Current Events in October 2020

A new joint study from aircraft manufacturer Boeing and the University of Arizona shows that cleaning tools and techniques effectively destroy the virus that causes COVID-19.

The significance of that silver lining could go a long way in giving travelers the confidence to take back to the skies and set some of their clouded fears about the health safety of an airplane aside.

As part of its Confident Travel Initiative (CTI) -- an effort to support customers and enhance the safety and well-being of passengers and crews during the COVID-19 pandemic -- the tests were performed on a real but unoccupied Boeing airplane against a live virus called MS2. The University of Arizona’s Department of Environmental Sciences then compared those results to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. 

With a forecasted spike in coronavirus cases and cold weather -- an environment COVID spreads easily in -- upon many of us, the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is getting renewed interest.

Why MS2 and not the actual COVID virus?

Using MS2 instead of an actual COVID-19 virus might be a head-scratcher to the non-scientists among us, but according to the scientists involved in the study, MS2 served two purposes.

First, it is safe and harmless to humans. Secondly, it’s more difficult to kill than SARS-CoV-2. Scientific and industry studies have used the MS2 virus for years, but until now, never in an airplane cabin. 

“While these cleaning solutions had been tested in other environments, an airplane behaves differently. It was critical for us to evaluate and confirm the chemicals and techniques we recommend for our customers’ use are effective and battle-tested,” said Mike Delaney, who leads Boeing's CTI efforts. “By working with the University of Arizona, we were able to employ their world-renowned expertise in virology to do exactly that.”

Everything from overhead bins to arm rests tested

The MS2 virus was strategically placed on high-touch points throughout the aircraft’s cabin in areas that fliers are most likely to come in contact with -- seat tray tables, arm rests, seat cushions, the bathroom, overhead bins, and the galley. 

Technicians then disinfected each area with various products and technologies in two separate ways -- manual wiping and also with an electrostatic sprayer like United Airlines employs.

The tests also measured how well Boeing’s own ultraviolet wand and antimicrobial coatings worked. Antimicrobials are long-lasting coatings that destroy germs and viruses on surfaces and American Airlines was given the OK to use that method by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) earlier this year.

The final analysis

After Boeing did its part, the University of Arizona then performed a post-infection analysis on each high-touch area to determine effectiveness. The final results were a mix of various levels of effectiveness, but Boeing claims that “ultimately all the recommended products, methods and technologies successfully destroyed the MS2 virus.”

Boeing said while the first test showed impressive results, it’s not going to stop there. In a statement, the company said it will continue to work with the University of Arizona to test recommended cleaning methods against SARS-CoV-2 and other similar viruses so they could further validate their effectiveness.

Early in the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, when Americans were homebound and sheltering in place, there was a wave of pet adoptions as people sought companionship.

Scammers noticed and began launching cruel schemes to separate people from their money.

In one of the latest operations, a scammer in Fargo, N.D. posed as a cat breeder and swindled people nationwide. The Valley News reports Fargo police have received a number of complaints, including from a victim in Arizona.

That individual told police they lost more than $2,000, paying fees for adoption, vaccines, shipping, a city permit, and an additional request for $1,000 for COVID-related fees.

According to Fraud.org, pet adoption scams have risen 42 percent this year. Scammers launch websites purporting to be breeders or adoption agencies. They use stock photos of adorable puppies and kittens to tug at the heartstrings.

In nearly every case, the victim lives out of the area and doesn’t see the pet in person -- a crucial mistake. That’s because, in nearly every case, the animal doesn’t exist. The fees demanded by the scammer, however, are very real.

A consistent pattern

Fraud.org says these pet scams often follow a consistent pattern. After the victims are hooked on a particular dog or cat, they are told about the money required to take possession of it. In one case cited by the organization, a victim was told:

• To pay $500 to ship the puppy via American Airlines;

• To pay $970 for a crate to ship the puppy safely;

• To pay $1,500 for insurance to make sure the puppy arrived safely;

• To pay $760 for the puppy’s shots.

The victim was instructed to make the first payment using a Reloadit money card and subsequent payments using Western Union. Both are bright red flags that you’re dealing with a scammer. Scammers often want no part of being paid with a credit card, which has fraud protection.

Some other ways to protect yourself from these criminals is to only adopt a pet that you have seen in person. Ask a lot of questions.

Finally, consider adopting a pet from a local animal shelter. Animals have usually been well cared for and costs are much lower.

A new survey of U.S. moviegoers from Comscore shows that movie fans are starting to feel more confident heading off to a theater, mostly because of the aggressive safety procedures implemented by exhibitors. 

The survey results are a welcome sigh of relief for theaters, especially for the country’s largest theatre chain, AMC, which was about to throw in the towel after trying every trick it could -- including 15-cent movies -- to try and stay afloat while moviegoers hunkered down at home bingeing on Netflix and other streaming services. 

The key takeaways

Comscore’s survey revealed three key insights into the rehabbed moviegoer experience:

• Consumers had positive experiences. An impressive 92 percent had a positive experience at the movies with 60 percent of those saying, “It was great, glad to be back at the movies.”

• Boredom was a driving factor: Pandemic-driven boredom turned out to be a big reason why movie fans have returned to the box office. Fifty-one percent say they were driven back to the movies by their desire to socialize, particularly with their friends and family, and get back to normal outside-the-home routines.

• New films brought in customers. Finally, aside from going to the movies being considered a safe activity, recently released blockbuster films were considered very compelling as “a new film I had to see” was one of the most important factors in their decision to return to the movie theater.

“Now that US moviegoers have begun going back to the multiplex, exhibition is clearly doing a great job of creating an environment that exudes the essential values of health and safety in the era of COVID-19,” said Paul Dergarabedian, Senior Media Analyst, Comscore. 

“A great in-theater experience combined with new and exciting movies from the most notable studios are a combination that is resonating strongly with audiences who are responding enthusiastically to their big screen theatrical experience.”

Trivia nights and classrooms?

Yes, the public’s perception that it’s safe to return to the theaters is a good sign, but not every theater has the muscle and reserves that a chain like AMC does. In some situations, smaller operators are turning to other ways to generate some income while the pandemic is still a factor.

In its coverage of the situation, CNBC found that National Amusements, owner of the Showcase Cinemas chain, is working with libraries to show movies that are based on books and also with museums to play documentaries that are tied to exhibits.

Another creative play or two came from the smaller players. Some turned parking lots into concert venues, others traded blockbuster opening weekends for trivia nights, and some of the more future-thinking ones cut deals with local colleges to rent out the space for in-person learning.

“We’ve made the commitment to keep our doors open, keep our people working,” Jason Ostrow, vice president of development at Texas-based chain Star Cinema Grill, told CNBC “Their sole purpose is to innovate and find ways to drive business however they can.”

When the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit the U.S. in March, the nation’s housing market was already facing a shortage of homes for sale. Since then, the imbalance between buyers and sellers has gotten a lot bigger.

Online real estate marketplace Zillow has just published new research that explores the reason for the disparity. It has always been clear that fewer people are putting their homes on the market, but Zillow wanted to know why.

The answers all revolve around the pandemic. Uncertainty, likely caused by COVID-19, is keeping more than a third of would-be sellers out of the market. Financial anxiety is a big part of that, the survey found.

Thirty-one percent point to financial worries as a reason to stay in their current home, with 27 percent saying they recently suffered a loss in household income. While they might find ready buyers for their home, they worry about qualifying for a mortgage to purchase a new one.

Future of work-from-home

Others who are still employed are waiting to see what employers decide about the remote workplace. They like working from home and, if allowed to do it permanently, say they would consider selling their current home and moving to another area.

Because there are fewer homes on the market, and more people are trying to buy a home, home prices have risen quickly since the pandemic began. The median home price in September surged by a record 15 percent, to $320,625, according to a report from real estate broker Redfin. It also found that prices have been rising more quickly 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. Because of that, some would-be sellers are in no hurry.

No ‘right time’ to sell

"Potential sellers are likely correct that home prices have yet to reach their peak, but in the long run, prices tend to rise, so there's no clear 'right time' to sell," said Zillow senior economist Jeff Tucker. "Homeowners who feel life is uncertain right now may think they can still get a strong price if they delay selling until they have more clarity.”

But there is some risk in that strategy. They may get more for their home when they decide to sell but the cost of their new home is also likely to be higher.

“This fall's record-low mortgage rates, which make a trade-up more affordable on a monthly basis, are not guaranteed to last," Tucker said.

Holiday celebrations have been upended so far in 2020 by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but there could actually be an increase in spending on Halloween events -- even though they’ll be confined to home.

A survey by LendingTree found that nearly three out of four parents with children under 18 plan to spend more on Halloween because their kids have missed out on so much this year. Spending is up across a wide range of seasonal products and services.

For example, 34 percent of parents say they have signed up for a new streaming service just to be able to watch Halloween content. More than a third -- 38 percent -- have purchased Halloween items in order to display them on social media. Men, the survey found, are far more likely than women to have done this.

That’s obviously good news to candy manufacturers and retailers who specialize in seasonal party supplies. But it turns out parents didn’t need a lot of convincing to go overboard.

Likely to go overboard

More than half (54 percent) of respondents admitted to spending more on Halloween than they could afford at some point in the past. The most common reason cited was wanting their decorations to look as good as their neighbors’.

LendingTree's chief credit analyst, Matt Schulz says the stress of 2020 has been building for months, and parents along with their children appear to be ready for some release.

"Between remote learning, social distancing measures, canceled vacations, and fewer extracurriculars,  parents and children alike have faced a lot of disappointment and unexpected difficulties in 2020,” Schulz said. “With the uncertainty around Halloween and trick-or-treating, it makes sense that parents want to go above and beyond to make the holiday season extra-special, for both their children and themselves."

Keeping celebrations safe

While few people will be going door-to-door asking for candy, parents may be planning in-home activities for their children, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cautions parents to keep holiday celebrations small and mostly confined to family members. 

The CDC says the safest celebrations would be small, brief, outside, and not include people who have recently been outside the area. Creative costumes can add to the holiday cheer, especially if family pets are included.

ConsumerAffairs recently collected these ideas to add to a family pet’s holiday wardrobe.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released its 2021 inflation adjustments that affect more than 60 federal income tax provisions. They don’t affect what you’ll pay next year, but rather they impact your tax liability in 2022.

In 2021, the standard deduction for married couples filing jointly for the tax year 2021 will rise to $25,100, up $300 from the prior year. For single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately, the standard deduction will rise to $12,550 for 2021, up $150, and for heads of households, the standard deduction will be $18,800 for the tax year 2021, up $150.

The personal exemption for the tax year 2021 remains at 0, as it was for 2020. The elimination of the personal exemption was a provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. 

While the Nov. 3 election could change what you’ll pay in future taxes, currently for the 2021 tax year the top federal tax rate remains 37 percent for individual single taxpayers with incomes greater than $523,600 or $628,300 for married couples filing jointly.

The rates for people earning less than that are:

• 35 percent, for incomes over $209,425 ($418,850 for married couples filing jointly);

• 32 percent for incomes over $164,925 ($329,850 for married couples filing jointly);

• 24 percent for incomes over $86,375 ($172,750 for married couples filing jointly)

• 22 percent for incomes over $40,525 ($81,050 for married couples filing jointly)

• 12 percent for incomes over $9,950 ($19,900 for married couples filing jointly)

• The lowest rate is 10 percent for incomes of single individuals with incomes of $9,950 or less ($19,900 for married couples filing jointly)

No limits on itemized deductions

For 2021 -- as in 2020, 2019, and 2018 -- there is no limitation on itemized deductions, as that limitation was eliminated by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. However, Democrats have said they plan to reconsider that law should they regain the White House.

The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) exemption amount for the tax year 2021 is $73,600 and begins to phase out at $523,600 -- $114,600 for married couples filing jointly for whom the exemption begins to phase out at $1,047,200.

The 2020 exemption amount was $72,900 and began to phase out at $518,400, or $113,400 for married couples filing jointly for whom the exemption began to phase out at $1,036,800.

The IRS also clarified what consumers can contribute to tax-deferred retirement accounts. Employees can still put away $19,500, or $26,000 if they are aged 50 or older, thanks to the catch-up contribution limit, unchanged at $6,500. 

Individual retirement account contribution limits are also the same for 2021 — $6,000 with an additional catch-up contribution of $1,000 for people 50 and older. SIMPLE retirement accounts still have the limit at $13,500 for next year. 

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 12,799 model year 2020 GLE 350s, GLE 450s, GLE 580s, GLS 450s, and GLS 580s with an optional illuminated Mercedes-Benz star logo in the front grill.

The star logo's electrical ground connection may not be installed properly, potentially affecting the function of other components that share the same ground connection, such as the power steering control unit, wiper motor, and/or the left headlight.

A malfunction of any of these components could pose the risk of a crash.

What to do

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will relocate the ground connection free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin December 8, 2020.

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

Bed Bath & Beyond of Union, N.J., is recalling about 10,330 SALT Lounge Chairs sold in the U.S. and Canada.

The locking mechanism on the chair frame can disengage, posing a fall hazard.

The firm has received 19 reports of chairs breaking, including four reports of minor injuries from falls.

This recall involves SALT Lounge Chairs sold in gray with SKU 69476172/UPC 444800007102; and black with SKU 69476173/UPC 444800002947.

The chairs consist of a metal tube frame, a fabric seat cushion, and a locking mechanism on each side of the frame.

The chairs, manufactured in China, were sold at Bed Bath & Beyond stores nationwide and online at www.bedbathandbeyond.com from April 2020, through August 2020, for about $40.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled lounge chairs and return them to any Bed Bath & Beyond location for a full refund of the purchase price, or a merchandise credit if the consumer’s purchase price cannot be determined.

Consumers may contact Bed Bath & Beyond at 98000 462-3966 from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. (ET), seven days a week or online at www.bedbathandbeyond.com and click on “Product Recall Information” at the bottom of the page for more information. Consumers may also click on “Help” at the bottom of the page to reach a Customer Service representative via email.

Here’s a warning to influencers and would-be influencers on Instagram: Scammers appear to be targeting you with phony charity pitches.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued a scam alert, reporting that scammers are trying to trick Instagram influencers into buying overpriced products that they claim support a charity. They don’t, and the purchase just goes into the scammer’s pocket.

How the scam works

The influencer gets a direct Instagram message that claims to come from a charity or from a business allegedly partnering with a charity. The message asks if the influencer would become a “model” or “brand ambassador” for the new nonprofit campaign. 

From the complaints it has received, the BBB says the scam may claim to be tied in with everything from environmental conservation to women’s rights to LGBTQ youth.

If the influencer agrees -- and many have -- the scammer sends a discount code to purchase the products they want you to model. The price seems very expensive but, according to the scammer, the sale price goes to support the charity.

That’s bad enough, but the BBB says it’s often worse. Scam victims report purchasing items – often t-shirts – that never arrive. In some cases, the charity never even existed. 

In other cases the charity is real, but scammers used their name without their knowledge, and the nonprofit never received money from the sales.

How to spot this scam

For starters, ask lots of questions before agreeing to take on a “cause.” The BBB says that may be the best way to expose the scheme.

Targeted individuals have reported that, as they pressed for details the person they were dealing with got evasive and stopped responding. A scammer doesn’t want to deal with a victim who asks too many questions. 

“Don’t hesitate to push back if something seems off,” BBB said in its alert.

Do an online search

If the request seems fishy, do an online search. If it has scammed others, there is little doubt they will have posted about it online.

If the charity is real, there should be something on its website about any partnership with another group or business. Use the charity’s “contact us” form to inform it about what has been proposed to you. The charity may want to take action of its own to warn others.

If you think a social media account is fake, run by scammers, report it to the social media platform. They’ll investigate and remove the account if it proves to be one that’s scamming people.

Recent studies have shown that those who work overnight tend to be at an increased risk of disease, and now researchers are digging deeper to discover why this is the case. 

According to a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia, sleeping and waking on the opposite schedule confuses the body’s inner clock, which disrupts cells’ natural responses and increases the risk for disease. 

“We hypothesized that the messages cells produce and send each other during night work are different than those sent during the day shift,” said researcher Dr. David Gozal. “These messages come via microscopic packages called exosomes. Our study found these packages disrupt the synchronicity of the body’s systems during night shifts and cause increased insulin resistance and other health issues.” 

Instability in sleeping patterns affects the body

To better understand why the body is at an increased risk of disease when consumers work the night shift, the researchers had 14 participants complete a simulated day or night shift for three days. The participants then had their blood drawn, and the researchers analyzed how the exosomes responded differently in the participants who worked the day shift versus those who worked the night shift. 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that working the night shift greatly affects the body’s internal clock. Because night shift workers are on such unstable, inconsistent schedules, it’s difficult for the cells to adjust to the constant changes. This then reduced insulin sensitivity of the cells, which can increase the risk of diabetes. It also altered the internal clock of the cells, which can make the body more susceptible to disease. 

“The cells in your body do not adjust as quickly as the central clock in the brain to shifts in sleep patterns,” said Dr. Gozal. “So when night-shift workers abruptly shift back and forth to daytime hours on the weekend, the cells in the body continue to send messages to each other through exosomes that lag behind the central clock. It creates a condition called ‘circadian misalignment,’ which is associated with an increased risk for cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other illnesses.” 

These findings mirror those from another recent study, which found that chronic jet lag can increase consumers’ risk for tumor growth and affect the body’s overall immune response. When consumers consistently disrupt their internal clocks, it puts a lot of stress on the body, and ultimately makes you more vulnerable to health risks. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope to do more work in this area that is geared towards easing the health risks associated with working the night shift. 

“By sampling the blood of workers at different times of the day and examining their exosomes, we might be able to identify whether they are misaligned,” said Dr. Gozal. “This could give us a lot of information about which workers are better suited to work night shifts. And this discovery raises the possibility of developing personalized less risk-generating shift schedules and also gene-targeted therapeutic approaches to prevent the long-term health complications of night-shift work.” 

Google has pulled three popular apps from the Google Play Store after finding that the apps violated its policies regarding the collection of children’s data. 

The apps that were removed were Princess Salon, Number Coloring, and Cats & Cosplay. Collectively, the apps had amassed more than 20 million downloads prior to being removed. 

The International Digital Accountability Council (IDAC) determined that the apps -- which were all aimed at younger users -- violated "broader Google Play policies around data collection.” The watchdog group notified Google of its findings, and Google swiftly removed the apps. 

“The practices we observed in our research raised serious concerns about data practices within these apps,” IDAC president Quentin Palfrey said in a statement. “We applaud Google for taking steps to enforce on these apps and the third-party data practices within these apps.”

Data-privacy violations

The researchers said the apps were built upon problematic third-party frameworks, which collected Android ID and Android Advertising ID data. The three software development kits (SDKs) used in the apps -- Unity, Appodeal, and Umeng -- made it possible for them to violate Google’s privacy protection regulations. 

Palfrey said the IDAC found that certain versions of the Unity SDK were "collecting both the user’s AAID [unique user ID for advertising] and Android ID simultaneously, which may have allowed Unity to bypass privacy controls and track users over time and across devices."

“Google took corrective action in response, after its own investigation,” the Council said. 

The IDAC didn’t provide an estimate of how much data, if any, was taken as a result of the issues. No violations were discovered in iOS versions of the three apps, according to the group. 

“These apps broke rules barring the uses of developer kits that aren’t approved for ‘child-directed services,’” Google said in a statement. 

Google added that it’s in the process of establishing procedures to detect these kinds of violations before they end up on the Google Play store. The company has said that it’s working with privacy organizations to prevent developers from violating the rules.

Critics argue that Google’s size and power creates a number of problems. The removal of the apps comes less than a week after the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it is suing Google for allegedly abusing its industry dominance to stifle competition in online search and search advertising. 

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 8,646,085 (8,581,574)

Total U.S. deaths: 225,282 (224,912}

Total global cases: 43,187,134 (42,765,183)

Total global deaths: 1,155,653 (1,151,267)

Daily virus spread at record high

New cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) are spreading at a record rate. An analysis of data collected by Johns Hopkins University shows the average daily growth in cases hit a record high over the weekend, with more than 80,000 new cases on Saturday alone.

“We are likely to see a very dense epidemic,” former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner (FDA) Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC on Monday. “I think we are right now at the cusp of what is going to be exponential spread in parts of the country.”

Hopeful report on AstraZeneca vaccine

AstraZeneca today reported some promising results from its coronavirus vaccine clinical trials. It reports the drug produced an immune response in both older and younger adults.

The company also says that adverse side effects from the vaccine were less than expected, suggesting the potential vaccine could be widely deployed among the most vulnerable population.

The company’s announcement Monday that the vaccine appears to be working on subjects of all ages could raise hopes that the vaccine might be ready for distribution by the end of the year.

Pandemic history is repeating itself, researcher says

If we go back in time to just over 100 years ago, we might see a familiar sight. A deadly virus killed hundreds of thousands of Americans in just a few months. Health officials made rules to stop its spread, but those rules varied widely across the country.

Many people wore masks to block the germs, but some refused. It worked for a while, but the number of cases kept rising, resulting in hundreds of thousands of more deaths. Dr. Howard Markel, a medical historian at the University of Michigan, says that’s exactly what happened during the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic.

“I really do fear that, between COVID-19 and the regular seasonal flu, this coming winter and spring could be as bad as, or worse than, what we saw in the horrible spring of 2020,” he said.

Scientists learn how the virus spread in New York

New York City and the surrounding area became the epicenter of the coronavirus in April, and researchers recently determined that the virus arrived mostly from Europe. But after that, they now say the spread was mostly a local affair.

A new analysis by scientists at NYU Langone Health shows that most of the spread through the New York area was within the community, as opposed to coming from people who had traveled.

Previous testing had detected the first case of the virus on March 3 before infections exploded throughout the metropolitan area, leading to 260,600 positive cases by mid-May.

"Our findings show that New York's early screening test methods missed the onset and roots of the outbreak by several days at the minimum," says study co-lead author Matthew Maurano. "The work strongly suggests that to nip future outbreaks in the bud, we need a system of rapid, plentiful real-time genetic surveillance as well as traditional epidemiologic indicators."

Pence chief of staff tests positive

Key members of the Trump administration continue to be affected by the coronavirus. Weeks after President Trump contracted the virus, the chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence and four others on the staff have tested positive for the virus.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Marty Obst, Pence’s longtime political adviser, was one of those who also tested positive for the virus. Pence, meanwhile, is keeping up a busy campaign schedule with less than two weeks to go before the election.

That drew criticism from Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), the Democratic vice presidential nominee, who pointed out that she cancelled campaign appearances after one of her top aides tested positive.

Around the nation

• Michigan: Hospitalizations in two counties are up more than 80 percent after a recent spike in cases of the virus. Despite that, state health officials say most hospitals still have the capacity to serve more patients.

• Nevada: UNLV epidemiologist Brian Labus says the largest growth of coronavirus cases in the state is among college-age adults. He attributes it to “COVID fatigue,” describing frustrated and restless residents who now choose to ignore recommended pandemic precautions.

• Florida: Public health officials warn the state is on the cusp of a resurgence in coronavirus cases. They link the increase to the state’s Phase 3 reopening plan that saw most bars and restaurants resume operations.

A new study conducted by researchers from the American Heart Association found that nearly 30 percent of consumers under the age of 45 don’t know the most common signs of a stroke. 

These findings are concerning primarily because timing is imperative for stroke patients. The faster medical assistance is received, the better the outcomes. 

“While the medical community has made significant improvements to reduce the severity and complications of strokes with early interventions, these efforts are of limited value if patients do not recognize the stroke symptoms,” said researcher Dr. Khurram Nasir. “Time is critical for treating stroke. The earlier people recognize symptoms, the better their chances are to reduce long-term disability from stroke.” 

Identifying symptoms

To get a baseline of young adults’ understanding of stroke symptoms, the researchers analyzed over 9,800 responses to the 2017 National Health Interview Survey, all from respondents under the age of 45. Participants were shown symptoms and they had to determine whether or not they were associated with strokes. 

Ultimately, roughly 30 percent of the participants couldn’t identify the five most common symptoms that are indicative of a stroke, and nearly three percent of the participants couldn’t identify any of the signs linked with a stroke. 

“With the growing risk of stroke among younger adults in the U.S., our study sheds light on particularly vulnerable individuals and communities that already experience a disproportionately greater burden of stroke and cardiovascular risk factors, as well as reduced access to health care services,” Dr. Nasir said. 

Five most common symptoms

The five most common stroke symptoms are: 

• Trouble seeing;

• Confusion or trouble speaking;

• Severe headache; 

• Numbness of the face, arm, or legs, and; 

• Difficulty walking or loss of balance. 

Knowing the symptoms is crucial, and so is knowing when it’s time for professional medical assistance. To help consumers know when it’s time to call an ambulance, the researchers referred to the F.A.S.T. acronym, which stands for: face drooping, arm weakness, speech slurred, time to call 911. 

Because immediate medical intervention gives patients the best chances of fully recovering from a stroke, it’s important that consumers know the signs and remember F.A.S.T., as it could be life-saving. 

“With proper, timely medical attention, stroke is largely treatable,” said researcher Dr. Mitchell S.V. Elkind. “The faster you are treated, the more likely you are to minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death. Calling 9-1-1 is critical because trained EMS personnel can start the care protocol en route to the hospital and have specialized teams standing by, ready at the hospital to administer the most appropriate treatment immediately.” 

With the pandemic’s first Halloween less than a week away, a new WalletHub study finds that consumers are still spending billions on the holiday, but overall, they’re feeling life is a little spookier than they’d prefer.

The survey -- WalletHub’s Halloween Spending & Financial Fears Survey -- lays out these consumer frights:

• A whopping 130 million Americans think the coronavirus is the scariest thing about Halloween this year.

• Nearly 40 percent of Americans are more afraid of credit card debt than the coronavirus.

“Almost 40 percent of Americans are more scared of credit card debt than the coronavirus in part because of political allegiances, but also due to the fact that credit card debt might seem more tangible to an indebted individual who has yet to know someone with COVID-19,” said Jill Gonzalez, a WalletHub analyst. 

“Current events aside, money was the number one stressor for Americans for many years before the coronavirus pandemic, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that credit card debt and money problems in general still scare a lot of us, maybe even more so than before.”

Money concerns are widespread this year

The survey found that the pandemic has led to an increase in the number of consumers experiencing money-related worries.

• Concerns about money problems are hitting 22 million more people this year than last year;

• Close to 90 percent of Americans think that politicians prey on peoples' financial fears;

• Roughly 13 million more Americans are scared about their kids' financial futures in 2020 than in 2019;

• Almost 33 percent of people think their finances are a personal horror show.

Gonzalez said that consumers think the “horror show” label applies for a variety of reasons, including the pandemic’s impact on the U.S. economy, as well as debt levels which continue to be high despite showing recent improvement.

“It’s tough to say your finances are looking good when you’re out of work or waiting for business to pick back up. You can’t ignore the possibility that some people are just being dramatic when saying their finances are a horror show, either,” she said.

Knowing that the 2020 holiday season will require a whole new way of doing things, Target is going all out to meet the consumer where safety matters. 

The retailer is stepping up its COVID-19-related safety measures to include contactless self-checkout, technology that allows guests the freedom to skip waiting in line, and more parking spots for its contactless drive-up service.

“Year over year, the investments we’ve made in our business and team have made Target the easiest place to shop in America. As we’ve navigated the pandemic, that focus has evolved to ensure we’re also creating the safest place for our guests to shop,” said Target CEO Brian Cornell. 

“As we approach the holidays, guests can feel confident in choosing Target – a safe experience, incredible value, and a differentiated assortment that will help them celebrate the joy of the season,” Cornell said.

The new safety measures

Here are the additional steps Target is taking to make customers feel safe when they come to one of their stores:

• MyCheckout: The retailer is adding 1,000 more MyCheckout devices at its stores, allowing team members to help guests check out anywhere in the store and avoid waiting in line.

• Contactless In-Store Payment: Target shoppers are now given the option of using Wallet -- the mobile payment option inside the Target app -- which provides for not only a contactless self-checkout experience, but it also eliminates the need to pick up and use a scanning device that another shopper might have used.

• Pre-Trip Shopping Reservations: One new and interesting twist Target is adding to its list of safety measures is giving customers a look-see on how many customers are at the store so they can decide if there’s enough space to shop safely and comfortably. This holiday season, guests can visit Target.com/line to see if there is a line outside their local Target store, and if so, they’ll be able to reserve a spot in line. When their turn to enter the store has come, Target will then text the guest to notify them.

Improved same-day services

On top of the in-store safety measures, Target is also adding several new enhancements with its same-day services. These include:

• Double the drive-up spots: For the 2020 holiday season, Target is doubling the total number of drive-up spots by adding some 8,000 additional ones, which it hopes will make life easier for guests to access the service.

• Socially-distanced drive-up experience: Target says that it’s completely doing away with the need for barcode scanning at drive-up, making it even easier for guests and team members to socially distance. Now, all a customer has to do is show the personal identification number on their app to a team member through their car window to confirm the order.

• The customer can change pick-up times: Target’s updated app allows customers to change – in real time – when they want to pick up their items even after they’ve arrived at the store.

A smart move

The attention Target is giving to safety concerns is also good business. A recent survey by PwC found that 65 percent of U.S. consumers said they were concerned about catching the coronavirus. Add to that, a study from the International Council of Shopping Centers showed that 66 percent of surveyed consumers also said they are more prone to visit stores that have firm health precautions in place, such as those at Target.

Target will also be closed on Thanksgiving. Following Walmart’s lead, the retailer said that it made the decision in the interest of making the holiday shopping experience “simple, safe and stress-free.”

The Home Depot is the latest retailer to get a jump on Black Friday, announcing it will stretch the event through most of November. It’s also released its holiday deals circular.

The 18-page ad lists deals that will begin Nov. 6 and last through Dec. 2, if supplies last that long. Many of the deals will only be available online as company officials hope to keep stores from becoming overcrowded amidst a pandemic.

Among the deals are home furnishings, power tools, and holiday decor. The ad promotes a wide range of tools and 40 percent off some appliances.

Some prices have been marked down more than 50 percent, including a $199 decorated Christmas tree that will sell for $79. A 270-piece tool set from Husky will go for $99, significantly less than the $530 Home Depot would charge if all the pieces were purchased separately.

Home Depot stores will be open on the Friday after Thanksgiving, but in an interview with USA Today, CEO Ted Decker said the company is spreading out the bargains in hopes people will spread out as well.

“Not wanting to drive that sort of traffic and crowds to our stores, we are extending the holiday period,” Decker said. “We will still have values, but they will start in early November.”

Everybody’s doing it

Home Depot joins Amazon, Lowe’s, Target, and Walmart -- among other retailers -- in encouraging early holiday shopping. Last week, Walmart released its holiday ad circular, with deals on toys, electronics, and apparel.

One reason for the early push is concern that some items could be scarce later in the holiday season. The Wall Street Journal reports that many manufacturers are having trouble keeping up with demand, and that if a new refrigerator is on your wishlist, there may be fewer choices if you wait until just before the holidays.

Apparently, the shortages are not just related to supply chain issues caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Because so many consumers have recently undertaken home improvement projects, The Journal reports paint producers are having difficulty finding enough cans to meet demand.

Smaller selection of cars

There has also been no letup in demand for new cars, which could be in short supply by the time mid-December rolls around. Auto assembly plants shut down for several weeks during the spring and have had a hard time catching up to demand as consumers have abandoned ride-sharing and mass transit during the pandemic.

Another reason to shop early is potential delay in delivery. With the anticipated surge in online shopping this holiday season, delivery companies will be working at full capacity and beyond.  

Jonathan Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy for the National Retail Federation, recently told CBS News that the surge in online orders is overwhelming the delivery system, beginning with Amazon’s Prime Day earlier this month.

“The capacity doesn’t exist to address all the increase in sales that we saw,” he said.

Every day, baby boomers across America begin the process of downsizing, moving from a large home where they raised a family into smaller quarters that require less maintenance. Along the way, they discard lots of household items they accumulated over the years.

The William C. Huff Companies, which operates moving and storage firms, is partnering with Renovation Angel to help boomers downsize while keeping millions of unwanted household items out of landfills.

The two companies collaborated on the approach. Renovation Angel distributes unwanted household items to people who need and want them. William C. Huff Companies moves or stores the rest.

Their solution, called Downsizing Help, assists couples when they downsize and helps families liquidate an estate when a parent or family member dies. The companies say there are three goals -- to make the process easy, reduce the waste that ends up in landfills, and secure tax breaks for people who are downsizing.

Tax breaks

The companies say that the responsible recycling of unwanted household items can benefit community organizations while producing a tax saving of $3700 per $10,000 of donated items per family. The value of the donated items can be deducted from federal income tax returns

"As large estates are bought, many new homeowners choose to discard everything in the home and renovate the home to meet new styles and designs, often sending 'like new' cabinets and appliances to landfills,” said Jim Henderson, owner of William C. Huff Companies. 

“Also, when homeowners downsize they often need to rid themselves of the contents of the entire home which are no longer needed or wanted because they are moving into retirement communities where their new homes come fully furnished," Henderson said.  

Henderson says the donated items now end up in thrift stores instead of landfills and find a ready market. Consumers can purchase those unwanted items for a fraction of their value. And the emphasis on the environment doesn’t stop there.

Emphasis on the environment

“Providing logistics with low emission vehicles and storing items to be repurposed in a sustainable, solar-powered warehouse, hundreds of thousands of pounds of CO2 are cut from our environmental footprint each year,” Henderson said. “It's a win for everyone!"

The two companies say the market for this service is potentially huge. The National Association of Realtors recently reported that an estimated 12 percent of people between the ages of 45 and 64 who purchased homes in 2017 were downsizing.

The companies say that works out to about 80 million households, with the potential to redistribute over $20 trillion in household items over the next 20 years.

AstraZeneca, one of the pharmaceutical companies testing a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, reports some promising results. In ongoing clinical trials, it says the vaccine produced an immune response in both older and younger adults.

Scientists working on the trials also report that adverse side effects from the vaccine were less than expected, suggesting the potential vaccine could be widely deployed among the most vulnerable population.

The vaccine is being developed in a collaboration with scientists at Oxford University in the UK. Clinical trials on the vaccine candidate, AZD1222, were halted briefly early last month after a test subject became ill, but resumed days later.

Though the drug is still in the process of being tested, AstraZeneca is so confident that it will be an effective protection against COVID-19 that it has begun production and reported last month that it could have three billion doses on hand by the time the vaccine wins approval.

Appears to be working

The company’s announcement Monday that the vaccine appears to be working on subjects of all ages could raise hopes that the vaccine could be ready for distribution by the end of the year.

“It is encouraging to see immunogenicity responses were similar between older and younger adults and that reactogenicity was lower in older adults, where the COVID-19 disease severity is higher,” an AstraZeneca spokesman told CNBC.

The news comes as coronavirus cases are spiking in both Europe and the U.S. According to the tally compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. reported slightly more than 60,000 new cases of the virus on Sunday in what could be a building second wave of the disease.

Cases are rising even faster in Europe. Officials there have recently imposed more economic lockdowns and more stringent social distancing rules. The increase has coincided with the arrival of colder weather, which scientists have said may increase the spread of the virus.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling two model year 2020 GLE 350s.

The connection of the locking ring between the front and rear part of the drive shaft might not have been installed correctly, possibly resulting in a loss of power transfer between the transfer case and the rear axle differential.

If the transfer case disconnects from the rear axle differential the vehicle could stall, posing the risk of a crash.

What to do

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive shaft free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin December 8, 2020.

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