” for the disease. Marion County now has more than 30 coronavirus cases. It joins Kanawha, Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan, Monongalia, and Harrison counties with the jurisdictions with the most cases.

Americans have started receiving direct stimulus payments from the federal government to cope with the coronavirus (COVID-19), but can those payments be seized by debt collectors if those recipients are in debt?

Two members of Congress -- one Democrat and one Republican -- say they can unless the Trump administration does something to stop it.

The payments are being made as part of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act that was signed into law earlier this month. To help with the economic dislocation caused by the virus, every adult is receiving $1,200 from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Families are getting an additional $500 per child.

But Sen. Sharrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) say the law doesn’t protect those payments from debt collectors if the recipients are subject to a collection effort. The lawmakers say those payments are designed as a lifeline to households to help weather the crisis and nothing more.

Letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin

In a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the two lawmakers urged the Treasury Department to use its power to protect those payments from being seized.

“Congress included this critical relief in order to help American families struggling to pay for food, medicine, and other basic necessities during the novel coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic crisis,” the senators wrote in their letter.

The lawmakers, who are members of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, said Congress never intended that any portion of the direct payments to Americans be diverted to settle debts. 

“To ensure that American families receive the full amount of this intended relief, the CARES Act does not allow for the payment amount to be reduced, or ‘offset,’ for past tax debts or other debts owed to federal or state governments,” they wrote. “The only offset that Congress allowed is for past-due child support payments.

Not stated in the law

If Congress isn’t allowing the government to tap a recipient’s payment to settle a tax bill, the lawmakers said, then it obviously never intended private debt collectors to grab a piece of it. However, that isn’t directly stated in the CARES Act.

Brown and Hawley said the Treasury Department has the authority to establish what the law fails to state -- that CARES Act direct payments can’t be seized to satisfy private debts.

Under current Treasury rules, the two senators point out that two months of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and other federal payments are protected from being garnished by private debt collectors.

They say the Treasury Department can also apply this rule to protect the CARES Act direct payments from private debt collectors.  

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Thursday that the U.S. economy is in an emergency situation, but it’s likely to bounce back following the coronavirus crisis. 

In a webcast speech to the Brookings Institution, Powell said the economy is deteriorating “with alarming speed,” but “there is every reason to believe that the economic rebound, when it comes, can be robust.” 

“We are moving with alarming speed from 50-year lows in unemployment to what will likely be very high, although temporary, levels,” Powell said. 

Segueing into the topic of reopening the economy, Powell said he didn’t want to move too quickly for fear of spurring another surge in coronavirus cases. Powell has taken a more realistic stance than Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who said he believes it’s possible for businesses to reopen in May. Powell believes July is more likely to be the month for reopenings. 

Economic rebound likely 

To date, more than 17 million Americans have filed for unemployment due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Fed on Thursday unveiled a new loans program that will provide more than $2 trillion in additional aid to small, medium, and large companies, in addition to states and cities in need of aid. 

“Our country’s highest priority must be to address this public-health crisis, providing care for the ill and limiting the further spread of the virus,” Powell said. “The Fed’s role is to provide as much relief and stability as we can during this period of constrained economic activity, and our actions today will help ensure that the eventual recovery is as vigorous as possible.”

He added that emergency measures of this sort are reserved for “truly rare circumstances, such as those we face today.” 

“There is every reason to believe that the economic rebound, when it comes, can be robust,” Powell said. “We entered this turbulent period on a strong economic footing and that should help support the recovery.”

Powell’s comments came the same day Democrats and Republicans failed to reach a deal over the next aid package. On Thursday, Senate Democrats rejected a bid by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R - Ky.) to funnel an additional $250 billion in coronavirus aid into the small businesses loan program. They argued that some of that money should go to community-level financial institutions.