Current Events in May 2020

The Labor Department reports that its Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of prices at the retail level, recorded a sharp drop in April, admittedly not a typical month with most of the country shut down.

The CPI fell 0.8 percent, the largest monthly decline since December 2008, when the country was feeling the full shock of the financial crisis. While that might sound like good news for consumers, it wasn’t.

The biggest decline was in the price of gasoline, which plunged 20 percent. The price of clothing, car insurance, airline fares, and lodging away from home all fell sharply as well. In other words, a lot of the things consumers weren’t buying last month were a lot cheaper.

But people were buying food, and the price of that soared. The index for food prepared at home posted its largest monthly increase since February 1974, rising 2.6 percent. Costs were driven by shortages in the supply chain that boosted costs, primarily for meat and produce.

Food prices were 1.5 percent higher

The food component of the CPI rose 1.5 percent in April following a 0.3 percent increase in

March. The increase was broad-based, with all six major grocery store food groups increasing at least 1.5 percent over the month. 

Consumers saw the biggest price increases for products like meats, poultry, fish, and eggs. Those items increased the most, rising 4.3 percent. Eggs were 16 percent more expensive than a year ago.

Even cereals and bakery products were more expensive last month, increasing in price by nearly 3 percent -- the largest monthly increase on record. Even though farmers were forced to pour out milk they couldn’t sell, consumers paid 1.5 percent more for dairy products last month. Fruits and vegetables increased in price by the same amount.

Restaurant prices remained stable

Food purchased at restaurants -- limited to takeout and delivery during April -- rose at a much slower rate -- 1.5 percent. Restaurants saw their overall volume decline due to closed dining rooms and therefore had almost no room to increase prices.

The Labor Department provides price data that removes food and energy prices, since both tend to be volatile on a month-to-month basis. But even after removing those two factors, the CPI plunged 0.4 percent.

Car insurance costs declined 7.2 percent as major carriers provided rebates to policyholders because of the dramatic drop in traffic accidents. Because almost no one was flying, airlines cut fares by 15.2 percent. Both were the largest monthly declines on record.

Ford Motor Company is recalling about 10,600 model year 2019-20 Mustangs and model year 2019 Expeditions.

The “transmission not in park” warning message and associated chime are only active for three seconds when the transmission is not in park, the ignition is off, and the driver’s door is closed.

The chime should remain active for 10 seconds and the transmission not in park warning message should display for 30 minutes when the driver’s door is closed.

A transmission not in park warning and chime with a shorter than designed duration could result in the driver exiting the vehicle when it is not in park and experiencing unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of injury or crash.

Ford is not aware of any reports of accident or injury.

What to do

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster free of charge.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S21.

The federal Food Safety and Inspection Service is issuing a public health alert for approximately 70 pounds of raw beef ravioli produced by P&S Ravioli Company of Philadelphia, Pa.

The product may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

A recall was not requested because the affected product is no longer available for purchase.

There are no confirmed reports of adverse reactions

The alert applies to the following item, produced on April 30, 2020:

• 13-oz. boxes containing “P&S RAVOLI COMPANY 12 JUMBO MEAT RAVIOLI” with a use-by date of 11/30/2020 and lot code 20121.

The product, bearing establishment number “EST. 2736” inside the USDA mark of inspection, was shipped to a limited number of retail locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

What to do

Customers who purchased this product should not consume it, but discard or return it to the place of purchase.

Consumers with food safety questions may call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at (888) 674-6854 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ET).

As some states begin to reopen businesses, White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning that reopening too soon could lead to “little spikes” in coronavirus cases that could turn into further outbreaks. 

Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, told Congress on Tuesday that he’s concerned some states may be easing measures to curb the spread of the virus prematurely. Failing to adhere to the White House’s multi-phase plan for gradually reopening could be a step backward for the nation in combating the outbreak.

"My concern [is] that if some areas, city, states, or what have you, jump over those various checkpoints and prematurely open up without having the capability of being able to respond effectively and efficiently, my concern is that we will start to see little spikes that might turn into outbreaks," Fauci said in response to a question from Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

Fauci raised these concerns during a videoconference hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. 

Slowing the spread

In addition to expressing concern about future outbreaks stemming from opening back up too early, Fauci discussed the likely timeline for the rollout of a vaccine. Fauci said he was optimistic that health experts will find a vaccine to stop the spread of the virus, but schools shouldn’t expect a vaccine or widely available treatment for COVID-19 by fall.

“Even at the top speed we’re going, we don’t see a vaccine playing in the ability of individuals to get back to school this term,” he said.

In the meantime, the nation’s COVID-19 response is “currently focused on the proven public health practices of containment and mitigation,” Fauci said. 

“If we skip over the checkpoints in the guidelines to: ‘Open America Again,’ then we risk the danger of multiple outbreaks throughout the country,” Fauci wrote in an email to New York Times health policy reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg. “This will not only result in needless suffering and death, but would actually set us back on our quest to return to normal.” 

Vaccine progress

More than 100 potential vaccines are being looked into as potential treatments, but Fauci said “there’s no guarantee that the vaccine is actually going to be effective.” He noted that two vaccines have produced a “suboptimal response.” 

“And when the person gets exposed, they actually have an enhanced pathogenesis of the disease, which is always worrisome. So we want to make sure that that doesn’t happen. Those are the two major unknowns,” he said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently gave the biopharma firm Moderna “fast track” status for its experimental vaccine, mRNA-1273. The drug entered Phase 2 clinical trials last week. 

The number of COVID-19 cases has exceeded one million and the number of deaths is now at least 80,684, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. U.S. health officials say the figures are likely much higher as some people with the illness are asymptomatic. 

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 1,354,504 (1,332,609)

Total U.S. deaths: 80,900 (79,699)

Total global cases: 4,215,514 (4,137,591)

Total global deaths: 287,809  (283,526 )

Moderna vaccine gets FDA ‘fast track’

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to move with unprecedented speed on vaccines and therapeutics to address the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Reuters reports that the biopharma firm Moderna has gained FDA “fast track” status for its experimental vaccine, which just last week entered Phase 2 clinical trials.

Being placed on the fast track means the agency will expedite its review of the drug for safety and efficacy. The vaccine, dubbed mRNA-1273, received approval last week to begin the next round of clinical trials. 

The company is already looking ahead to a Phase 3 study, which Moderna CEO Stephanie Bancel said could begin as early as this summer. “Moderna is now preparing to potentially have its first BLA approved as soon as 2021,” she said. 

Burger King begins reopening dining rooms

Fast-food chain Burger King says it has begun to reopen its dining rooms with new social distancing protocols in place. In a letter to customers, Restaurant Brands International CEO Jose Cil said company restaurants have installed acrylic shields and contactless service at most locations.

"We will be sanitizing tables and chairs after each use and will have hand sanitizer available in the dining room for our guests," Cil wrote. "We have turned off our self-serve soda fountains and are offering beverages, extra condiments, and trays from the behind the front counter.

Besides Burger King, the company also operates Tim Hortons and Popeyes restaurants.

Fewer airlines in the future

Once the public is ready to travel again, it is likely to find its choices of airlines a bit smaller. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun predicts that at least one U.S. airline will not survive the economic damage caused by the coronavirus.

Appearing on the NBC Today Show, Calhoun said the economic damage airlines are currently encountering cannot be overstated. Passenger traffic for all domestic carriers is down an average of more than 90 percent.

Calhoun did not single out an airline, and Boeing spokesman Gordon Johndroe told NBC that Calhoun “was speaking in general about the uncertainty in the sector, not about any one particular airline.”

New cases rising in some areas

As states and counties around the U.S. eased some of their COVID-19 restrictions, health officials have reported an uptick in new cases of the virus. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned a Senate committee today about reopening the country prematurely.

Fauci told lawmakers that a vaccine will be necessary to stop the spread of the coronavirus and lower the number of deaths from the virus. He also expressed doubt that school children would be able to return to the classroom in the fall.

Elon Musk takes a stand

One high-profile business executive taking a stand against government shutdown orders is Tesla CEO Elon Musk. In defiance of an Alameda County, California order closing Tesla’s assembly plant, Musk has called workers back on the job.

After multiple tweets expressing anger at the order, Musk said he plans to be on the production line all week, daring county officials to do something about it. “If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me,” he wrote.

Musk has claimed that state guidelines allow him to resume production and that overly restrictive local interpretations of the rules have prevented him from doing so. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has attempted to referee the dispute and says he hopes the company could get back to work “as early as next week.”

Around the nation

• New York: While many states are reopening non-essential businesses this week, New York City officials are not ready to take that step. Mayor Bill de Blasio says a ban on non-essential businesses and large gatherings won’t be lifted until the summer, at the earliest.

• Colorado: State health officials have shut down C&C Coffee and Kitchen in Castle Rock for at least 30 days after the shop posted on Twitter that it was welcoming crowds on Mother's Day. Restaurants are limited to take out service under the state’s emergency order.

• Montana: Businesses in the sparsely populated state opened three weeks ago, so health officials have been curious to see whether the virus spiked. So far, it hasn’t. New cases have declined over the last two weeks. 

The Trump administration is reportedly considering a proposal that would let workers take Social Security retirement benefits before they’re eligible to receive them in exchange for delayed benefits later. 

According to the Washington Post, senior administration officials are considering one proposal that would let Americans take up to $5,000 from Social Security now to give consumers access to more money during the COVID-19 pandemic. In exchange, borrowers would need to agree to delay their benefits in the future. Workers typically have to be at least 62 and have worked and paid into the system for at least ten years in order to collect benefits. 

The proposal was crafted by Andrew Biggs of the American Enterprise Institute and Joshua Rauh of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Under the plan, the $5,000 given now would be structured as a loan with a government-established interest rate that would reimburse the Social Security trust fund with interest. 

White House officials have also "discussed the 'Eagle Plan,' a 29-page memo that called for an overhaul of federal retirement programs in exchange for upfront payments to some workers,"  according to the Post. 

"The proposal calls for giving Americans $10,000 upfront in exchange for curbing their federal retirement benefits, such as Social Security,” the Post said. 

Social security advocates call it a ‘harebrained idea’

Social Security advocates say the Eagle Plan would "force people to choose” between going hungry today or working until they die. 

"The Trump administration is obsessed with using the coronavirus crisis to undermine our Social Security system," Alex Lawson, executive director of advocacy group Social Security Works, said in a statement.

"Social Security is an earned insurance benefit. It is not a piggy bank. This plan, and any plan that raids Social Security, is a moral abomination. Instead of trying to steal the earned benefits of desperate people, the government should be sending $2,000 a month to everyone in America, as Democrats in Congress have proposed."  

Meanwhile, the plan to give Americans $5,000 from Social Security now would threaten to hurt families over the long-term, said Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans.

“Asking working Americans to give up even one dime of their future Social Security benefits to survive today’s economic crisis is a harebrained idea that would hurt families for decades to come,” Fiesta said in a statement. 

About 45 million retired workers currently rely on Social Security and have average monthly benefits totaling $1,503.

While recent studies have encouraged consumers to stick to a workout routine while home during quarantine, it can be difficult to stick to a routine of any kind or enforce healthy habits. 

Now, researchers have found that consumers can train themselves to have better self-control by adopting a technique known as self-nudging. The process involves evaluating one’s environment and adjusting certain factors to ensure that things are set up to produce the best outcomes. 

“Various needs and desires are always competing for attention in our minds and bodies,” said researcher Samuli Reijula. “Self-nuding can help us to negotiate these internal conflicts. It is a practical tool that can enhance self-understanding.” 

Developing better habits

The researchers explained that self-nudging can be used for a variety of different behaviors, including making healthier eating choices, using social media less, or exercising more. 

The first step is awareness. Consumers need to know what their weaknesses are or what behavior they’re trying to alter before thinking about trying to tackle them. With that information, they can go about altering their environment to make self-control possible. 

The researchers’ work revealed four keys to accomplishing self-nudging: reducing accessibility, framing, social pressure and self-commitments, and reminders and prompts. 

Reducing accessibility involves making it harder to do certain things, like putting junk food out of reach or sight. Framing requires consumers to reset their traditional way of thinking. For example, limiting time on social media doesn’t have to be seen as cutting off communication; instead, it can be viewed as a way to personally reset and take a break from the constant updates. 

Making promises with friends or loved ones can help consumers feel accountable to their desired behavior instead of just trying to go it alone. Similarly, setting reminders (either via a smartphone or a handwritten note) can serve as a persistent visual cue that can be helpful in promoting self-control. 

With these simple self-nudges, consumers can see great results in their day-to-day routines both during quarantine and beyond. 

Early Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao delivered good news to consumers and a little of both good and bad news to the airline industry. 

For the consumers, the DOT stepped up its enforcement concerning ticket refunds brought on by the pandemic. And for the airlines? A little breather on their total service obligation.

For the consumers

Given the sloth-like pace the airlines were moving at to fulfill the DOT's mandate on refunds vs. vouchers, the Department felt it had no recourse but to tell the airlines that they needed to shape up. 

According to Chao's office, the DOT received more than 25,000 air travel service complaints and inquiries between March and April -- many of which concerned refunds. In a typical month, it might receive only about 1,500.

"The Department has received an unprecedented volume of complaints from passengers and is examining this issue closely to ensure that airlines' policies and practices conform to DOT's refund rules," said Secretary Chao. 

"The Department is asking all airlines to revisit their customer service policies and ensure they are as flexible and considerate as possible to the needs of passengers who face financial hardship during this time."

To help travelers holding tickets and wondering what the best steps to take are, the DOT has produced a guide covering questions such as:

• What rights do passengers have if an airline cancels a flight or makes a significant schedule change? What is a "significant change" or "cancellation" requiring a refund?

• What rights do passengers have if they choose not to travel due to safety or health concerns related to the COVID-19 public health emergency?

• What rights do passengers have if they choose not to travel due to safety or health concerns related to the COVID-19 public health emergency?

• May airlines and ticket agents retroactively apply new refund policies?

• May airlines or ticket agents offer credits or vouchers to consumers instead of refunds?

• How quickly must airlines and ticket agents process refunds?

The answers to those questions can be found here, but a fair warning -- the Department couched its notice purely as “guidance,” saying that “it does not have the force and effect of law and is not meant to bind the regulated entities in any way.” 

Consumers who have additional questions are encouraged to contact the DOT directly at this email address: C70Notice@dot.gov.

For the airlines

When it comes to airlines’ service obligations, the Department relaxed its position a bit. Rather than force airlines to serve the same number of markets they did before COVID-19, the DOT now gives airlines the green light to "reduce the number of points they must serve as a proportion of their total service obligation."

To that end, the Department simply asks the carriers to make sure that at least one airline continues to cover every community. That might require some arm wrestling, though. There are lots of markets where multiple airlines fly the same route. For example, between Cincinnati (CVG) and Atlanta (ATL), there are five different airlines that fly the same route; four airlines that fly Dallas (DFW) to Seattle (SEA); and five that fly Orlando (ORL) to New York's LaGuardia (LGA).

Remember who's in charge

Secretary Chao didn't pull any punches in reminding airlines who's in charge when it comes to the requirements they need to follow under the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

The legislation authorized the Secretary to require an airline carrier receiving financial assistance under the act to maintain scheduled air transportation service "to the extent reasonable and practicable" to any point served by that air carrier before March 1, 2020. 

And if the airlines don't like Chao's updated directives? They have until May 18 to respond to the service obligation adjustments notice. The trade association Airlines For America (A4A) said that airlines are doing everything they can to comply with the government’s request.

“U.S. carriers have worked since the early stages of this pandemic to respond to customers and update travel policies to offer increased flexibility,” the organization told ConsumerAffairs. “We understand that these are difficult times for our country, our passengers, and our employees. U.S. airlines remain committed to making accommodations that are responsive to travelers’ needs during this unprecedented time.”

One might think that with millions of people remaining in their homes every day, consumers would begin to notice things they want to change and contact a home remodeler.

So far, there’s no indication that’s happening, at least not yet. A survey by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) shows contractors have seen a significant negative impact on their business since the coronavirus (COVID-19) began to shut down the economy.

The survey found that potential customers are putting off projects because of financial uncertainty and concerns about social distancing. The April employment report showed the loss of more than 20 million jobs, and more than 30 million people have filed for unemployment benefits.

Bathroom remodeling still necessary

When contractors are working, they are likely remodeling bathrooms. Joseph Brown, a remodeling contractor working in the Richmond, Virginia market, says he does many more bathroom jobs than kitchen makeovers. Often, he says, it’s a matter of necessity, not choice.

“Because of the water that’s in a bathroom a lot of damage can occur to flooring and fixtures so very often a bathroom is the room that needs attention,” Brown told ConsumerAffairs. “I’d say that 90 percent of bathroom remodels stem from water damage.”

Brown said his business has yet to be impacted by the coronavirus. He said he just completed a bathroom remodeling job for a retired couple.

“They had an extremely small master bathroom with two extremely small closets and they wanted to make it a ‘couple’s’ bathroom instead of a bathroom a single person could hardly fit in,” Brown said.

Part of the job involved adding a second vanity so both could have their own personal space. But to do that Brown had to increase the bathroom’s square footage. He removed both closets to expand the size of the room.

“We also increased the size of the shower, installing a low curb, full-size shower with a seat so, as they get older, they’ll have a safe and accessible shower, without stepping over a two-foot bathtub wall,” he said.

Forty-four percent of projects delayed

Brown may be one of the more fortunate remodeling contractors. Social distancing and financial uncertainty are the primary reasons kitchen and bath retailers are reporting that 44 percent of their current or upcoming projects are delayed and 16 percent are canceled.

A recent study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University found consumer spending for home improvements to the owner-occupied housing stock is anticipated to decline in most of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas this year in response to the severe economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With the pandemic exacerbating localized slowdowns in house prices, existing-home sales, and homebuilding, many metros will see even more pronounced erosion of home renovation activity this year,” said Abbe Will, associate project director in the Remodeling Futures Program at the Center. 

On the other hand, it’s entirely possible that spending will surge once some economic certainty returns. People confined to their homes for weeks on end may have a rather long project list of things about their homes they’d like to change.

ConsumerAffairs has collected thousands of reviews of the top national remodeling contractors. Check them out here. 

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced Monday that his company’s factory in Fremont, Calif. Has resumed production despite active guidelines intended to slow the spread of COVID-19.  

Alameda County has yet to lift its stay-at-home order, but Musk tweeted that if anyone is to be taken into custody for the offense, it should be him. 

“Tesla is restarting production today against Alameda County rules. I will be on the line with everyone else. If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me,” Musk tweeted. 

Musk has been forthright about his opinion of the current virus mitigation efforts, saying at the end of April that forcing people to stay home was “facist.” 

"If somebody wants to stay in their house, that's great," Musk said on an earnings call, according to CBS News. "They can stay in their house and they should not be compelled to leave. But to say that they cannot leave their house and they will be arrested if they do, this is fascist. This is not democratic, this is not freedom. Give people back their g**d*** freedom."

Getting back to work

The reopening of the Fremont factory comes on the heels of several days’ worth of tweets from Musk slamming the current guidelines, as well as a lawsuit from Musk pushing for Alameda County officials to allow Tesla to reopen the factory. 

The lawsuit filed Saturday against Alameda County seeks to invalidate orders that have kept the automaker from resuming operations at the factory. 

On Friday, Tesla outlined in a 37-page back-to-work document how it plans to go about restarting production while keeping the health and safety of its workers top of mind. Tesla said it was restarting production because it was considered “vital.” 

“Tesla is not an outlier, nor are we going against the grain,” the company said. “From the State’s very first shelter-in-place order, national critical infrastructure, including vehicle manufacturing like Tesla’s Fremont factory, was considered vital and given permission to continue operating. The Governor repeated this direction this week when he made clear manufacturing should resume.” 

Governor Gavin Newsom said Monday that he supported Tesla’s reopening and said he believes the issue between Alameda County and the electric automaker will be resolved soon. 

“I have long been a strong advocate and supporter, and an early adopter of the technology. I have not only known that company, but I’ve known its founder for many, many years,” Newsom said. “I have great reverence for their technology, for their innovative spirit, for their leadership, and I have great expectations that we can work through at the county level issue with this particular county and this company in the next number of days.”

While struggles with sleep are nothing new for teens, it can be difficult for parents to ensure that their children are getting enough rest each night. 

Now, researchers from Flinders University have found that poor sleeping habits can affect teens' mental health in countless ways, including their ability to feel pleasure during waking hours. 

“Fortunately, there are many interventions individuals, family, the community, and even public policy can encourage to maintain regular sleep in this at-risk population to reduce the likelihood of these problems spilling over into mental health issues needing clinical treatment,” said researcher Dr. Michelle Short. 

Prioritizing better sleep routines

To understand the link between teens’ sleep and mental health, the researchers analyzed over 70 previous studies that included data on over 360,000 teens. The studies looked at how teens’ sleeping patterns affected their overall mood and mental health. 

The researchers learned that a lack of sleep for this population greatly affected their mood. While negative moods increased, the study also revealed that positive emotions were harder to come by for sleep deprived teens. 

Dr. Short and her team found that not getting enough quality sleep can decrease the likelihood that teens experience pleasure or joy from things that typically boost their moods. 

Negative emotions were also found to be on the rise, as 55 percent of the teens involved in these studies reported being in a poorer mood following lack of sleep -- with anxiety, anger, and depression all on the rise. Over 80 percent of the teens experienced spikes in anger due to lack of sleep. 

The researchers recommend that parents get more involved in setting their children’s bedtimes and encourage more positive habits as it gets later in the evening. The time before falling asleep should be as relaxing as possible, and taking the time to prioritize those parts of the nighttime routine can help teens get more restful sleep. 

“It is imperative that greater focus is given to sleep as for prevention and early intervention for mood deficits,” said Dr. Short. 

Consumers normally pick up Pepsico’s food and snack products in the grocery aisle. But with coronavirus concerns keeping more people at home, the company is moving to a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model.

The company has announced the launch of two web portals -- PantryShop.com and Snacks.com -- where consumers can order food and snacks directly from the company and have them delivered, usually within two business days.

Gibu Thomas, senior vice president & head of eCommerce, says the sudden shift to home delivery triggered by the pandemic may be lasting. 

"In these uncertain times, as more and more consumers are using eCommerce channels to purchase food and beverage products, PantryShop.com and Snacks.com offer shoppers another alternative for easy and fast access to products they love," Thomas said.

PantryShop.com specializes in Pepsico’s food and beverage brands like Quaker, Gatorade, SunChips, and Tropicana. Pantry kits are curated based on affinity research and are aimed at helping consumers cope with the “new normal” of spending more time at home.

Free standard shipping

The multi-product pantry kits are priced at $29.95 and $49.95, and standard shipping is free. The site was developed completely in-house, and Pepsico said it was built from the ground up in 30 days.

Snacks.com offers more than 100 different Frito-Lay products, including Lay's, Tostitos, Cheetos and Ruffles, as well as dips, crackers, and nuts. The company said it will add new items to the site as it is customized to adapt to consumer tastes.  As an introductory offer, shoppers will receive free shipping with a purchase of $15 or more.

Even before the coronavirus (COVID-19) struck, millennials were driving the trend of having food -- both from restaurants and supermarkets -- delivered to their homes. In the last few months, food delivery services like GrubHub, Instacart, and Target’s Shipt have seen a surge in business.

According to industry publication FoodNavigator, the pandemic has only served to solidify a trend that was already firmly in place. It cites a recent analysis by the international law firm Linklaters which shows that food delivery services are expanding by partnering with restaurants, supermarkets, and other food retailers.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 25,081 model year 2020 Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators with the camera-only Pre-Collision Assist feature.

Vehicles built with the optional radar-plus-camera Pre-Collision Assist system are not affected.

Due to incorrect coding of interfacing modules, the Pre-Collision Assist feature is not enabled, and the driver cannot access the menu functions necessary to enable the Pre-Collision Assist feature.

Drivers unaware that the Pre-Collision Assist feature is not enabled may rely on a system that is not functional, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

What to do

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram software for the Body Control Module, Antilock Braking System, Instrument Panel Cluster and Headlamp Control Modules, and reset the Tire Pressure Monitor System free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin May 25, 2020.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S20.

General Motors is recalling 1,826 model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Caprice Police Pursuit (PPV) and SS vehicles.

Corrosion of the connector between the electric power steering module and the torque sensor connector may cause a loss of electric power steering assist.

A greater steering effort would be needed to control the vehicle if power steering is lost, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

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

The recall is expected to begin June 22, 2020.

Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N192285350.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 1,332,609 (1,309,698)

Total U.S. deaths: 79,699 (78,799)

Total global cases: 4,137,591 (4,051,431)

Total global deaths: 283,526  (279,734)

Former CFPB director warns consumers about overly aggressive debt collectors

In stark contrast to the 2008/2009 financial crisis, Congress has passed sweeping aid packages to help consumers weather the economic storm. One thing that might not be different, however, is the behavior of debt collectors.

In an interview with CNBC, Richard Cordray, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) under President Obama, predicted debt collectors would become “vehement” in their pursuit of people who owe money. Cordray says he’s concerned that the estimated 30 million unemployed are going to have trouble paying their bills and will get no mercy from debt collectors, based on what happened 12 years ago.

“They’ll potentially go over the legal lines they’re not supposed to cross in terms of pursuing debt collection,” said Cordray. 

Brush up on your legal rights here. 

Less need for ventilators

A growing number of doctors treating COVID-19 patients are delaying placing them on ventilators, and many say they aren’t using ventilators at all, despite their patients’ low blood oxygen levels. For some reason, they say many patients in that state have no trouble breathing on their own.

Scientists have no explanation for this so far. The Wall Street Journal reports that doctors at Stony Brook Hospital in New York have used ventilators less on these patients, turning instead to the CPAP or BiPAP machines or high-flow nasal cannulas.

At the beginning of the pandemic, it was feared that the number of people with the virus would overwhelm hospital intensive care units (ICU) because there might not be enough ventilators. As doctors begin to wait longer to see if a patient actually needs a ventilator, the pressure on ICUs is expected to subside.

Some consumers see lower electric bills

Since the pandemic began, consumers have paid a lot less for gasoline. They should also be paying less for electricity, though not all are.

Offices, stores, and restaurants across the U.S. have closed their doors. These businesses had been big consumers of electricity but no longer are. As a result, utility companies are paying less for electricity.

Some are actually passing the savings on to customers through lower rates. In Fort Meade, Fla., the local power company has reduced the residential and commercial rate for its electricity customers, reducing the average residential bill for 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity from $116 to $110 per month. 

FDA approves new antigen test

Testing got off to a slow start, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is making up for lost time. Over the weekend, the agency granted emergency use authorization (EAU) to a new antigen test that reportedly provides faster and more accurate results when patients are tested for the coronavirus.

The test is produced by Quidel Corporation and checks for virus proteins on samples collected from a patient’s nasal cavity. It reportedly has an 85 percent accuracy rating and yields results in about five minutes on machines found in most doctors’ offices.

Writing in The Wall Street Journal, former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb says the test is important because it tells doctors which patients have already been infected and may now be immune to the disease.

Automotive delivery service

It’s well documented that some restaurants have seen a surge of delivery orders from consumers who are abiding by shelter-in-place guidelines. Amazon also reports record orders.

Delivery also extends to automotive services, including filling your gas tank. Yoshi is an app that lets you dispatch a truck that will come to your home and top off your car’s tank with fuel. The service tech can also check tires and change the oil. 

A report and receipt are then sent to the customer’s smartphone, explaining what services were provided and alerting the owner to any potential issues with the vehicle, such as excessive tire wear. The app is for Android or iOS. Users can set up a profile that includes vehicle details, payment information, membership plan, and preferred fuel grade.

Around the nation

• Oklahoma: With coronavirus restrictions starting to be lifted, congregations were allowed to gather Sunday in small numbers. To play it safe, Putnam City Baptist Church established what it called a “lawn chair church,” holding services outside and asking worshipers to bring and sit in lawn chairs -- six feet apart, of course. 

• Nebraska: State education officials believe public schools will be able to open as scheduled in the fall. Education Commissioner Matt Blomstedt says reopening will depend on local health conditions and that some districts should be prepared to continue online classes.

• Washington: Some residents who reported violators of the state’s state-at-home orders say they are being threatened. They say the threats were generated by Facebook posts that gave their personal information.