Current Events in August 2020

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 56 model year 2019 C300s, C300 Coupes, CLS450s, E450 Coupes & S450s, model year 2017-2019 E300s, model year 2018 E400 Coupes, E400 Stationwagons, and model year 2018-2019 S560s that have previously had the instrument cluster replaced.

The software in the replaced instrument cluster may cause the seat belt warning system to not operate properly, only displaying a solid warning light if either the driver or passenger seat belt is unfastened, instead of a blinking light with an audible tone.

Without the audible tone and blinking warning light to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.

What to do

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin September 29, 2020.

Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at (800) 367-6372.

The Russian government says it has approved a vaccine against the coronavirus (COVID-19) after it proved to be safe and effective.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made the announcement and disclosed that one of his daughters had taken it. Putin said the Russian vaccine is the first anywhere to be registered for general use.

“Although I know that it works quite effectively, it forms a stable immunity and, I repeat, has passed all the necessary checks,” Putin said in a Tuesday morning announcement.

Only a Phase 1 clinical trial

The world generally welcomed the news, with stocks moving sharply higher on Wall Street in pre-market activity. But Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), advised caution. In an interview with CNBC, he noted that the vaccine has only been subjected to a phase 1 clinical trial with about 100 subjects receiving it and that the trial was completed in a two-month period.

In fact, Russia will begin a Phase 3 clinical trial for the vaccine Wednesday, despite the fact that it has already approved the drug for general distribution. Also, there is no published data about the long-term effects of the vaccine.

Officials at the World Health Organization (WHO) also appear somewhat skeptical of Russia’s vaccine claims. The WHO said it has been in close contact with Russian health officials about the process used to approve the vaccine.

‘Reckless’

As with most of the vaccine claims and pre-announcements that have been made during the pandemic, the Russian vaccine announcement is being accepted with a rather large grain of salt.

“Normally you need a large number of people to be tested before you approve a vaccine,” vaccine researcher Peter Kremsner of the University Hospital in Tuebingen told Reuters.

“In that respect, I think it’s reckless to [approve it] if lots of people haven’t already been tested.”

A Phase 3 clinical trial traditionally has as many as 30,000 subjects who receive a drug and have their health status followed over a period of several months. Several vaccine candidates are currently in Phase 3 clinical trials in the U.S. and other nations.

Russia has previously denied that it was in an “arms race” to produce the first COVID-19 vaccine. But it should be noted that the newly approved vaccine has been given the name “Sputnik V,” the name of the 1957 Russian satellite that launched the space race with the U.S.

Earlier this year, U.S. lawmakers crafted and passed a new policy that banned certain e-cigarette products that were popular with America’s youth. Now, regulators are asking for more e-cigarette products to be taken off the market -- but for a very different reason. 

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen M. Hahn this week to request that e-cigarette products be pulled from circulation due to additional risks they create in connection with the coronavirus. In the letter, Krishnamoorthi cites studies that suggest COVID-19 is even more dangerous for e-cigarette smokers.

“Today, we have the evidence that the FDA was waiting for, and it can no longer deny the danger e-cigarettes pose during the coronavirus crisis. The science is now in: e-cigarette users are much likelier to be diagnosed with COVID-19 and to experience symptoms,” Krishnamoorthi stated. 

Increased risk of infection

The evidence that the letter refers to is from a study conducted at Stanford University that gauged the risk of contracting COVID-19 in young e-cigarette smokers aged 13 to 24. The results suggest that this demographic is up to five times more likely to contract COVID-19 than those who don’t vape e-cigarette products. 

The statistics are even worse for those who vape e-cigarettes and smoke traditional cigarettes. These dual users were almost seven times more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 and nearly five times more likely to experience symptoms of the virus. Krishnamoorthi says that these numbers are putting a considerable burden on the nation’s COVID-19 testing system and leading to increased waiting times for results. 

“If we reduce the number of vapers in America, we will reduce the unnecessary stress we are putting on our testing system. People should not have to wait weeks for COVID-19 test results -- removing the risk posed by vaping will help,” he said.

The letter asks the FDA to confirm in writing within the next week whether or not will take e-cigarettes off the market. If the agency chooses to do so, it is also tasked with providing a description of its action plan. 

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 5,100,636 (5,055,355)

Total U.S. deaths: 163,533 (163,077)

Total global cases: 20,130,206 (19,909,062)

Total global deaths: 737,394 (732,128)

Is the Russian vaccine for real?

Russia’s announcement that it has approved the world’s first vaccine for the coronavirus (COVID-19) is being met with a healthy dose of skepticism around the world. The vaccine was approved by Russian health authorities after only two months of testing on 100 subjects, the equivalent of a Phase 1 clinical trial.

In fact, Russia will begin a Phase 3 clinical trial for the vaccine on Wednesday, despite the fact that it has already approved the drug for general distribution. Also, there is no published data about the long-term effects of the vaccine.

Officials at the World Health Organization (WHO) also appear somewhat skeptical of Russia’s vaccine claims. The organization said it has been in close contact with Russian health officials about the process used to approve the vaccine.

Virtual school pretty much the norm this fall

If your children will be attending school online this fall, you’re among the majority. Real-time tracking by Burbio has found that 52 percent of kids in the U.S. won’t be in the classroom when school starts.

Burbio is a data service that aggregates school and community calendars nationwide. Its latest report shows that only 44 percent of students will attend school in-person either every day or on certain days of the week. Four percent of students are in school districts that haven’t finalized plans.

“We have seen a dramatic shift to online-only learning in the past three weeks,” said Burbio co-founder Julie Roche.   “Large districts such as Chicago, and Sun Belt cities such as Houston and Miami along with large suburban districts such as Fairfax County Virginia were all setting plans to return with in-person learning and shifted to fully remote.”  

In some stores, certain shelves are still empty

Consumers stocked up on groceries and essentials during the early days of the pandemic, and it was soon almost impossible to find certain items at supermarkets, such as canned food and toilet paper. The supply chain has recovered since then, but some items remain scarce.

“In-stock conditions at retailers are much better than two months ago but not anywhere where we would like them to be,” Kellogg Co. CEO Steve Cahillane told The Wall Street Journal.

On average, stores are out of stock on about 10 percent of their inventory, nearly double the normal rate before the pandemic. Part of the problem may be the surge in virus cases this summer in most of the U.S., causing uneasy consumers to restock the panty.

To play or not to play

In a normal year, the first college football games would be about two weeks from now. But of course, this isn’t a normal year. At this point, the 2020 college football season is very much in doubt.

So far, the Big 10 appears to be the major conference that is closest to calling off the 2020 season over concerns about the coronavirus. The Southeastern and Atlantic Coast conferences have expressed the desire to play.

University of Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban said his team is ready to play, adding that players are safer playing football than they would be “running around at home.”

Survey finds employees adapted well to working at home

One of the surprises about the economic turmoil during the pandemic is how well businesses have been able to adapt to a virtual work environment. Many companies are reporting little to no drop-off in productivity.

Now, a new survey shows many employees had the same experience. Boston Consulting Group’s survey on employee sentiment reveals that productivity can be maintained surprisingly well in a virtual or hybrid work setting.

Despite both the speed of the shift to remote working and its scale, some 75 percent of employees said that they have been able to maintain or improve their perceived productivity on individual tasks during the first few months of the crisis.

Around the nation

• Michigan: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is continuing coronavirus safety measures for grocery stores, pharmacies, and nursing homes in her state. Grocery stores and pharmacies will continue to offer two hours of shopping time per week only to people most at risk from the virus. Nursing homes will continue to limit access to their facilities.

• New Jersey: Residents will have to content themselves with restaurant take-out or outdoor dining for the time being. Gov. Phil Murphy says indoor dining remains too risky for now, based on a study conducted in China.

• Arkansas: President Trump’s order extending extra unemployment benefits requires states to pay 25 percent of the extra money, though many states say they can’t afford it. Gov. Asa Hutchinson hasn’t ruled it out, but he estimates it would cost Arkansas $265 million. It would also require approval by the state legislature.

Although drugmakers think they’re close to finding a viable COVID-19 vaccine, it might all be for naught. Results from a recent survey show that 35 percent of the U.S. population wouldn’t even take the vaccine, even if it was effective, FDA-approved, and free. 

The Gallup survey also shows some distinct differences in how Americans line up on the question of a vaccine. On top of the 65:35 percent disparity in willingness to take a sanctioned vaccine, U.S. party preferences also play a strong role in Americans' views on COVID-19.

Eighty-one percent of Democrats are ready to be vaccinated today if a free and FDA-approved vaccine were available. That compares to only 59 percent of independents and just under half of Republicans (47 percent) who would do the same.

Major differences by demographics

Agreement among the demographic groups is positive, and one of those groups -- the 18-29 demographic, with 76 percent saying they would take the vaccine -- caught Gallup’s attention.

“Young people are still affected, and an increasing proportion of new infections are occurring among younger adults, possibly because this age group is engaging in riskier behaviors that are promoting the spread of the disease,” wrote Gallup’s Shannon Mullen O’Keefe.

In the other demographic breakouts, the “yes” factor amounted to 70 percent of seniors; 64 percent among those 30-49 years old; and 59 percent among those between 50 and 64.

While party affiliation might explain the differences seen in willingness to be vaccinated, O’Keefe believes there are disparities by race that challenge the partisan patterns. In the White vs. Non-White category, White Americans are somewhat more likely to take an approved vaccine than non-White Americans -- 67 percent vs. 59 percent, respectively. 

“This is particularly noteworthy, given media reports on the pandemic noting that Black and Latino Americans have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19,” O’Keefe wrote.

In comparing rural vs. urban dwellers, those living in rural areas are the least likely to take the vaccine. Only about half -- 56 percent -- of rural Americans say they would get vaccinated. In contrast, more than 6 in 10 urban dwellers say they would be willing to take a vaccine. 

That disparity might be concerning to public health officials, O’Keefe said, pointing out the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s comment that "long-standing systemic health and social inequities have put some rural residents at increased risk of getting COVID-19 or having severe illness."

Similar results to previous major health crisis

It’s plain to see that not everyone is on the same page when it comes to stepping up and taking a vaccine to try and curb the further spread of COVID-19. That stance, unfortunately, has some serious implications.

“As the situation stands today, the nation's influencers -- including health professionals, policymakers and leaders -- who see a vaccine as a way forward may have their work cut out for them in persuading Americans to take advantage of such an option,” O’Keefe said.

“Policymakers in government, healthcare, industry and education will need to anticipate that a significant proportion of the population will be hesitant to get a vaccine, even at no cost. Some of the most at-risk populations, including non-White and rural Americans, may not only be hesitant but resistant to getting vaccinated. Employers continuing to grapple with new workplace realities must also anticipate that a number of their workers may resist a vaccine.”

If the poll results don’t sit well with you, Gallup says that not all hope is lost. 

If you compare the coronavirus-related data to a similar situation in 1954 when Gallup tracked the then-new polio vaccine, just 60 percent said they would take the vaccine compared to 31 percent who said they would not. 

“So far, willingness to adopt a new vaccine looks similar today,” O’Keefe said. “Leaders in favor of a vaccine may be well-served to study what caused the public to ultimately adopt earlier vaccines as they consider how best to influence Americans to take advantage of such an option now.”

On Monday, a California judge ordered Uber and Lyft to classify their workers as employees rather than independent contractors. Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman said the order will bring the ride-hailing companies in line with California’s new Gig Economy Law, provided it makes it through the appeals process. 

The judge said Lyft and Uber's contract drivers should be extended the same protections and benefits that the companies’ full-time employees, such as tech workers, receive.

"Were this reasoning to be accepted, the rapidly expanding majority of industries that rely heavily on technology could with impunity deprive legions of workers of the basic protections afforded to employees by state labor and employment laws," Schulman wrote.

Reclassifying drivers

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi is currently fighting a lawsuit filed in May by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra which claims that Uber is illegally withholding crucial benefits from its workers by classifying them as contractors rather than employees. 

Becerra said the judge's preliminary order was a victory for drivers. 

"The court has weighed in and agreed: Uber and Lyft need to put a stop to unlawful misclassification of their drivers while our litigation continues," Becerra said in a statement. "Our state and workers shouldn't have to foot the bill when big businesses try to skip out on their responsibilities. We're going to keep working to make sure Uber and Lyft play by the rules."

Uber CEO fighting the state law

On Monday, Khosrowshahi wrote an op-ed published in the New York Times that outlines a potential “third way” to classify gig workers. He proposed having gig companies establish a benefits fund that contractors could use for needs like paid time off or health insurance. The amount of money they could take out of the fund would depend on how many hours they’ve worked. 

Khowrowshahi says this plan would enable contractors to keep their flexibility but receive crucial benefits formerly extended only to employees. 

“I’m proposing that gig economy companies be required to establish benefits funds which give workers cash that they can use for the benefits they want, like health insurance or paid time off. Independent workers in any state that passes this law could take money out for every hour of work they put in. All gig companies would be required to participate, so that workers can build up benefits even if they switch between apps,” Khosrowshahi wrote. 

The Kroger Co., the largest retail grocery chain in the U.S., has decided that if consumer behavior is going to keep moving toward online vs. in-store, it’s saddling up, too. On Tuesday, the company announced Kroger Ship will stretch the number and types of available products and offer an extended ship-to-home assortment through a marketplace offering of third-party sellers. 

Kroger has been pushing itself in this direction for nearly three years -- with Microsoft to build connected stores and with a robotics company to build high-tech fulfillment centers. 

While the COVID-19 pandemic has had a largely negative impact on retailers, Kroger has demonstrated the potential of online for its customers. In the company’s first quarter 2020 results, its digital sales grew 92 percent.

"Our customers are increasingly turning to our e-commerce solutions provided at Kroger.com for their grocery and household essential needs. To better serve our customers, we're continuing to invest in technology that enables us to expand our digital services to deliver anything, anytime, anywhere," said Jody Kalmbach, Kroger's group vice president of product experience. 

50,000 products to start

Kroger’s strategy will start with more than 50,000 products from third-party sellers, focusing on specialty items which it’s never carried before. Those will include natural, organic, and international products, as well as toys, housewares, and seasonal items. Eligible orders will qualify for fuel points and other discounts tied to the Kroger-Plus card. There is a minimum purchase of $35 to get free shipping. 

Kroger isn’t going into this expansion alone. To help it navigate the rigors of becoming an online “marketplace,” it contracted Mirakl (like “miracle”), a French e-commerce software developer. The company brings success stories to the initiative -- having worked with Urban Outfitters, Albertsons, Walmart Mexico, and Best Buy Canada -- but Kroger will be the biggest fish it’s ever caught.

"Leveraging Mirakl's best-in-class marketplace solution, we are broadening Kroger's ship-to-home capabilities by offering more relevant products for our customers through exciting new partnerships with reputable third-party sellers,” Kalmbach said.

Good move or bad move?

The success that Kroger has had in the digital arena speaks for itself. Building out an infinite number of product aisles will undoubtedly benefit the chain as a whole, including its existing delivery service Pickup.

“But Kroger will have to convince shoppers to buy from its site as opposed to Amazon, Target or online specialty grocers like Thrive Market that have recently gained momentum — a challenge it is all too familiar with at this point,” says Grocery Dive’s Jeff Wells. Wells also brought up Walmart, which has doubled the number of sellers on its own marketplace to 50,000 over the past year.

Wells notes that adding third-party sellers has gotten messy for companies like Amazon, which has been raked over the coals for offering unsafe and counterfeit products on its marketplace. Kroger may be able to cover that angle by relying on Mirakl to vet potential sellers and carefully screen those it does business with. 

Understanding food labels can be tricky business for many consumers. Recent studies have found just how frequently labels are misunderstood, and researchers say the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should make things clearer for shoppers. 

Now, a new study conducted by researchers from Tufts University is backing up those assertions. The researchers say whole grain food packaging is particularly hard to understand for many consumers, so they’re calling for changes in how food is labeled with the hope that clearer wording will prompt consumers to make healthier choices. 

“Our study results show that many consumers cannot correctly identify the amount of whole grains or select a healthier whole grain product,” said researcher Parke Wilde. “Manufacturers have many ways to persuade you that a product has whole grain even if it doesn’t. They can tell you it’s multigrain or they can color it brown, but those signals do not really indicate the whole grain content.” 

Confusion over whole grains

For the purposes of the study, the researchers showed whole grain food packages to over 1,000 U.S. adults. Some of the examples were actual labels while others were hypothetical renderings used to represent what many labels actually look like. In both instances, the exact amount of whole grain was hard to discern, and many products contained misleading or confusing words that led consumers to believe that products were healthier than they really are.  

The goal of the study was to assess consumers’ knowledge of healthy food products. Based on the results, the researchers wanted to see if there was a need for food labeling to change. 

Overall, when looking at both real and fake images of whole grain food packages, the researchers learned that most consumers overestimated how much whole grain is found in popular food items. In this study, they overestimated whole grain content over 50 percent of the time, regardless of whether it was a real or fake image. Though the participants were shown a wide range of whole grain foods, determining the correct whole grain content in bread was the trickiest out of all the foods. 

The importance of clear labeling

Eating diets high in whole grains can have countless health benefits for consumers, so it’s important that the labeling on these types of foods is straightforward and accurate. The researchers say that knowing exactly what’s in a food product can aid consumers in making the best choices for their desired diets and can lead to improved health overall. 

“With the results of this study, we have a strong legal argument that whole grain labels are misleading in fact,” said researcher Jennifer L. Pomeranz. “I would say that when it comes to deceptive labels, ‘whole grain’ claims are among the worst. Even people with advanced degrees cannot figure out how much whole grain is in these products.” 

Recent studies have highlighted how drinking alcohol during pregnancy can come with serious side effects, and it’s been determined by researchers that there’s no safe level of alcohol to consume while pregnant. 

Now, a new study conducted by researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center has found that consuming alcohol during the early weeks of pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage. The study revealed that the longer into the first trimester that women consume alcohol, the more that risk increases. 

“Abstaining from alcohol around conception or during pregnancy has long been advised for many reasons, including preventing fetal alcohol syndrome,” said researcher Dr. Katherine Hartmann. “Nonetheless, modest levels of consumption are often seen as likely to be safe. For this reason, our findings are alarming. Levels of use that some women, and care providers, may believe are responsible are harmful, and no amount can be suggested as safe regarding pregnancy loss.” 

Eliminating alcohol use

To better understand how alcohol use can affect pregnancy, the researchers had over 5,300 women participate in the study; the women were either in the early days of their pregnancy or were planning to become pregnant soon. The researchers asked them questions to gauge their attitudes about alcohol consumption during pregnancy and then followed them through their pregnancies to see how alcohol played a role.

Over 40 percent of the women involved in the study reported that they stopped drinking alcohol within just a few days of finding out that they were pregnant. However, roughly 50 percent reported that they consumed alcohol through the early weeks of their pregnancy. 

The study revealed that the participants had a greater chance of having a miscarriage based on how long they waited to cut off drinking alcohol. Compared to those who stopped drinking alcohol at the earliest signs of pregnancy, those who continued drinking into the first trimester were at a nearly 40 percent increased risk of miscarriage. 

The researchers explained that the early weeks of pregnancy are some of the most pivotal in terms of development, so it’s important that consumers understand the risks associated with drinking during this time. 

“Combining the facts that the cohort is large, comes from diverse communities, captures data early in pregnancy, and applies more advanced analytic techniques than prior studies, we’re confident we’ve raised important concerns,” said researcher Dr. Alex Sundermann. 

The National Retail Federation’s (NRF) annual Hot 100 Retailers list has taken on added significance in 2020 as the coronavirus (COVID-19) has radically reshaped the retail landscape.

The highlighted retailers this year have all shown remarkable dexterity in adapting to the new retail environment by serving customers in new ways and enhancing delivery and online sales. This year’s winners were already growing before the pandemic hit, and their business models are currently serving them well.

The hottest retailers, based on last year’s sales volumes, include e-commerce merchants, food sellers, and some brick-and-mortar operators that feature treasure hunt-style shopping experiences.

Not surprisingly, these retail formats may be among those best equipped to survive and thrive in the post-COVID-19 world. Some of the changes they’ve been forced to make may be here to stay.

Lidl claims the top spot

Surprisingly, a brick-and-mortar merchant has claimed the top spot on the NRF list. German supermarket chain Lidl was cited for its reading of the marketplace and significantly increasing its fresh produce sales.

"This ranking reflects the customer enthusiasm we see for Lidl in our communities every day,” said Lidl US CEO Johannes Fieber. 

Rounding out the top 10 on the list are Wayfair, Build.com, Don Quijote, and Amazon.

Non-store sales surge

Despite not grabbing the top spot, retailers with robust e-commerce platforms were in the best position to excel in April when “nonessential” stores were closed for the month in response to the pandemic. Non-store sales surged by 28 percent and e-commerce accounted for 19 percent of all retail sales, according to the Wells Fargo Economics Group, a rise of 12 percent over the two previous years.

“Where we are now, in terms of how we shop and purchase items, is where we would have been 10 years from now,” said Reid Greenberg, executive vice president of global digital and e-commerce at Kantar. “In other words, over the course of four months, we’ve pressed the fast-forward button on shopping methods.”

As a result, the retailers and brands that have been over-investing in building digital, e-commerce and omni capabilities are emerging as the clear winners during the pandemic despite the economic turmoil it’s caused.

Talkspace, a mobile app that enables users to message a certified therapist, has been accused of regularly mining data from the transcripts of clients' private therapy sessions.

Former Talkspace employees interviewed by the New York Times claimed the mobile therapy startup used data that was supposed to be kept private for marketing purposes. 

The former employees claim Talkspace had data scientists pull commonly used phrases from anonymized patient transcripts. These key phrases were then allegedly shared with the company’s marketing team, which used the information to target new customers. 

The report also alleges that Talkspace gave employees phones to post fake positive reviews to the App Store and Play Store.

Talkspace denies allegations

In a Medium post published over the weekend, Talkspace co-founders Roni and Oren Frank denied that the startup mined data for marketing purposes.

They said the Times article “misconstrues our work and makes false and uninformed assertions about patient privacy and certain marketing practices.” The founders said the former employee featured in the story “shared information that is from 2016 and is not accurate.” 

"Talkspace is a HIPAA/HITECH and SOC2 approved platform, audited annually by external vendors and has deployed additional technologies to keep its data safe, exceeding all existing regulatory requirements," they wrote.

General Motors is recalling 769 model year 2020 Buick Enclaves, Cadillac XT5s & XT6s, Chevrolet Blazers, Silverado 1500s, 2500s & 3500s, Traverses & GMC Acadias and Sierra 1500s, 2500s & 3500s.

The diffuser component of the Roof-Rail Air Bag (RRAB) inflator may not have been properly crimped to the inflator and could separate from the inflator during airbag deployment.

If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

What to do

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect RRAB modules free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin September 14, 2020.

Owners may contact GM customer service at (866) 522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N202305380.

President Trump signed executive orders over the weekend to provide some COVID-19 financial relief after Congress was unable to agree on a package and left town on a month-long vacation.

To make up for the $600 a week federal unemployment bonus that expired at the end of July, one of Trump’s executive orders extends the payment but reduces it to $300 a week. It also requires states to pay an extra $100 a week -- something many governors say they are unable to do.

Trump’s actions also continue some student loan relief and provide some help for renters, though they stop short of extending the moratorium on evictions, which also expired at the end of last month.

Also included in the executive orders was a payroll tax “holiday,” meaning the FICA portion of paycheck withholding would be reduced through the end of the year, giving people a little more money. Of course, FICA is the tax that funds Social Security and Medicare, and pausing the tax makes those programs’ deficits even deeper.

‘Absurdly unconstitutional’

Democrats denounced the move, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) calling it “absurdly unconstitutional.” She and other Democrats point out that under the U.S. Constitution, only Congress has the power to spend taxpayer dollars.

The president’s executive orders are likely to be challenged in court, something the White House may not mind. After all, it’s an election year.

The question is how quickly a court might act. Judging by the court system’s normal speed, it could be several weeks before a ruling is made. In the meantime, unemployed Americans would receive at least $300 from the U.S. Treasury, along with their state unemployment benefit.

Stimulus payment not included

What is not contained in the executive orders is another direct stimulus payment to every American adult. Ironically, sending every American $1,200 is something that both Republicans and Democrats agree on.

The negotiations over a COVID-19 relief bill broke down largely because the two sides could not agree on the amount of the bonus unemployment payment. Democrats wanted to extend the $600 a week payments through January. Republicans held fast at $200 a week.

In addition, Democrats pushed for more aid to state governments -- something Republicans opposed -- and Republicans wanted reduced legal liability for businesses -- something Democrats opposed. 

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 5,055,355 (5,010,679)

Total U.S. deaths: 163,077 (162,635)

Total global cases: 19,909,062 (19,696,961)

Total global deaths: 732,128 (727,897)

U.S. cases exceed 5 million

The U.S. has reached a dubious milestone in the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, exceeding 5 million cases over the weekend. The semi-official count is maintained by the COVID-19 Tracking Project at Johns Hopkins University.

The U.S. has more cases than any other nation and about a quarter of the world’s total. Brazil is second behind the U.S. with 3 million cases. India is third with 2.2 million. China, where the first outbreak occurred, has just over 88,000 cases.

‘Mindblowing testing problems’

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, whose foundation has been at the forefront of fighting global disease, has returned an indictment of the U.S. testing response to the coronavirus (COVID-19). On CNN Sunday, Gates said problems with U.S. testing are “mindblowing.”

“You’re paying billions of dollars in this very inequitable way to get the most worthless test results of any country in the world,” Gates told the network. “No other country has this testing insanity.”

Both Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics have warned they are being swamped with tests and it’s likely to get worse in the fall when flu season arrives. Gates said commercial laboratories should not be compensated for tests that don’t return results within three days.

Trump’s controversial executive orders

Congress left Washington on Friday after failing to reach a compromise to extend the expired CARES Act benefits. Over the weekend, President Trump signed executive orders extending some benefits, including an extra $300 a week in unemployment benefits.

Democrats denounced the move, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) calling it “absurdly unconstitutional.” She and other Democrats point out that only Congress has the power to spend taxpayer dollars under the U.S. Constitution.

The president’s executive orders are likely to be challenged in court. Before that happens, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says there may be a deal with Congress, saying the administration is open to an increase in aid.

CVS teams with Salesforce to create reopening tool

Salesforce and CVS Health have announced a strategic partnership that will allow customers to monitor different reopening plans for businesses and schools. They say it’s a combination of two existing platforms -- Salesforce’s Work.com and CVS Health's Return Ready.

"While COVID-19 testing is an important tool to responsibly reopen worksite and campus locations, a comprehensive strategy requires wellness monitoring and contact tracing to help prevent an onsite outbreak and spread of the virus," said Dr. Troyen Brennan, chief medical officer at CVS Health. 

The two companies say the goal is to combine the power of both programs to help consumers “activate a comprehensive plan to return and maintain critical populations onsite."

Israeli company offers at-home ultrasound

The COVID-19 pandemic has kept many people with other health conditions from going to medical facilities, leading to a boom in telemedicine. Patients using video conferencing have been able to interact with health care providers from the comfort and safety of their homes.

Now that convenience is being extended to pregnant women seeking an ultrasound. An Israeli start-up has introduced a handheld tele-ultrasound device that enables pregnant women to perform at-home ultrasound scans and receive feedback from a physician or sonographer, limiting the need for hospital and doctor visits. The company says it has applications during COVID-19 and beyond.

"At home tele-ultrasound scanning is a major leap forward in digital medicine and prenatal health," said Dr. Elazar Sonnenschein, founder and CEO of PulseNmore. "We have successfully miniaturized the traditional ultrasound system to create a solution that is both affordable and accessible for expectant families.” 

Around the nation

• Illinois: Gov. J.B. Pritzker is urging the state to adopt a rule allowing local officials to fine businesses where mask rules are not being enforced. The push comes as there have been 7,635 COVID-19 deaths in Illinois since the start of the pandemic and 194,080 confirmed cases.

• California: Dr. Sonia Angell, Gov. Gavin Newsom's director of the California Department of Public Health, resigned on Sunday. The unexpected resignation comes just a few days after the revelation that a computer system failure has resulted in an undercounting of coronavirus cases in the state.

• Connecticut:  Gov. Ned Lamont is making his stand on school reopenings perfectly clear. Lamont says he wants kids back in the classroom this fall, telling CBS Face The Nation that he doesn't want another "lost year of learning." 

With school systems across the nation wrestling with COVID-19 and trying to figure out how to safely reopen classrooms, conscientious shoppers appear to be taking a much different approach to back-to-school shopping. A new study by mobile advertising company AdColony finds that both students and parents are changing their shopping habits when it comes to getting school supplies.

For one thing, frugality has set in, and back-to-school shoppers are squeezing everything they can out of a dollar. Compared to 2019, 10 percent more shoppers will spend less than $500 and another 10 percent will be doing their buying at dollar stores like Dollar Tree and Family Dollar. 

Pencils, pens, and PPE

The study also found that a better-safe-than-sorry mindset has taken over, with some consumers adding personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitizers to their shopping lists. More than half (57 percent) of survey respondents said they plan to purchase PPE and sanitization products for the school year. 

Another 21 percent plan to purchase study and office furniture for the home. Some shoppers (19 percent) who plan to buy electronics have also added web conferencing accessories to their lists to enhance the virtual learning experience.

In-store still reigns over online

Online shopping hasn’t fully replaced in-store back to school shopping… yet. “Despite the encouragement to stay at home during the pandemic, many back to school shoppers still prefer to shop in-person,” wrote AdColony in its analysis of the study.

“Since last year, the share of shoppers that prefer in-store dropped only slightly by 3 percent. The majority of back to school shoppers (66 percent) will be doing their buying online with most of them preferring home delivery. Only 13 percent prefer the curbside delivery option that many retailers have recently adopted.”

While in-store is the preference, device shopping is up overall. Smartphones are still the favorite (59 percent) digital way to do back-to-school shopping, but more consumers are using computers (up 6 percent) and tablets (up 5 percent) this year. 

The reason behind that, AdColony says, is basically because students and parents are spending most of their time at home these days and have access to their other devices to make purchases. 

The growing emphasis on mobile

While a slight shift does not necessarily leverage a trend, Robert Williams at Mobile Marketer thinks that the current shopping trends may last. With back-to-school shopping season being the second-most important time of the year for retailers, it might serve as a preview of what to expect during the upcoming holiday months.

“As AdColony's survey found, the pandemic is not only affecting how people shop — with a growing emphasis on mobile — but also what they plan to buy for students whose schools offer some form of distance learning,” Williams said. “Consumer receptivity to mobile advertising suggests marketers have strategies in place to reach people when they're most ready to buy.”

In an op-ed published Monday in the New York Times, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi described a possible “third way” to classify gig workers. 

As lawmakers push to have ride-hailing drivers reclassified as employees, Khosrowshahi has argued that drivers are appropriately classified as independent contractors. In the op-ed, he detailed a proposal that he previously discussed with President Trump before the CARES Act was signed. 

Khosrowshahi said he thinks Trump and Congress should update labor laws to preserve the flexibility of contract work while extending certain protections to these workers. 

Combining flexibility and benefits

The Uber executive is currently fighting a lawsuit from California Attorney General Xavier Becerra which claims that Uber is withholding crucial benefits from its workers by classifying them as contractors rather than employees. The lawsuit alleges that Uber is breaking the state’s new law. 

But Khosrowshahi is refuting the claim that workers are unfairly classified as contractors and argues that drivers should be given an option that combines flexibility and benefits.

“Our current employment system is outdated and unfair,” he wrote. “It forces every worker to choose between being an employee with more benefits but less flexibility, or an independent contractor with more flexibility but almost no safety net. Uber is ready, right now, to pay more to give drivers new benefits and protections. But America needs to change the status quo to protect all workers, not just one type of work.” 

Benefits fund

He suggests that all gig companies be required to set up a benefits fund that can be used by workers for needs like paid time off or health insurance. The amount of money they could take out of the fund would depend on how many hours they’ve worked. 

“I’m proposing that gig economy companies be required to establish benefits funds which give workers cash that they can use for the benefits they want, like health insurance or paid time off. Independent workers in any state that passes this law could take money out for every hour of work they put in. All gig companies would be required to participate, so that workers can build up benefits even if they switch between apps,” Khosrowshahi suggested. 

He also believes gig companies should offer medical and disability coverage to help workers if they get injured on the job. He says they currently can’t offer these benefits “without risking their independent status under the law.” 

“During this moment of crisis, I fundamentally believe platforms like Uber can fuel an economic recovery by quickly giving people flexible work to get back on their feet,” Khosrowshahi wrote. “But this opportunity will be lost if we ignore the obvious lessons of the pandemic and fail to ensure independent workers have a stronger safety net.”

The nation’s airports saw a surge in foot traffic over the weekend. 

Data published by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) shows that over 831,000 travelers were processed at security checkpoints on Sunday. That’s the highest number that the agency has tracked since March 17, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

While the bump in traffic is surely good news for airline companies, it’s important to note that these figures are still well below normal levels. On the same Sunday in 2019, the TSA estimates that over 2.6 million travelers went through security. 

Traffic numbers continue rising

Airport traffic numbers certainly aren’t anywhere close to approaching pre-pandemic levels, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t cause for some optimism. After all, these numbers have been steadily climbing for several months. 

In a report released today, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) says that the number of U.S. airline passengers rose by 93 percent month-over-month in June. That means the number of passengers nearly doubled. 

“The large airlines carried 16.3 million passengers in June 2020 (preliminary), up from 8.4 million passengers on all U.S. airlines in May 2020 and up from 3 million in April 2020, which was the lowest monthly total in BTS records dating back to 1974,” the agency said. 

If the TSA security checkpoint numbers are any indication, those numbers will only improve for the month of July. While there were no days in June in which checkpoint visits exceeded 700,000, the agency’s report shows there were 16 of those days in the month that followed. So far in August, 7 out of 9 days for which the agency has data have surpassed the 700,000 mark. 

A new study conducted by researchers from Ruhr University found that mouthwash could be an effective way for consumers to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The ingredients found in many easily accessible mouthwashes were found to be effective in clearing the throat and mouth of germs, but they weren’t necessarily effective as a protective agent or as a treatment option for those who have already contracted the virus. 

“Gargling with a mouthwash cannot inhibit the production of viruses in the cells, but could reduce the viral load in the short term where the greatest potential for infection comes from, namely in the oral cavity and throat -- and this could be used in certain situations, such as at the dentist or during the medical care of COVID-19 patients,” said researcher Toni Meister. 

How can mouthwash be effective?

The researchers explained that the mouth and throat can contain the most infectious coronavirus germs, so they sought to determine if gargling with mouthwash would be a successful approach to lowering the germ count. 

To determine the efficacy of mouthwash in reducing the spread of COVID-19, the researchers tested eight different mouthwashes that all contained different ingredients. 

The researchers started by combining a sample of each mouthwash with coronavirus-infected cells. The mixture was shaken for 30 seconds, which is typically how long consumers would gargle with mouthwash. 

The next step was for the researchers to perform a cell culture test, which allowed them to assess whether infectious cells cropped up following the gargling process. If the mouthwash worked, no new COVID-19 cells would multiply; however, if it didn’t work, the virus would continue to grow. 

Ultimately, mouthwash was effective in keeping COVID-19 at bay. In all eight samples, the mouthwash successfully killed all coronavirus-related germs. In fact, three of the mouthwashes eliminated all traces of the virus after less than one minute of “gargling.”

As Meister explained, mouthwash can’t be used to treat patients already diagnosed with coronavirus. However, these findings are important because they show that mouthwash can be effective at lowering the risk of transmission in shorter spans of time. 

The researchers are currently doing more work to better determine the effect mouthwash can have on COVID-19, and they plan to see if there are any long-term applications.