Current Events in June 2020

The clock is ticking fast for Americans who want to fly to Europe. Effective Wednesday, the European Union (EU) is closing its borders to all U.S.-based travelers.

The EU has decided that the U.S. is being a little too freewheeling when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, so it established a new policy to protect the people within its borders. The U.S. isn’t the only country being kept out. Both Russian and Brazilian citizens are also on the do-not-enter list.

Who’s in and who’s out?

The safe list of 15 nations that EU countries have signed off on includes Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand. The Union says it will also let in travelers from China if the country offers the same in return. 

One little wrinkle in the policy is that the EU will take into account a traveler’s country of residence -- not of citizenship. That means if a citizen of Spain happens to be living in Chicago, they’ll be treated the same as anyone else living in the United States.

However, there are some marked exceptions. They include anyone from a country outside the safe list who meets one of the following descriptions:

• Asylum seeker

• Diplomat

• Foreign worker whose employment in Europe qualifies as essential

• Health care worker

• Humanitarian worker

• Someone traveling for “imperative family reasons”

• Students

The EU said that its list is not etched in stone and that its list of countries will be reviewed every two weeks.

“Travel restrictions may be totally or partially lifted or reintroduced for a specific third country already listed according to changes in some of the conditions and, as a consequence, in the assessment of the epidemiological situation,” the EU said in a news release. 

“If the situation in a listed third country worsens quickly, rapid decision-making should be applied.”

Potential economic impact

The move is a rather delicate dance for the EU. Since the coronavirus took over everyone’s life, it created a can of worms for the coalition of countries. In normal times, its 27 member states are free to travel and trade, much like we can go state-to-state in the U.S. 

But, as the pandemic started crossing borders within the bloc, individual countries created policies of their own which didn’t always jive with the policies other members were creating. The EU made it clear it wants to get back to that same level of reciprocity it enjoyed prior to the outbreak.

Meanwhile, U.S. officials have voiced their extreme disappointment with the EU’s decision. Tori Emerson Barnes, the U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President for Public Affairs and Policy, said that the travel ban will likely result in a stalled economic recovery.

"The E.U.'s announcement is incredibly disappointing, and a step in the wrong direction as we seek to rebuild our global economy,” she said. "In the U.S. alone, travel-related jobs account for more than a third of lost employment due to the fallout of the pandemic. Health is paramount, and the public has a major role to play by embracing best practices such as wearing masks, but we are at a stage when it should be possible to make progress.”

"This is unwelcome news, and will have major negative implications for an economic recovery -- particularly if this ban results in cycles of retaliation, as is so often the case,” Barnes concluded.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 2,600,727 ( 2,557,980)

Total U.S. deaths: 129,545 (125,864)

Total global cases:  10,350,645 (10,189,350)

Total global deaths: 506,827 (502,719)

Los Angeles is the new epicenter

Early in the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, New York City emerged as the epicenter of the virus while Los Angeles reported relatively few cases. Those roles have now reversed.

The Los Angeles County Health Department reports more than 100,000 confirmed cases of the virus so far, with nearly 3,000 new cases a day. The largest number recorded so far among any age demographic is among young people between 18 and 40.

Barbara Ferrer, the director of public health for Los Angeles County, calls the increase in cases and hospitalizations “alarming.”

Younger patients occupying Houston’s ICU

Texas has experienced a huge increase in coronavirus cases during June, and intensive care units (ICU) in Houston hospitals are starting to fill up. But the patients are significantly younger than those who pushed New York hospitals to the tipping point in April.

The New York Times reports that nearly one-third of the ICU patients in Houston’s Methodist Hospital system are under the age of 50. It’s a similar situation in nearby states. A significant number of new infections are of people in their 20s and 30s.

An economic case for masks

The idea of wearing a face-covering in public has become a contentious issue in some circles, infused with politics. But an economist at Goldman Sachs suggests that the economy would heal faster if everyone would wear a mask in public places.

Jan Hatzius, the bank’s chief economist, worked with his team to probe the link between face masks and COVID-19 health and economic outcomes. They determined that a national requirement for everyone to wear a mask could cut the daily rate of infections by a full percentage point.

That result, Hatzius said, could prevent another shutdown order that would eliminate more jobs and shave 5 percent off the nation’s economic growth rate.

Fauci says follow strict guidelines critical to stopping the virus

Health officials are testifying before a Senate committee today, providing updates on the coronavirus and the outlook for the next few weeks. Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute for Allergy and Infection Diseases (NIAID), testified that municipalities that continue to follow safety rules will have the best chance of safely reopening schools this fall.

“If we adhere to guidelines that have been carefully laid out, that will help to keep the level of infection down and make it easier to get the children back to school,” Fauci said.

Fauci said the states where cases are surging may have reopened too quickly and may have needed to follow stricter rules as they reopened.

What happens in Vegas…

Just two weeks after casinos on the Las Vegas strip reopened with social distancing rules in place, some casino employees have filed a lawsuit, saying their health and safety aren’t being protected.

The suit was filed against the owners of Harrah’s, MGM Grand, and Bellagio casinos. Specifically, the complaint alleges the casinos were slow to shut down food and beverage facilities on their premises after some employees tested positive for the coronavirus.

The suit was filed in federal court by Culinary Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165.

Around the nation

• New Jersey: Gov. Phil Murphy has rescinded his order that would have allowed restaurants to resume indoor dining this week. Murphy took the action over concerns about a spike in new cases of the virus. 

• Illinois:  Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, says she’s keeping a close eye on spikes of virus cases in other states. So far, she says Illinois is showing progress in its Phase 4 of the reopening. However, she says residents should err on the side of caution.

• Oregon: Oregon has seen a recent spike in coronavirus cases, though not at the level of some other nearby states. Still, Gov. Kate Brown is taking no chances, announcing a statewide mask requirement within public indoor spaces. “I do not want to have to close down businesses again like other states are now doing,” Brown said. “If you want your local shops and restaurants to stay open, then wear a face-covering when out in public.”

The employment situation in the post-coronavirus (COVID-19) world increasingly remains a puzzle as some businesses reopen and rehire their workers, but the jobless rate remains at record highs.

The economy actually added jobs in May, taking most economists by surprise. But a new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts that in perspective: nearly half the U.S. population didn’t have a job in May.

The employment-population ratio, which is the percentage of adults in the U.S. population who are employed, fell to a record low of 52.8 percent. If you do the math, that means nearly 48 percent of working-age adults are unemployed.

As a point of reference, the employment-population ratio was 61.2 percent at the start of the year.

Economists say the employment-population ratio is a truer indicator of the health of the labor market because it counts the people who could be working but, for one reason or another, are not looking for a job. The monthly employment report only counts those who are looking for a job.

Torsten Slok, the chief economist at Deutsche Bank. told CNBC that the U.S. would need to create 30 million jobs to bring the employment-population ratio back to January levels. June’s employment report is expected toward the end of the week.

Extra $600 payments about to end

Americans receiving an extra $600 a week in unemployment benefits, provided by the CARES Act, will face a significant drop in income at the end of July. The extra money will run out at that time unless Congress votes to extend it.

In many states, people drawing unemployment benefits have received $600 a week in addition to whatever benefit the states provide. In some cases, recipients have earned more not working than they did when they had a job.

The additional benefit will be paid for the week ending on or before July 31. Congressional Democrats have approved an extension of the additional jobless benefit, included in the House’s $3 trillion relief bill.

Senate Republicans have voiced objections to that measure, so the outlook for final passage in the Senate is far from certain.

A pair of U.S. senators are calling for an investigation of five states that ordered nursing homes to accept patients who had recently tested positive for COVID-19 and been discharged from hospitals. 

In a letter to Christi Grimm, Principal Deputy Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Republican senators Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Greg Walden of Oregon said they were concerned “that a number of states are pressuring nursing facilities to admit residents who may be infected with the COVID-19 virus.”

“With over 50,000 deaths in nursing homes now linked to COVID-19, such facilities remain hotspots for the coronavirus,” the senators wrote. “One in five nursing homes have reported COVID-19 cases and at least a third of all deaths attributable to the coronavirus have occurred in long-term care facilities.” 

Nursing home spread 

Grassley and Walden added that the data suggests deaths in nursing homes could be responsible for more than half of all COVID-19 fatalities in more than a dozen states. The senators said they were seeking to determine if a handful of states violated federal health care guidelines and regulations in choosing to admit the patients. 

The senators said the governors of five states -- New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, and Michigan -- cleared nursing homes to “accept patients with active COVID-19 infections who were being discharged from hospitals.”

“These state directives were issued as the COVID-19 fatality rate in nursing homes soared. In Pennsylvania, which reportedly has the seventh-highest death rate for residents of these facilities,12 69 percent of the state’s COVID-19 fatalities are now attributable to nursing and personal care homes,” the letter said. 

“Similarly, in New Jersey, the rate was roughly 52 percent as of last month; 14 in New York, at least 6,000 deaths are attributable to nursing homes; and in Michigan, where the governor’s directive has yet to be rescinded, 34 percent of COVID-19 deaths reportedly are linked to nursing homes.” 

Investigation requested

The governors’ orders for nursing homes to accept individuals who recently tested positive for COVID-19 were originally issued to keep hospitals from being overrun with COVID-19 patients. However, the senators said in their letter that hospital overcrowding may not have been the sole factor in the decision.

“It appears that at least one governor reportedly reinforced this requirement well after the period in which COVID-19 cases at hospitals peaked—suggesting that its imposition on nursing homes was not entirely due to hospital overcrowding.” 

Amid fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections that could crop up this fall, the senators are calling on the Inspector General to complete an investigation into the matter by September 30.

“We request that the Office of Inspector General initiate an investigation into whether the decision by these states to pressure nursing homes to admit COVID-19 patients from hospitals violated, or was in any way inconsistent with, guidelines or requirements for participation in Federal health care programs.”

Netflix has announced that it will put 2 percent of its cash holdings towards supporting the economic development of black communities. The company said its initial commitment will be as much as $100 million.

In a blog post on Tuesday, the video-streaming giant said the money will go toward narrowing the financial divide between Black and White families created and perpetuated under the nation’s long history of systemic racism.

“Banks that are Black-owned or led represent a mere one percent of America’s commercial banking assets. This is one factor contributing to 19 percent of Black families having either negative wealth or no assets at all,” wrote Aaron Mitchell, a Netflix director of talent acquisition, and Shannon Alwyn, Netflix’s treasury director. 

To start, Netflix will move $25 million to the Black Economic Development Initiative, a fund recently set up by a non-profit called the Local Initiatives Support Corporation. The non-profit will invest the fund in financial institutions serving Black communities. Another $10 million will be deposited at Hope Credit Union, which focuses on obtaining funding outside of the underserved regions it serves. 

“Over the next two years, HOPE estimates the Netflix deposit will support financing to more than 2,500 entrepreneurs, homebuyers, and consumers of color,” the company said.

Supporting Black communities

Mitchell and Alwyn noted in their blog post that 19 percent of Black families have “either negative wealth or no assets at all,” while just 9 percent of White households fall under that category. 

“Black banks have existed to fight this for generations, spurring economic growth by extending credit in often underbanked communities,” the company wrote. “But they’re disadvantaged in their access to capital, especially from large multinational companies, when compared to other banks.”

Earlier this month, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and his wife Patty Quillin pledged $120 million to Black colleges in response to the killing of George Floyd and the nationwide “Black Lives Matter” movement.

“Both of us had the privilege of a great education, and we want to help more students — in particular students of color — get the same start in life,” Hastings and Quillin said in a joint statement.

The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in favor of parents in Montana seeking scholarship money to send their children to religious schools. In a 5-4 ruling, the court ruled that a state scholarship program funded by tax credit could not exclude religious schools.

The ruling is expected to pave the way for more funding for religious education. 

"A State need not subsidize private education. But once a State decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious," wrote Chief Justice John Roberts.

Roberts -- who joined fellow conservatives in the majority opinion -- added that the court has “repeatedly held that the Establishment Clause is not offended when religious observers and organizations benefit from neutral government programs." Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, joined by the court’s other Democratic appointees, dissented.

"Because Montana's Supreme Court did not make such a decision— its judgment put all private school parents in the same boat—this Court had no occasion to address the matter," she wrote.

Landmark decision

On Twitter, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos called the ruling a “historic victory for America’s students.”  

“Today's landmark SCOTUS decision in Espinoza v. Montana is a huge victory for students and parents across America. Religious discrimination is dead,” she wrote. “All states need to seize this extraordinary opportunity to expand all education options at all schools to every single student.” 

Religious groups also celebrated the ruling. In a statement, Brian Burch, the president of Catholic Vote, said the ruling was “long overdue victory for American families and a defeat for anti-Catholic bigotry.”

Opponents of the ruling include American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, who called the court’s decision “a seismic shock that threatens both public education and religious liberty.”

“Never in more than two centuries of American history has the free exercise clause of the First Amendment been wielded as a weapon to defund and dismantle public education,” Weingarten said.

While previous studies have highlighted the benefits associated with children playing with both of their parents, a new study put the spotlight on kids’ quality time with their fathers. 

According to researchers from the University of Cambridge, dads tend to be more physical and active when playing with their kids, even from a young age. They say this kind of engagement can be beneficial in giving kids more autonomy over their emotions and behavior. 

“Physical play creates fun, exciting situations in which children have to apply self-regulation,” said researcher Paul Ramchandani. “You might have to control your strength, learn when things have gone too far -- or maybe your father steps on your toe by accident and you feel cross!” 

“It’s a safe environment in which children can practice how to respond,” he added. “If they react the wrong way, they might get told off, but it’s not the end of the world -- and next time they might remember to behave differently.” 

Improving behavioral skills

To understand what effect playtime with dad can have on kids, the researchers analyzed nearly 80 studies that spanned four decades. They were most interested in understanding how quality time between dads and their kids translated to development. 

The researchers learned that fathers are much more physical and active when it comes to playing with their young ones. Even with infants, fathers display a very hands-on approach with their kids during playtime. Ultimately, the researchers found that this was beneficial for kids’ development, as this type of play was associated with better self-control and behavioral outcomes. 

The study found that when fathers and kids engaged in this way, the kids were less likely to lose their tempers with other kids, had better temperaments, and exhibited better behavior overall. However, the researchers explained that mothers can certainly fulfill this role with their children. The style of play -- being able to chase and run -- is what gives kids the opportunity to learn self-control. 

“Children are likely to benefit most if they are given different ways to play and interact,” said Ramchandani. 

Giving parents more time to play

The researchers hope that these findings help shape new policies and culture shifts that give parents more freedom to have quality time with their little ones. 

“At a policy level, this suggests we need structures that give fathers, as well as mothers, time and space to play with their children during those critical early years,” said researcher Dr. Ciara Laverty. 

“Even today, it’s not unusual for fathers who take their child to a parent-toddler group, for example, to find that they are the only father there. A culture shift is beginning to happen, but it needs to happen more.” 

In the midst of all the coronavirus-related push-and-pull between Amazon and its employees, there’s a new one to add to the positive side of the equation.

Late Monday, a memo was sent to the company’s front-line employees and partners with the promise of a sizeable monetary bonus as thanks for all the workers have done during the COVID-19 pandemic -- including getting orders in and out the door, helping customers in stores, and anything that’s part of the Amazon-to-customer relationship.

“Our front-line operations teams have been on an incredible journey over the last few months, and we want to show our appreciation with a special one-time Thank You bonus totaling over $500 million,” wrote Dave Clark, Amazon’s Senior Vice-President of Worldwide Operations.

Rewards for employees and partners

Amazon stated that all front-line employees and partners who were with the company throughout the month of June (June 1 – June 30, 2020) will receive a bonus of:

• $500 for full-time Amazon employees, Whole Foods Market employees, and Delivery Service Partner drivers

• $250 for part-time Amazon employees, Whole Foods Market employees, and Delivery Service Partner drivers

• $1,000 for all front-line Amazon and Whole Foods Market leaders

• $3,000 for our Delivery Service Partner owners

• $150 for each Amazon Flex driver with more than 10 hours in June

“Again, my thanks and gratitude for the truly remarkable commitment to customers you have shown throughout this journey. I have never been more proud of our teams,” Clark concluded.

Amazon employees took to Reddit to express their gratitude, although there were a few who grumbled about supposedly having to wait until the end of July to see the money in their account. There was also some dissatisfaction coming from Amazon employees who work from home and appear to be cut out of the bonuses.

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) began to shut down large parts of the U.S. economy in March, some companies struggled while others did quite well. Amazon is a prime example.

In their annual ranking -- BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Brands -- WPP and Kantar keep Amazon at number one, reporting that the last few months have only served to enhance its position atop the retail food chain.

Amazon has moved up the rankings since 2006. In this year’s evaluation of businesses, the Amazon brand increased in value by nearly $100 billion, growing 32 percent. Amazon’s brand value of $415 billion accounts for a third of the Top 100's total growth.

The ranking is based on a number of factors, including its stock price performance from April 2020 to reflect the impact of COVID-19. A handful of companies, most of which are highly valued by consumers, were able to consistently invest in longer-term marketing and make their brands even stronger during the health and economic crisis.

A strong showing by tech companies

In addition to Amazon, other technology brands are clustered at the top of this year’s ranking.  Apple maintained its position as the second most valuable global brand, growing 14 percent to $352.2 billion. 

Microsoft moved back up to the number three position, turning in a 30 percent gain in value to $326.5 billion. Google slipped to fourth place, growing its brand by 5 percent to a value of $323.6 billion.

Microsoft benefited from the shift to a work-from-home environment, enjoying strong growth in its cloud-enabled workplace ecosystem that incorporates Office365 and Microsoft Teams to allow people to maintain 'business as usual' during the lockdown.

Other technology companies improving their brand standing this year include Netflix, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Xbox.

"The continued growth in value of the BrandZ Top 100 shows that strong brands are in a much better place than they were in the global economic crisis of 2008-2009,” said David Roth, chairman of BrandZ. “While the impact of COVID-19 has impacted every business regardless of size or geography, consistent investment in marketing can and will help carry you through a crisis."

With most consumers ordering everything from dinner to household supplies from home, payment systems also improved their brand values during the shutdown. Visa held onto 5th place with 5 percent growth and Mastercard moved from 12th to 10th place in the rankings.

In the top 10, Facebook and McDonald’s were the only brands to lose ground this year. Facebook saw the value of its brand decline by 7 percent while McDonald’s lost only 1 percent.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California Davis explored the risks associated with raw milk, which is typically sold to consumers on the idea that it has better health properties than pasteurized milk.

According to the researchers, properly storing raw milk is crucial. When left out of the refrigerator, raw milk can develop antimicrobial-resistant genes. These genes don’t respond to traditional antibiotic treatment and could potentially develop into a superbug.  

“Two things surprised us,” said researcher Jinxin Liu. “We didn’t find large quantities of beneficial bacteria in the raw milk samples, and if you leave raw milk at room temperature, it creates dramatically antimicrobial-resistant genes than pasteurized milk.” 

“We don’t want to scare people, we want to educate them,” Liu continued. “If you want to keep drinking raw milk, keep it in your refrigerator to minimize the risk of it developing bacteria with antibiotic-resistant genes.” 

Eliminating the raw milk risk

To understand the risk that raw milk poses to consumers, the researchers analyzed over 2,000 raw milk samples. The samples hailed from five states and were all products that consumers could buy on store shelves. 

The researchers left the samples in a room-temperature environment and compared the results with more traditional-style milk that is pasteurized. Ultimately, when left outside the refrigerator, raw milk developed antibiotic-resistant bacteria much faster than pasteurized milk and in much higher quantities. 

The researchers say that bacteria are able to flourish in raw milk because of the subtraction of the pasteurization process, especially when not chilled properly. When raw milk curdles, it creates a yogurt-like substance known as clabber. Ingesting raw milk at warmer temperatures is particularly dangerous because antibiotic-resistant bacteria can multiply over time.

“You could just be flooding your gastrointestinal tract with these genes,” said researcher David Mills. “We don’t live in an antibiotic-free world anymore. These genes are everywhere, and we need to do everything we can to stop that flow into our bodies.” 

“Our study shows that with any temperature abuse in raw milk, whether intentional or not, it can grow these bacteria with antimicrobial resistant genes,” said researcher Michele Jay-Russell. “It’s not just going to spoil. It’s really high risk if not handled correctly.”  

Ford Motor Company is recalling 13 model year 2020 Super-Duty F-250, F-350 and F-550 diesel pickups.

The transmission torque converter damper plate was not tempered, resulting in a brittle damper plate that may fracture and cause the engine to stall or require increased brake pedal effort in order to stop the vehicle.

An engine stall or requiring additional braking effort to stop the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission assembly free of charge.

This recall is expected to begin July 6, 2020.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S33.

Costway of Fontana, Calif., is recalling about 16,000 baby strollers.

A child’s torso can pass through the opening between the activity tray and the seat bottom and his/her head can become entrapped, posing entrapment and strangulation hazards. The location of the crotch restraint creates a large opening between the seat bottom and the restraint, posing a fall hazard to children.

No incidents or injuries are reported.

This recall involves three models of double strollers.

A tag on the stroller seat reads:

MADE FOR GOPLUS CORP 11250 POPLAR AVE. FONTANA, CA 92337.

The strollers, manufactured in China, were sold online at www.costway.com and www.amazon.com from May 2016, through December 2019, for about $100.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled baby strollers and contact Costway for instructions on how to receive a full refund including taxes and original shipping cost. Costway is contacting all purchasers directly.

Consumers may contact Costway toll-free at (844) 242-1885 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday or by email at recall@costway.com for more information.

In a 5-4 decision on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court gave the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) the all-clear to continue operating as it has been for more than 10 years, but it said the President of the United States can remove its director anytime and “at will.”

The CFPB has been the consumer’s best friend ever since the 2008 financial crisis went down. The bright idea of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Congress established the bureau with one task and one task only: ensure that consumer debt products are safe and transparent. 

The “big number on Dodd-Frank”

To date, the Bureau has done its job well. As of its 2017 audit, it had returned close to $12 billion to consumers through 2017.

But things changed rapidly when President Donald Trump moved into the White House. Less than a month after Trump took office, he promised to do "a big number on Dodd-Frank," the consumer protection legislation that enabled the creation of the Bureau. 

The Dodd-Frank legislation says the President can remove the director of the Bureau for "inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office,” so that’s what Trump did.

The Bureau can still do its job, but…

The Supreme Court decision sided with Seila Law -- a California law firm which was in the crosshairs of the CFPB over promotions of debt relief services. The firm previously said that the CFPB’s leadership by a single director who was removable “for cause” ignored the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers rule.

Not only that, but the Court said that the Bureau’s director can be removed by the President of the United States “at will.”

“The agency may ... continue to operate, but its Director, in light of our decision, must be removable by the President at will,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in his majority decision, a pro-conservative opinion.

Fighting back, Justice Elena Kagan and her three liberal colleagues said that their conservative counterparts took away what allowed the CFPB to be effective -- it’s immunity from Washington politics.

“Today’s decision wipes out a feature of that agency its creators thought fundamental to its mission -- a measure of independence from political pressure,” Kagan wrote.

The decision could hurt consumers

Soon after news of the decision went live, consumer watchdog group Allied Progress said that it’s a sad day when an administration’s consumer financial policy can be swayed by the highest bidder and have the power to fire a director on the spot for putting the interests of consumers ahead of the wish lists of donors. 

“Bottom line: this industry-backed case had nothing to do with what the Bureau is in a legal sense and everything to do with what it does, which is hold bad financial actors responsible while recovering billions of dollars on behalf of cheated consumers,” said Jeremy Funk, spokesman for Allied Progress. 

“Greedy banks, predatory lenders, and other financial scammers won’t stop until the agency is fully dismantled.”

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 2,557,980 (2,510,323)

Total U.S. deaths: 125,864 (125,539)

Total global cases: 10,189,350 (10,005,970)

Total global deaths: 502,719 (499,306)

Somber warning from HHS Secretary

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar says “the window is closing” on America’s ability to control the coronavirus (COVID-19). Appearing on CNN, Azar said the surge in new cases in the South and Southwest threatens to overwhelm hospitals, echoing a fear that was expressed in New York in April. Cases have since declined in the Northeast.

"Things are very different from two months ago,” Azar said. “So it is a very different situation, but this is a very, very serious situation and the window is closing for us to take action and get this under control." 

On the positive side, Azar suggested the U.S. is in a better position than it was early in the pandemic thanks to improvements in testing, contact tracing, hospital capacity, supplies of personal protective equipment, and advancement in treatments.

A ‘dangerous turn’ in Texas

Texas is one state where cases of the virus have skyrocketed during June. Gov. Greg Abbott says the number of cases in the state has more than doubled in a short period of time.

“We need to understand that COVID-19 has taken a very swift and very dangerous turn in Texas over just the past few weeks,” he said.

Abbott has backtracked on Texas’ reopening, ordering bars to close down again and limiting restaurant capacity to 50 percent.

Remdesivir’s price tag

Gilead Sciences, the pharmaceutical company making the experimental antiviral drug remdesivir, has priced the COVID-19 treatment prior to receiving final government approval.

A Wall Street Journal analysis shows the typical hospital patient with commercial insurance would be charged $3,120 for an average course of treatment, but what the consumer ends up paying would depend on their health benefits coverage.

Public Citizen has argued for a drastically lower price, maintaining that the drug was developed with the aid of federal funding and expertise.

FDA grants emergency approval for another antibody test

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use clearance for an antibody blood test made by medical device manufacturer Danaher. The test is designed to show whether someone has been infected with the coronavirus.

The FDA has recently tightened rules for the manufacturers of these tests, warning that there are many fraudulent products on the market. Danaher says the test is extremely reliable and has virtually eliminated the chance of a false-negative result.

Reuters reports the company has shipped tests to about 400 hospitals and is poised to turn out 30 million test kits per month.

Three more symptoms

The symptoms of the coronavirus can vary widely, from raging fever to hallucinations. Health officials have now added three more.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports some people who have tested positive for the virus have also exhibited congestion or runny nose, nausea, and diarrhea. 

The CDC says symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Around the nation

• Arizona: State health officials are struggling to keep up with the surge in new cases of the coronavirus, which set a single-day record on Sunday. The Arizona health department reported 3,858 new coronavirus cases and 9 additional deaths. 

• Florida: Florida is another state reeling from the rapid increase in hospitalizations. The state logged 8,530 new cases Sunday, only slightly fewer than Saturday’s record of 9,585.

• California: Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered bars to close again in seven counties and imposed other restrictions on public gatherings as cases have recently surged. Newsom says the number of patients in intensive care units at California hospitals shot up 4 percent in one 24-hour period.

Gilead Sciences has disclosed what it plans to charge for its experimental antiviral drug remdesivir, which has gained emergency federal authorization for use to treat the coronavirus (COVID-19).

As with nearly all drug prices, it’s not a simple formula. The drugmaker will charge hospitals more than it charges the government. 

A Wall Street Journal analysis shows the typical hospital patient with commercial insurance would be charged $3,120 for an average course of treatment, but what the consumer ends up paying would depend on their health benefits coverage.

The government would pay the lowest price for people covered by Medicare and Medicaid. The cost would be $390 per dose, which works out to $2.340 for the shortest treatment period. For cases that take longer to treat, the total cost could be $4.290.

Hospital patients receiving the shortest course of remdesivir would be charged $520 per dose, or $3,120 for the shortest treatment course. The cost could total more than $5,000 for cases requiring a longer treatment period.

Possible pushback

The drug company could face some serious pushback from consumer groups and some members of Congress. Late last month, Peter Maybarduk, director of Public Citizen’s Access to Medicines Program, made the argument that Gilead relied on help and funding from the U.S. government to develop remdesivir.

“Gilead did not make this drug alone,” he said. “Public funding was indispensable, and government scientists led the early drug discovery team. It appears the public owns its stake.”

Maybarduk said the government has an obligation to ensure that remdesivir is priced affordably and does not stretch health care budgets during the pandemic.

Measuring the value to health care systems

Gilead Sciences CEO Daniel O’Day told The Journal that the drug is priced below the value it will bring to health care systems, noting it reduces a hospital’s cost of treating COVID-19 patients.

Remdesivir is currently being used in hospitals, on an experimental basis, to treat seriously ill patients. It is also still in the clinical trial process, with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval still pending. In early June, the company announced results from a Phase 3 clinical trial that showed promising results on patients with a moderate form of COVID-19.

The company said the study demonstrated that patients in a five-day remdesivir treatment group were 65 percent more likely to have clinical improvement at Day 11 compared with those who were not receiving the drug.

If you have a travel rewards credit card in your wallet, you may be asking yourself just how useful that will be in the midst of a pandemic

Air travel has plunged since the coronavirus (COVID-19) swept the world, and cruises have been canceled. Many countries are temporarily closing their borders to travelers from other countries, another inducement to stay home. In the U.S., some states where coronavirus cases are low are discouraging travelers from states where cases have spiked.

For travel rewards cardholders, that may mean a lot less travel in the months ahead. Not only are they missing out on racking up rewards points, but they are also likely paying a hefty annual fee for the privilege of having the card.

The Wall Street Journal reports that major banks are taking steps to discourage customers from canceling these highly profitable cards, noting that JPMorgan Chase is delaying a $100 increase to its $450 annual fee on its flagship Sapphire Reserve Card.

Chase has joined Citibank and other major card issuers in adding other non-travel rewards to their cards to keep them in consumers’ wallets. However, consumers should carefully measure the value of those potential rewards against the annual fee.

Cash may be king

Having a rewards card that provides points or cashback on routine purchases like gasoline and groceries may make more sense in these times, and these types of cards rarely carry an annual fee.

In a new report, PayPal offers research showing that a significant number of consumers are using their credit card rewards to stretch their budgets. Nearly a third of consumers have used rewards to purchase the things they need most, such as groceries. 

"More and more people across the country are turning to their credit card rewards as a helpful and easy way to make their dollars go farther, and in the current environment, two-thirds of Americans now view these rewards balances as a way to buy the things they need such as groceries and other essentials," said Jill Cress, vice president of consumer marketing at PayPal.

Unaware of their rewards

At the same time, the research found that 39 percent of people with rewards credit cards were completely unaware of their rewards balance. Cress says it’s not only important to incorporate those rewards into the household budgets, but consumers should also think carefully about the credit cards they have and the kinds of spending they reward.

"With travel and luxury items still less of a priority for many right now, our research shows that people are instead tapping into their rewards balances to support small businesses in their community and to give back to causes," Cress said.

Replacing a travel rewards card that carries an annual fee with a no-fee card providing cashback on everyday purchases may be a prudent step in this new environment, and there are many of these cards to choose from.

ConsumerAffairs has researched the best cashback credit cards here.

Amid a rise in coronavirus cases across the nation, at least 12 states have opted to pause their reopening plans.

More than 30 states are seeing rises in coronavirus cases, and daily coronavirus case reports hit a new national high of nearly 40,000 on Friday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. 

Arizona reported 3,858 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, which set a single-day record. Florida hit a record on Saturday, logging 9,585 new cases. Ahead of July 4 celebrations, Florida officials have restricted access to beaches in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach. 

In California, the number of patients in intensive care units at hospitals rose 4 percent in one 24-hour period. In an effort to combat the increase in cases, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered bars to close again in seven counties and imposed other restrictions on public gatherings.

In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott said the number of cases more than doubled in a short period of time. Abbott ordered bars to close down again and limited restaurant capacity to 50 percent in light of the “very swift and very dangerous turn” the virus has taken over the past few weeks. 

Follow the guidelines

Governors in many states -- including Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Nevada, New Mexico, and North Carolina -- have announced that they’re halting plans to move ahead to the next phase of their reopening plans. 

As states attempt to drive down case numbers, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House’s infectious disease expert, implored everyone to continue heeding the guidance of the CDC. 

"For goodness sakes: avoid crowds, wear masks. Those are the fundamentals that -- when you look at the television clips, when you see pictures in the newspapers -- people are not doing that. That's a recipe for disaster," Fauci told CNBC.

Vice President Mike Pence struck a more optimistic tone about the recent surge in cases, saying "we've all seen the encouraging news as we open up America again."

"To one extent or another, the volume of new cases coming in is a reflection of a great success in expanding testing across the country," Pence said Friday.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Exeter found that environmental factors can play a large role in future pandemics. 

According to their research, healthy, functioning ecosystems can work to prevent consumers from animal-spread viruses. However, because many ecosystems are being destroyed, the number of pandemics is likely to increase and will continue to be hard to manage. 

“Ecosystems naturally restrain the transfer of diseases from animals to humans, but this service declines as ecosystems become degraded,” said researcher Dr. Mark Everard. “At the same time, ecosystem degradation undermines water security, limiting the availability of adequate water for good hand hygiene, sanitation, and disease treatment. Disease risk cannot be dissociated from ecosystem conservation and natural resource security.” 

Linking the environment and disease risk

To understand how ecosystems are closely linked with the spread of disease, the researchers utilized the Drivers-Pressure-State change-Impact-Response (DPSIR) model. This allowed them to look at three main factors: what role ecosystems play in the spread and treatment of disease and how to protect that role, the ability to treat those affected by the spread of infection, and getting the spread of infection between humans under control. 

The researchers learned that the incidence of pandemics is likely to increase because of the way humans interact with the natural world. Moreover, that same relationship with the environment can affect the resources that are available to treat such infections. 

The study revealed that the environment and the spread of disease are connected in several ways. Not only are humans interacting more with animals than ever before, but climate change, an overproduction of livestock, and deforestation all contribute to animals spreading infections to humans at a faster rate. 

The researchers also explained that less attention is paid to preserving ecosystems as the population grows. This alone is cause for concern, but these factors also place a burden on the clean water supply. With rising infection levels and a dwindling supply of clean water, treating and containing a rapidly spreading virus will only become more difficult in the future.  

Learning from past mistakes

According to the researchers, the current COVID-19 pandemic provides lawmakers with the perfect opportunity to enact policies that will protect the environment, which in turn can protect consumers. 

“The speed and scale with which radical actions have been taken in so many countries to limit the health and financial risks from COVID-19 demonstrate that radical system change would also be possible in order to deal with other global existential threats, such as the climate emergency and collapse of biodiversity, provided the political will is there to do so,” said researcher Dr. David Santillo.