Current Events in August 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage across the U.S., and individual states and agencies are continuing to provide consumers with guidance to keep them safe from the coronavirus. 

This month, the World Health Organization (WHO) released guidance that covers questions consumers might have about mask requirements for children and young adults. The agency says older children should wear a mask to protect themselves and curb the spread of germs to others in most cases. 

Of course, there are some caveats to the guidance based on age and other health conditions -- and the organization says that consumers should always defer to local guidelines above all else. That being said, the WHO advises the following when it comes to children and mask-wearing:

Mask-wearing by age and health condition

The WHO recommends that children aged 12 and over should wear masks under the same conditions that adults do. However, it says children aged 5 or younger should not be required to wear one because of safety concerns and their general lack of ability to use a mask with only minimal assistance

For children aged 6 to 11, the organization says caregivers should consider the following:

• Whether there is widespread transmission in the area where the child resides;

• The ability of the child to safely and appropriately use a mask;

• Access to masks, as well as laundering and replacement of masks in certain settings (such as schools and childcare services);

• Adequate adult supervision and instructions to the child on how to put on, take off, and safely wear masks;

• The potential impact of wearing a mask on learning and psychosocial development, in consultation with teachers, parents/caregivers, and/or medical providers; and

• Specific settings and interactions the child has with other people who are at high risk of developing a serious illness, such as the elderly and those with other underlying health conditions.

The WHO says children with developmental disabilities, disorders, or other specific health conditions should not be required to wear a mask. However, it says that each child should be judged on a case-by-case basis to see if they can tolerate wearing a mask.

Types of masks children should wear

The WHO says that non-medical or fabric masks are suitable for children who are in good health, but caregivers need to ensure that the mask is an appropriate size so that it can cover the nose, mouth, and chin. 

For children who have underlying health conditions or are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19, a medical mask is recommended to help control the spread of germs. Face shields may also be a good alternative for children with speech issues, but the organization notes that these do not provide the same level of protection. 

Caregivers who elect to have their child use a face shield should be aware of potential hazards and ensure that it covers the entire face, wraps around the sides of the face, and extends below the chin. 

Where masks should be worn

The WHO advises that children should wear a medical mask at home if they show any symptoms of COVID-19 or if there is another sick person in the house. Wearing a mask in areas that have a higher risk of transmission, like schools, may also be advisable depending on local guidelines. 

However, the organization says that children should not wear masks when playing sports or doing other physical activities because it may compromise their ability to breathe normally. Organizers of these activities should take other measures like social distancing and limiting the number of children in a gathering to keep children safe.

TikTok -- the video-sharing app under threat from the Trump administration’s push to get it from American soil -- laid a whopper of a counterpunch on the White House on Monday. It filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. government trying to fight for its rights and its existence.

Not unlike its recent effort to put all its cards on the table for the world to see, company officials once again took to the web to explain why they’re taking this action. They said legal steps had to be taken to protect the company’s rights, as well as the rights of its users.

“Over the past few years, people of all backgrounds have embraced the TikTok community. Today, 100 million Americans turn to TikTok for entertainment, inspiration, and connection; countless creators rely on our platform to express their creativity, reach broad audiences, and generate income,” the company’s blog post read.

“Our more than 1,500 employees across the U.S. pour their hearts into building this platform every day, with 10,000 more jobs planned in California, Texas, New York, Tennessee, Florida, Michigan, Illinois, and Washington State; and many of the country's leading brands are on TikTok to connect with consumers more authentically and directly than they can elsewhere.”

The lawsuit’s finer points

Much of the verbiage in the lawsuit is spent on legalities, but these are the main points that TikTok is trying to make:

• The Trump administration’s order leans heavily on hearsay and "unsubstantiated" claims to build its case against the company. "On its face, the (Trump administration’s) executive order fails to identify any unusual and extraordinary threat posed by TikTok — or any actual national security threat at all,” the suit claims.

• TikTok thinks the White House’s proposed ban is no more than a campaign tactic which sucks the legitimacy out of the whole order. "The president's actions clearly reflect a political decision to campaign on an anti-China platform,” TikTok wrote.

• Banning TikTok would violate the First Amendment because it takes away its American users’ right to free speech. 

TikTok would prefer to talk this over

TikTok knows time is tight. The Trump Administration has given the company until mid-September to pull up stakes and leave or allow itself to be bought by a U.S. company. It asserts that this ultimatum leaves it with no alternative but to pursue legal action.

“To be clear, we far prefer constructive dialogue over litigation,” the company said. “But with the Executive Order threatening to bring a ban on our U.S. operations – eliminating the creation of 10,000 American jobs and irreparably harming the millions of Americans who turn to this app for entertainment, connection, and legitimate livelihoods that are vital especially during the pandemic – we simply have no choice.”

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 5,709,839 (5,668,673)

Total U.S. deaths: 176,901 (176,372)

Total global cases: 23,472,067 (23,239,310)

Total global deaths: 809,747 (805,230)

FDA clears plasma antibody treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency authorization for hospitals to use plasma antibodies from recovered coronavirus (COVID-19) patients to treat those who are currently ill.

The FDA said it is acting because it believes the plasma may be an effective weapon and that the potential benefit outweighs known and potential risks. Plasma has already been used to treat severely ill patients with mostly good results.

“Today’s action will dramatically expand access to this treatment,” President Trump said at a White House press conference. “We’re removing unnecessary barriers and delays.”

WHO: things aren’t going to return to normal

If you’re longing to crowd into a basketball arena or host a large party at your favorite restaurant, the World Health Organization (WHO) says you should get over it. It might not be a possibility for years to come.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a news conference that a vaccine, if and when one is developed, will be a “vital tool,” but it won’t end the coronavirus pandemic. He said the world will need to learn how to manage the virus and make “permanent adjustments” to daily life.

He said leaders of countries can stop new outbreaks by practicing the “basics” of public health and disease control.

Outbreaks still occurring at colleges

Colleges and universities continue to grapple with outbreaks of the coronavirus that forced two large institutions, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Notre Dame, to suspend in-person classes after a single week.

Colleges in at least 19 states have now reported outbreaks on campus, which education officials attribute to off-campus activities. Some schools have suspended students and organizations for allegedly violating health rules.

The University of Alabama is partnering with local police to monitor bars, restaurants, and off-campus housing to ensure the city's COVID-19 ordinances and university guidelines are followed. 

Why it’s important to ‘flatten the curve’

It makes sense that the more people who get the coronavirus, the more people who are in danger of dying. But researchers at the University of Minnesota and the University of Washington (UW) say it’s more complicated than you think.

Their study has found that every six additional intensive care unit (ICU) beds or seven additional non-ICU beds filled by COVID-19 patients leads to one additional COVID-19 death over the following week.

“A spike in hospitalization naturally leads to more deaths, but these deaths may not only come from those who are hospitalized, but also from those who should have been hospitalized but were not,” said co-author Anirban Basu, a UW professor of health economics.

Scientists say air conditioning may help spread the virus

Could your comfortable, air-conditioned room be increasing your risk of getting COVID-19? A team of German and Indian researchers has concluded that it might.

Their study focuses on the role of humidity in the transmission of all types of viruses, noting that germs and droplets tend to travel farther in dry air than when the air is full of moisture. It might not be a small consideration as millions of office workers prepare to return to the workplace in the weeks ahead.

The scientists based their conclusions on the review of 10 studies of infectious diseases, including swine flu. They say those studies found that humidity affects a virus’s droplet size and how the droplets float through the air and settle on surfaces.

Around the nation

• Florida: Florida’s COVID-19 numbers continued to improve over the weekend. State health officials report fewer than 5,000 new cases both Saturday and Sunday. There were 51 new fatalities, bringing the total up to 10,462.

• Minnesota: A report from state health officials provides a snapshot of how COVID-19 has affected Minnesota. About 90 percent of those infected since the pandemic began have recovered to the point that they don’t need to be isolated. Seventy-four percent of those who have died lived in nursing homes or long-term care facilities.

• Arizona: The University of Arizona began its fall term today with an experimental hybrid system. About 5,000 students will return to classrooms and laboratories, but the rest will take part in online instruction in a bid to avoid an outbreak of the virus.

Without fanfare or explanation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has lifted its mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers.

However, according to its website, the agency will now defer to state, local, and territorial governments that still have travel restrictions, stay-at-home orders, or other quarantine requirements in place. 

As an example, the CDC tells travelers that they will need to follow restrictions set by the U.S. State Department. That agency warns that any U.S. citizen returning to the United States who has been in China in the previous 14 days “may” be subject to up to 14 days of quarantine.

Quarantining for 14 days is still a smart move

The CDC’s move is not an all-access pass to go wherever you like. The CDC reminds travelers that they can still be exposed to COVID-19 anywhere. 

“You may feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can be contagious without symptoms and spread the virus to others. You and your travel companions (including children) pose a risk to your family, friends, and community for 14 days after you were exposed to the virus,” the agency stated.

The agency is asking travelers to use their common sense and follow safeguards like hand-washing, social distancing, using a face covering, and keeping track of any coronavirus-like symptoms. It also notes that consumers should allow for some flexibility in travel arrangements in the short-term.

“Prepare to be flexible during your trip as restrictions and policies may change during your travel,” the CDC wrote. “If traveling internationally or across international borders, check with the destination’s Office of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Health or the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. 

Avoid surprises by being prepared

In addition, travelers should make themselves aware that not every country has relaxed its admission policy and may prohibit entrance by a U.S. tourist or a “non-essential” traveler. It’s also important to keep in mind that because of how other countries are handling the pandemic, the U.S.’s advice might be to stay at home. 

To prevent being surprised, the State Department recommends that travelers visit not only its own database of current advisories, but also the websites of those countries' embassies in the United States for additional information, including entry/exit restrictions and permissible categories of travel. 

The Trump administration has waged a vigorous campaign against the Chinese social media platform TikTok, issuing an executive order for the company to sell itself to a U.S. company or stop operating in the U.S.

While the administration has taken a hard line against China on a variety of fronts, The Wall Street Journal reports that the campaign against TikTok was stoked by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

At a time when Facebook was under increasing antitrust and privacy scrutiny in Washington, the newspaper reports that Zuckerberg was whispering in the ears of lawmakers and policymakers that the Chinese social media company was a bigger threat.

The report is said to be based on interviews with a number of “people familiar with the matter.” The campaign reportedly began last October when Zuckerberg delivered a speech to students at Georgetown University about the importance of freedom of expression.

Later that month, Zuckerberg dined at the White House with President Trump and reportedly made his case that Chinese internet companies threaten businesses -- especially technology companies -- in the U.S.

No memory of the discussion

Facebook spokesman Andy Stone told The Journal that Zuckerberg doesn’t remember talking about TikTok during the White House dinner. But he acknowledged a view at Facebook that sees Chinese tech companies as a growing and potential threat to American interests.

“As Chinese companies and influence have been growing so has the risk of a global internet based on their values, as opposed to ours,” Stone told The Journal.

The Journal also cited sources who said Zuckerberg met with a number of senators in Washington, warning of the threat posed by TikTok, a video app favored by young people and rivaling Facebook-owned Instagram. 

Congressional action

Shortly after the late October meetings, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote a letter to U.S. intelligence officials asking for an inquiry into the Chinese company.

In March of this year, two Republican Senators -- Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rick Scott of Florida --  introduced legislation banning employees at the State Department and Department of Homeland Security from accessing the app on official government devices.

“TikTok is owned by a Chinese company that includes Chinese Communist Party members on its board, and it is required by law to share user data with Beijing,” Hawley said at the time. “As many of our federal agencies have already recognized, TikTok is a major security risk to the United States, and it has no place on government devices.”

Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order banning TikTok, along with Chinese social media company WeChat, from operating in the United States within 45 days if they were not sold by the Chinese companies that own them.

In signing the order, Trump expressed concern over how the social media platforms handle user data and whether it is shared with other entities.

A new study conducted by researchers from the European Society of Cardiology explored the risks and benefits associated with commonly used CPR techniques. 

According to their findings, the best way to protect brain function and health while a patient is in cardiac arrest is to perform deep chest compressions. They explained that this method can oftentimes cause interim injuries for patients; however, over the long-term, there are far more benefits when thinking about patients’ health and well-being. 

“Survival and neurological outcome improved significantly during the 14-year study,” said researcher Dr. Irene Marco Clement. “Members of the public increasingly came to the rescue with CPR and there was greater use of [automated external defibrillators]. Injuries from CPR rose, but these patients were less likely to have brain damage.” 

Protecting brain function

To understand the protective benefits of chest compressions, the researchers analyzed data from over 500 cardiac arrest patients who had been hospitalized between 2006 and 2020. The researchers explained that general CPR recommendations are revised every few years, so they grouped the participants by year to determine which guidelines corresponded to the best outcomes. 

The researchers noted that CPR-related injuries increased by 20 percent over the course of the study. However, they also found that overall brain function also improved for patients towards the latest years of the study. More than 65 percent of patients had improved brain health following CPR-related injuries compared with under 45 percent of patients with no such injuries. 

“Deep chest compressions improve blood flow to the brain, improving survival and brain function,” explained researcher Dr. Marco Clement. 

Staying healthy while performing CPR

In thinking about the current COVID-19 pandemic, the researchers explained that chest compressions are the best way to prevent any potential spread of germs or infection. Performing CPR is a critical component of survival for patients in need of resuscitation, and consumers shouldn’t fear for their own health by relying on compressions. 

“Personal safety always comes first, and resuscitators should only do what they feel comfortable with,” said Dr. Marco Clement. “If you are concerned about possible contagion, you should omit mouth-to-mouth breaths: chest compressions alone may be as effective as conventional CPR.” 

The start of the COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to an uptick in the number of Google searches for anxiety or panic attacks, according to research published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine. 

Between March to early May, there were 375,000 more Google searches for anxiety or panic attacks than would normally be expected.

The study was carried out by researchers from the Qualcomm Institute at the University of California San Diego. The researchers analyzed Google Trends from the past 16 years and found that the number of searches for anxiety-related information skyrocketed starting in March when the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a national emergency.

Lead author Alicia Nobles, an assistant professor in the department of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, said she and her colleagues set out to collect data on how people’s mental health is being affected by the pandemic. 

“We turned to internet searches to see what people were searching for in the United States," Nobles said. 

Rise in anxiety 

In total, there were 3.4 million total searches for anxiety in the two months after the pandemic was declared a national emergency. 

Searches for panic and anxiety attacks returned to normal levels halfway through April, suggesting that people may have become more resilient to the initially troubling unknowns presented by the unexpected health crisis. However, since the data is based solely on the volume of internet searches, it’s not clear whether those seeking information on anxiety were actually having panic attacks or experiencing symptoms of anxiety.

“In practical terms, over the first 58 days of the COVID-19 pandemic there were an estimated 3.4 million total searches related to severe acute anxiety in the United States. In fact, searches for anxiety and panic attacks were the highest they’ve ever been in over 16 years of historical search data,” Benjamin Althouse, a principal scientist at the Institute for Disease Modeling, said in a statement.

Anxiety versus panic attack

Symptoms of a panic attack can include shortness of breath, rapid pounding heart rate, chest pressure, and sweating. True panic attacks typically come about suddenly and peak within ten minutes. 

Symptoms of anxiety, on the other hand, include trouble concentrating, experiencing sleeping problems, and feeling restless, on edge, worried, or irritable. For these symptoms to fall under the category of “generalized anxiety disorder,” they must persist for at least six months. 

Health experts recommend combating anxiety by focusing on what you can control, which include thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. 

“Identify negative patterns, like constant scrolling on your phone, looking at the news and hoping for new info,” Vaile Wright, senior director of health care innovation for the American Psychological Association, told ConsumerHealthDay. “Take breaks from your devices. Take breaks from the news. Don't watch it constantly. Social media is an anxiety bomb, so limit the time on there.” 

Wright also recommends getting enough sleeping, maintaining a balanced diet, staying active, and maintaining social connections in a socially distant way.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers have adjusted their usual routines and adopted new ways of living in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. 

Now, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Washington and the University of Minnesota has found that if efforts don’t continue to help slow the spread of COVID-19, related deaths are expected to surpass many consumers’ expectations. 

“A spike in hospitalization naturally leads to more deaths, but these deaths may not only come from those who are hospitalized, but also from those who should have been hospitalized but were not,” said researcher Anirban Basu. 

Analyzing hospital trends

To understand how the pandemic could continue to affect consumers moving forward, the researchers analyzed data from hospitals regarding patients in ICU beds and those in non-ICU beds, as well as all related deaths. Their data spanned across nearly two dozen states and included patient information from late March through early June. 

The researchers explained that protocols designed to protect consumers from COVID-19 are important for several reasons. For starters, their work revealed that the number of coronavirus-related deaths increased as more patients filled up ICU hospital beds. They found that even a one percent increase in ICU patients in one week could lead to nearly three deaths. 

“Even when, say, 80 percent of non-ICU beds are still available, a further increase in COVID-19 admissions leads to significantly more numbers of deaths than what we would expect from only the hospitalized patients,” said Basu. “This may be because the health care delivery within a hospital is not only driven by hospital beds but also personnel and COVID-specific supplies, which may be stretched thin, and affecting COVID-19 admissions policies of the hospital.” 

Increasing risks for all consumers

While many consumers worry about hospitals running out of beds, the researchers explained that the risks for coronavirus-related deaths are equally as high for those who never even end up in the hospital. Because of this, maintaining efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus are of the utmost importance. 

The researchers hope that these findings clearly illustrate how crucial it is for consumers to adhere to guidelines that have been found to flatten the curve of infections linked to COVID-19, especially as more and more public spaces are beginning to reopen. 

“Our study quantifies the relationship between COVID-19 deaths and COVID-19 hospitalizations using actual data,” the researchers wrote. “These estimates provide a better understanding of the projections of the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA especially when states are gearing up to restart economic activities and provide important practice insights for hospitals in terms of assessment of hospital bed and ICU bed capacity and preparedness.” 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have warned that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in voice phishing (or “vishing”) campaigns. 

In a joint cybersecurity advisory, the agencies noted that the pandemic has resulted in a “mass shift to working from home.” This has spurred an uptick in the use of corporate virtual private networks (VPNs) for malicious purposes. In July, cybercriminals launched a vishing campaign with the intent of monetizing the access to improperly accessed employee tools.  

“The monetizing method varied depending on the company but was highly aggressive with a tight timeline between the initial breach and the disruptive cashout scheme,” authorities said in the advisory.

“Prior to the pandemic, similar campaigns exclusively targeted telecommunications providers and internet service providers with these attacks, but the focus has recently broadened to more indiscriminate targeting,” the alert continued. 

Highly effective attack 

The advisory was published less than 24 hours after security researcher Brian Krebs of KrebsOnSecurity published research about a group of cybercriminals that has been marketing a vishing campaign that relies on custom phishing sites and social engineering techniques to steal VPN credentials from employees. 

Citing interviews with several sources, Krebs said the bad actors have experienced “a remarkably high success rate.” 

The attackers operate “primarily through paid requests or ‘bounties,’ where customers seeking access to specific companies or accounts can hire them to target employees working remotely at home,” the report said. 

Krebs explained that a typical attempt begins with a series of phone calls to employees working remotely at a targeted organization. 

“The phishers will explain that they’re calling from the employer’s IT department to help troubleshoot issues with the company’s virtual private networking (VPN) technology,” according to Krebs. “The goal is to convince the target either to divulge their credentials over the phone or to input them manually at a website set up by the attackers that mimics the organization’s corporate email or VPN portal.”

Preventing vishing attempts

FBI and CISA officials offered several tips on how people can protect themselves against vishing attempts. 

Companies and organizations are advised to restrict VPN connections to managed devices only, to employ domain monitoring, and to “consider using a formalized authentication process for employee-to-employee communications made over the public telephone network.” 

Others are advised to be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls or email messages from unknown individuals claiming to be from a legitimate organization. End users should also limit the amount of personal information they post on social networking platforms. 

“If you receive a vishing call, document the phone number of the caller as well as the domain that the actor tried to send you to and relay this information to law enforcement,” the advisory said. 

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has thrown millions of Americans out of work, making it difficult to pay the rent or mortgage. Forbearance programs enacted by Congress have so far kept many homeowners from facing immediate foreclosure.

Black Knight, a data analytics company, reports that mortgage delinquencies actually went down in July, falling nearly 9 percent from June. The numbers show there were about 340,000 fewer past-due mortgages than in the month before.

Even more encouraging, early-stage delinquencies -- those loans with a single missed payment -- are now below pre-pandemic levels, suggesting that the initial inflow of new COVID-19-related delinquencies has subsided.

The news is not all good, however. Serious delinquencies -- those 90 or more days past due -- increased by 376,000 and are now up more than 1.8 million from their pre-pandemic levels.

An improvement over the second quarter

All in all, it’s an improvement from the second quarter of the year, which encompasses the first three months of the pandemic when businesses closed and millions of Americans were laid off from their jobs.

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) recently reported that mortgage delinquencies surged in the second quarter by more than 8 percent.

“The COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on some homeowner’s ability to make their mortgage payments could not be more apparent,” said MBA vice president of Industry Analysis Marina Walsh. “The nearly 4 percentage point jump in the delinquency rate was the biggest quarterly rise in the history of the MBA’s survey. The second-quarter results also mark the highest overall delinquency rate in nine years and a survey-high rate for FHA loans.”

Delinquencies are double 2019’s rate

The Black Knight report shows that, while the mortgage delinquency rate in July fell 8.22 percent from June, it was nearly 100 percent higher than in July 2019. Foreclosure activity remained low, largely due to mortgage forbearance programs.

The concern among policymakers is what happens this month. Many forbearance programs expired at the end of July, as did the extra $600 a week in additional unemployment benefits, which likely helped some unemployed Americans keep up with their mortgage payments.

Congress was unable to reach an agreement on a new aid package and left Washington for a month-long recess without taking action.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling 58,016 model year 2014-2018 Ram 1500s, and model year 2014-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokees equipped with 3.0L diesel engines.

The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing.

This could result in an engine stall, posing the risk of a crash..

What to do

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion by reading the camshaft position signal in the event that the crankshaft position signal is lost free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin October 2, 2020.

Owners may contact Chrysler's customer service at (800) 853-2002. Chrysler's number for this recall is W58.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 5,584,154 (5,540,022)

Total U.S. deaths: 174,442 (173,415)

Total global cases: 22,734,522 (22,473,382)

Total global deaths: 794,721 (789,103)

Children may be major drivers of outbreaks

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have completed a study that concludes children and young adults -- more likely to be asymptomatic than older people -- may nonetheless be major spreaders of the coronavirus (COVID-19).  

The study, published in the Journal of Pediatrics, featured nearly 200 children and young adults with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infections. Of the 49 who tested positive for the virus, only 25 had a fever.

But as they looked more closely, the researchers found the viral load in the infected children and young people was "significantly higher" than adults with severe COVID-19 cases. It’s those viral loads that increase the risk of transmitting the virus to others, the researchers said.

CDC back in charge of collecting data

The government is shifting gears and placing responsibility for collecting coronavirus case data back with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A few weeks ago, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) took away that responsibility and put hospitals in charge.

Deborah Birx, the White House’s coronavirus coordinator, disclosed the change this week at a meeting in Arkansas. She said the current reporting system was never designed to be permanent.

“CDC is working with us right now to build a revolutionary new data system so it can be moved back to the CDC, and they can have that regular accountability with hospitals relevant to treatment and PPE,” Birx told hospital executives and government health officials.

CDC official expects deaths to start declining next week

Despite an increase in COVID-19 deaths in July, the monthly death toll has declined each month since April. Whether August breaks that trend is an open question, but a top official at the CDC expects daily deaths to begin falling off next week.

CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield said more stringent mitigation policies put in place over the last two months have begun to lower cases, but he admitted that it takes some time before that success is reflected in the death rate.

"It is important to understand these interventions are going to have a lag, that lag is going to be three to four weeks," Redfield said in an interview with the Journal of the American Medical Association. "Hopefully this week and next week you're going to start seeing the death rate really start to drop."

Breathalyzer offered as potential screening tool

A team of international researchers has developed a breathalyzer test to rapidly detect COVID-19, potentially solving the problem of prolonged delays in getting test results. The testing device is described as intelligent nanotechnology that can rapidly detect COVID-19 from specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath. 

The effectiveness of the testing device, which is made up of a nanomaterial-based sensor array, was demonstrated in March by a preliminary case-control clinical study in Wuhan, China.

The technology will reportedly be developed for the market by the company Nanose Medical. The researchers have published their findings in the journal ACS Nano.

Pandemic hasn’t slowed home sales

The coronavirus and its widespread impact haven’t been a drag on recent home sales. In fact, it may be serving as rocket fuel. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that sales of existing homes rose a record 24.7 percent in July.

“With the sizable shift in remote work, current homeowners are looking for larger homes and this will lead to a secondary level of demand even into 2021,” said NAR’s chief economist, Lawrence Yun.

The only thing keeping sales from being even higher may be a lack of homes for sale. Total housing inventory at the end of July totaled 1.50 million units, down from both 2.6 percent from June and 21.1 percent from one year ago.

Around the nation

• Illinois: Cases of the coronavirus are moving sharply higher in the state after they appeared to be under control a few weeks ago. State health officials report that the seven-day average of new cases is three times what it was at the pandemic’s low point.

• Michigan: Children have returned to school in Michigan, but not without a worrisome uptick in coronavirus cases. State health officials are reporting 14 new outbreaks at schools around the state.

• New York: Gov. Andrew Cuomo reports that the number of hospitalizations in the state has dropped to its lowest level since mid-March. Cuomo says the state has also seen 13 straight days of an infection rate below 1 percent.

Uber and Lyft won’t be halting ride-hailing services in California after all.

Last week, the ride-hailing giants threatened to suspend service in the state in response to a law (Assembly Bill 5) that would require the companies to immediately reclassify their drivers as employees. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said that if a ruling requiring the reclassification went into effect Friday morning, it would be “hard to believe we’ll be able to switch our model to full-time employment quickly.” 

Fortunately for Uber and Lyft, the California Court of Appeals reconsidered on Thursday, just hours before the shutdown was slated to go into effect. Thanks to the reprieve, the companies will be allowed to continue treating their drivers as independent contractors, at least until October. 

"Our rideshare operations can continue uninterrupted, for now," Lyft said in a blog post. "Thanks to the tens of thousands of drivers, riders, and public officials who urged California to keep rideshare available for so many people who depend on it."

"While we won't have to suspend operations tonight, we do need to continue fighting for independence plus benefits for drivers," said Lyft spokeswoman Julie Wood.

Uber said in a statement that it’s “glad that the Court of Appeals recognized the important questions raised in this case, and that access to these critical services won’t be cut off while we continue to advocate for drivers’ ability to work with the freedom they want.”

An appeal is currently working its way through the court. Oral arguments in the case are set to take place on October 13.

Need for protections

Lyft and Uber have both said there’s a need for an alternative way to classify drivers that combines flexibility and benefits. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi recently proposed that gig workers be granted some protections without losing their flexibility.  

“Our current employment system is outdated and unfair,” he wrote in an op-ed for the New York Times. “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,” he said. “Uber is ready, right now, to pay more to give drivers new benefits and protections.”

He proposed having gig companies set up benefits funds from which employees pull money from for needs like health insurance or paid time off. The amount of money they could take out of the fund would depend on how many hours they’ve worked. 

Consumer review sites are getting flooded with complaints about Noom, a popular app-based weight loss service. 

Most of the complaints stem from consumers feeling that the company offers misleading free trials, only to be hit with $100+ subscription charges that show up as soon as the free trials end. Even worse, the app users allege that those subscriptions are a bear to cancel.

Noom has recently received a large number of 1-star reviews from ConsumerAffairs reviewers. The Better Business Bureau says it’s also getting deluged with complaints, prompting it to downgrade Noom to a D-plus rating.

What consumers are upset about

One of the biggest complaints is the “pay what you think is fair” offer that Noom promotes for its introductory trial.

“Company presents with an introductory trial of 2 weeks - at first stating ‘pay what you think is fair,’ said Jane of Ashland, Mass. in their review at ConsumerAffairs. “When you don’t respond they say it’s free for 2 weeks but they need a credit card to ‘verify’ your account,” 

“No notice or further contact though you can use their site for those 2 weeks BUT due to a variety of circumstances I did not use it - instead I attempted to contact and cancel - only to find out that (2 days past the 14 day trial) my credit card was charged for an 18 MONTH MEMBERSHIP NON REFUNDABLE - huh? It’s in their “fine print”. 

The devil is in the details

Jane is correct about Noom’s “fine print.” When ConsumerAffairs looked at the company’s terms and conditions, the point that seemed to be the sticking point was Noom’s “auto-renewal” clause. In essence, it gives the company the right to automatically extend a subscription “for successive renewal periods.” Also concerning is the language that reads, “Until you cancel, we will charge or debit your payment method at the beginning of your subscription.” Another red flag is Noom’s “no refund” policy.

Many of the complaints made to BBB also swirl around being surprised with the charges relating to the supposed free trial. 

“A number of these consumers said they believed that after the free trial the cost of monthly membership was between $20 and $40,” the BBB said. “Instead, they discovered that they were charged for several months upfront upon the free trial’s end, resulting in alleged charges varying from $120 to $180 or more. Consumers consistently alleged difficulty trying to get in contact with Noom’s customer service to request a refund of charges.”

Gary of Keller, Texas said he also had difficulty opting out of the service in his review on ConsumerAffairs. 

“There is no way to opt out of the first subscription even though you haven’t even opened an email from them or attempted to use their ‘product,’” he stated. “The telephone number sends you to a machine where there is no way to connect with a live person.”

Look for reviews before signing up for any subscription

Developers make signing up for a trial subscription so easy that consumers may assume that a promotional pitch is honest and there’s very little that can go against their favor. However, that’s not always the case.

“Smartphone applications and online programs may seem convenient – especially when coupled with attractive free trial offers – but consumers must always be cautious,” said Claire Rosenzweig, President and CEO of BBB Serving Metropolitan New York.

Tesla has asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to market a sensor that could detect children inadvertently left in hot cars. 

The electric automaker noted that over 50 children died after being left inside hot vehicles last year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 

“The subject device, which could be integrated in passenger vehicle interiors, incorporates millimeter wave (mmWave) radar technology to detect movements within a vehicle and to classify vehicle occupants,” Tesla said in the filing.

Advanced safety technology

In addition to detecting children left in hot cars, the technology could also protect people from injury in a crash through optimized airbag deployment. It could also provide seat belt reminders and help sense and stop vehicle intrusion.

“Radar imaging can assess body size to discriminate between adults and children and optimize airbag deployment in a crash – more effectively than existing weight-based, in-seat sensor systems,” the company explained. 

“In addition, the technology’s ability to detect breathing patterns and heart rates permits discrimination between people and inanimate objects to more accurately limit system responses – e.g., seatbelt reminders when people are detected, passenger airbag suppression when objects are detected.”

Tesla contended that these safety benefits would serve the public and should warrant a waiver to an existing power level requirement. “Strict compliance with the rule would reduce the accuracy and effectiveness of the device,” the automaker said.

The FCC is accepting public comments about the automaker’s request until September 21.

While many dogs are trained to help ease consumers’ worries, a new study is exploring how dog owners can help their pets feel less worried in new situations. 

Researchers from the University of Helsinki found two key factors that could help dogs warm up more easily in new places: physical activity and social connection. When dogs are more active and have more socialization with other dogs, the team found that they’re more likely to be better behaved and exhibit fewer fear-related behaviors. 

“Our prior research on the environmental effects of social fear observed the same phenomena where urban dogs were more fearful than their rural counterparts,” said researcher Hannes Lohi. “Indeed, it is interesting that human mental health problems occur more frequently in the city than in rural areas. The ways in which our environment shapes us and our best friend is definitely an interesting topic for further research.” 

Easing dogs’ stress 

To understand what steps dog owners can take to better acclimate their pets to new surroundings, the researchers surveyed over 14,000 dog owners. They answered questions about their dogs’ behaviors, including sensitivity to sounds, separation anxiety, and general fears, among several others. The owners also provided information about their dogs’ breed, size, and how often they socialized with other dogs. 

The researchers learned that certain factors could help dogs become more comfortable and less fearful in certain situations. Higher levels of physical activity and greater socialization with other dogs proved to be beneficial ways to ease fears and anxiety. 

“Physical exercise has been shown to have a positive effect on the mood in both dogs and humans,” said researcher Emma Hakanen. “As social animals, dogs enjoy doing things with their owners. At the same time, people do not necessarily wish to subject fearful dogs to training situations that are stressful for them. This can also make owners less inclined to train with their dog.” 

The researchers learned that without such interventions, dogs are more likely to be skittish in any new setting and could exhibit strong fear responses to certain textured surfaces or sounds. However, the more time spent around other dogs, the better the dogs were able to adapt to social situations. 

Is fear genetic?

Another key aspect of this study was looking at the various dogs by type to determine if fear-related instincts are more common in specific breeds. The researchers learned that certain types of dogs could be more prone to certain fears in their genetic make-up. 

However, the researchers say dog owners shouldn’t feel discouraged because these findings provide clear, tangible ways to help ease dogs’ fears. 

“The breed-specific differences support the idea that fearfulness is inherited,” said Lohi. “In other words, breeding choices matter, even without knowing the exact mechanisms of inheritance. However, this study offers dog owners tools and support for previous notions related to improving the well-being of their dogs. Diverse socialization in puppyhood and an active lifestyle can significantly reduce social and non-social fearfulness.” 

Delta Air Lines has carefully been plotting a full return to the skies. Earlier this week, it announced that it was testing every single one of its employees for COVID-19 to ensure that its flights were safe. 

On Thursday, it announced that it plans to start selling additional seats on its flights. While more passengers will be coming onboard, the company says it is keeping its promise about blocking the middle-seat to lessen the possibility of any spread of coronavirus between passengers.

The cap on the number of seats sold and blocking out the middle seat will stay in place at least through January 6, 2021.

Safety remains the priority

In a news release, the airline positioned itself against its competitors, saying it is “your choice for safer space.” 

“Medical experts, including our own partners at Emory Healthcare, agree – more distance on board makes a difference,” said Bill Lentsch, Chief Customer Experience Officer. 

“We believe that taking care of our customers and employees and restoring confidence in the safety of air travel is more important right now than filling up every seat on a plane. We’ll continue taking a thoughtful, layered approach ensuring customers know to expect the highest standard of care as they prepare for their holiday travels.”

Delta’s proactive and flexible plans

Delta is making a bid to be the most cautious of the major airlines when it comes to pandemic-related prevention efforts. Its latest announcement continues that cautionary tone, and the company said that it realizes that flexibility is more important than ever. 

Plotting out its next steps for health-conscious fliers and people or families who might be flying together come holiday time, Delta’s policy on middle seats will work like this:

• For customers in parties of 1-2: Middle seats will be blocked for safety.

• For customers in parties of 3 or more: Middle seats will appear as available for booking, to allow families and travel companions to select seats together.

As far as capacity is concerned, Delta says that passengers can expect Delta to do the following through October 31:

• Limit the number of customers on board all aircraft – with or without middle seats.

• Limit the First Class cabin to half capacity to further ensure more space between customers. However, on regional jets in 1x2 configurations, the First Class cabin will be capped at 67 percent.

• Block one aisle of seats on aircraft without middle seats.

On routes where its planes begin to fill, Delta says it will continue to look for opportunities to upsize to a larger aircraft type or, if necessary, add more flights.

The only area that will be offered at full capacity (effective October 1) is the Delta One cabin, which is available on long-haul international flights and in select long-haul domestic markets. Its argument for doing that is that the seats in Delta One are already well-distanced because of the configuration of the cabin and the design of the seats (such as being able to turn into a bed).