Current Events in May 2020

Under rules created by the Small Business Administration (SBA), forgivable loans from the government could ultimately end up being a burden on those who receive them. 

Although intended to help small businesses stay afloat in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, a report released Friday by the inspector general for the SBA concluded that loan limits established by the SBA could harm small businesses in the long run. 

The report concluded that the agency’s rules aren’t in line with a law pertaining to how businesses could obtain loan forgiveness that was drafted by Congress when the program was created. The SBA’s loan limits require that businesses spend at least 75 percent of the loan on payroll to get full loan forgiveness. 

According to the report, “tens of thousands of borrowers” who already received emergency funding through the program have used more than 25 percent of the money they were loaned. The money was dispersed to help businesses pay for rent and utilities. 

The inspector general notes in the report that the debt stemming from those costs would need to be repaid within two years instead of the ten years allotted by lawmakers. Businesses that don’t repay the loan within two years would likely need to work out additional arrangements with their lender. 

“We found the formal guidance in the SBA’s Interim Final Rule did not align with the allowable use requirements for PPP loans,” SBA Inspector General Hannibal "Mike" Ware said in the report. “SBA’s guidance could result in an unintended burden to the borrowers.”

Guidance for SBA

Ware recommended that the SBA "evaluate the potential negative impact to borrowers" regarding the percentage of loan proceeds eligible for forgiveness and modify the requirements so that borrowers aren’t left struggling in the future. 

"It may be important to consider that many small businesses have more operational expenses than employee expenses," he said. 

Additionally, he said the SBA may want to consider collecting demographic data when businesses complete the paperwork for loan forgiveness. 

"Because SBA did not provide guidance to lenders about prioritizing borrowers in underserved and rural markets, these borrowers, including rural, minority and women-owned businesses may not have received the loans as intended," Ware said. "In addition, because SBA did not require demographic data to identify PPP borrowers in underserved markets, it is unlikely that SBA will be able to determine the loan volume to the intended prioritized markets."

Sobeauty of Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., is recalling about 600 “Mag Cube” magnetic ball sets.

The magnet sets contain high-powered magnets and violate the federal standard for children’s toys.

When two or more high-powered magnets are swallowed, they can link together inside a child’s intestines and clamp onto body tissues, causing intestinal obstructions, perforations, sepsis and death.

Internal injury from magnets can pose serious lifelong health effects.

While no incidents or injuries have been reported with these recalled magnet sets, CPSC staff has received numerous incident reports of ingestion involving other small, high-powered magnets, including many that required surgery.

This recall includes “Mag Cube” magnetic ball sets labeled as “3D MAGNETIC PUZZLE”, “MAGCUBE BUCKYBALLS” and “JOYNOTE” with “MAG CUBE” on the back of the box.

The magnet ball sets contain 216 spherical high-power rare earth magnets. The gold-colored spherical magnets is about 3 millimeters in diameter each, and the red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple-colored spherical magnets are about 5 millimeters in diameter each.

The box contains: a drum-shape, dark blue-colored metal container, a black velvet pouch, a plastic separator, and an instructional paper.

“MAG CUBE” and “BUCKYBALLS” are printed on the metal container.

The metal container has the following cautionary statement “WARNING Keep Away From All Children! Do not put in nose or mouth. This product contains small magnet(s). Swallowed magnets can stick together across intestines causing serious infections and death. Seek immediate medical attention if magnet(s) are swallowed or inhaled. AGES 14+.”

The magnet sets, manufactured in China, were sold online at Walmart.com from March 2018, through December 2019, for between $13 and $20.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled magnetic balls and take them away from children. If the recalled magnetic balls were purchased for someone else, notify the recipient immediately.

Consumers should contact Sobeauty Inc. for instructions on returning the product and receiving a full refund including taxes and the original shipping cost.

Consumers may contact Sobeauty toll-free at (844) 946-7437 anytime or by email at recall@sobeautyinc.com for more information.

Becca Cosmetics is recalling all shades of its Light Shifter Brightening Concealer.

A brownish-black material identified as a common household mold was found on the sponge-tip applicator of some units.

No adverse reactions or injuries have been reported to date.

The following product, manufactured in the U.S. and sold nationwide, is being recalled:

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should stop using it and contact the place of purchase regarding a refund.

Consumers may contact the firm by email at jduntonr@beccacosmetics.com

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 1,259,777 (1,231,992)

Total U.S. deaths: 75,852 (73,573)

Total global cases: 3,877,914 (3,784,085)

Total global deaths: 270,537 (264,679)

New hope for an antibody treatment

On the heels of regulatory approval of a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine trial, Sorrento Therapeutics and Mount Sinai Health have announced they are working on developing an antibody cocktail against the virus. The drug would not be a vaccine, but scientists say it could protect against the disease for about two months.

“The collaboration between Mount Sinai and Sorrento aims to generate antibody products that would act as a ‘protective shield’ against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection, potentially blocking and neutralizing the activity of the virus in naïve at-risk populations as well as recently infected individuals,” the two organizations said in a news release.

If approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it’s expected that the antibody cocktail, known as COVI-SHIELD, will be offered to people returning to work and as a therapeutic to those who have been exposed to the coronavirus.

Unprecedented job loss in April

An economy that had produced hundreds of thousands of new jobs each month through February suffered record job loss in April. The Labor Department reports that the economy lost 20.5 million jobs last month. The unemployment rate shot up to 14.7 percent.

To put those numbers in perspective, the economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus wiped out the same number of jobs in the month of April that were created over the previous 10 years.

Ironically, health care workers suffered some of the steepest job cuts last month. That’s because hospitals and other medical facilities stopped elective procedures and doctors’ and dentists’ offices closed their doors. 

Your favorite restaurant may never reopen

The hospitality industry --primarily bars and restaurants -- has been among the hardest hit by the coronavirus-induced economic shutdown. While some restaurants have stayed open serving takeout and delivery orders, others have closed -- many of them for good.

A survey by the National Restaurant Association shows operators expect April losses to total more than $50 billion. Combined with the estimated $30 billion in lost sales in March, the restaurants could see combined losses of $80 billion for the two months -- and up to $240 billion by the end of the year.

Restaurants forced to close their doors may not be able to reopen in the face of that kind of lost business. The California Restaurant Association has estimated that 30 percent of the state’s 90,000 eating establishments will not survive.

Mortgage lenders slam on the brakes

Assuming you’re able to find a home you’d like to buy amid the pandemic, it may be even harder in May to get a mortgage than it was last month. Bloomberg reports that lenders have raised underwriting standards yet again, increasing the amount of down payments and minimum credit scores for approval.

Industry analysts say lenders have become more risk-averse because so many people have lost income. They also point to the unintended consequence of the CARES Act, which allows current homeowners to put off making mortgage payments.

Bloomberg cites one model showing mortgage credit availability has dropped by more than 25 percent since the virus began to spread across the U.S.

Ford going back to work

Ford motor company is getting ready to resume vehicle production at plants idled since the coronavirus shutdown began. The automaker is targeting a phased restart for its North America operations beginning May 18, including restarting vehicle production in North America and bringing back the first wave of employees. 

“We’ve been working intently with state and federal governments, our union partners, and a cross-section of our workforce to reopen our North American facilities,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s chief operating officer. “We have reopened our facilities in China, successfully begun our phased restart in Europe, and have been producing medical equipment in Michigan for more than six weeks.”

Ford used one of its plants in Michigan to turn out respirators for health care workers and partnered with other manufacturers to build ventilators for hospitals.

Around the nation

• North Carolina: As the state begins to reopen, thrift stores are clearing space for an expected surge in donations. "In the last five days, we have had an unbelievable surge in donations, as you would expect,” said one store operator, who told a Raleigh TV station that people have spent their time at home cleaning out closets.

• Michigan: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has extended the state’s stay at home order until May 28. The state has already been marked by widespread protests from business owners who say the shutdown is contributing to unsustainable losses.

• Utah: Churches throughout the state will be allowed to reopen under revised guidelines. However, officials say members of the congregation must continue to practice social distancing during worship services.

Let’s face it, this isn’t exactly the best time to be moving to a new city. 

The coronavirus (COVID-19) has shut down huge sections of the economy, but moving companies are considered “essential businesses” and are still operating. If your move can’t be postponed, there are safe ways to pull it off and plenty of professional moving companies that can help you do it.

"To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, major moving companies are following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO),” said Tom Rains, a content specialist at ConsumerAffairs. “Movers and drivers are wearing personal protective equipment like gloves and face masks. In-home estimates, once commonplace, are being replaced with over-the-phone or virtual estimates by video.”

Guidelines

The American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA), an industry trade group, says a move during the pandemic can be done safely if everyone follows a few simple steps:

• Notify the company ahead of time if anyone in your household may have contracted coronavirus, or may have been exposed to someone who has.

• Check the company’s website for information about how they are mitigating the health risks of COVID-19. Ask questions.

• Ask about a virtual estimate, eliminating the need for an in-person visit.

• Provide access to a sink, soap, and paper towels for use by the moving crew throughout the move. If this isn’t practical, and it is readily available, provide hand sanitizer.

• Purchase new moving boxes and tape from your mover; this isn’t the time to use recycled boxes from online sources, or from stores.

• Your mover may also have plastic bins available for rental. Wipe down the interior and exterior with a disinfecting wipe before packing items in them.

• If you have shelf-stable food you plan to throw out to lighten your load, consider donating them to  Move For Hunger to help feed people within your community.

• Consider deep cleaning your new home before unpacking to mitigate further the risk of contracting the virus.

ConsumerAffairs has collected hundreds of reviews of the major moving companies. You’ll find them here.

Transparent and flexible

On its blog, real estate marketplace Zillow also advises people moving during the pandemic to be transparent and flexible. If you live in an apartment building, let your neighbors know when moving day is and that you have taken precautions against the virus.

“If you or any family members are experiencing coronavirus symptoms, postpone your moving plans,” Zillow advises. “Though rescheduling is a pain, the health and safety of your community comes first.”

Rains says the percentage of people moving in the U.S. fell to an all-time low in 2019, and the current pandemic could cause an even bigger drop. On the other hand, moving activity could begin picking up in the months ahead if urban dwellers decide it might be healthier to live in a less densely populated area.

Harris Poll researchers recently found that nearly a third of respondents were thinking about moving to a less crowded area. Young people and urban residents were the most likely to be considering a move.

Mother’s Day celebrations may look a little different this year due to social distancing guidelines and other COVID-19 restrictions, but most consumers plan on celebrating the holiday nonetheless. 

More than 8 in 10 consumers will be celebrating Mother’s Day this year, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). Two-thirds of those polled by the NRF said they plan to celebrate the occasion virtually.

“Whether they are able to gather in person or will connect through phone calls or video chats, consumers want to use Mother’s Day to show their moms, grandmothers and the other maternal figures in their lives that they care,” the NRF said in a statement. 

Spending a little more 

This year, consumers will spend about $8 more on Mother’s Day gifts. The average spending total on gifts for mom will be $205. Total expected spending on moms is expected to be $26.7 billion. 

Categories like electronics, housewares, gardening tools, and books are more popular this year than they have been in over a decade, according to the NRF’s survey of 8,294 adults. 

While many consumers plan to celebrate virtually, such as via video chat, the NRF found that 46 percent of people still want to celebrate the day in traditional ways, such as with brunch or a special outing. 

The survey, which was conducted in early April, found that more than three-quarters of consumers spending less on Mother’s Day this year cited limitations stemming from COVID-19.

“Families are in an unusual position this year. Some consumers are looking to make up for the fact they can’t take mom out by sending her something a little extra special this year,” Phil Rist, executive vice president of strategy for Prosper Insights, told the NRF.

Getting creative

Google said searches for “Mother’s Day gifts during quarantine” recently saw a 600 percent increase across the U.S., the Associated Press reported. 

Some ways consumers plan on celebrating in the midst of the pandemic include socially distanced brunches, creating a “thank you” video for mom, and making the most of isolation by organizing a special indoor event. 

Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, experts have been looking for better ways of tracing contact and exposure of the virus between consumers. Google and Apple have even created an app in an effort to keep records of those who are infected and alert those who could potentially be at risk. 

Now, experts say one method for more streamlined tracking could come from testing untreated wastewater. Various studies around the world have found that analyzing samples of untreated water can be an effective means of tracing coronavirus exposure. 

Tracking the spread

While water treatment systems can be useful in getting rid of bacteria and viruses, analyzing untreated water can be helpful in tracking infections. Studies have been conducted around the world to test its viability, and the results have been overwhelmingly positive. 

Treating sewage has led experts to discover communities that could be vulnerable to coronavirus, or provide more precise figures on the number of cases in a given area. For example, in one area in Massachusetts, there were under 500 recorded cases of the virus. However, after treating the water in the area, over 2,000 residents were found to be infected. 

The experts explained that this process is also beneficial because it can reveal the prevalence of the virus days before consumers feel symptoms. Their work found that traces of coronavirus can be present in sewage after just three days, which can give great insight into how and where the virus can spread among communities. 

Because of these positive steps, legislators are hoping to make this practice more common across the United States. This would give consumers and lawmakers a better idea of the infection rate, and what areas are most in need of resources. 

As an added positive, consumers who work in water treatment can rest assured by knowing that the virus cannot be transmitted from untreated sewage water. So, as these endeavors continue to become more popular, water treatment workers can be making headway on tracing and tracking the spread of COVID-19 while staying safe. 

To learn more about water treatment services, check out our guide here. 

Amazon has fired at least four employees who publicly expressed concern about the company’s COVID-19 health and safety measures, and now a group of senators want to know why.  

On Wednesday, senators including Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, and Cory Booker sent a letter to Amazon asking about its “policies for discipline and termination regarding workers who raise health and safety concerns.” 

The group of senators noted that more than 100 Amazon workers have tested positive for COVID-19, and at least three fulfillment center employees have died. In light of these numbers, the senators asserted that Amazon’s efforts to boost worker safety during the health crisis have been insufficient. 

Employees have the right to speak up 

The letter stated that employers have a duty to ensure that workplaces are “free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.” Additionally, employees should have the right to speak up about concerns “without fear of retaliation.”

“Given the clear public history of these four workers’ advocacy on behalf of health and safety conditions for workers in Amazon warehouses preceding their terminations, and Amazon’s vague public statements regarding violations of ‘internal policies,’ we are seeking additional information to understand exactly what those internal policies are,” the senators wrote.

Amazon has until May 20 to provide answers to nine questions raised by the group of senators. The company has maintained that it terminated the employees in question for repeatedly violating policies such as physical distancing, not for talking publicly about working conditions or safety. 

“We support every employees’ right to criticize or protest their employer’s working conditions, but that does not come with blanket immunity against any and all internal policies,” the company said in a statement. “We look forward to explaining in more detail in our response to the Senators’ letter.”

Reverse mortgage closings, which often entail in-person meetings, are being affected by the coronavirus pandemic. However, several new working conditions have unfolded in the wake of the health crisis which have allowed reverse mortgage lenders to continue conducting business. 

Ami Kellogg, president of Premier Reverse Closings (PRC) based in Roseville, Calif., said social distance guidelines have led her company to ramp up efforts to make work-from-home plans a reality. 

“Our American Land Title Association (ALTA) best practices we had already put in place years prior to COVID-19 allowed us the ability to work remote efficiently,” Kellogg told Reverse Mortgage Daily. “The use of the ResWare platform has been a huge benefit to our remote work. The staff that work from home chose the decision to work remote mainly due to childcare issues and/or their school age children sent home to distance-learn due to school closures.”

Kellogg said PRC has taken steps to ensure the safety of employees that must come into the office in order to receive loan packages, scan, and disburse files, such as making hand sanitizer available and making hand washing a required hourly task. 

Changes that have been made

While virus mitigation efforts remain active, PRC is making sure that all loan packages are individually sanitized when they arrive in the office. All packages are handled with gloves and aren’t picked up again until they’re fully dry. 

Online meetings have taken the place of in-person meetings, which enables employees to keep working during this unprecedented time. For notaries, curbside signings are being used.  

Another change PRC has seen is an uptick in attempted wire fraud. Kellogg told RMD that fraud attempts to divert loan payoff funds are on the rise as the nation continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic. 

“Phishing emails are also higher than ever, so people should be cautious and careful,” she said. 

Kellogg said she’s optimistic about the rest of the year because Home Equity Conversion Mortgages orders have increased. PRC predicts “a better-than-projected order count for 2020,” which will allow the firm to bring on more employees.   

“I have seen many new opportunities these past six weeks, created by strong communication, staying positive and caring for each other,” Kellogg said. “We are essential. Together, we can do this.”

For more information about reverse mortgage lenders, visit ConsumerAffairs guide here.

Gasoline prices have ended their freefall caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) and have begun moving higher this week, but only in certain parts of the country.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the average price of regular gas is $1.82 a gallon, five cents more than last Friday. However, it’s still $1.06 less than it was a year ago. The average price of premium gas is $2.44 a gallon, three cents more than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $2.42 a gallon, also two cents more than last week.

The price hikes were highly localized. In all 10 states with the most expensive gas, the statewide average price either went down slightly or stayed the same. The biggest changes occurred in the 10 states with the cheapest gas.

Wisconsin, which had the cheapest gas in the nation for the last three weeks, fell out of the top 10 when its average price surged 36 cents a gallon in seven days. It was joined by Ohio and Michigan, both of which saw double-digit price increases.

Prices had been held artificially low over the last seven weeks as people who normally drove their cars to work were working from home. A lack of gasoline demand and falling crude oil prices combined to offset the usual price hikes this time of year, when refineries curtail output as they perform seasonal maintenance and switch over to producing more expensive summer blends.

Jeanette Casselano, a AAA spokesperson, says motorists can expect to see prices at the pump continue to edge higher.

“As some states begin to re-open businesses, those states will likely see demand increase and pump prices will likely follow suit,” she said. “Although U.S. gasoline demand has incrementally increased, it remains below six million barrels a day.”

The states with the most expensive gas

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

• Hawaii ($3.18)

• California ($2.74)

• Washington ($2.43)

• Oregon ($2.38) 

• Nevada ($2.31)

• New York ($2.15)

• Arizona ($2.08)

• Illinois ($2.04)

•  Pennsylvania ($2.03)

• Alaska ($2.01)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

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

• Oklahoma ($1.42)

• Arkansas ($1.43)

• Missouri ($1.46)

• Mississippi ($1.48)

• Kansas ($1.48)

• Texas ($1.50)

• Tennessee ($1.54)

• Kentucky ($1.55)

• Alabama ($1.55)

• South Carolina ($1.56)

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 1,295 model year 2016 Genesis Coupes.

The mounting bolts securing the driver-side front airbag may have been insufficiently tightened, potentially causing the airbag to detach from the steering wheel.

A detached driver's airbag increases the risk of injury in a crash.

What to do

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the mounting bolts and retighten them as necessary free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin June 26, 2020.

Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at (800) 633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 192.