Current Events in September 2020

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is sitting on nine million unclaimed Economic Impact Payment checks and wants to get them off their desk. Beginning September 24, the agency will start mailing letters to taxpayers who usually don't file federal income tax returns but who may be eligible for the checks to step up and claim theirs.

Not every taxpayer is guaranteed a specific amount, but individuals can expect to receive up to $1,200, with the cap for married couples at $2,400. People with qualifying children under age 17 at the end of 2019 can also get up to an additional $500 for each qualifying child.

Non-filers are still eligible for a stimulus check

The letters are being sent to people who, so far, haven't filed a return for either 2018 or 2019. The IRS says that most of the recipients seem to be people who have very low incomes and don't typically have a tax return filing requirement.

"The IRS has made an unprecedented outreach effort to make sure people are aware of their potential eligibility for an Economic Impact Payment this year," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. 

"Millions who don't normally file a tax return have already registered and received a payment. We are taking this extra step to help Americans who may not know they could be eligible for this payment or don't know how to register for one. People who aren't required to file a tax return can quickly register on IRS.gov and still get their money this year."

What to look for

Here are some pertinent details about the letter so taxpayers know what to keep an eye out for:

What to look for: The letter is officially known as IRS Notice 1444-A. It is written in English and Spanish and includes information on eligibility criteria and how eligible recipients can claim an Economic Impact Payment on the IRS’ website. The letter will come from an IRS address.

When it will be sent: The mailing will begin around September 24.

When to register by: October 15 is the date eligible citizens should register by to receive a payment. People can also wait until next year and claim it as a credit on their 2020 federal income tax return by filing in 2021.

How to register: Registration can be done via the free Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool, available in English and Spanish on IRS’ website. Those unable to access the Non-Filers tool may submit a simplified paper return following the procedures described in the Economic Impact Payment FAQs on IRS.gov.

Receiving a letter does not guarantee a check: “The IRS reminds recipients that receiving a letter is not a guarantee of eligibility for an Economic Impact Payment,” the agency noted. 

“An individual is likely eligible if he or she is a U.S. citizen or resident alien; has a work-eligible Social Security number; and can't be claimed as dependent on someone else's federal income tax return. However, there can be a variety of situations that could affect an individual's eligibility.” Again, the IRS suggests that most questions can be answered at its official website.

"Time is running out this year for the IRS to issue payments," Rettig said. "People who normally don't file a tax return shouldn't wait to see if they receive one of these letters. They can review the guidelines and register now if they're eligible."

And, don’t forget the scammers

The IRS reminds taxpayers that scammers are out in droves trying to nab one of the stimulus checks for themselves. 

Of particular importance is keeping an eye out for any email, phone call, or texts related to these payments. Always remember that the IRS does not send unsolicited electronic communications asking people to open attachments, visit a website via a link, or share personal or financial information.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 6,334,158 (6,306,412)

Total U.S. deaths: 189,972 (189,236)

Total global cases: 27,628,190 (27,372,211)

Total global deaths: 898,757 (893.382)

AstraZeneca pauses its vaccine trial

A day after pledging that it would put safety above all else, AstraZeneca suspended its vaccine trial after one subject got sick with an unexplained illness.

The company had been conducting trials in a number of countries. The person who became ill was participating in a trial in the U.K. 

The vaccine candidate, developed in collaboration with Oxford University, is seen as one of the most promising. AstraZeneca had previously said it could have doses available for distribution this fall if the drug clears regulatory hurdles.

Poll finds people in large cities struggling financially

While some areas of the economy appear to be thriving during the pandemic, a poll of residents in four large cities finds that half are experiencing a major economic setback from the coronavirus (COVID-19). The poll was conducted through a joint effort by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The poll of residents in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston found minority households had been particularly hard-hit. In Houston, 77 percent of Latino households and 81 percent of African American households reported serious financial difficulty.

"Before federal coronavirus support programs even expired, we found millions of people with very serious problems with their finances," said Robert Blendon, a poll co-director and executive director of the Harvard Opinion Research Program at the Harvard Chan School.

Iowa still resists mask mandate

Coronavirus cases are rising in Midwest states, but they’re experiencing a particularly sharp uptick in Iowa, which has distinguished itself by resisting the mitigation efforts many other states have adopted. Gov. Kim Reynolds has declined recommendations by the White Task Force to close bars and has so far resisted calls to require residents to wear masks in public.

But Iowa is not the only Midwestern state where cases of the virus are on the rise. North Dakota holds the distinction of having the largest number of positive cases per capita in the country over the past 14 days.

Iowa has joined South Dakota in enduring the largest increases in cases on a percentage basis. Missouri has recorded more than 1,300 new cases a day on average over the last week.

Kroger offers flu shot promotion to combat COVID-19

Flu season is fast approaching, and health officials have expressed concern that a nasty flu season could make the COVID-19 pandemic even worse. Getting the virus on top of a case of the flu could increase the threat, they warn.

Kroger today announced it is expanding its flu shot program to make it available to more people in more places. Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health, says the program is aimed at taking the pressure off of other health care facilities.

"At our COVID-19 drive-thru test sites, we were able to assist thousands of people in getting a test in a short amount of time,” she said. “By using that model to provide flu shots, we hope to provide more customers with a safe, convenient option to get vaccinated."  

COVID-19 causing surge in demand for egg cartons

If you’re scratching your head after reading that headline, we can’t blame you. How in the world is a potentially deadly virus increasing the need for egg cartons? The answer is “indirectly.”

As people have spent more time at home over the last six months, there has been a surge in baking. And when you bake things, you normally use a few eggs. If you’ve noticed eggs costing more lately, that is one of the reasons why.

But those eggs have to go in some kind of container, and the industry reports that demand for egg cartons has seldom been higher. A report by the Freedonia Group projects that U.S. demand for egg cartons is expected to increase 3.6 percent this year to about 4.7 billion units.

Around the nation

• Michigan: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she’s concerned that both President Trump and challenger Joe Biden plan to hold campaign events in her state this week. But Whitmer, a Democrat, tells CNN that Biden’s event will be safer because the candidate has embraced the use of masks.

• Tennessee: The number of coronavirus cases at the University of Tennessee continues to rise. The university now reports 2,000 students are in isolation. "We are evaluating a range of options, and let me be clear, everything is on the table at this point," said Chancellor Donde Plowman.

• New Mexico: The state’s number of coronavirus cases has consistently fallen over the past few weeks, but critics point out that testing has also declined. State health officials say there is plenty of testing capacity, but they admit that the numbers have declined because there is less demand.

Has the coronavirus pandemic made you a saver or a spender? If you’re like most Americans, you’re probably stashing some of your cash away until an effective vaccine is found and the all-clear is sounded.

A new study by Gallup -- taken after the personal benefits from the CARES Act expired -- shows that 54 percent of Americans are currently saving at least some of their money and plan to continue saving versus spending what they have in the near future.

Among the people who have the ability to save, 76 percent plan to keep adding to their savings accounts in the next six months. Another 28 percent say they’ll spend their money on basic goods and services, 13 percent will splurge a bit on vacation or travel, and 10 percent will use their savings to pay off debts.

Seventy-nine percent of the respondents said that rather than doing speculative investing in the stock market or real estate, or making IRA contributions, they’re tucking their money away in either their checking or savings accounts.  

The potential impact of a vaccine

Since it’s anyone’s guess as to when a viable vaccine will make it to market -- much less one that people will take -- predicting the impact of that turn of events isn’t easy to gauge. However, Gallup tried to get as close to a possible scenario as possible by asking respondents to assess the impact that six potential COVID-19 advancements might have on their willingness to return to their “normal,” pre-pandemic spending level. 

Those advancements include the development of a vaccine, personally receiving a vaccine, having an effective treatment for COVID-19, seeing a reduction in cases of the disease or deaths from it, and having extra capacity at hospitals.

“An effective COVID-19 vaccine ranks as most influential to Americans when they think about resuming their normal spending,” theorized Gallup’s Paul Berg and Megan Brenan. 

“About seven in 10 say the development of such a vaccine would have a minor or major impact on their willingness to start spending regularly. Receiving an effective vaccine would have about the same impact.”

Wait and see

An interesting hyperlocal angle showed up in Gallup’s research; the researchers found that 60 percent of U.S. adults who say that having no more than 10 COVID-19 cases and zero related deaths in their local area for a two-week period would affect their spending. 

“Having effective treatments or sharply reduced infection rates will provide some comfort to citizens, but not to the same degree as a vaccine,” Berg and Brenan said. “Until then, a majority of Americans plan to moderate their overall spending compared with pre-pandemic levels, which means unemployment and underemployment are likely to persist at elevated levels for the foreseeable future.”

Recent studies have highlighted the negative health effects associated with alcohol consumption -- even in the most limited quantities. Now, researchers from the American Heart Association have identified those with type 2 diabetes as a particularly vulnerable group when it comes to drinking.  

According to a new study, having more than one alcoholic drink per day could increase the risk of high blood pressure for those with type 2 diabetes. 

“This is the first large study to specifically investigate the association of alcohol intake and hypertension among adults with type 2 diabetes,” said researcher Dr. Matthew J. Singleton. “Previous studies have suggested that heavy alcohol consumption was associated with high blood pressure, however, the association of moderate alcohol consumption with high blood pressure was unclear.” 

The risks of moderate alcohol consumption

The researchers had over 10,000 participants, all with type 2 diabetes, participate in the study. At the start of the study, the participants reported on how many alcoholic beverages they consumed per week, and the researchers monitored their blood pressure readings over the course of the study. 

The biggest takeaway that the researchers gleaned was that excessive alcohol consumption greatly increases consumers’ risk of high blood pressure. However, they learned that even drinking moderately throughout the week can be problematic for those struggling with type 2 diabetes. Moderate drinking was defined as having eight to 14 drinks per week, and participants who fell into this group were nearly 80 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure. 

These findings were consistent with those from another study, which found that moderate drinking for all consumers -- regardless of diabetes status -- can have a negative impact on blood pressure. 

Limiting alcohol consumption

The researchers learned that having a few drinks each week didn’t compromise participants’ blood pressure. Because of this, they recommend that consumers with type 2 diabetes take these findings into consideration when thinking about their own alcohol consumption. 

“People with type 2 diabetes are at a higher cardiovascular risk, and our findings indicate that alcohol consumption is associated with hypertension, so limited drinking is recommended,” said Dr. Singleton. 

In a report commissioned by President Trump’s Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a U.S. regulator called climate change a “slow motion” systemic threat to the nation’s financial markets. 

Without sweeping efforts to curb climate change, its physical impacts -- wildfires, storms, floods, droughts, etc -- and the costs stemming from such catastrophes will threaten the stability of the financial system, the report said. 

“A world wracked by frequent and devastating shocks from climate change cannot sustain the fundamental conditions supporting our financial system,” said the 196-page report entitled “Managing Climate Risk in the Financial System.” 

The report noted that the physical impacts of climate change have already become evident in the U.S. 

“Both physical and transition risks could give rise to systemic and sub-systemic financial shocks, potentially causing unprecedented disruption in the proper functioning of financial markets and institutions,” the report said. 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has only made matters worse by shrinking household wealth, government budgets, and rattling the economy in a number of other ways. The pandemic’s effects will end up “increasing the probability of an overall shock with systemic implications,” the report said. 

Avoiding financial destabilization 

To avoid the destabilizing effects of climate change, the report authors proposed:

• Establishing a price on carbon -- one that is high enough to get businesses and markets to stop using carbon dioxide-producing fuels, such as oil and gas; 

• Requiring banks to address climate-related financial risks and listed companies to disclose emissions; and

• Stress testing community banks for their resilience to climate change.

The report also called for a reversal of a proposed rule from the Trump administration’s Labor Department that would bar retirement investment managers from taking environmental consequences into account when making financial recommendations. 

“If there’s any class of investors that should be thinking about the long run, it’s retirement funds and pension funds,” said Nathaniel Keohane, an author of the report and an economist at the Environmental Defense Fund, an advocacy group.

The report authors also say that financial authorities should integrate climate risk “into their balance sheet management and asset purchases, particularly relating to corporate and municipal debt.”

Walmart has teamed up with on-demand drone delivery company FlyTrex to test a program through which consumers can get grocery and household essentials delivered via an automated drone. 

The retailer started piloting the program in Fayetteville, N.C. on Wednesday. Walmart said FlyTrex drones are controlled over the cloud using a smart and easy control dashboard. 

“We know that it will be some time before we see millions of packages delivered via drone. That still feels like a bit of science fiction,” said Tom Ward, Walmart's senior vice president of customer product, in a blog post. 

Through the pilot, Ward said the company is hoping to gain insight into how the program would look when implemented on a larger scale. Walmart, like other retailers, is currently attempting to expand its pickup and delivery services amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

"At the end of the day, it’s learnings from pilots such as this that will help shape the potential of drone delivery on a larger scale and, true to the vision of our founder, take Walmart beyond where we’ve been,” Ward said.

Amazon also testing drone delivery

Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration gave Amazon approval to begin using drones for commercial package delivery. The agency said it’s confident in Amazon’s drone operating and safety procedures. 

"The FAA supports innovation that is beneficial to the public, especially during a health or weather-related crisis,” the agency said. 

Boeing said Tuesday that a trio of production flaws discovered over the past year could delay deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner, the aircraft the company has been developing as an alternative to its embattled 737 MAX. 

The latest flaw, found in February and disclosed on Tuesday, involves the 787’s horizontal stabilizer (also known as the tail). Boeing said that during the fabrication process, some of the parts were “clamped with greater force than specified, which could result in improper gap verification and shimming,” Reuters reported. 

The issue could make it necessary for officials to inspect roughly 900 of the jets, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Tuesday that it “is investigating manufacturing flaws affecting certain Boeing 787 jetliners. The agency continues to engage with Boeing.”

Boeing has been attempting to revive its business and win back public support following two deadly crashes that led to the carrier’s 737 MAX being grounded globally. The company has set out to posit its 787 Dreamliner as its primary “cash cow” in the wake of the crashes, since consumers will likely remain hesitant to board Boeing’s 737 MAX jet for some time.

The FAA said on Monday that it was also investigating two other issues in some of the carrier’s 787 Dreamliner’s, in addition to the tail flaw. FAA officials said it’s too soon to tell if these flaws will warrant new inspections. 

The housing market is showing no signs of a slowdown heading into the fall. Mortgage applications for home purchases rose 3 percent last week from the week before and were 40 percent higher than a year ago.

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) says year-over-year changes to its seasonally adjusted index rarely approach 10 percent, suggesting this year’s housing market, affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, is breaking the mold.

Industry analysts say the market has drawn in more buyers over the summer because of a number of factors. There has been a traceable migration from cities to the suburbs since the pandemic hit, and there has been anecdotal evidence that many people, confined to apartments for two months, have sought more room afforded by single-family homes.

At the same time, interest rates have made home purchases more attractive and more affordable. MBA reports that the average 30-year fixed-rate conventional loan rate on balances up to $510,400 is 3.07 percent. The rate on a 15-year mortgage is at a record low 2.62 percent.

More affordable

Lower interest rates are making home purchases more affordable, with real estate broker Redfin documenting how much added buying power they provide. In its latest report, Redfin found that a buyer with a $2,500 monthly housing budget can afford a home priced $33,250 higher than a year ago, just because of lower rates.

At a 3 percent mortgage interest rate—roughly the average 30-year fixed rate for July and August—a homebuyer can afford a $516,500 home on $2,500 per month, up from the $483,250 they could afford on the same budget when the average was 3.77 percent  in July 2019.

But Redfin says that extra buying power may not last. The reason? Home prices are rising almost as fast as sales.

“Low mortgage rates are motivating many people to purchase a home, particularly those who want more space to work from home," said Redfin’s chief economist Daryl Fairweather. "But because there hasn't been an increase in the number of homes for sale since rates started dropping with the onset of the pandemic, many buyers end up competing for the same homes, driving up prices.”

Because of those competing forces, buyers in highly competitive markets are in roughly the same situation as last year. Fairweather says buyers seeking a condo can usually find a better deal, both on overall price and mortgage payments, because most condos are less competitive than single-family homes as people move out of densely populated urban areas.

General Motors and electrification start-up Nikola have announced a strategic partnership that advances GM’s entry into alternative fuels and is seen as a win-win by the automotive industry.

Nikola is a manufacturer of electric trucks and the strategic partnership will give it access to GM’s Hydrotec fuel cell and Ultium battery systems. In return, GM will take an 11 percent stake in Nikola.

Nikola will initially use the GM technology in its Badger pickup trucks. In addition to the Badger, the deal is expected to benefit the Nikola Tre, Nikola One, Nikola Two and NZT projects. The Badger, which is currently in development, is a vehicle designed to operate 100 percent on batteries, fuel cells, or both.

"This strategic partnership with Nikola, an industry leading disrupter, continues the broader deployment of General Motors' all-new Ultium battery and Hydrotec fuel cell systems," said GM CEO Mary Barra. "We are growing our presence in multiple high-volume EV segments while building scale to lower battery and fuel cell costs and increase profitability. In addition, applying General Motors' electrified technology solutions to the heavy-duty class of commercial vehicles is another important step in fulfilling our vision of a zero-emissions future."

New attention on fuel cells

GM is also seen as benefiting from the deal because its fuel cell technology will also be used in Nikola’s semi-truck product line. With the recent focus on battery-powered vehicles, and the meteoric rise in Tesla’s stock price, Brian Moody, executive editor at AutoTrader, says fuel cells haven’t gotten the attention they deserve.

“In other applications, fuel cells are seen as a reliable energy alternative, but only a handful of automakers seem interested,” Moody said in an email to ConsumerAffairs. “Right now, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota have fuel cell powered cars available to consumers in some regions.”

Powering up a fuel cell vehicle isn’t that different than how consumers refuel a gasoline engine. And in an advantage over batteries the refill rate is much faster than most plug-in electrics.

“By GM partnering with Honda and now Nikola, it shows they’re serious about alternative fuel vehicles,” Moody said.

Benefits for Nikola

From Nikola’s perspective, the company says it immediately gets decades of supplier and manufacturing knowledge, validated and tested production-ready EV propulsion, world-class engineering, and investor confidence. 

The company has previously said it expects at least one version of the Badger to be on sale throughout the U.S. by 2022.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling 160,229 model year 2019-2020 Ram 1500s with adjustable pedals.

In certain accelerator pedal positions, the floormats may prevent the pedal from returning to the normal resting (idle) position.

A pedal that does not return as expected may affect the vehicle's deceleration, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will modify the driver's floormat to remove the potential for pedal interference free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin October 16, 2020.

Owners may contact Chrysler's customer service at (800) 853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W63.

Hanamint of Greensboro, N.C., is recalling about 12,000 swivel rocker and glider chairs.

The chair’s post can separate from base, posing a fall hazard.

The firm has received 26 incidents of the chair’s post separating from the base, including one injury involving a small scrape.

This recall involves all dining swivel rockers, club swivel rockers, and club swivel gliders in all designs with mechanisms that have solid posts.

The aluminum framed chairs are for indoor and outdoor use and were sold in a variety of finishes including black, desert bronze and terra mist.

The Hanamint logo is cast into the underside of the seat.

The chairs, manufactured in China, were sold at Christy Sports, Chair King, Today’s Patio, The Great Escape, Fortunoff and other stores nationwide from January 2020, through June 2020, for about $600.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled swivel rockers and gliders and contact Hanamint for a free repair.

Consumers may contact Hanamint at (800) 298-9210 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday, by email at info@hanamint.com, or online at www.hanamintstore.com and click on RECALL Swivel Rockers and Club Swivel Rockers at top of page for more information.

Sunshine Mills is recalling Nature’s Menu Super Premium Dog Food with a Blend of Real Chicken & Quail.

The product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

No illnesses, injuries or complaints have been reported to date.

The recalled product, which come in a 3-pound bag with UPC codes 7015514363 and 7015514365, were sold in retail stores nationally and have the following lot codes:

• TE1 20/April /2020, TE1 21/April/2020, TE1 22/April/2020, TE2 20/April /2020, TE2 21/April/2020,
• TE2 22/April/2020, TE3 20/April/2020, TE3 21/April/2020, TE3 22/April/2020.
• The product comes in a 13.5-pound bag with the following lot codes:
• TB1 20/April /2020, TB1 21/April/2020, TB1 22/April/2020, TB2 20/April /2020, TB2 21/April/2020,
• TB2 22/April/2020, TB3 20/April/2020, TB3 21/April/2020, TB3 22/April/2020.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should discontinue use and may return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers may contact Sunshine Mills customer service at (800) 705-2111 from 7AM to 4PM (CT) Monday through Friday, or by email at customer.service@sunshinemills.com.

BMW of North America is recalling 42 model 2021 X6 (sDrive40i, xDrive40i and M50i) and X5 (sDrive40i, xDrive40i and M50i) vehicles with certain Pirelli tires.

The tires may have a damaged inner layer, possibly resulting in a rapid loss of pressure while the vehicle is moving.

This can affect vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

BMW has notified all of the affected owners, and dealers will replace the defective tires free of charge.

Owners may contact BMW customer service at (800) 525-7417.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 6.306,412 (6,289,964)

Total U.S. deaths: 189,236 (189,069)

Total global cases: 27,372,211 (27,200,943)

Total global deaths: 893.382 (889,842)

Vaccine makers pledge safety before speed

Nine of the pharmaceutical companies actively working on a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine have pledged to make sure whatever drug they come up with is safe for people, even if it means taking longer to develop.

In a joint statement, the U.S. and European firms, including AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and GlaxoSmithKline, promised to “uphold the integrity of the scientific process as they work towards potential global regulatory filings and approvals of the first Covid-19 vaccines.”

The pledge comes as polls show consumers, by and large, are hesitant to be inoculated with the first vaccine to hit the market. Over the weekend, a CBS News poll showed just 21 percent of voters would be willing to get the first vaccine, even if it is free.

Researchers find lasting effects from severe cases

Many people recover from the coronavirus quickly with no ill effects, but in one of the mysteries about this virus, some patients get very sick and have lasting effects after they no longer test positive.

Austrian researchers tracked 86 coronavirus patients after they were released from the hospital. All had suffered severe cases of the virus.

Six weeks after their discharge, the former patients still had signs of lung damage, revealed by CT scans. Forty-seven percent reported difficulty breathing. In fact, 24 patients had less than 80 percent of normal lung volume.

Experts see complex task in distributing a vaccine

Nearly a dozen pharmaceutical companies are at work on a coronavirus vaccine, and some are reporting swift progress. But what happens once a vaccine is developed and is approved for use by people?

That’s what health experts are beginning to think about now as they begin to set up plans for distributing it among the population. “It’s just incredible,” Tinglong Dai, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, told USA Today. “I think the vaccine supply chain is one of the most mind-bogglingly complex supply chains ever built.” 

The task may be difficult if there is an overwhelming number of people seeking to be vaccinated, but that may not turn out to be the case. As we’ve reported, there appears to be a large number of Americans who don’t want to be first in line once a vaccine is approved.

Wildfires may make coronavirus symptoms worse, doctors say

With wildfires ravaging parts of the parched western U.S., health officials in some of those states are carefully monitoring how the smoky conditions might affect those who have COVID-19.

Dr. Cheryl Pirozzi, a pulmonologist at University of Utah Health, says smoke from wildfires can potentially irritate the lungs and affect the immune system. “What we know about wildfire smoke and particulate pollution is that exposure increases the risk for respiratory viral infections,” she said.

The virus that causes COVID-19 can cause a wide range of symptoms, including several respiratory symptoms such as cough, sore throat, and difficulty breathing. These symptoms of COVID-19 may overlap with respiratory symptoms caused by air pollution or wildfire smoke exposure.

Alcohol, drug abuse increased with the pandemic

The U.S. was already in the grip of a deadly opioid abuse epidemic when the coronavirus hit, and researchers say the pandemic has only made it worse. Statistics collected by The Wall Street Journal show counties across the country are reporting rising opioid overdose injuries and deaths.

A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research shows that there was also a large increase in adult alcohol consumption during the early weeks of the pandemic as daily life became disrupted. 

The risk was greatest among participants with greater depression or lower social connectedness. It also appeared to affect those with a child under 18 living at home, as they reported greater alcohol consumption than those without children living at home.

Around the nation

• Florida: State health officials hope the flocks of people who headed to the beach on Labor Day won’t lead to a massive spike in coronavirus cases. Heading into the holiday, Florida reported 1,838 new cases, the lowest number in nearly three months.

• New York: Administrators at New York University (NYU) say more students may be suspended following a huge party over the weekend at Washington Square Park. As many as 20 students were sent home on Sunday for allegedly violating safety protocols.

• Arizona: Athletics at the University of Arizona may return this week after 13 student athletes tested positive for the coronavirus. University officials now say 11 of those cases were false positives.

Thousands of posts for coronavirus-related scams have circulated on social media during the pandemic, according to a study published recently in the Journal of Medical Internet Research Public Health and Surveillance.

After analyzing content on Twitter and Instagram, the researchers found nearly 2,000 posts containing dubious claims about products or “treatments” related to the virus. Most of the scammers were peddling products with no verified health benefits, while others were selling unapproved testing kits or other unproven COVID-19 related cures. 

The researchers said these untested products and purported cures could put consumer health at risk and dupe people out of money.

"From March to May 2020, we have identified nearly 2,000 fraudulent postings likely tied to fake COVID-19 health products, financial scams, and other consumer risk," wrote lead author Timothy Mackey, an associate adjunct professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego.

More are likely to show up

Mackey and his colleagues said another wave of posts for fake testing kits or unproven cures is likely to crop up when officials announce an effective COVID-19 vaccine or treatment.

"We're in a post-digital era and as this boom of digital adoption continues, we will see more of these fraudulent postings targeting consumers as criminals seek to take advantage of those in need during times of a crisis," Mackey said in a news release.

To spot a posting for a fraudulent product, Mackey advises consumers to check for the following red flags: 

• Mentions of bulk or rapid sales, cheap pricing, and questionable claims, such as FDA approval or specific certifications.

• Products, such as COVID-19 testing kits, imported from abroad. Mackey says purchases from abroad “should be considered risky.” 

• Business being conducted through social media direct messaging or a communications app, like Skype or WhatsApp. The researchers say this way of conducting business usually indicates a scam. 

The best course of action for those concerned about contracting COVID-19 or those who want to be tested for the virus is to "first work with their personal health care provider or local public health agency to ensure safe access to testing or treatment,” Mackey said. He added that any suspicious activity should be reported to federal authorities.

"Our hope is that the results from this study will better inform social media users so they can better decipher between fraudulent and legitimate posts," he said. "We conducted this research with the goal that eventually it will lead to improved tools and policy changes so that social media can be used as a force for good."

Amazon has banned the sale of foreign seeds to customers in the U.S. after packets of unordered seeds, many postmarked from China, began showing up on U.S. consumers’ doorsteps over the summer.

The Wall Street Journal reports an email sent by Amazon to foreign sellers last week informed them of the decision. The online retailer reportedly began removing some seed and plant offers on September 3.

Amazon’s action is seen as a precautionary move. U.S. officials have expressed concern that invasive foreign plants introduced to the United States could threaten U.S. agriculture. The seeds in question are seen as suspicious since no one ordered them and no one seems to know where they came from.

The email cited by The Journal said the step is part of the company’s efforts to protect customers and improve the customer experience. An Amazon spokesperson essentially confirmed the ban over the weekend.

Limited to U.S. seed sellers

“Moving forward, we are only permitting the sale of seeds by sellers who are based in the U.S.,” the spokesperson said in a statement issued to The Journal. 

Various investigators for the U.S. government, including the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) have spent the last few weeks trying to determine the source of the mystery seed shipments. A spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry has maintained from the start that the mailing labels indicating the seeds were shipped from China were forged. 

Investigators who spoke to The Journal suggest the mystery seed shipments are simply a tactic some online sellers use to raise their profile on Amazon. By sending an inexpensive item like seeds to thousands of consumers, the seller may rank higher on Amazon’s platform.

The battle against invasive plants

USDA’s Forest Service fights an ongoing battle against invasive plants that thrive once they take root in the U.S. and overtake other native plants. According to USDA, invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42 percent of U.S. endangered and threatened species.

As a result, overall plant diversity can be decreased because invasive species compete with native plants for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space.

When you think of a non-native, invasive plant in the U.S. you need only think of the kudzu plant that has taken over large areas of southern states. Nature magazine reports an established kudzu plant grows at a rate of one foot per day with mature vines as long as 100 feet.

Experts have recently found ways that probiotics can help consumers’ physical and mental health, but a new study is exploring how these bacteria can help young people stay healthy. 

According to researchers, childhood obesity is likely to be more manageable when kids follow a healthy diet and take a daily probiotic. 

“Probiotic supplements are frequently given to people without proper evidence [or] data,” said researcher Dr. Flavia Prodam. “These findings start to give evidence of the efficacy and safety of two probiotic strains in treating obesity in a younger population.” 

Encouraging healthier habits

The researchers had 100 kids between the ages of six and 18 participate in the eight-week long study. While all of the participants were instructed to follow healthy diets for the duration of the study, half of the group was given a probiotic supplement and the other half was given a placebo. At the end of the eight weeks, the researchers assessed the participants’ health outcomes to determine the best course of action for childhood obesity. 

Ultimately, the researchers found that the combination of the probiotic supplement and a healthy diet were more effective than dieting alone. The study revealed that kids who took a probiotic had improved metabolisms, lower body mass indices (BMIs), and better insulin resistance than the group who was given a placebo. 

Because of these health benefits, the researchers are hopeful that this simple intervention can be implemented more widely among young people struggling to maintain a healthy weight. While everyone reacts differently to supplements, and a healthy diet is imperative, probiotics could be beneficial in helping keep childhood obesity at bay. 

“The next step for our research is to identify patients that could benefit from this probiotic treatment, with a view to creating a more personalized weight-loss strategy,” said Dr. Prodam. “We also want to decipher more clearly the role of diet and probiotics on microbiome composition. This could help us to understand how the microbiota is different in young people with obesity.”