Current Events in August 2020

A bipartisan group of governors has partnered with the Rockefeller Foundation to ramp up use of coronavirus antigen tests. Together, those involved want to mitigate a shortage of these tests and create a testing strategy in the United States.

“As the nation continues to face severe testing shortages and delays, this is the first interstate testing compact of its kind among governors during the Covid-19 pandemic,” the Rockefeller Foundation said in a statement. 

So far, seven governors (from Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia) have signed onto the pact. Additional states, cities, and local governments may join the compact in the coming days and weeks, according to the statement. 

Acting in the absence of a federal plan

The White House has yet to unveil a national coronavirus testing program. The governors involved in the compact want to buy more than 3 million coronavirus antigen tests to limit the spread of the virus and help facilitate the ongoing effort to safely reopen states.

“With severe shortages and delays in testing and the federal administration attempting to cut funding for testing, the states are banding together to acquire millions of faster tests to help save lives and slow the spread of Covid-19,” said Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, chairman of the National Governors Association.

The governors said they are in talks with Becton Dickinson and Quidel -- manufacturers of FDA-approved antigen tests that can deliver results in 15 to 20 minutes -- to buy 500,000 tests per state.

“The states are leading America’s national response to Covid-19,” said Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, a Democrat. “We are bringing together this bipartisan, multistate coalition to combine our purchasing power and get rapid testing supplies to our communities as quickly as possible."

The price of homes has moved sharply higher over the last three months. But a new report makes the case that home affordability is the best it’s been in four years.

How could those two facts both be true? Because the cost of mortgage money has never been lower, according to Black Knight, a housing data analytics firm.

Since June 30, year interest rates have fallen to record lows. Black Knight Data & Analytics President Ben Graboske has examined the impact cheap money has had on housing and says it’s leveling the playing field for buyers.

"Despite eight consecutive years of rising home prices, July's record-low mortgage rates, which fell below 3 percent for the first time on July 16, have made purchasing the average-priced home for a median wage earner the most affordable since late 2016,” Graboske said. 

Attracting new buyers

In fact, Graboske says improved home affordability has pulled buyers into the market. He says that, in turn, prevented home prices from going into a freefall, as many predicted they would when the economy shut down in April.

In some markets, home prices are soaring. In a report this week, real estate brokerage firm Redfin said the median home sale price at the end of July was a record $315,000, an 11 percent year-over-year increase.

The price increase is being powered by strong homebuyer demand, which is 27 percent higher than just before the pandemic hit. The home shortage means those buyers are having to compete for the declining number of available homes, allowing sellers to get higher prices.

Mortgage rates offset prices

But apparently, rock bottom interest rates more than compensate for that, allowing some buyers to qualify for homes that might have been out of their price range just a couple of months ago.

"As of mid-July, it required 19.8 percent of the median monthly income to make the mortgage payment on the average-priced home purchase, assuming a 20 percent down payment and a 30-year mortgage,” Graboske said. “This means it currently requires a $1,071 monthly payment to purchase the average-priced home, which is down 6 percent from the same time last year, despite the average home increasing in value by more than $12,000 during that same time period.”

In fact, the Black Knight report shows consumer home-buying power is now up 10 percent year-over-year, meaning the average home buyer can afford nearly $32,000 more home than they could at the same time last year while keeping their monthly payment the same.

American Honda Motor Co. is recalling 499,342 model year 2019-2021 Pilots, model year 2019-2020 Odysseys and model year 2019-2020 Passports.

Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying.

A delayed or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Honda will notify owners that updated software is available. Owners have the option to either follow the mailed instructions to download and update the software for free, or visit a dealer to have the software update performed free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin September 23, 2020.

Owners may contact Honda customer service at (888) 234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is Y7Y.

Daiya Foods is recalling Daiya brand Classic Vanilla Creme Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert.

The product contains milk, an allergen not declared on the label.

No adverse reactions have been reported.

The following product, sold in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and possibly nationwide throughout Canada, is being recalled:

What to do

Customers with a milk allergy who purchased the recalled product should not consume it, but discard or return it to the store where purchased.

Consumers with questions may contact Daiya Foods toll-free at (877) 324-9211 ext. 1, or by email at cr@daiyafoods.com.

Administration officials and Congressional Democrats concluded another “productive” meeting Monday about extending stimulus benefits but appear no closer to a deal.

The moratorium on evictions expired at the end of July, putting millions of consumers at risk of losing their homes, and the extra $600 a week in unemployment benefits has also expired. While both parties have agreed there should be some extra payment, they can’t agree how much.

The clock is ticking. Congress begins a month-long vacation on Friday.

There are three main points of contention:

• Democrats want to extend the extra $600 a month jobless benefit through January. Republicans want to reduce it to $200.

• Democrats want funding for state and local governments, whose budgets have been strained by the pandemic. Republicans have balked.

• Republicans want to shield businesses from COVID-19 lawsuits. Democrats have balked.

Where they agree

Republicans and Democrats are in general agreement on a wide range of provisions in the next stimulus bill but are at odds over how much it should cost. Democrats have proposed spending $3 trillion while the Republican plan would cost one-third of that amount.

Both parties support sending every American adult another $1,200 direct payment. Democrats, however, would raise the $500 per child payment to $1,200 while Republicans would keep it at $500.

Republicans say they are holding out against extending the full $600 unemployment benefit because it pays many people more money than they received while working. They say there is little incentive for these unemployed people to go back to work.

Democrats contend that the $600 amount has kept many households solvent over the last four months, preventing landlords and mortgage lenders from losing even more money and generally keeping the economy going.

While it’s hard to imagine that members of Congress would head off on vacation without doing anything, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told Fortune last week that anything’s possible.

“No deal certainly becomes a greater possibility the longer these negotiations take," Meadows said.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 4,727,879 (4,679,739)

Total U.S. deaths: 155,814 (154,965)

Total global cases: 18,340,451 (18,136,344)

Total global deaths: 695,318 (690,413)

The pandemic has influenced consumer trends

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has upended daily life, but it has also set in motion a number of consumer trends. Researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute documented them in a survey they conducted in 20 countries, including the U.S.

Among the most significant trends, they found an increase in telework and online commerce and a significant decrease in the number of personal trips people are making. The pandemic has also changed buying behaviors.

In the U.S., 53 percent of respondents bought an increased quantity of products during the pandemic, 20 percent purchased products more frequently, and 30 percent switched from shopping within a store to shopping online. 

Antibody cocktail blocks virus in monkeys

Regeneron is reporting positive results from its COVID-19 antibody cocktail, saying it worked to prevent and treat the virus when administered to monkeys and hamsters.

The study has not been peer-reviewed, but the company said it’s hopeful that the drug cocktail will prove to be effective with humans. It says the combination of two monoclonal antibodies was able to “almost completely block establishment of virus infection.”

Meanwhile, Eli Lilly reports that it’s starting a late-stage clinical trial to determine whether one of its COVID-19 antibody treatments can prevent the spread of the virus. The trial is taking place in nursing homes, the scene of early outbreaks.

Scientists say seaweed neutralizes the virus

Scientists say tools to counter the coronavirus may be more plentiful than first thought. Writing in the journal Cell Discovery, the researchers report that an extract from edible seaweeds substantially outperformed remdesivir, the current standard antiviral used to combat the disease, as a treatment for the virus.

Heparin, a common blood thinner, and a heparin variant stripped of its anticoagulant properties, performed the same as remdesivir in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection in cells.

In COVID-19, the spike protein on the surface of the virus attaches to a molecule on the surface of human cells and inserts its own genetic material into the cell, hijacking the cellular machinery to produce replica viruses. But researchers say the virus could just as easily be persuaded to lock onto a decoy molecule that offers a similar fit. The neutralized virus would be trapped and eventually degrade naturally.

Younger people feel the financial impact most

The pandemic, with its disruption of daily life, appears to be affecting different age groups in different ways. A new report from Edward Jones and Age Wave found that younger consumers, more than their parents, are worried about the pandemic’s financial impact.

Nearly a third of millennials and Gen Z, those aged 18 to 23, say the virus has had an “extreme or very negative” impact on their financial security. They also were more likely to report emotional distress associated with the pandemic.

At the same time, just 16 percent of baby boomers and only 6 percent of people 75 and older were worried about finances; they reported fewer emotional worries as well. 

Pandemic derails annual Christmas Show

The coronavirus pandemic has upended a Christmastime tradition. Radio City Music Hall parent company MSG Entertainment has announced that it won’t stage its annual Christmas Show with the Rockettes this year.

“We are disappointed for everyone involved with the show, as well as for the many fans who make the Christmas Spectacular a cherished part of their holiday tradition,” the company said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming audiences back for the 2021 production, which is on sale now.”

Consumers who purchased tickets for the 2020 production will automatically receive refunds at the point of purchase.

Around the nation

• New Jersey: While some states are still deciding what to do about school this fall, New Jersey has made at least one rule. Gov. Phil Murphy says students returning to the classroom will be required to wear masks at all times.

• Massachusetts: Massachusetts has been able to move to a Phase 3 reopening because the virus has been under control for weeks. But with cases rising, epidemiologists have told the Boston Herald that the state will need to roll back to Phase 2 restrictions if it plans to reopen schools.

• Iowa: Five more people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the University of Iowa athletic program, calling into question the upcoming collegiate sports season. A total of 32 people involved with athletic teams have tested positive since late May.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has been a massive hardship for consumers to bear, it has allowed some companies to step up and show their worth. In a recent ranking of top brands, consumers awarded top honors to several companies that have continued to provide products and services during the outbreak.

The Clorox Company, a big producer of cleaning and disinfectant products, came in at the number one spot. However, its ability to provide enough products in the near future is now in question. CEO Benno Dorer recently told Reuters that there will be a shortage of Clorox wipes that’s likely to last until next year.

“Disinfecting wipes, which are the hottest commodity in the business right now, will probably take longer [to produce] because it’s a very complex supply chain to make them...That entire supply chain is stressed...We feel like it’s probably going to take until 2021 before we’re able to meet all the demand that we have,” Dorer said.

“Frankly, we thought we would be in a better position by now, but demand in Q4 exceeded our expectations. We’re certainly not at all happy with our service levels for our retail customers on many products. We have a high sense of urgency on this with all hands on deck,” he added in a call with analysts.

Soaring revenues

Of course, the company will be playing catch-up as well as it can. After all, the company stands to make a killing in profits since consumers around the world are clamoring to make sure they stay protected from COVID-19. 

This week, the company reported to analysts that it experienced a 33 percent increase in revenue on the back of its health and wellness business. Cleaning products made up approximately 40 percent of that figure all on its own.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Education Committee Democrats are crossways once again. 

In a contentious letter to DeVos, 19 of the 28 Democrats on the committee let their feelings be known about the Education Department’s repeated efforts to carry out what it feels are unauthorized restrictions on students’ access to higher education emergency aid provided under the CARES Act.  

This is the second time in two weeks that Education Leaders have written to DeVos to express their “deep concern” about the matter. However, it appears that those concerns have fallen on deaf ears.

What the CARES Act promised students and institutions

When the CARES Act was put into play, it was supposed to make more than $14 billion in emergency aid available to institutions of higher education. It also required that half of that amount be used for emergency grants to students. 

However, even though the law had no restrictions on student eligibility, DeVos’ department instituted an interim final rule that excluded any student who didn’t meet the eligibility requirements for federal financial aid programs under the Higher Education Act. That meant that undocumented students, international students, or any student who had a federal loan that was in default were simply locked out of receiving the added aid. 

Adding insult to injury, House Democrats say that DeVos’ rule also causes disproportionate harm to the legions of students less likely to have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), like student veterans, students who attend low-cost institutions like community colleges, and students who self-finance their education through full- or part-time work. 

A waste of time

In the letter to DeVos, Democratic members laid blame at the Secretary’s feet for placing additional burden on institutions and students -- both already overburdened as a result of COVID-19 -- by failing to follow congressional intent and allowing institutions to use their own judgment in distributing emergency aid to all students. 

“Institutions across the country have spent far too much time attempting to understand and comply with the Department’s unauthorized and inconsistent guidance on student eligibility for CARES Act funding,” the members wrote.

“Their time would have been far better spent assisting students who are struggling with the impact of COVID-19 and ensuring that safe and enriching postsecondary opportunities are available. The Department’s continued insistence on enforcing these restrictions will further harm vulnerable students and make it harder for institutions to provide effective support.” 

With many consumers now working from home for the long haul in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study is highlighting some best practices to make the most of this time at home. 

According to experts from the University of Cincinnati, finding the right chair, putting the computer at the right angle, and taking breaks to walk away from the designated work space are all key for consumers currently working from home. Consumers’ home setups may not allow for the same kind of room or flexibility that their traditional offices offer, but they can still tweak their home arrangements to best work for them while also minimizing the risk of shoulder, back, or neck injuries. 

“The body doesn’t like static postures continually,” said researcher Dr. Kermit Davis. “You don’t want to do all sitting or all standing all the time. You want to alter your position and change it up throughout the day.” 

Making the most of the home set-up

Davis and his team wanted to look at how consumers were creating their work-from-home set-ups, so they surveyed nearly 850 faculty members at the University of Cincinnati after quarantine orders had begun in the area. To accompany the surveys, over 40 employees also sent in pictures of what their work stations looked like at home. 

Based on the photos and survey responses, Dr. Davis says that there are several improvements that consumers should be making to their work-from-home spaces. His main areas of concern were tied to computer monitors/laptops, chairs, and armrests. 

From an ergonomic perspective, the study found that over 50 percent of the survey participants were setting up their computer screens at an angle that’s too low. To optimize comfort and also prevent straining, the researchers recommend propping up the monitor, laptop, or keyboard on a stack of books. 

When it comes to chairs, over 40 percent were found to be too low to the ground. It’s certainly not necessary to spend a ton of money on revamping an entire workspace, but placing a pillow on top of the chair or pulling it closer to the desk can work to ease some of the back pain that could crop up. 

Back support was an issue for many of the participants in the study. Over 70 percent of respondents reported having no lumbar support, while just under 70 percent reported not using their chair’s back support at all. Putting a towel or cushion on the back of the chair can help alleviate some of that stress and promote better posture while sitting in front of a screen all day. 

When it comes to armrests, the researchers were concerned that many participants were using them incorrectly. Having armrests at the wrong angle can cause pain and discomfort, and nearly 20 percent of the participants had incorrectly arranged arm rests. The researchers recommend putting something soft around the armrests to avoid some of this discomfort. 

Getting up more frequently during the day

It can be difficult for consumers to create an ideal set-up in their homes to work from for the large majority of the day. However, one of the biggest things the researchers recommend is not staying in one spot for too long.

Standing desks are encouraged, as they offer flexibility in the home space and give consumers freedom to move around throughout the workday. 

Consumers can see a full rundown of Davis’ suggestions by checking out the full study here. 

Recent studies have explored kids’ sleeping habits and found that quality sleep is hard to come by for the younger demographic. Unfortunately, that lack of sleep can have a negative effect on children’s mental health.  

Now, researchers from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have found that children’s sleeping patterns could impact their overall well-being.

“Our study shows that although those with persistent sleep problems have the greatest impairments when it comes to broad child well-being, even those with mild sleep problems over time experience some psychosocial impairments,” said researcher Ariel A. Williamson, PhD. 

The effect of sleep troubles

To understand how sleep can affect kids' overall well-being, the researchers analyzed information from over 5,000 children involved in an Australian birth cohort study. 

The study followed the children from birth through 11 years old, with parents reporting on their typical sleeping habits at various points throughout the study. For more intel on how the kids behaved in school, performed in school, or engaged with other kids, the researchers collected reports from teachers, caregivers, and parents. 

Children who had some sleep struggles through preschool age, which comprised less than 10 percent of the children involved in the study, experienced some of the more mild side effects resulting from poor sleep. Though sleeping issues dissipated at a young age, this group was still susceptible to mental health struggles, and parents and caregivers reported a lower well-being than those who had never experienced trouble sleeping. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum were children who had poor sleep from birth through age 11, which included roughly eight percent of the kids in the study. The researchers found that the kids in this group had poorer academic and interpersonal outcomes. They also experienced more psychosocial barriers. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that parents and medical professionals have more in-depth conversations about kids’ sleeping habits so that appropriate treatment options are considered and administered as early as possible. 

“The range of impairments across academic and psychosocial domains in middle childhood indicate that it is important to screen for sleep problems consistently over the course of a child’s development, especially to target children who experience sleep problems over time,” said Williamson.

Twitter warned investors on Monday that it could be slapped with an FTC fine of up to $250 million for using personal information provided by users for security purposes to instead target advertising. 

In its second-quarter 10-Q financial filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Twitter said it received a draft complaint from the FTC on July 28. The FTC alleged that the company’s actions violated a 2011 agreement requiring it to establish a more robust security program and stop misleading consumers about how it protects their personal information.

“The allegations relate to the Company’s use of phone number and/or email address data provided for safety and security purposes for targeted advertising during periods between 2013 and 2019,” Twitter wrote. “The Company estimates that the range of probable loss in this matter is $150.0 million to $250.0 million and has recorded an accrual of $150.0 million.”

Twitter came clean about its use of user data for ad targeting back in October. At the time, the company said it “unintentionally" used some email addresses and phone numbers for advertising. The information was provided by users for account security purposes, such as setting up two-factor authentication. 

Twitter said in the financial filing that the matter “remains unresolved, and there can be no assurance as to the timing or the terms of any final outcome.” 

Impact of recent security breach 

The financial filing also gave an update on the potential impact of the site’s recent hacking. Last month, a 17-year-old hacker was allegedly able to gain access to a number of high-profile accounts to promote a cryptocurrency scam. Twitter said in the filing that the breach could hurt its reputation, affect its relationship with advertisers, and hinder its growth.

“This security breach may have harmed the people and accounts affected by it,” the company said in the filing. “It may also impact the market perception of the effectiveness of our security measures, and people may lose trust and confidence in us, decrease the use of our products and services or stop using our products and services in their entirety.”

In the most rigorous coronavirus-related move ConsumerAffairs has seen an airline make, Delta Air Lines is taking its face coverings mandate up a notch -- a very stringent notch at that. 

While the airline had mandated masks as a requisite to board its flights and wear one while in-flight, passengers are now required to wear a face covering during check-in, while walking through jet bridges, in the boarding gate area, and for any traveler who visits Delta’s Sky Clubs lounges.

However, there’s one wrinkle in Delta’s updated face covering policy that most travelers aren’t aware of -- the fact that not every mask meets the airline’s requirement.

“Any mask with an exhaust valve is not approved as an acceptable face mask for customers traveling on any Delta operated flight,” the airline stated.

And it’s not just Delta who thinks this way. Health care experts do, too. “A face mask with an exhalation valve doesn’t help protect others,” cautions Kentucky-based Norton Healthcare. “The valve makes it easier for you to exhale, but it also lets your germs out into the air. When it comes to protecting others, a mask with an exhalation valve is like not wearing one at all.”

Delta lays down the law

Delta is trying to be as flexible as possible and says that travelers with “unique mask requirements” are encouraged to bring the appropriate face covering that best meets their needs. 

Conversely, customers with underlying conditions that unequivocally prevent the wearing of a face covering or mask are “strongly encouraged” to rethink their travel plans or should arrive at least an hour earlier than usual and complete a ‘Clearance-to-Fly’ process prior to departure. 

Delta is telling travelers that its rules take precedence over other exemptions detailed by various city or state governments. It also adds that it will be cracking down on passengers who try to get around the rule by falsely claiming a disability or health condition that prevents the wearing of a mask.

“Mask exemptions ... do not exempt customers from any requirements that may be imposed by governments, including local, state or foreign countries, (at the origin or destination) or from requirements on other airlines,” Delta warned. “Any false claims of a disability or health condition to obtain an exemption from wearing a mask or face covering may result in the suspension of travel privileges on any Delta flight for the duration of the mask/face covering requirement.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released a report outlining the steps Boeing will need to take in order for the planes to be deemed airworthy. 

On Monday, the FAA released a “preliminary summary” of what it believes are the appropriate next steps to address lingering safety issues. The agency noted that the document is “subject to revision and updating as the FAA completes additional steps in the process of reviewing the Boeing 737 MAX for return to service.” 

Based on its 18-month review of the plane and the issues that contributed to two fatal crashes in 2019, the FAA is asking for revamped software for the aircraft’s flight control computer and displays. 

The agency is also asking for a revised manual for flight crew, new wiring for the plane's horizontal stabilizers, complete tests of each plane's angle-of-attack sensor system, and operational test flights to ensure the plane’s safety. 

Still months away from returning to the air

The FAA’s proposed changes were detailed in a 96-page summary, which the public will have 45 days to comment on before Boeing is officially directed to make the changes. The plane’s return to the skies likely wouldn’t come for a few months after the comment period. 

The FAA said its report was based on the input of “40 engineers, inspectors, pilots, and technical support staff,” more than 60,000 hours of “review, certification testing, and evaluation of pertinent documents,” and 50 hours of its own testing. More than 4,000 hours of Boeing’s flight and simulator tests were analyzed and three days of flight tests were recently completed in the Seattle, Washington area, according to the FAA. 

What brands do you trust the most? When asked that question in the annual Axios Harris Poll 100, consumers ticked off Clorox, the Hershey Company, Amazon, Publix Supermarkets, and General Mills as the brands with the best reputations in America.

Not surprisingly, all five have turned in stand-up performances during the pandemic, providing products and services that consumers have relied on as the economy shut down and much of the population sheltered in place.

Clorox products were in such demand that most stores quickly sold out. In response, the company went into overdrive to produce more. Amazon was called upon to deliver everything from groceries to kids’ toys and school supplies.

More reliable than the government

Publix, Hershey, and General Mills are part of a food supply chain that consumers turned to when their favorite restaurants closed their doors. Zoom Video and DoorDash, companies that found themselves in demand over the last four months, made the list for the first time this year.

Procter & Gamble, maker of a number of household products in high demand recently, has moved from number 57 in 2017 to number eight this year. 

"Now more than ever, companies that performed well on traditional reputation measures and responded to our global health crisis have the best reputations," said John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll. "Americans say large companies – with resources, infrastructure, and advanced logistics – came to America's rescue during the pandemic. In fact, today, big business is seen as more reliable than the federal government in keeping America running."

Of course, not every brand earned high marks from consumers. Juul Labs, the Trump organization, Monsanto, Facebook, Wells Fargo & Company, and Twitter found themselves at the bottom of the annual list, with poor reputations.

Some highly rated brands lost ground in this year’s poll, largely due to recent negative headlines. Among this year’s biggest decliners were Boeing, Johnson & Johnson, Home Depot, and Nike.

Most improved

Some of the brands showing the biggest improvement this year are McDonald’s, Pepsico, Target, Delta Air Lines, General Motors, State Farm, Yum! Brands, Tesla, and Toyota.

"Reputation is the most valuable asset a company has," says Ray Day, vice chair of The Stagwell Group, which includes The Harris Poll. "Companies with better reputations have a price advantage, a competitive advantage, and greater stability.” 

Day says highly regarded companies also are more likely to perform better over the long-term because they are usually able to attract and retain talent, garner better partners, and recover faster from reputational harm.

With tropical storm Isaias positioned to regain hurricane strength as it heads towards the Carolinas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued preparedness measures for anyone who might be in harm’s way. 

The CDC, you ask? Yes, because during this hurricane season, the agency feels special emphasis needs to be placed on safely preparing, evacuating, and sheltering for storms while protecting yourself and others from COVID-19.

The checklist for both a hurricane and a pandemic

With the coronavirus acting as a difference maker, the CDC lays out four essential additions to its regular preparedness checklist: 

• Give yourself more time than usual to prepare your emergency food, water, and medicine supplies. The CDC says home delivery is the safest choice for buying disaster supplies, but it understands that doing so may not be an option for everyone due to the timeline of the storm’s predicted landfall and current coronavirus-related showdowns. If in-person shopping is the only available choice, the CDC says to take steps to protect your and others’ health when running essential errands.

• Protect yourself and others when filling prescriptions by limiting in-person visits to the pharmacy. Again, it’s a time-sensitive issue, but anyone in a typical hurricane season region should sign up for mail order delivery or call in their prescription ahead of time and use drive-through windows or curbside pickup, if available, to add a layer of protection.

• Pay attention to local guidance about updated plans for evacuations and shelters, including shelters for your pets.

• When checking on friends and neighbors, don’t forget to follow social distancing guidelines and other CDC recommendations to protect yourself and others.

Be ready for evacuation

The ready-or-not attitude when it comes to hurricanes is a chief reason why the CDC says that people should take a look at their existing “go kit” and make sure it has coronavirus-related additions.

On top of the typical personal items that anyone can’t do without during an emergency, the agency says to add coronavirus essentials such as hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol, bar or liquid soap, disinfectant wipes, and two cloth face coverings for each person. 

Other points the CDC wants people to take to heart include the following:

• Pre-determine a safe place to shelter and have several ways to receive weather alerts, such as National Weather Service cell phone alerts.

• In case you need to evacuate your home and go to a local shelter, make sure you find out in advance if it’s going to be open. Shelters' locations may be different this year due to the pandemic.

• If you need to go to a disaster shelter, follow CDC recommendations for staying safe and healthy while you're there during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• If you have pets, make a plan and prepare a disaster kit for them. Find out if your disaster shelter will accept pets. Pets are typically housed in a separate area from people if a shelter accommodates them, but you should know this in advance to save time and trouble.

• Follow safety precautions when using transportation to evacuate. If you have to travel away from your community to evacuate, follow safety precautions for travelers to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

Staying with family or friends

Staying with friends or family in situations like these can be comforting, but the CDC cautions people that they still need to be vigilant no matter how well they think they know their kin or friends.

Talk to the people you plan to stay with about how you can all best protect yourselves from COVID-19, the CDC suggests. Also, take a hard look at who you might be sheltering with and give special consideration if either household has someone who is at a higher risk of developing severe illness from COVID-19, including older adults or people of any age who have underlying medical conditions. 

The everyday preventive actions such as covering coughs and sneezes, washing your hands often, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands cannot take a back seat to the hurricane, and the CDC emphasizes that these measures should be continued without fail.

The agency brings up one point that most people might not consider -- that both disasters and pandemic outbreaks can be emotionally stressful. 

“It is natural to feel anxiety, grief, and worry,” the CDC says. “Coping with these feelings and getting help when you need it will help you, your family, and your community recover.”

There were 1.9 million new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) last month, the most of any month since the pandemic began. But despite that huge spike in cases that began in early June, the number of COVID-19 deaths in July was the smallest since March.

The COVID-19 Tracking Project at Johns Hopkins University counts coronavirus cases and deaths in real-time. ConsumerAffairs uses that source to present a daily snapshot of the virus in our Coronavirus Update. We access and publish the latest numbers at noon each day.

An analysis of our past reports shows deaths from the virus peaked in April at approximately 57,772 and have declined significantly since. By our count, there were 40,519 deaths in May and 27,839 in June.

Using the COVID-19 Tracking Project as a source, we counted approximately 23,769 deaths from COVID-19 in July. That’s 4,079 fewer than June, a decline of 14 percent.

Lagging indicator

It’s true that deaths are considered a lagging indicator of the severity of the pandemic. Deaths often don’t occur for four to six weeks after a patient first displays symptoms. 

The recent seven-day average of deaths is moving in a troubling direction, so it’s possible that August could see a rise in deaths from the virus, ending the monthly downward trend. The next two or three weeks will likely tell that story.

Bill Gates, whose Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has funded research into fighting diseases, said last month he expects to see deaths from COVID-19 continue to fall, even as the number of cases rises. While a vaccine may ultimately prevent people from getting the disease, Gates says improved treatments will keep more people from dying.

“You can see the therapeutic benefit faster than the protective benefit,” Gates said in a recent interview with CNBC. “So I think there’s a good chance we’ll have substantial death-rate reduction by the end of the year with the combination of those new tools.”

Existing drugs may help

Currently, remdesivir, a drug developed to fight ebola, is one of the most important tools. It has been widely used, in combination with plasma antibodies from recovered patients, to treat those who are most severely ill.

Gates said other antiviral drugs are in development and at least one can be taken in pill form, so it could be used in an outpatient setting. Both drugs will be evaluated during clinical trials to determine their effectiveness.

Scientists writing in the journal Nature recently identified 21 existing drugs they say could be effective treatments, either alone or in conjunction with other drugs.

The good news, Gates said, is that deaths will continue to fall for the rest of the year. But don’t expect that to return everyday life to normal.

“Until you really block transmission, have long periods of time without anybody going in the hospital, the concern is going to be there,” he said.