Current Events in October 2020

Real estate industry experts are still learning how the coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected the housing market and identifying trends that may last for a while. For one thing, homes are a lot more expensive than they were before the pandemic, but not everywhere.

The median home price in September surged by a record 15 percent, to $320,625, according to a report from real estate broker Redfin. More than a third of that increase has occurred since early July.

In August, pending home sales were up 26 percent year-over-year, and homes sold almost as fast as they could be listed. More than 45 percent of homes that went under contract had an accepted offer within the first two weeks on the market, a trend that has held relatively steady for the last 17 weeks.

Housing experts are in general agreement that the effects of the pandemic are driving sales and pushing up prices. With people spending so much time at home, there is increasing demand for homes with more indoor and outdoor space.

Tele-work trend

With millions of people now able to work from anywhere, it’s no longer necessary to live within commuting distance of the office -- or what used to be the office. Because of that, housing markets like New York and San Francisco -- two of the most expensive U.S. housing markets -- have seen median home prices decline since the pandemic.

Analyst Troy Ludtka with Natixis, an investment banking firm, told USA Today that these trends have bolstered home sales, and there’s little reason to believe the teleworking shift won’t at least partly continue even after the pandemic has subsided.

COVID-19 seems to have produced a reverse image of the housing market. Before the pandemic, urban real estate was quickly appreciating in value while rural homes went begging. Now, rural and suburban properties are selling quickly, resulting in faster-rising prices.

New demand for luxury homes

Before the pandemic, the strongest demand was for entry-level housing. Now, the Redfin report shows that large luxury homes are in demand.

“Large, expensive, luxury homes are taking up a bigger share of the homes that are selling, which is driving a high growth rate for the median sale price," said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. "Remote work is increasing demand from affluent people, while middle-income people are more often expected to do their jobs in-person, and many have been affected by furloughs and shutdowns."

Real estate professionals advise that people considering a home purchase should be prepared to act quickly once they find a property they like. However, buyers shouldn’t expect to engage in a lot of negotiation. The average sale-to-list price ratio, which measures how close homes are selling to their asking prices, rose to 99.4 percent—an all-time high and 1.2 percentage points higher than a year earlier.

It’s also critical to get pre-approved by a lender before making an offer on a property. Obtaining a pre-approval letter will tell the seller you are serious and that your offer should be considered.

General Motors is recalling five model year 2020 Chevrolet Corvettes.

The driver's seat belt retractor may not lock as intended during a crash.

Failure of the driver's seat belt to lock increases the risk of injury.

What to do

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side seat-belt retractor free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin on November 9, 2020.

Owners may contact GM customer service at (866) 522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N202307690.

Country Fresh is recalling a limited quantity of watermelon chunks from select stores.

The products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

There are no reports of illnesses to date.

The recall affects following product codes of watermelon shipped directly to Walmart and RaceTrac’s retail distribution centers stores in select stores located in Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma and Texas:

• Watermelon 32oz, Lot URR0103, Use By 10/2/20
• Watermelon 32oz, Lot URE0103, Use By 10/3/20
• Watermelon 42oz, Lot URR0103, Use By 10/2/20
• Watermelon 42oz, Lot URE0103, Use By 10/3/20
• Watermelon 16oz, Lot URR0103, Use By 10/2/20
• Watermelon 16oz, Lot URS0103, Use By 10/4/20
• Watermelon 10oz, Lot URR0103, Use By 10/2/20
• Watermelon 10oz, Lot URE0103, Use By 10/3/20
• Watermelon 10oz, Lot URS0103, Use By 10/4/2
• Watermelon 5.5oz, Lot URE0103, Use By 10/4/20
• Summer Blend 5oz, Lot URR0103, Use By 10/2/20
• Summer Blend 5oz, Lot URE0103, Use By 10/3/20
• Summer Blend 5oz, Lot URS0103, Use By 10/4/20
• Melon Trio 5.5oz, Lot URE0103, Use By 10/4/20

The products were packaged in a variety of clam shell containers, with best-if-used by dates of October 2, 3, and 4, 2020 and SKUs as follows:

Walmart – Freshness Guaranteed

• Watermelon 4 x 10 oz – UPC Code: 681131180672
• Watermelon 2 x 32 oz – UPC Code: 681131180672
• Watermelon Chunks 2 x 42 oz – UPC Code: 681131180658
• Watermelon Spears 4 x 16 oz – UPC Code: 681131180665
• Summer Blend FTC 4 x 5 oz – UPC Code: 681131355094

RaceTrac

• Watermelon 5.5oz – UPC Code: 74641000644
• Melon Trio 5.5oz – UPC Code: 74641031945

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but discard them immediately.

Consumers with questions may contact the customer service department at (877) 251-8300, Monday – Friday, 8am-5pm (CST).

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 7,620,052 (7,560,010)

Total U.S. deaths: 213,016 (212,103)

Total global cases: 36,669,238 (36,265,982)

Total global deaths: 1,063,863 (1,057,505)

President Trump’s doctor says his treatment is complete

Dr, Sean Conley, President Trump’s White House physician, says the president has completed his treatment for the coronavirus (COVID-19). Conley reportedly approved the president’s return to public events on Saturday.

Conley’s prognosis places the president among the fortunate victims of the virus, who tend to display minor symptoms that improve over the course of a week or so. Trump began treatment last Friday.

The three drugs used to treat the president are also drawing more interest from health experts, including remdesivir, an antiviral drug that has emergency use authorization (EUA) to treat COVID-19 patients. Gilead CEO Daniel O’Day told CNBC that the company will have enough of the drug by the end of this month to treat patients worldwide.

Cases are surging around the world

With fall here and winter approaching, the second wave of the coronavirus that health experts were fearing appears to be unfolding. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a record one-day increase in worldwide cases on Thursday, an increase of 338,779 in 24 hours, largely because of new cases in Europe.

The U.S, is also dealing with a rapid increase in cases in most areas of the country. An analysis of data compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows new cases of the virus increased by more than 45,000 in a 24-hour period.

CDC: special risk for the overweight

Want to improve your chances of surviving COVID-19? Lose some weight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its warnings to state that people who are merely overweight, not necessarily obese, also appear to be more vulnerable to more severe effects of COVID-19.

The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that more than 70 percent of adults in the U.S. were either overweight or obese between 2015 and 2016. The update also makes clear that people who smoke, or have a history of smoking, also appear to be at an increased risk from the coronavirus.

Other risk factors include cancer, kidney disease, heart conditions, and compromised immune systems.

McConnell puts a damper on stimulus talk

Efforts in Congress to produce some kind of new stimulus and coronavirus aid measure appear to be going nowhere fast. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said today that it is unlikely Congress will pass such a measure in the next three weeks.

President Trump last week abruptly broke off talks with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on a comprehensive package, but he said he would sign targeted aid provisions that the two parties already agree on. So far, there’s been no movement in that direction.

The talks have restarted, but McConnell said he doesn’t see a breakthrough in the near term because of politics. “I’d like to see us rise above that like we did back in March and April, but I think that’s unlikely in the next three weeks,” he told CNBC. 

Truckers still feel threatened

In the early days of the pandemic, when little was known about the coronavirus and how best to protect people, long-haul truckers felt especially vulnerable. A new report from the Pew Charitable Trust suggests they still do.

But that worry isn’t limited to getting infected; it’s also about the cost of treatment. The report says many truckers who have had the disease continue to have lingering effects, and some are unable to work, threatening their health coverage.

“As time goes on and our infection rate goes up, the fallout is that an extraordinarily large number of people who were previously healthy, working and engaged in the economy will now become shadows of their former selves,” said Diana Berrent, founder of Survivor Corps, a grassroots organization connecting those who have been infected with COVID-19.

Around the nation

• Illinois: Gov. J.B. Pritzker is warning residents in his state that "progress has cooled" in efforts to rein in the virus. Pritzker said there is a troubling spike in cases that has followed "promising declines" in all regions of Illinois.

• Florida: College football games this fall have been played in nearly empty stadiums, but the fans could soon be returning in Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis has lifted attendance restrictions at stadiums.

• Tennessee: State officials are under increasing pressure to be more forthcoming about the extent of the virus in their state. The Center for Public Integrity is calling on the governor’s office to release reports it receives from the White House Coronavirus Task Force.

With COVID-19 still hanging in the air and over our heads, a majority of Americans say they’re not going home to see family -- and a third say they’re not planning to celebrate the holidays at all.

But they’re not staying home, either. A just-released Travelocity 2020 Holiday Outlook survey found that a quarter of consumers are opting for a personal vacation before the end of the year instead. For travelers with children under 18, that number shoots up to 45 percent, 

"It's going to be a nontraditional holiday season this year, so families are gearing up to make the most of it by planning a holiday away from home and using their vacation days to travel," says Katie Junod, General Manager at Travelocity. 

"Our survey found that 80 percent of travelers who have taken a trip since the start of COVID-19 rated their experience as excellent or good, and that's given them the confidence to plan that next vacation at a time when they need a break from at-home school and work."

The forecast

Survey respondents who will travel during the holidays are trying to plan ahead because of the uncertainty related to the pandemic. Nearly 66 percent of holiday-goers say they've already booked lodging and transportation for Thanksgiving or the December holidays. Another 20 percent plan to book their holiday travel before October ends.

Based on survey results and demand data, Travelocity is predicting the following holiday travel trends:

• Holiday hoteling: More travelers say they plan to stay at a hotel or a vacation rental over the holidays, with hotels being a slight favorite.

• Road ready: Nearly 80 percent of Americans plan to jump in the car and drive wherever they’re going versus 20 percent who plan on flying.

• The long weekend option: One in four holiday travelers say they'll stay through the long weekends of Thanksgiving and Christmas (on Friday this year) rather than planning shorter day trips. 

• Celebrate close to home: Two-thirds of holiday-makers plan to travel 250 miles or less to mix and mingle.

Doing holiday away from home the right way

In all likelihood, Santa is not bringing anyone a coronavirus-free Christmas, but Travelocity says there are some sensible tips travelers can use to venture out with confidence.

• Keep travel plans flexible: Because COVID-19 hot spots change like the wind, Travelocity says travelers should make sure that they look for flights and rooms that come with a free cancellation policy. 

• Look for hotels that do enhanced cleaning: One-third of travelers say that safe accommodations play a big part in whether or not they will travel this holiday season. Some travel search engines have a search filter that allows consumers to look for hotels that have proactive sanitization plans. Airbnb also mandates that its properties adhere to certain cleaning procedures.

• Search for flights with safety in mind: Fifty-three percent of travelers who have already booked flights this holiday season admit they are worried about flying right now. Some travel search engines have a filter that tells consumers what airlines expect from them in the way of mask requirements and temperature checks. However, travelers should also look into at-airport tests, on-board sanitizing procedures, and other health and safety measures to make sure they’re comfortable with everything the airlines are doing or not doing.

Even though Travelocity's survey found that this holiday season will be different than in years past, Junod says travelers’ holiday spirits are still high. 

"Two-thirds of respondents said they've been able to travel to see friends and family since COVID-19 started, and almost half say they're feeling happy and calm about the upcoming holiday season," she said.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has posted its recommended shipping deadlines to get holiday packages delivered by Christmas Day.

The deadlines may be more important this year since delivery schedules have been challenged since March, when the coronavirus (COVID-19) kept people out of stores and launched a wave of online purchases.

While the system has stabilized in the last few months due to an increase in resources, deliveries are sometimes slower than usual. With an expected sharp increase in holiday shopping this year, consumers may want to plan accordingly.

This year’s USPS shipping deadlines look like this:

• Nov. 6   — APO/FPO/DPO (all ZIP Codes) USPS Retail Ground service

• Dec. 9   — APO/FPO/DPO (ZIP Code 093 only) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail

• Dec. 11 — APO/FPO/DPO (all other ZIP Codes) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail services

• Dec. 15 — USPS Retail Ground service

• Dec. 18 — APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP Code 093) USPS Priority Mail Express service

• Dec. 18 — First-Class Mail service (including greeting cards)

• Dec. 18 — First-class packages (up to 15.99 ounces)

• Dec. 19 — Priority Mail service

• Dec. 23 — Priority Mail Express* service

No guarantee

As always, USPS stresses that these dates are not a guarantee for delivery unless otherwise noted. In fact, actual dates may vary depending on origin, destination, Post Office acceptance date and time, and other conditions.

USPS says Dec. 14 will probably be its busiest day for online shipping, with more than 13 million consumers predicted to visit its website for help. A half-million people are expected to use Click-N-Ship, which allows you to pay for postage and print shipping labels.

To save time and money, USPS suggests using Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes, which are free and available at local Post Offices or online at usps.com/freeboxes. Shippers may also schedule a free package pickup by mail carriers on their regular delivery route, or a pickup can be scheduled at usps.com/pickup.

There are some exceptions. Mail and packages that weigh more than 10 ounces and/or are more than a half-inch thick using stamps as postage cannot be dropped into a collection box or left for a carrier to pick up. Instead, shippers must take them to a window clerk at a post office.

Other delivery services have also posted their shipping deadlines. Below are the important dates to keep in mind for both FedEx and the United Parcel Service (UPS). 

FedEx

• Fedex Smart Post – December 9

• Fedex Ground Delivery – December 15

• Fedex Home Delivery – December 15

• Fedex Express Saver – December 21

• Fedex 2Day Services – December 22

• Fedex Overnight Services – December 23

United Parcel Service (UPS)

• UPS Ground – December 11

• UPS 3 Day Select – December 21

• UPS 2nd Day Air Service – December 22

• UPS Next Day Air Service – December 23

Microsoft will be letting some of its employees work from home permanently, according to a report from The Verge. 

In a memo to employees, the company said it will shift to a “hybrid workplace” under which employees will have flexibility during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged all of us to think, live, and work in new ways,” said Kathleen Hogan, Microsoft’s chief people officer, in the company memo. “We will offer as much flexibility as possible to support individual workstyles, while balancing business needs, and ensuring we live our culture.”

Greater flexibility

Most of the company’s employees are still working from home, and now Microsoft says some employees will be given the option of relinquishing their assigned office space in order to work from home permanently. 

Some employees whose positions necessitate in-person duties will have to report to the office, but Microsoft said most employees will easily be able to spend less than 50 percent of their working week in the office.  

Facebook has also announced that it is letting thousands of employees switch to remote work permanently. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in May that he anticipates that half of Facebook employees could be working remotely on a permanent basis within the next five to 10 years. 

Twitter and Square have also given employees the option to work from home forever. 

Recent studies have highlighted the benefits associated with older consumers exercising regularly, as being more active in later life has been linked with improvements to brain function and vision. 

Now, a new study has explored how workouts of varying levels of intensity can affect older consumers’ lifespans. According to the findings, having an exercise routine of any kind is beneficial for consumers’ longevity, and intensity doesn’t play a role in mortality risk. 

Benefits of activity into older age

The researchers had over 1,500 older participants try out three different exercise routines over the course of a five-year study. The exercise programs ranged in intensity from moderate to intense, with one group serving as the control group and doing no more than the recommended weekly exercise guidelines. 

Overall, the researchers learned that the intensity of the exercise routine didn’t increase the risk of death from any cause. While staying active comes with countless benefits for consumers of all ages, the study revealed that the mortality risk was nearly identical for both the control group and the groups doing moderate or intense exercise. 

The researchers also found that the risk of developing conditions like cardiovascular disease or cancer were also about the same regardless of how intensely the participants exercised. 

“This study suggests that combined [moderate intensity continuous training] and [high-intensity interval training] has no effect on all-cause mortality compared with recommended physical activity levels,” the researchers wrote. 

More older consumers are exercising

Although these findings are promising for older consumers, the researchers explained that it’s also important to take into consideration that the overwhelming majority of the study participants were already engaging in moderate to intense exercise routines when the study began, which could explain the results. 

However, this appears to be a trend among older adults, as another recent study found that seniors have been outperforming most young people -- particularly in recent months -- when it comes to exercise. 

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House coronavirus task force, says he’s already decided to forgo a big Thanksgiving gathering this year in light of the ongoing threat of the virus. 

Fauci told CNN that although COVID-19 cases have declined in some parts of the country, colder weather could bring a spike in cases. 

“We're starting to see in the midwest and the northwest an uptick in test positivity which tends to be a predictor that you're going to have surges," Fauci said. "When you go into the fall and winter, the weather's colder, you tend to be indoors. When you're indoors it becomes more problematic to be able to block the transmission of infection."

“Maybe just have immediate family”

During a webinar hosted by American University’s Kennedy Political Union on Tuesday, Fauci said he plans to have a “very, very closed family type of thing.” His gathering won’t involve his daughters because they live in “disparate parts of the country” where COVID-19 infection rates are still concerning. 

"I say that some people in this country are going to be a relatively normal type of a Thanksgiving but in other areas of the country, it's gonna be—you better hold off and maybe just have immediate family," Fauci said. 

No matter the size of the Thanksgiving gathering, Fauci advises people to take precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19. 

"Make sure you do it in a way that people wear masks and you don't have large crowds of people. You know, I'd like to say that everything is gonna be great by Thanksgiving, but I'm not so sure it is,” he said. 

Large indoor gatherings pose a risk

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has categorized large indoor gatherings with people outside of your household as a “higher risk activity.” The agency suggests that families and friends opt for a small dinner party with only those living in a household in attendance this Thanksgiving. 

In addition to considering infection rates in the area the gathering will be held, Fauci says people should also consider the vulnerability of the individuals they want to include. For example, it may be best to have elderly people with underlying health conditions participate virtually this year due to their higher risk of developing severe complications from COVID-19. Fauci also suggests making sure you’re symptom-free before agreeing to attend a Thanksgiving gathering. 

“Maybe you want to come in and quarantine yourself for a number of days or get tested a couple of times before you go in,” Fauci said.

Gilead Sciences, maker of the COVID-19 treatment remdesivir, said Friday that it will have an “ample” supply of its antiviral drug to give to hospitalized patients by the end of October. 

On Friday, CEO Daniel O’Day told CNBC that data from a recent large-scale trial of the experimental drug were “meaningful.” 

“They’ll definitely help patients around the world who have the misfortune of entering into the hospital to get better, and I’m really pleased to say that we have ample supply,” O’Day said on “Squawk Box.”  

O’Day was speaking of the results of a trial that showed remdesivir shortened the time it took for patients to recover by an average of five days. Patients were also 50 percent more likely to have recovered 15 days after treatment compared to those given a placebo. The study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

"These data from a rigorous, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial add to the breadth of evidence from additional randomized clinical trials supporting the use of Veklury as a standard of care for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients,” Gilead's chief medical officer Merdad Parsey said in a statement.

Gearing up to meet demand

Remdesivir -- which works by reducing viral replication in the body -- was reportedly one of the coronavirus medications used by President Donald Trump. The medication must currently be administered via an IV, but Gilead has said it’s working on an inhaled version.

The company said it started investing in ramping up manufacturing “long before we knew whether remdesivir would work.” 

“We brought on more than 40 additional manufacturing partners and our teams worked day and night to find ways to shorten the lead time, without compromising on safety or rigor,” O’Day said in a statement. 

"Supply of Veklury is expected to meet global demand by the end of this month, enabling the purchase of Veklury both to treat patients and to support national stockpiling of the medicine for current and future surges of COVID-19," the executive added.

Motorists drove more this week, but it had no effect on prices in most states. The price at the pump has been stable since early July.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $2.18 a gallon, a penny less than last Friday. That’s three cents less than a month ago.

The average price of premium gas is $2.79 a gallon, also one cent less than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $2.38 a gallon, which is also a penny less than a week ago.

AAA says $2.18 a gallon is the cheapest price of gasoline at the beginning of October since 2016. That’s four cents cheaper than the start of September, with prices holding steady on demand of 8.5 million barrels a day.

“Demand is likely to see some declines in the weeks ahead as drivers traditionally take fewer road trips in the fall,” said Jeanette Casselano McGee, AAA’s spokesperson. “That will mean gas prices are likely to push cheaper throughout the month.”

Gas prices have been remarkably stable over the last couple of weeks, even with hurricanes pounding the Gulf Coast. AAA reports that in the last week, 41 state gas price averages fluctuated by no more than two cents a gallon. Most only saw a penny increase or decrease.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• Hawaii ($3.24)

• California ($3.20)

• Washington ($2.79)

• Nevada ($2.64)

• Oregon ($2.61)

• Alaska ($2.51)

• Pennsylvania ($2.48)

• Utah ($2.40)

• Idaho ($2.38)

• Illinois ($2.29)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($1.85)

• Texas ($1.86)

• Arkansas ($1.88)

• Louisiana ($1.91)

• Missouri ($1.87)

• Alabama ($1.91)

• Oklahoma ($1.88)

• South Carolina ($1.92)

• Tennessee ($1.93)

• Kansas ($1.95)

There are many types of health risks associated with pregnancy complications, but a new study is exploring how such complications can negatively affect women’s health over longer periods of time as they age. 

According to researchers, women who experience pregnancy complications -- like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, or preterm birth, among several others -- are at an increased risk of developing heart disease later in life. The team says that other factors related to reproductive hormone levels, such as early menopause or starting periods early, could also increase the risk of heart disease. 

Identifying the health risks

To understand how pregnancy complications and other hormone-related health conditions could affect the likelihood of women developing heart disease, the researchers analyzed over 30 previous studies that tracked women’s health over long periods of time. In evaluating a number of risk factors, they learned that several health conditions could put women at an increased risk of heart disease in later life. 

Their work revealed that preeclampsia -- or high blood pressure during pregnancy -- gives women the highest likelihood of developing heart disease later in life, as women with this condition were four times as likely to be diagnosed with heart disease. For women with gestational diabetes or those who had preterm births, the risk of heart disease was twice as likely later in life. 

Several other reproductive health factors were also associated with an increased risk of heart disease, including miscarriage, low birth weight, early periods, stillbirth, and early menopause. 

The researchers explained that lifestyle and genetic factors could affect women’s risk of heart disease. However, because of the clear link between female reproductive health and long-term heart health concerns, the researchers hope that these findings inspire women to be screened for any potential disease risk.

“Identifying reproductive risk factors at an early stage in the life of women might facilitate the initiation of strategies to modify potential risks,” the researchers wrote. “Policymakers should consider incorporating reproductive risk factors as part of the assessment of cardiovascular risk in clinical guidelines.” 

Endliss Technology of Hayward, Calif., is recalling about 367,000

Trianium cell phone battery pack cases.

The lithium-ion battery in the cases can overheat resulting in thermal runaway, posing a burn hazard.

The firm has received 96 reports of batteries overheating due to thermal runaway, including 10 reports of burn injuries.

This recall involves Endliss Technology Trianium battery phone cases for all types of mobile phones.

The cases were sold in black, gray, white and pink, with “Trianium” written on the back of the case.

Recalled model numbers include: TM000006, TM000007, TM000008, TM000009, TM000010, TM000011, TM000046, TM000047, TM000048, TM000049, TM000101, TM000103, TM-06A-4000BBLK, TM-06A-4000ROGD, TM-06A-4000WSLV, TM-S6BC-BLK and MTS-3000-BBLK.

The cases, manufactured in China, were sold online at Amazon.com from September 2014, through July 2020, for between $30 and $100.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled phone cases, dispose of them in accordance with local laws on battery disposal, and contact Endliss for a free replacement power pack.

Consumers may contact Endliss toll-free at (844P) 609-0874, or online at www.trianium.com and click on “Battery Case Recall” at the top of the page for more information.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 7,560,010 (7,506,743)

Total U.S. deaths: 212,103 (211,108)

Total global cases: 36,265,982 (35,906,341)

Total global deaths: 1,057,505 (1,051,446)

People with no symptoms may be spreading the virus

Researchers at University College London conducted a study of thousands of households, giving everyone a coronavirus (COVID-19) test. They were alarmed at the number of positive results from people who had no idea they had the virus.

The takeaway is this -- as many as 80 percent of the people who test positive have no symptoms on the day they are tested, meaning they could be spreading it to everyone they come in contact with.

“To reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2, it is important to identify those who are infectious. However, little is known about what proportion of infectious people are asymptomatic and potential ‘silent’ transmitters,” the researchers concluded.

Regeneron seeks emergency authorization for its antibody treatment

Regeneron has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency authorization (EUA) for its REGN-COV2 monoclonal antibody coronavirus therapy. It’s the treatment President Trump received last week, even though it has not been cleared for use.

“Under our agreement with the U.S. government for the initial doses of REGN-COV2, if an EUA is granted the government has committed to making these doses available to the American people at no cost and would be responsible for their distribution,” the company said. 

Should the EUA be granted, it may be some time before the company has produced the treatment at scale. Currently, Regeneron says there are doses available for approximately 50,000 patients. It expects that number to increase to 300,000 in the next few months.

President Trump said to have no symptoms

Donald Trump’s doctor says the president has shown no symptoms of the coronavirus since Tuesday and has not had a fever since the weekend. In a memo, Dr. Sean Conley said Trump has also not needed supplemental oxygen since leaving Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

“Of note today, the President’s labs demonstrated detectable levels of SARS-CoV-2-IgG antibodies from labs drawn Monday,” Conley reported.

Since being diagnosed with COVID-19 on Friday, Trump’s treatment has consisted of the steroid dexamethasone, the antiviral therapy remdesivir, and an antibody cocktail from Regeneron. All but the antibody cocktail are readily available to other patients.

Midwest surge is heading east

U.S. cases are rising, with 50,000 new positive tests recorded on Wednesday. Projections developed at PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) show that the resurgence of virus risk in much of the Midwest and Mountain states over the past few weeks has spread into the Northeast.

Scientists say the number of positive tests have spiked. The researchers believe weather-related impacts on the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and lack of vigilance to proven mitigation practices are contributing to more widespread transmission throughout the northern U.S.

PolicyLab's forecasting model shows that much of the Northeast and New England are likely to see rising infection rates over the next four weeks. Case counts are projected to more than double in Boston by early November unless there are improvements in social distancing and other mitigation efforts.

Augmented reality has altered retail in the pandemic

Amid store closings, layoffs, and bankruptcies, the coronavirus pandemic has turned retail on its head. It has also apparently accelerated a major trend.

IBM’s 2020 U.S. Retail Index report suggests that the pandemic has sped up the shift to digital shopping by around five years. The Harvard Business Review notes that an increased number of retailers have adopted augmented reality (AR) applications, allowing online shoppers to “try before they buy.”

Jewelry retailer Kendra Scott, which closed its stores early in the pandemic, introduced an AR tool that allowed shoppers to virtually try on different earring styles using their electronic devices. With an iPhone and the Safari web browser, customers were able to preview the products directly on their ears and make a purchase.

Around the nation

• Connecticut: The rate of positive tests plunged this week, but it was a case of a clerical error. Gov. Ned Lamont says a data entry error led to reporting 8,200 positive test results instead of the actual 17,714.

• Texas: State officials have drawn up a list of who will be first in line to receive a coronavirus vaccine once one is approved. The list includes health care workers, essential front line employees, people over age 65, and people with underlying medical conditions.

• California: Cases within the state are rising again, but top public health official Dr. Mark Ghaly says there is no evidence linking the increase in illnesses to the reopening of public schools. "We're looking at the information to see if there is a connection, and so far we have not found one," he said at a briefing.

Income tax filing has been a topsy turvy mess in the Year of COVID-19. But now that things seem to be settling into place, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reminding taxpayers that October 15 is the deadline for most people who requested tax filing extensions.

We say “most” because some taxpayers may have more time. They include:

• Members of the U.S. military and others who are serving in a combat zone. Typically, they have 180 days after they leave the combat zone to file returns and pay any taxes due.

• Taxpayers in federally declared disaster areas who already had valid extensions. For details, see the disaster relief page on IRS.gov. Examples would be those affected by California wildfires or victims of Hurricanes Dorian, Michael, or Florence..

Things to remember

The IRS reminds taxpayers that while the deadline looms near, there are things that they should take into account to avoid problems down the line. Those include:

Pay ASAP to reduce penalties and interest. Like in a normal tax season, the IRS allows the same conveniences for this extension. Electronic filing options, including IRS Free File, are available to everyone. If a taxpayer uses a tax professional, the IRS reminds them to make sure the preparer uses electronic options to support social distancing and speed the processing of tax returns, refunds, and payments.

Choose direct deposit for refunds. “The safest and fastest way for taxpayers to get their refund is to have it electronically deposited into their bank or other financial account,” the IRS said. “Taxpayers can use direct deposit to deposit their refund into one, two or even three accounts. Direct deposit is much faster than waiting for a paper check to arrive in the mail.”

Track your refund. Once a tax return has been filed, the IRS prefers for taxpayers to use the agency’s Where's My Refund? tool on IRS.gov or download the IRS2Go mobile app to track the status of a refund. Contacting the IRS directly may take more time.

Pay federal taxes electronically. Another neat nuance for modern day taxpayers is the ability to make their federal tax payments online, by phone, or even with their smartphone and the IRS2Go app. However, the IRS says there are a few things that taxpayers who are paying federal taxes electronically should remember:

• Electronic payment options are the absolute best way to make a tax payment.

• Taxpayers can pay when they file electronically using online tax software. If using a tax preparer, taxpayers should ask the preparer to make the tax payment through an electronic funds withdrawal from a bank account.

• IRS Direct Pay allows taxpayers to pay online directly from their checking or savings account at no cost, and to schedule payments up to a year in advance.

• Credit cards, debit cards, or digital wallet options through a payment processor are all accepted and no fees go to the IRS.

• One neat advantage ConsumerAffairs sees for taxpayers is the ability to enroll in the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), which gives people a choice of paying online or by phone by using the EFTPS Voice Response System.

• If anyone needs to check on the specifics of what they owe, review payment history, access historical tax records, etc., they can go to IRS.gov/account to securely access all of that information.

Can't pay the full amount?

The IRS knows full well that the pandemic has put many taxpayers in a difficult financial position. It’s reminding those who are in that situation that there are a variety of payment options available on IRS.gov/payments. Some caveats consumers should know include the following:

• Despite the fact that interest and late-payment penalties will accrue on any unpaid taxes after the original July 15 due date, the failure to pay tax penalty rate is cut in half while an installment agreement is in effect.

• The usual penalty rate of 0.5 percent per month is reduced to 0.25 percent per month. For the calendar quarter beginning Oct. 1, 2020, the interest rate for underpayment has been set at 3 percent.

Non-Filers can still get an Economic Impact Payment

Most people -- 160 million to be precise -- have already received their Economic Impact Payments (aka stimulus check). The IRS says that those who haven’t and have little to no income can still get this payment.

“People can qualify for a payment, even if they don't work or have no earned income. But low- and moderate-income workers and working families eligible to receive special tax benefits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit, cannot use this tool,” the agency said. “They will need to file a regular return as soon as possible. The IRS will use their tax return information to determine and issue any EIP for which they are eligible.”

In situations where incomes are typically below $24,400 for married couples, and $12,200 for singles, they must enter their information by Nov. 21 to get a payment this year. As far as ConsumerAffairs could tell, the only way to apply for a payment is the Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov.

As more and more states legalize marijuana, consumers are reaping the medical benefits of cannabis-based products. 

Now, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of California at San Diego has found that older adults are really taking advantage of these products -- particularly for medical purposes. Their work revealed that consumers over the age of 60 have started using cannabis for a wide variety of conditions, including chronic pain and sleeping troubles. 

“Surprisingly, we found that nearly three-fifths of cannabis users reported using cannabis for the first time as older adults,” said researcher Kevin Yang. “These individuals were a unique group compared to those who used cannabis in the past.” 

A new wave of cannabis users

The researchers surveyed nearly 570 participants over the age of 65 to understand how often they were using cannabis products and the reasons they preferred them. The survey revealed that more than half of the participants used cannabis-based products on a regular basis for medical purposes, though more than 60 percent hadn’t started using cannabis until they were over the age of 60. 

“Pain, insomnia, and anxiety were the most common reasons for cannabis use and, for the most part, patients reported that cannabis was helping to address these issues, especially with insomnia and pain,” said researcher Christopher Kaufmann, PhD. 

According to the researchers, there are several reasons why cannabis use has become so widespread among older adults. For starters, CBD products are made without THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana. This makes them more approachable to some consumers since they can use products like lotions or oils and get pain or anxiety relief without any of the added side effects. Additionally, the large variety of these kinds of products makes them easier than ever to access. 

“New users were more likely to use cannabis for medical reasons than for recreation,” said Yang. “The route of cannabis use also differed with new users likely to use it topically as lotion rather than by smoking or ingesting edibles. Also, they were more likely to inform their doctor about their cannabis use, which reflects that cannabis use is no longer stigmatized as it was previously.” 

Better outcomes reported

Though the survey participants reported better physical and mental health outcomes with the use of cannabis, the researchers want to do more work in this area to better understand the best ways that this plant-based approach can continue to benefit consumers. 

“There seems to be potential with cannabis, but we need more evidence-based research,” Dr. Kaufmann said. “We want to find out how cannabis compares to current medications available. Could cannabis be a safer alternative to treatments, such as opioids and benzodiazepines? Could cannabis help reduce the simultaneous use of multiple medications in older persons? We want to find out which conditions cannabis is most effective in treating. Only then can we better counsel adults on cannabis use.”