Current Events in June 2020

A new study conducted by researchers from Tufts University explored the effects of vitamin K -- a supplement most commonly found in leafy vegetables like kale and spinach -- on older consumers. 

Their work revealed that older people who had lower levels of vitamin K were at an increased risk of early death, whereas the same wasn’t true for those with higher levels of the vitamin. 

“The possibility that vitamin K is linked to heart disease and mortality is based on our knowledge about proteins in vascular tissue that require vitamin K to function,” said researcher Kyla Shea. “These proteins help prevent calcium from building up in artery walls, and without enough vitamin K, they are less functional.” 

Protective benefits

The researchers analyzed data from three different studies, all of which determined participants’ vitamin K levels from a blood test. Nearly 4,000 participants were involved in the study, and all were over the age of 50. After the initial analysis, the researchers followed up with the participants over a decade later and assessed their vitamin K levels and risk of heart disease. 

The researchers learned that early death was nearly 20 percent more likely for participants with lower levels of vitamin K. The researchers noted that vitamin K plays a role in healthy blood flow throughout the body, and so being deficient in the supplement could be cause for concern -- particularly as consumers age. 

Because vitamin K is typically found in healthier foods, the researchers hypothesized that an overall healthier lifestyle could explain the relationship between vitamin K and the participants’ lifespans. Interestingly, though over 850 participants developed heart disease over the course of the study, the researchers confirmed that the cases were unrelated to the participants’ vitamin K levels. 

Although this study can’t prove cause and effect between vitamin K and longevity, these findings do highlight a connection between consumers’ health and their vitamin K intake. 

“Similar to when a rubber band dries out and loses its elasticity, when veins and arteries are calcified, blood pumps less efficiently, causing a variety of complications,” said researcher Dr. Daniel Weiner. “That is why measuring risk of death, in a study such as this, may better capture the spectrum of events associated with worsening vascular health.” 

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) had a rare celebration on Monday. It was to mark the one year anniversary of the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, a group whose task it is to hunt down foreign-based fraudsters who prey on older Americans.

The Department had good reason to celebrate, too. For one thing, it’s been able to slow down the tsunami of robocalls, and fewer calls mean fewer victims.

While one of the DOJ’s posses was cracking down on robocallers, another was coming down heavily on “money mules,” foreign operatives who steal money from seniors and send it to their bosses back home. Money mules are a hot topic this week, with the Federal Trade Commission also warning consumers of the scam’s revival during the pandemic. 

“Older Americans have so much to offer our country, but they also face special risks.  In recent years, fraud directed against older Americans -- especially over the Internet -- has grown distressingly common,” said Attorney General William P. Barr in his update on the program.

“Seniors lose billions of dollars a year to these frauds, with the average reported individual loss exceeding 34,000 dollars.  And many of the perpetrators are not fellow Americans, but transnational criminal organizations -- ruthless cartels located overseas that steal hard-earned savings from some of our finest and most vulnerable citizens.”

Elder fraud continues to be a priority

Barr says he’s instructed both the FBI and each and every U.S. Attorney’s office to keep elder fraud cases on the front burner. Its success to date is commendable, with this year’s Elder Fraud Sweep netting 400 defendants implicated for causing more than a billion dollars in losses. 

“And we are not going to let up, because we know fraudsters are working overtime during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is despicable that scammers are using a public health crisis to exploit seniors’ fears and steal their money. But we are watching, and we will bring them to justice,” Barr said.

For elder fraud victims who’ve already been sucker-punched, the DOJ is adding a new service to help them rebuild their financial lives. The National Elder Fraud Hotline -- 1-833-FRAUD-1-1 -- is now in operation and staffed every day of the week by case managers who have experience in fraud and can help victims get the resources they need. 

“Studies show that older Americans are sometimes embarrassed to report fraud, but they should not be.  The sooner fraud is reported, the better the chances of catching the perpetrator and recovering the victim’s money.”

Chrysler is recalling 22,449 model year 2017-2020 Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles ("PHEV").

The 12 volt isolator post located behind the driver's seat may develop high resistance.

A high resistance electrical connection may result in the connection overheating, increasing the risk of a fire with the vehicle on or off.

What to do

The recall remedy is currently under development.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will perform an interim inspection of this joint. If the inspection indicates the joint is compromised, owners will receive a loaner vehicle, until a final remedy is developed.

Interim notifications are expected to begin around June 22, 2020.

Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at (800) 853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W46.

American Pacific Industries is recalling 1,226 Gladiator X-Comp A/T tires, size LT285/75R16, Load Range E and with DOT date codes 0718 to 0420.

A manufacturing issue could cause the sidewall to separate from the tire leading to tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

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

American Pacific has not yet provided a notification schedule.

Owners may contact American Pacific customer service at (661) 702-0988.

3. Folding table

Make meal prep and meal distribution easier with a small folding table. It’s much easier to cut and serve off a table than your lap or the ground, and you can use it for games when you and your friends stay up late.

4. Coffee maker

We all know that coffee is an essential part of the morning, so why change things while camping? Sleeping in a different environment can be difficult, so be sure you start your day right with your favorite cup of joe. By using a portable coffee maker, you don't have to leave all the comforts at home!

5. Canopy tent

Sitting outside in the sun can take its toll on you. If you have a foldable and easy-to-carry canopy, you always have shade on your trip. It's lightweight and portable so that you can move it around your campsite with ease.

6. Indoor/outdoor mat

It's always nice to step on something soft when you wake up in the morning. Whether you sleep in a camper or a tent, a mat lets you avoid stepping on rocks, twigs and mud when you put on your shoes outside. A mat also helps everyone's shoes and living space stay clean.

7. Water carrier

Water is a staple for any camping trip. Having a jug of drinking water is always a great idea because you don't know what the water quality will be at your campsite. You can also use this large jug to refill your water bottles all weekend.

8. Portable charcoal grill

Not good with fires? Just bring along a portable grill for all your cooking needs. It's easy to start and lightweight, so you can take it anywhere around the campsite.

9. Electric skillet

Don't want to make a fire? You won't have to worry about propane or charcoal if you bring along an electric skillet. You can use it for bacon and eggs in the morning or hamburgers and potatoes in the evening.

On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rescinded the emergency use authorization (EUA) that permitted chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate to be used to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients when a clinical trial was unavailable, or participation in a clinical trial was not feasible. 

Drawing from its ongoing analysis of both the EUA and emerging scientific data, the FDA determined that the effectiveness of the two drugs in treating COVID-19 is suspect at best. On top of that, the upsides of using the drugs no longer outweigh the known and potentially severe side effects like heart complications.

Balancing risks

Dr. Anthony Fauci of the White House coronavirus task force had earlier warned against assuming that hydroxychloroquine is a "knockout drug" in the battle against the coronavirus.

"We've made clear throughout the public health emergency that our actions will be guided by science ... and consider the balance of risks versus benefits of treatments for COVID-19," said FDA Deputy Commissioner for Medical and Scientific Affairs Anand Shah, M.D. 

"The FDA always underpins its decision-making with the most trustworthy, high-quality, up-to-date evidence available. We will continue to examine all of the emergency use authorizations the FDA has issued and make changes, as appropriate, based on emerging evidence."

While Fauci or others may have considered chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine longshots, the FDA had a responsibility to take a long, hard look at any research associated with the emergency uses for authorized products.

At the end of the road, though, the clinical trials proved that hydroxychloroquine "showed no benefit on mortality or in speeding recovery." The FDA also noted that the likelihood that dosing regimens for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine would kill or inhibit the virus was also unrealistic. 

Both drugs still used for other conditions

The agency is not entirely scuttling chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. It said that both meet FDA benchmarks to treat or prevent malaria, but not COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine is also approved to treat autoimmune conditions such as lupus-related illnesses and rheumatoid arthritis

"We remain committed to using every tool at our disposal in collaboration with innovators and researchers to provide sick patients timely access to appropriate new therapies," said Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., acting director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation. 

"Our decisions will always be based on objective and rigorous evaluation of the scientific data.This will never change."

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 2,096,902 (2,026,073)

Total U.S. deaths: 115,755 (113,883)

Total global cases: 7,949,973 (7,550,933)

Total global deaths: 434,181 (422,136)

Concern about emerging hotspots

Cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) are falling in areas of the Northeast that were hit hard in the early days of the pandemic. But now they’re growing up in the South and West, regions of the country where the virus was slow to take hold.

Several states in these regions, including Texas and Arizona, are seeing a sudden spike in cases. Dr. Scott Gottleib, the former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), says he’s concerned cases could easily get out of control.

In an interview with CNBC, Gottlieb said these states should be conducting more aggressive contact tracing. “We’re going to need to try to isolate the sources of these outbreaks and take targeted steps,” Gottlieb said. “If we can’t do that, these will get out of control.”

Red Cross is testing donated blood for antibodies

Here’s another good reason to roll up your sleeve and make a blood donation. The Red Cross says that it will test each blood, platelet, and plasma donation for coronavirus antibodies for a limited time.

The test will help determine whether the donor has been exposed to the virus. Antibodies form in the blood to help fight the infection and remain after the patient has recovered. In some cases, someone may have never developed symptoms, so they may not know that they’ve had the virus.

Blood supplies have reached a critically low level because so many blood drives have been canceled due to the coronavirus. Red Cross donation centers remain open and are accepting blood donations. 

Homes for California’s homeless

Homeful Foundation is using a $500,000 donation from an anonymous donor to purchase RV trailers to temporarily house some of California’s homeless population, who are especially vulnerable to the coronavirus.

Many homeless people are avoiding homeless shelters since the virus is most likely to spread when groups of people are together in close quarters. Homeful says it has purchased 28 trailers to provide temporary housing so far.

Homeful is coordinating the effort with a number of California state agencies. Presently, the RVs are housing families in Northern and Southern California towns, including Salinas, San Bernardino, and Santa Cruz.

Feds investigating sharp rise in post-pandemic meat prices

Meat processing plants were hit hard by the coronavirus, with many workers who were operating in close proximity to one another getting sick. As many of these plants shut down temporarily, meat prices rose sharply higher.

Bloomberg reports that the Trump administration is investigating beef companies, and regulators are said to be looking for possible price manipulation. The Justice Department is also launching a criminal probe of major players in the poultry industry.

Farmers and ranchers have been on record for years in their concerns about the dominance of a few large companies in the beef and poultry markets. To date, there has been no significant antitrust action in that area. 

Study pinpoints personality traits common to toilet paper hoarders

Just who were those people who filled their shopping carts with toilet paper in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic? Researchers have concluded that they all share common personality traits.

The international study published in PLOS ONE determined that the people who were most frightened by the COVID-19 outbreak rank highly on scales of emotionality and conscientiousness and were most likely to stockpile toilet paper during March.

The researchers say it appears to have been an international phenomenon and not confined to the U.S. Some companies reported an increase of up to 700 percent in toilet paper sales, despite calls from governments to refrain from “panic buying.”

Around the nation

• Missouri: Gov. Mike Parson has announced that his state will be reopening this week as some restrictions are being eased more slowly in the St. Louis area. “All remaining businesses in the county can reopen. That includes places like gyms, casinos, pools, and banquet halls,” St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said. “However, they’ll be capped at 25 percent capacity until June 29.”

• Virginia: Cases in the state continue to rise despite a cautious approach to reopening. The Virginia Department of Health reports that the number of cases rose Sunday in nearly every Virginia county in which the virus is present.

• Tennessee: Nursing homes have been an area of special concern everywhere during the coronavirus, but Tennessee announced today that is beginning to allow limited visitation. Facilities will also have to meet certain requirements, including being in counties with a low number of cases.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect consumers across the country, many states are beginning the process of slowly reopening businesses. 

Now, a new study conducted by researchers from MIT is analyzing what types of businesses pose the biggest threat to consumers’ health. They evaluated nearly 30 different types of businesses and looked at their usefulness to consumers, as well as the health risks associated with reopening. 

“The idea was, how can we think about rationing social contacts in a way that gives us the most bang for our buck, in terms of meetings, while keeping the risk of COVID transmission as low as possible?” said researcher Seth G. Benzel. 

Where to go and where to avoid

In an analysis that started in January of 2019 and ran through March of this year, the researchers used anonymous cell phone location data from nearly 50 million cell phones to see where consumers are spending most of their time and where crowds are most common. 

The types of businesses were ranked based on their usefulness to the economy and the risk they pose to consumers’ health. Places that aren’t vitally important but draw large crowds are the kinds of places the researchers are most concerned about as businesses begin to reopen. 

Ultimately, the researchers discovered that banks, places of worship, dentists, auto repair shops, and colleges topped the list of places that provide value to the economy while also posing little risk to consumers’ health. All of these establishments are either large enough in size to have larger crowds be safely distanced or don’t draw large crowds.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are places like restaurants, gyms, liquor and tobacco stores, and cafes, among several others. Not only are places like these prone to larger crowds, but according to the researchers, the economic benefit doesn’t match the risk these businesses pose to consumers.

“It’s not danger per visit, but it’s a cumulative danger,” said researcher Christos Nicolaides. “If you look at movie theaters, they seem dangerous, but not that many people go to the movies every day… and restaurants are a good counter argument.” 

Reducing health risks

As more businesses begin to reopen nationwide, many establishments are getting creative about the ways they’ll allow consumers inside to reduce the spread of infection among customers. The researchers are curious to see whether their findings change based on these initiatives. 

“Moving forward, an interesting exercise would be to see how dangerous these locations are once you implement these mitigation strategies,” said researcher Avinash Collis. “Those are all interesting open questions, seeing which businesses adapt. And some of these adaptations will probably be temporary changes, but other business practices may stick in the COVID age.”  

Not much has been made of it in the regular news cycle, but the number of consumers finding that imposters are using their good name to try filing for unemployment benefits is on the rise. It’s happening so much, in fact, that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is taking over the bullhorn to let everyone know.

As far as scams go, the imposters have proved themselves deft in finding the silver lining inside of the pandemic’s clouds. Knowing that government agencies are operating at half-speed and systems are processing paperwork without an agency’s usual supervision, the imposters are rolling the dice and filing claims blindly, just hoping that their luck will pay off before anyone’s the wiser. 

The people defrauded by the scheme usually find out too late. They learn about the fraud when they get a notice from their state unemployment benefits office or their employer asking them about their assumed application for unemployment.

If this happens to you, it means someone is misusing your personal information, including your Social Security number and date of birth. In fact, no one’s Social Security number is safe from harm. One consumer told the FTC that imposters had used their 1-year old son’s Social Security number.

What to be on the lookout for

The FTC says if it happens to you, don’t hesitate. There are immediate steps you should take to protect both your finances and your credit:

1. Be alert. If any person calls, emails, or texts you and asks you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards, stop right then and there. State unemployment agencies never tell someone to repay money that way. If someone tells you to do that, you have come face to face with a scammer. 

2. Tell your employer about the fraud. Keep a detailed record of who you spoke with and when.

3. Report the fraud to your state unemployment benefits agency. It’s quicker and easier for the state to process the fraud if it is reported online. Keep a record of confirmation emails or case numbers you receive, or if you spoke with someone, keep a record of that. Get names, badge numbers, and jot down times, dates, and what was discussed. 

4. Go to IdentityTheft.gov to report the fraud to the FTC and get help with the next important recovery steps. Here’s where the FTC uses its muscle. The agency can help you place a free, one-year fraud alert on your credit, get you free credit reports, and close any fraudulent accounts that were opened in your name. As a bonus, IdentityTheft.gov can also help you add a free extended fraud alert or credit freeze to your credit report. That’s an important element because it makes it more difficult for an identity thief to open new accounts in your name.

5. Review your credit reports often. For one year, you can check your reports every week for free through AnnualCreditReport.com. This can help you spot any new fraud quickly.

Beware of the money mule scam

Seena Gressin, an attorney in the FTC’s Division of Consumer & Business Education, thinks consumers should take the extra effort to do one other thing. 

“The unemployment payments usually are deposited to accounts the imposters control. But sometimes payments get sent to the real person’s account, instead,” Gressin said.

“If this happens to you, the imposters may call, text, or email to try to get you to send some or all of the money to them. They may pretend to be your state unemployment agency and say the money was sent by mistake. This a money mule scam and participating in one could cause you more difficulties.”

At least 20 states are seeing rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in conjunction with the lifting of stay-at-home restrictions, and researchers say the change could be the result of a drop in the number of people wearing masks while out in public. 

In a new paper, researchers from Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Austin, the California Institute of Technology, and the University of California San Diego said mask-wearing appears to be a key variable driving the rise and fall of outbreak numbers.

“Our analysis reveals that the difference with and without mandated face covering represents the determinant in shaping the trends of the pandemic,” the researchers said of the study, published recently in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 

Change in curve

The team analyzed various precaution measures in the areas of the world most affected by the coronavirus (Wuhan, Italy, and New York City) and looked at how case numbers were impacted by the requirement of each measure. 

In New York City, the curve didn’t change drastically under stay-at-home and social distancing orders. However, mask requirements led to a sharp drop in the number of cases in comparison to regions in the U.S. that never implemented a mandatory face-covering policy. 

“By analyzing the pandemic trends without face-covering using the statistical method and by projecting the trend, we calculated that over 66,000 infections were prevented by using a face mask in little over a month in New York City,” said Zhang. 

“We conclude that wearing a face mask in public corresponds to the most effective means to prevent inter-human transmission. This inexpensive practice, in conjunction with social distancing and other procedures, is the most likely opportunity to stop the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Airborne transmission

The researchers noted that the virus spreads mainly through the air, making mask-wearing an effective and inexpensive means of preventing transmission. 

“Our results clearly show that airborne transmission via respiratory aerosols represents the dominant route for the spread of COVID-19,” said study author Renyi Zhang in a statement.

The study results are similar to those of other recent studies, including one out of Hong Kong which found that wearing a surgical mask could reduce transmission of COVID-19 by as much as 75 percent. 

The CDC also stated recently that transmission through the air is the main way the virus spreads; transmission via infected surfaces isn’t responsible for nearly as many cases. 

“The primary and most important mode of transmission for COVID-19 is through close contact from person-to-person,” the agency said in a recent update. “Based on data from lab studies on COVID-19 and what we know about similar respiratory diseases, it may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this isn’t thought to be the main way the virus spreads.” 

Experts continue to explore sudden infant deaths and have even identified some risk factors. But now a new study is analyzing the likelihood of such events on siblings. 

Researchers found that sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) is common among siblings, as siblings of infants who have died suddenly or unexpectedly are at an increased risk of experiencing the same. 

“The risk of a repeat SUDI in a family is 10 times that of the general population, reflecting both inherent genetic risks, as well as environmental factors such as maternal smoking and unsafe sleeping,” the researchers explained. 

Understanding the risk

For this study, the researchers worked closely with the Care of Next Infant (CONI) program, which aids parents in the U.K. who have experienced SUDI. They were able to analyze infants who had been registered in the program between 2000 and 2015. 

Overall, the rate for SUDIs among this population was low; however, the risk is much higher for families who have experienced a SUDI in the past. 

Between 2006 and 2016, the SUDI rate in the U.K. never surpassed 0.45 per 1,000 births. But for families with a history of at least one SUDI, the rate jumped to four per 1,000 births, which is more than 10 times the rate for those who had no history of sudden infant deaths. 

The researchers also learned that the risk was even higher for those who had two previous sudden infant deaths. These scenarios spiked the rate for SUDIs to 115 per 1,000 births in this specific population. 

Getting help can make a difference

While a large number of these deaths are linked with unknown causes, the researchers did reveal a few risk factors common to mothers who experience SUDIs. They found that sleeping hazards, prenatal smoking and alcohol consumption, and mental health issues increased the risk for sudden infant death. 

The researchers emphasized the importance of services that organizations like CONI provides. Because there is such a strong connection of these cases in the same families, getting help and support in this way can be invaluable to those who are in need of such assistance. 

“CONI cannot address intrinsic risk factors, but these are very vulnerable families who need comprehensive care and support packages to help them understand safe sleeping, address mental health problems, and enhance their parenting capacity,” the researchers wrote. 

In a landmark ruling on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court voted to make it illegal for gay, lesbian, and transgender workers to be discriminated against.

The Trump administration previously argued that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, under which discrimination based on sex is illegal, didn’t apply to claims of gender identity and sexual orientation.

By a vote of 6-3, the court ruled that the federal law does cover sexual orientation and transgender status. The ruling represents a victory for millions of LGBTQ workers and advocates nationwide. 

Landmark case

The historic ruling was written by President Trump's first Supreme Court appointee, Justice Neil Gorsuch. Comprising the rest of the majority was Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's four liberal justices.

"An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids," Gorsuch wrote.

"There is simply no escaping the role intent plays here: Just as sex is necessarily a but-for cause when an employer discriminates against homosexual or transgender employees, an employer who discriminates on these grounds inescapably intends to rely on sex in its decisionmaking," the opinion read.

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden celebrated the ruling, saying the court “confirmed the simple but profoundly American idea that every human being should be treated with respect and dignity. That everyone should be able to live openly, proudly, as their true selves without fear.” 

Major LGBTQ victory

Gay rights advocates said the ruling was a long-awaited and overdue victory.

“The Supreme Court’s clarification that it’s unlawful to fire people because they’re LGBTQ is the result of decades of advocates fighting for our rights," said James Esseks, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender & HIV Project. "The court has caught up to the majority of our country, which already knows that discriminating against LGBTQ people is both unfair and against the law.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called the ruling "a victory for the LGBTQ community, for our democracy and for our fundamental values of equality and justice for all."

In a release published by the Human Rights Campaign, Gerald Bostock -- one of the petitioners who claims he was fired from his job as a child welfare services coordinator after joining a gay softball team -- said there were “no words to describe just how elated I am.”

“Today, we can go to work without the fear of being fired for who we are and who we love," Bostock said. "Yet, there is more work to be done. Discrimination has no place in this world, and I will not rest until we have equal rights for all.”

States that fail to take steps to mitigate spikes in COVID-19 could see outbreaks “quickly get out of control,” former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said Monday on CNBC’s Squawk Box. 

At least 20 states are seeing rises in cases as lockdowns lift and more people venture out. In states where numbers appear to be rising, Gottlieb says it will be important to take “targeted steps” such as contact tracing to drive the numbers back down. 

“We’re not going to be able to shut down the country again this summer. We’re probably not going to be able to shut down the country again this fall,” he said. “And so we’re going to need to try to isolate the sources of these outbreaks and take targeted steps. If we can’t do that, these will get out of control.”

Need for action

Despite the fact that the virus is still infecting roughly 20,000 people each day, Gottlieb said people seem to be getting laxer with precautionary measures. 

“We seem to be complacent, to some degree, with 20,000 cases a day. That’s an awful lot of infection,” he said. “That’s why we’re seeing these flare-ups and these outbreaks. This is going to become the new norm — these kinds of sprawling outbreaks — if we continue to have this level of infection around the country.”

Going forward, he believes contact tracing, isolating the source of the outbreak, and widespread testing will be the best line of defense in the United States. Without swift action, surges in cases “could quickly get out of control,” Gottlieb warned. 

He says states and cities seeing rising numbers of cases need to enact “good contact tracing, not to find every individual who’s infected, but to find the sources of infection, the activities that lead to the infection and take targeted mitigation steps.”

J.Crew Group, Inc. shows signs of recovering from the coronavirus (COVID-19) shutdown, announcing the reopening of more of its stores that were closed for much of April and May.

The clothing retailer said it is reopening 171 stores, bringing the total number of reopened locations to 315. That accounts for 64 percent of its total store fleet. After carrying out a test reopening of seven stores at the end of April, the company began a phased reopening of its nearly 500 U.S. stores in May. 

“The company is taking a careful and deliberate approach to its store re-openings to ensure full implementation of appropriate safety protocols in line with CDC guidelines and government regulations to protect its customers, associates, and local communities,” J.Crew said in a press release.

As it reopens stores, the company is also bringing back most of its employees who were furloughed during the shutdown. Because its online business grew while stores were closed, the company is hiring approximately 400 people at its Lynchburg, Va., distribution center. 

Other retailers

J.Crew joins other national retailers that have taken steps in recent days to return to some sense of normalcy. Macy’s began reopening stores in early May, starting with markets that had been spared the worst events of the pandemic. It opened most California stores late last week.

Macy’s has expressed cautious optimism that consumer behavior is on a track that could return to normal over time, but it warned investors that it could lose $1 billion during its first quarter.

Also last week, Best Buy took a step toward returning to normal when it lifted its policy of requiring an appointment to shop in its stores. Shoppers don’t need to make an appointment at most stores, but they may be delayed in entering to keep capacity at reduced levels.

Best Buy is among a handful of brick-and-mortar retailers that continued to see fairly strong online sales during the time its stores were closed. An analysis by Forbes shows that the retailer’s sales were 70 percent of its average through April -- with Nordstrom, Gap, and Kohl’s holding on to more than 50 percent of normal sales.

A survey of consumers by Coresight Research at the end of May also offered a glimmer of hope for struggling retailers. It found nearly half said they expect to return to their normal spending habits by the end of the year.

The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to a record low -- below 3 percent -- last week, but unfortunately, it is also getting harder to be approved for a mortgage.

A report by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) shows mortgage credit availability -- a measure of the amount of money mortgage companies are willing to lend -- fell even more during May.

Credit availability began shrinking in late March when the economy shut down and millions of people lost their jobs. Mortgage companies immediately tightened their lending standards, fearing the surge in unemployment increased the risk of mortgage defaults.

‘Increased risk and uncertainty’

Each month MBA analyzes data from Ellie Mae's AllRegs Market Clarity business information tool to arrive at a number that indicates which way standards are moving. That number fell by 3.1 percent to 129.3 in May, indicating that standards for getting a mortgage are getting tougher.

"Mortgage lenders in May responded accordingly to the increased risk and uncertainty in the economy,” said Joel Kan, MBA's associate vice president of Economic and Industry Forecasting. “Credit availability continued to decline, with MBA's overall index now at its lowest level since June 2014."  

Kan says there was a reduction in supply across all loan types, driven by a further pullback in investors' appetites for loan programs for consumers with low credit scores. But credit also got tighter for more affluent borrowers, who take out larger loans to finance more expensive homes.

Lenders began demanding higher credit scores and larger down payments, requirements that affected first-time buyers as well as those moving up to expensive homes.

Implications for buyers and sellers

This trend carries broad implications for both buyers and sellers. Buyers may not be able to secure financing to buy the home they want. With fewer buyers, sellers may see their homes sit on the market for far longer than usual. Fewer buyers also mean less competition that would normally make homes sell for more.

While some 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are still below 3 percent to start the week, Bankrate reports that the average is 3.39 percent, down 13 basis points from a week ago. In mid-May, the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was higher, at 3.52 percent.

Consumers who fail to qualify for a mortgage because of tighter standards have time to improve their position. The Federal Reserve predicts rock bottom mortgage rates are likely to last for at least a couple of years.

In the meantime, prospective buyers can raise their credit score by making sure they pay every bill on time and reducing the amount of their credit card debt.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 2.1 million model year 2011-2014 Fiestas, model year 2013-2014 Fusions, model year 2015 Mustangs, model year 2013-2015 Escapes & C-Maxs, model year 2012-2015 Focus vehicles, model year 2014-2016 Transit Connects, model year 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZs, and model year 2015 MKs.

These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under in 2015, 2016 and 2017. However the repair may not have been completed properly.

A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when -- in fact -- it is not.

A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to an occupant.

What to do

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary free of charge.

Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct.

This recall is expected to begin July 20, 2020.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.

General Motors is recalling model year 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500s & 3500s, and GMC Sierra 2500s & 3500s that were previously recalled.

The hood-latch striker wires on replacement hoods installed in the earlier recall may not have been heat-treated properly, possibly causing them to fracture.

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

What to do

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hood assembly free of charge. For hoods sold over the counter, dealers will contact customers with instructions for hood replacement.

The recall is expected to begin July 20, 2020.

Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020 or GMC customer service at (888) 988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N202306490.

Lakeside Refrigerated Services of Swedesboro, N.J., is recalling approximately 42,922 pounds of ground beef.

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

There are no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

The following items, produced on June 1, 2020, are being recalled:

• 1-lb. vacuum packages containing “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF” and a use or freeze by date of 07/01/20 and lot code P-53298-82.
• 1-lb. vacuum packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES” and a use or freeze by date of June 27, 2020 and lot code P-53934-28.
• 3-lb. vacuum packages containing three 1 lb. pieces of “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN / 7% FAT” and a use or freeze by date of 07/01/20 and lot code P53929-70.
• 1-lb. tray packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85% LEAN / 15% FAT” and a use or freeze by date of 06/25/20 and lot code P53944-10.
• 4-lb. tray packages containing 10 ¼ lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 80% LEAN / 20% FAT” and a use or freeze by date of 06/25/20 and lot code P53937-45.
• 1-lb. vacuum packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85% LEAN / 15% FAT” and a use or freeze by date of 06/27/20 and lot code P53935-25.
• 1-lb. vacuum packages containing “VALUE PACK FRESH GROUND BEEF 76% LEAN / 24% FAT” and a use or freeze by date of 07/01/20 and lot code P53930-18.

The recalled products, bearing establishment number “EST. 46841” inside the USDA mark of inspection, were shipped to retail locations nationwide.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but discard or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may contact the Lakeside call center at (856) 832-3881.