Current Events in November 2020

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 12,261,424 (12,219,209)

Total U.S. deaths: 256,837 (256,723)

Total global cases: 58,819,529 (58,538,551)

Total global deaths: 1,391,311 (1,386,204)

Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine 90 percent effective

A third coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine candidate has been shown to be at least 90 percent effective in clinical trials. AstraZeneca, developing a vaccine with Oxford University, is the third drugmaker in the last two weeks to report promising results.

In the last two weeks, both Pfizer and Moderna have reported that their vaccines were shown to be about 95 percent effective in preventing the spread of the virus. While the success rate for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is a bit lower, researchers say the latter vaccine costs less to make.

"The announcement today takes us another step closer to the time when we can use vaccines to bring an end to the devastation caused by [the virus]," the vaccine's architect, Prof. Sarah Gilbert, told the BBC.

FDA approves Regeneron antibody treatment

In addition to promising vaccine news, progress continues in the area of therapeutic treatment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of Regeneron’s drug cocktail, which is made using antibodies from recovered COVID-19 patients.

The agency issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the drug, pending a formal review. It was used in October to treat President Trump.

The drug is designed to treat COVID-19 patients who are recently diagnosed and have yet to develop severe symptoms. It is not approved for the treatment of COVID-19 patients who are hospitalized.

Health officials worry about Thanksgiving travel as cases mount

Thanksgiving week is giving health officials a sense of dread, as Sunday marked the 20th straight day the U.S. recorded more than 100,000 new cases of the coronavirus. Early indications that Americans are ignoring pleas to stay home are leading to predictions of a massive explosion in new cases two weeks before Christmas.

The Thanksgiving holiday has traditionally been the busiest travel time of the year. While travel may be less than in recent years, officials say semi-crowded airports and even small family gatherings could be super-spreader contributors.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued updated guidance that strongly advised Americans not to travel this week.

New tool aids COVID-19 prognosis

A new tool developed by Kaiser Permanente researchers and physicians reportedly helps doctors predict how COVID-19 will affect the recovery chances for patients who have the virus. The tool, subject of a study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, could be used to determine a patient’s treatment.

"As the pandemic surges again across the country and hospitalizations are increasing, front-line physicians often must make quick decisions to hospitalize or discharge patients with COVID-19 symptoms," said Dr. Adam Sharp, an emergency medicine physician who is also a researcher for the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation. 

Sharp said the research team created a risk assessment that looks at many different patient variables that might predict a critical poor outcome — without any lab or diagnostic testing.

Fish prices have fallen during the pandemic

While the pandemic has caused the price of some food to go up, it’s having the opposite effect on fish and seafood prices, industry experts say. The fishing industry had been hard-hit by COVID-19.

That’s because the biggest market for seafood is not the consumer, but rather restaurants -- mostly full-service restaurants. Most of those businesses are either closed or are buying less seafood than they did before the pandemic.

The Virginian Pilot reports that  Norfolk fish market, which previously sold only to restaurants, is now selling directly to consumers for up to 50 percent off the retail price.

Around the nation

• Florida: Florida is poised to join Texas and California as recording at least a million cases of the virus. The Florida Department of Health reported 8,410 new cases over the weekend, bringing the state’s overall total to 931,828 cases since March.

• Iowa: The state saw its situation improve slightly over the weekend. Positive COVID-19 tests declined Saturday from the day before, as did the number of hospitalizations, according to data recorded by the Iowa Department of Public Health.

• Virginia: Virginia experienced a spike in coronavirus cases last week, according to health officials who reported cases were up nearly 50 percent. Even so, the state ranks 47th in the nation for the spread of the virus.

With many retailers taking a pandemic-led breather on Black Friday, Cyber Monday is predicted to be a big bargain stand-in. Amazon is planning ahead for the event by giving shoppers a sneak peek into everything from savings to stocking stuffers.

Actually, Amazon’s Cyber Monday isn’t a Monday-only thing. It starts Thanksgiving weekend, lasting three days from November 28 through November 30. On top of shopping deals, customers will also have the chance to support small businesses through recently launched collections at amazon.com/supportsmall. 

In a news release announcing the event, Amazon said it’s committed to making it easy for consumers to save this holiday season with free shipping on “millions of items.” That’s made possible through an improved processing system that the online retailer was forced to review in the wake of unexpected fulfillment problems brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The company also touted some new research from ecommerce analytics firm Profitero that found Amazon to be the “lowest price online retailer.”

What’s on sale?

For those of you who’ve already got your pencil out, here’s a selection of Amazon’s Cyber Monday deals covering several categories. For the complete list of what’s on sale, Amazon has published a press release with more information here.  

Fashion

• Savings of up to 30 percent on select seasonal fashion trends, including bright puffers, plaid and printed loungewear, and cozy fleece.

• Savings of up to 50 percent on CUBCOATs fashion hoodies.

• Shoppers can save as much as 30 percent on Nautica men's and women's apparel.

• Deals of up to 50 percent off on Cole Haan men’s and women’s shoes.

• Savings of up to 40 percent on Lands' End apparel.

Beauty, Health, and Personal Care

• Savings of up to 35 percent on razors from Braun, Gillette, and more.

• Shoppers can save as much as 47 percent on whitening kits and oral care from Oral-B, Crest, and more

• Save 50 percent on 23andMe Health + Ancestry Personal Genetic Service Kit.

Amazon Devices

As you might expect, Amazon’s own devices are getting the royal sales treatment. This year’s Cyber Monday deals in that category include:

• The all-new Echo is $30 off at $69.99. As an extra bonus for consumers with Amazon Music Unlimited, those who purchase a select Echo device now get six months of the premium, ad-free streaming tier for free.

• The all-new Echo Dot Kids Edition is $21 off at $38.99.

• The all-new Fire TV Stick Lite is $12 off at $17.99.

• Ring Video Doorbell 3 is $60 off at $139.99.

• Kindle Paperwhite is $45 off at $84.99. New Amazon members can also enjoy 2 months of Kindle Unlimited for $0.99.

Toys & Games

• Cyber Monday shoppers can save as much as 30 percent on Baby Alive, Littlest Pet Shop, and more.

• Savings of up to 30 percent on Playskool and more preschool toys.

• Shoppers can save as much as 30 percent on NERF.

• Savings of up to 30 percent on Hasbro Games.

• Save up to 30 percent on Disney toys and home products.

Household, Kitchen, Office, Smart Home and Home Improvement

• Save 47 percent on select Bissell floor care products.

• Savings of up to 45 percent on select Instant Pot products.

• Deals of up to 30 percent off on select Cuisinart products.

• Shoppers can save as much as 30 percent on Ashley Furniture.

• Savings of up to 35 percent on iRobot 675 Roomba Vacuum.

Electronics

• Save up to 30 percent on Smart Home Security Cameras.

• Savings of up to 15 percent on weBoost Signal Boosters.

• Shoppers can save as much as 40 percent on Jabra Headphones.

• Savings of up to 40 percent off select video games, including Just Dance 2021.

Major Appliances, Lawn & Garden and Tools

• Save 15 percent on GE Profile Nugget Ice Maker.

• Cyber Monday shoppers can save as much as 10 percent on select GE Compact Refrigerators.

• Save 20 percent on select Worx Tools.

• Shoppers can save as much as 30 percent on select BLACK+DECKER Products.

• Savings of up to 20 percent on select SKIL Tools.

Sports & Outdoors

• Shoppers can save as much as 15 percent on select Intex Airbeds.

• Savings of up to 25 percent on select baseball and softball equipment.

• Save up to 20 percent on select kids bikes, adult bikes, helmets and more.

• Select golf clubs, balls, and accessories are on sale with savings of up to 60 percent off.

Automotive

• Save 50 percent on Tire Installation.

• Savings of up to 30 percent on Select NOCO Products.

• Shoppers can save as much as 20 percent on Select Gator ETX Roll Up Truck Bed Tonneau Covers.

Amazon Gift Cards

• Savings of 20 percent or more on select gift card brands, including Gap, H&M, Petco, and more if purchased from November 26 through November 30. 

• Gift card users can receive a $10 bonus with their reload of $100 or more through Amazon Reload if they are replenishing their Amazon Gift Card balance for the first time from now through December 31. 

• Gift card shoppers can receive a $15 promotional credit with the purchase of $50 or more in Amazon Gift Cards from now through December 20. Promotional credits expire on February 6, 2021, and other restrictions may apply.

Whole Foods Market and Grocery Items

For grocery shoppers, Amazon’s Cyber deals for its Whole Foods Market last a bit longer -- from November 27 to December 1. Shoppers can find deals on customer favorites, including organic honeycrisp apples ($2.99/lb), Animal Welfare Certified air-chilled organic chicken wings ($2.99/lb), and all probiotic supplements (25 percent off). 

Prime members can also enjoy an additional 10 percent in savings, both in-store and online, and everyone can save up to 30 percent on holiday beverages.

Special limited-time deals

It may not be something on every shopper’s deals knowledge base, but Amazon has another deal site -- Woot! -- that promises to deliver dozens of additional, limited-time discounts for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The site is offering free shipping for Prime members and daily doorbuster deals. 

At Amazon Warehouse, shoppers can save an extra 20 percent on select quality pre-owned and open box items for the kitchen, home, office. This includes major appliances, furniture home décor, and more.

Despite warnings from health officials to avoid traveling to see extended family and friends this Thanksgiving, millions of Americans are expected to do just that this week. 

AAA, formerly known as the American Automobile Association, estimates that 50 million people will travel over the “Thanksgiving holiday travel period,” the five-day period beginning Wednesday Nov. 25. 

The U.S. just recently surpassed 12 million cases of COVID-19, and Dr. Anthony Fauci -- the nation’s top infectious disease expert -- is warning that Thanksgiving travel could have a grim ripple effect this holiday season.

Mitigation measures still crucial

On Sunday, Fauci said the country is in “a very, very difficult situation at all levels” with confirmed COVID-19 cases continuing to rise. He said Americans who travel this week could potentially create a new wave of infections that will manifest a few weeks later and derail Christmas plans. 

Busy airports are a big concern for Fauci. “You are at a crowded airport, you are lining up, not everybody is wearing masks. That puts yourself at risk … that’s what’s going to get us into even more trouble,” he said.

He also said “seemingly innocent get-togethers” indoors could be risky. With “pandemic fatigue” setting in, many people may be tempted to flout COVID-19 mitigation measures like mask-wearing and social distancing. 

But Fauci reiterated that these safety measures are effective and continue to be necessary given that the nation has recorded a million new cases of COVID-19 a week for the past two weeks. 

‘We can get out of this’

Fauci’s warning came just a few days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly urged Americans not to travel and gather with relatives and friends outside of their “household bubble” this Thanksgiving holiday.

“Unfortunately, the COVID-19 epidemic is worsening, and small household gatherings are an important contributor to the rise in COVID-19 cases,” the CDC said. “Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others this year.”

But Fauci said better times aren’t too far off as a successful vaccine is on the way.

“If you can hang in there, we can get out of this,” he said. “Help is on the way, so you should not look at this as a hopeless situation.”

A new study conducted by researchers from Washington University in St. Louis predicts that COVID-19 cases could double before President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January. 

Researchers at the university have created a COVID-19 forecasting model that they’ve used throughout the pandemic, and it has proved effective in predicting infection trends across the country. In looking towards 2021, the researchers expect to see 20 million positive cases by the end of January if social distancing measures remain as they are. 

“One of the key reasons for the increased accuracy of this model over other COVID-19 forecasts is that this model accounts for the fact that people live in interconnected social networks rather than interacting mostly with random groups of strangers,” said researcher Raphael Thomadsen. “This allows the model to forecast that growth will not continue at exponential rates for long periods of time, as classic COVID-19 forecasts predict.” 

Social distancing can keep consumers healthy

To push back on the rising number of COVID-19 cases, the researchers recommend stricter social distancing guidelines. They explained that this is consumers’ best defense against the virus, and even small efforts can prevent millions of positive cases. 

Current social distancing recommendations have allowed various aspects of life to return to 60 percent of “normal” levels when compared to life before the pandemic. However, if this trend continues, consumers can expect to see upwards of 20 million positive COVID-19 cases by the end of January 2021. 

This isn’t set in stone, though. If social distancing guidelines tighten up by just 10 percent, the researchers say approximately five million cases could be prevented. 

“Going back to a 50 percent return to normalcy, which was the average level of distancing in early August, would likely result in 5 million fewer cases by the end of January,” said Thomadsen. “We could effectively squash out the COVID growth within a few weeks if we went back to the levels of social distancing we experienced in April.”

The holidays will determine a lot

With the holidays right around the corner, the researchers anticipate that future COVID-19 trends will depend a great deal on how consumers choose to celebrate. In an effort to reduce rising infection rates, both Dr. Anthony Fauci and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have urged consumers to keep gatherings small and eliminate travel this holiday season. 

However, the researchers anticipate that more than 20 million positive cases could be identified by January if consumers ignore those warnings. 

“The upcoming holiday seasons will provide a great deal of uncertainty to the outlook of the pandemic as people travel more at the end of the year,” said researcher Meng Liu. “This will likely make our forecast an optimistic one.” 

It’s all well and good for Amazon to trumpet its Cyber Monday deals and its improved fulfillment processes, but in a follow-up to the rollout of its Cyber Monday price busters, the company is also pushing its customers to consider using alternative pickup locations and consolidate deliveries.

Amazon is urging holiday shoppers to use brick-and-mortar retail locations and neighborhood “hubs” to pick up their packages as it reinforces itself for a spike in online orders. Hub locations include self-service kiosks like Amazon lockers, and most of the people-hosted pickup counters are located inside or near local retail stores. Added up, Amazon says those hubs and lockers can be found in more than 900 cities and towns across the U.S. 

“This year many customers and their families are opting to stay home so the challenge of keeping those special gifts under wraps from family, friends or loved ones is going to be greater than ever,” John Felton, vice president of Amazon’s global delivery services, said in a statement.

“We’re helping customers keep their orders a surprise this year and have a number of ways we’re providing them more flexibility, control and convenience over their deliveries—whether that’s ordering to an alternative pickup location, tracking their package en route to their home, or consolidating their deliveries to a single day so they can plan ahead.”

How to use Amazon’s delivery alternatives

Amazon’s reason for suggesting alternative delivery or pickup is pretty straightforward. For one thing, it saves the company lots of money since it can lessen the number of last-mile delivery trips to get a package to a specific address. The “last mile” part in the delivery chain is a huge link because it’s rather labor-intensive and expensive.

Some of Amazon’s own FAQs about alternative delivery to hubs and kiosks include:

How do you use it? “To use an Amazon Hub location simply find a convenient location and add it to your Amazon address book or search for it when prompted at checkout. Then, select it as your delivery address,” the company says.

Then, once a parcel has been delivered, Amazon will email the customer a collection barcode. All that's left at that point is to visit the selected Locker or Counter to collect the parcel. Once a customer gets to a Locker, they will scan the barcode to access their delivery. If they’re using a counter location, the store assistant will scan the barcode before handing over the parcel.

What is the difference between Locker and Counter? Lockers are simply self-service kiosks where customers can collect or return their Amazon parcels at a time that's convenient for them, 24/7. Counters can be found at retail locations such as convenience stores; parcels at these locations will be handed over by a staff member in store.

How much does using Amazon Hub cost? There is no transaction fee associated with shipping to an Amazon Hub, but there is one caveat: Amazon Hub locations aren't eligible for Release-Date Delivery.

How long do I have to pick up my parcel? There’s some flexibility in pickup times, but it doesn’t last forever and it varies between Lockers and Counters. Customers have 3 calendar days to pick up their parcel from a Locker and 14 calendar days to pick up their parcel from a Counter. If you're not able to collect your parcel within this time frame, it will automatically be returned for a refund.

How do I sign up for the service? Amazon customers who opt in for the alternative delivery options have to do one very important thing at checkout online: search and select the most convenient location for them when prompted. 

Can you return an item to an Amazon Hub location? Absolutely. 

Will Alexa blow my cover? Good question. Amazon says that its Alexa device will keep mum on who an item is for, even if a customer asks, “Where’s my stuff?” or checks their delivery update notifications. If a customer likes, they can also mark an item as a gift during checkout and Alexa will not reveal the names of those items either. 

“Customers who want to be extra cautious of keeping those gifts under wraps or are worried they might forget to mark an item as a gift during checkout can also change their settings for item names in the Alexa app to hide all titles,” the company suggested.

And what is “Amazon Day”?

Another fair request that Amazon is asking its customers to consider is receiving all of their deliveries as a single delivery on a specific day that it’s dubbed “Amazon Day.” The company says Amazon Day is free to Prime members in the U.S. If they so choose, Prime members can opt to receive all of their orders on one day of the week, often in fewer boxes, to reduce the number of packages and deliveries.

Eligible items can typically be ordered for Amazon Day delivery up to two days before a customer’s chosen day. Interested consumers can learn more here.

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Editor's Note: The headline of the story has been modified to clarify that Amazon's alternative package delivery options are not being offered due to any existing "delivery crunch."

With the number of COVID-19 infections continuing to climb, a Deloitte poll has found that more than half of consumers (57 percent) are anxious about shopping in stores over the holidays. 

Deloitte conducted the survey between October and early November and found that the percentage of consumers who are anxious about shopping in stores has only increased since September. Deloitte officials said the figure is likely even higher now.

“My guess is that percentage is probably even higher now,” said Rod Sides, Deloitte vice chairman and U.S. leader for retail, wholesale and distribution. The pandemic is “driving folks online and changing behavior,” he said.

Deloitte said consumer anxiety stemming from the health crisis is likely to fuel an increase in online spending this holiday shopping season. Sixty-one percent of consumers are planning to shop online this Black Friday, according to the poll. 

Shaping shopping behaviors

Although the days following Thanksgiving are typically big days for group shopping trips, Deloitte found that this year is likely to be different. Around 60 percent of consumers said they’re either “unsure” or “have no plans” to shop with family and friends this week. 

“We’re not going to have a meaningful vaccine rollout, even with the great news this week, in time to have people feel comfortable from a holiday perspective,” Sides said. “So I think this one is going to turn out to be predominantly online.”

Nearly two-thirds of consumers (74 percent) said they plan to shop online during the week of Thanksgiving in order to avoid crowds, according to the survey. That’s up from 62 percent a year ago. 

The poll results come as health officials urge Americans to avoid traveling and mingling with people outside of their household this Thanksgiving holiday period. The U.S. has reported a million new cases of COVID-19 per week for the past few weeks.   

Aware of the health risks of shopping in stores, a number of retailers have already started rolling out Black Friday-like deals. Walmart has planned three Black Friday-esque shopping events, and Target’s Black Friday sales have been going on for weeks now. Other retailers that have launched early deals in stores and on their websites include Macy’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Best Buy.  

Guitar Center is the latest business to seek bankruptcy protection as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has eroded sales.

The musical instrument retailer has filed petitions for reorganization pursuant to Chapter 11 in the United States Bankruptcy Court of the Eastern District of Virginia.

The company says Chapter 11 status is the final piece in its turnaround plan. It says it has secured new financing and has the support of its investors. The plan calls for deleveraging the balance sheet and injecting more cash so it can continue to pay its vendors, suppliers, and employees.

“This is an important and positive step in our process to significantly reduce our debt and enhance our ability to reinvest in our business to support long-term growth,” said Ron Japinga, CEO of Guitar Center. “Throughout this process, we will continue to serve our customers and deliver on our mission of putting more music in the world.”

Japinga says the company has received a “strong level of support” from Guitar Centers’ lenders and creditors and expects to complete the bankruptcy process before the end of this year.

Relies heavily on in-person sales

Guitar Center has been especially hard-hit by the pandemic because it relies so heavily on in-person, face-to-face sales encounters. Consumers considering the purchase of an expensive musical instrument normally want to see and touch it.

When the pandemic hit with full force in March, the retailer was forced to close 75 percent of its stores during the economic shutdown. Most of its 300 stores have reopened, and the company stresses that it will be business as usual during its bankruptcy.

With Black Friday approaching at the end of the week, Guitar Center is promoting a number of holiday deals that have knocked more than $100 off guitars, amplifiers, and drum kits.

The company joins other national retailers that have declared bankruptcy since March. They include J. Crew, Brooks Brothers, Friendly’s restaurants, Gold’s Gym, Hertz, JC Penney, and Pier 1.

A new car is one of the big-ticket gifts people sometimes give themselves or a family member, but shoppers looking for a Black Friday bargain may have to look a little harder this year.

Industry analysts say dealers have less wiggle room and are likely to stay closer to the sticker price. Because of the pandemic, new car inventories are running low.

The pandemic forced the closure of U.S. assembly plants for about six weeks in the spring. As the factories reopened and the industry tried to catch up, demand for new and used cars accelerated. People who normally relied on public transit and ride-sharing suddenly found they needed a car.

Edmunds, an automotive data company, reports the average discount from MSRP for new vehicles dropped to $2,046 in October, nearly 23 percent less than last year. Because of a shortage of 2020 models, Edmunds predicts that more than half the cars sold this month will be 2021 models, which will carry fewer incentives and discounts.

‘Mostly just hype’

"This Black Friday is looking much different in terms of sales compared to the blowout bargain events promoted in years past," said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds' executive director of insights. "Although automakers are doing a good job of broadcasting a 'buy now' message to shoppers with holiday advertising campaigns, they're mostly just hype.”

The reality, says Caldwell, is that there is less of a transition phase between model years as 2020 draws to a close. For that reason, the dealers feel like they’re firmly in the driver’s seat.

“Dealers and automakers aren't facing the overwhelming pressure to sweeten deals to clear out their lots," she said.

Shoppers aren’t going to find things are much more accommodating on the used car lot. Cox Automotive recently reported used car prices gained momentum throughout the summer as demand increased and inventories shrank. 

Higher prices for used cars too

“Higher wholesale prices were supported by strong retail demand and below-normal levels of supply that eased in September as seasonal demand normalized and supply increased modestly,” Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jonathon Smoke said last month.

Supplies of used cars rose slightly at the beginning of November but remain about 3 million units lower than at the beginning of 2019.

New car shoppers with a fairly recent model to trade in may find they have slightly more bargaining power since dealers are actively seeking to replenish their used car stocks. Research the trade-in value of your vehicle using Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book and negotiate that price just as firmly as the new vehicle price.

National used car dealers Carmax and Carvana purchase vehicles directly from consumers. NPR recently reported that a Maryland consumer sold his 2014 Volkswagen Jetta, which he purchased in 2016, for $1,800 more than he paid for it.

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 776 model year 2021 Atlas and model year 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles.

One or both steering knuckles may have been damaged during production.

A damaged steering knuckle can fail, causing a loss of steering and increasing the risk of a crash.

Owners are advised against driving the vehicle until it has been inspected and repaired if necessary.

What to do

Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and -- as necessary -- replace the steering knuckle free of charge.

The recall began November 19, 2020.

Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at (800) 893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40Q6.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 225 model year 2021 F-650s and F-750s with 7.3L gas engines.

The transmission oil cooler line may contact the air conditioning compressor pulley, possibly causing a transmission fluid leak.

Leaking transmission fluid may contact hot engine components, increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.

What to do

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect transmission oil cooler lines for proper orientation and damage, correcting the lines and replacing any that are damaged free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin December 14, 2020.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S66.

BMW of North America is recalling 21 model year 2020-2021 M2 Coupes and model year 2020 M4 Coupes.

Fuel injectors may have been installed without a damping component which is used to reduce vibration.

If a damping component is not present, vibration will increase at the connection between the fuel line and the fuel rail, which over time, can result in damage at the connection.

A damaged connection between the fuel line and the fuel rail could lead to a fuel leak and -- in the presence of an ignition source -- increase the risk of a fire.

What to do

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel injectors. If a damping component is missing, the injectors and the fuel rail will be replaced free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin December 21, 2020.

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: 11,743,780 (11,558,241)

Total U.S. deaths: 252,861 (250,898)

Total global cases: 57,164,742 (56,435,244)

Total global deaths: 1,364,959 (1,354,205)

Cities and states clamp down amid record cases

New cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) set another single-day record on Thursday as Johns Hopkins University reported 187,833 cases of the virus. As cases mount, the nation’s most populous states are imposing new restrictions.

California has beefed up its stay-at-home mandate as cases in Los Angeles County reached the highest number since July. “At this point, no one should still be questioning this virus, nor should they be questioning the actions that need to be taken,” said Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis.

In New York City, many parents are expressing frustration with Mayor Bill de Blasio, noting that the city’s bars and restaurants are still open amid surging cases despite the mayor suddenly closing the city’s schools. 

"This is a tough day. It was a tough decision yesterday. It's not something anyone can possibly be happy about. I understand the frustration of parents," de Blasio said Thursday.

Pfizer ready to deploy its vaccine

Pfizer said today that it is seeking emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin inoculating Americans with its COVID-19 vaccine, days after it concluded Phase 3 clinical trials.

Pending government approval, the company said it could begin administering shots within the next couple of weeks. “Our work to deliver a safe and effective vaccine has never been more urgent,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement.

Meanwhile, researchers from Oxford University published findings of a study that suggested people who have recovered from the virus don’t need to be in a hurry to get a vaccine. It showed people who have had the virus have enough antibody protection that they are unlikely to get the virus again for at least six months.

WHO recommends against using remdesivir

We haven’t heard much lately about Gilead Sciences’ antiviral drug remdesivir, which has been used as a treatment for the coronavirus since April. The World Health Organization (WHO) now says the drug should not be used to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

The agency based its recommendation on the results of a large study of patients who had received the drug. The study concluded the drug has little effect on patients’ recovery.

"Remdesivir has no meaningful effect on mortality or on other important outcomes for patients, such as the need for mechanical ventilation or time to clinical improvement," WHO officials said.

Mnuchin holds out hope for ‘limited’ stimulus

If Congress and the Trump administration couldn’t agree on a stimulus package to help Americans economically impacted by the pandemic before, what hope is there now that President Trump is refusing to concede or cooperate with a transition to the Biden administration?

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin thinks there is a chance, and he is huddling with Republican congressional leaders to craft a package to offer congressional Democrats.

Congress passed the $2 trillion Cares Act in the early days of the pandemic but has been unable to come to terms on a second phase of aid, which economists say is badly needed by consumers and businesses.

British study finds supermarkets are major transmission points

If you want to improve your chances of avoiding COVID-19, it may be wise to avoid bars and restaurants. But a new British study says supermarkets are a more likely place to get infected.

Data collated by Public Health England (PHE) from Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) Test and Trace app has revealed that grocery stores are the most frequent coronavirus exposure setting. Supermarkets were the most frequently visited place among people who reported testing positive for the virus.

Even during economic shutdowns early in the pandemic, supermarkets remained open since they are considered essential businesses. Most have stepped up delivery and curbside pickup offerings to reduce the number of people in stores.

Around the nation

• New Jersey: The state is considering new coronavirus restrictions after reporting 4,500 new cases of the virus on Thursday. “Next week, we’ll continue to take steps. If we see transmission, we will get at it,” said Gov. Phil Murphy.

• Minnesota: Gov. Tim Walz made a televised address to residents of his state this week, imploring them to strictly observe virus mitigation protocols. He imposed new restrictions on businesses and social gatherings, including a ban on wedding receptions.

• Utah: Gov. Gary Herbert is bucking the trend of public officials urging citizens to avoid gathering for Thanksgiving next week. While urging caution, he said, “what you do in the confines of your own home is up to you.” The CDC said on Thursday that people should not travel to see friends and relatives over the holiday.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Virginia Cancer Center has found a way to potentially slow the spread of breast cancer. 

Some of the most serious cases of breast cancer are those that become metastatic, which means that cancerous cells have traveled to other parts of the body. In this study, the researchers identified the gene responsible for metastatic breast cancer -- TRIM37 -- and learned that it could make tumors resistant to traditional treatments like chemotherapy. 

“Despite metastasis being the key reason for failure of cancer therapies, it remains poorly understood,” said researcher Sanchita Bhatnagar, PhD. “We do not clearly understand what drives the metastatic growth in patients. In general, several genes are altered during tumorigenesis. However, whether targeting the same genes will prevent metastatic transition remains to be addressed.” 

Preventing cancer cells from spreading

The majority of breast cancer patients are typically treated using a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. However, once a tumor becomes metastatic, these treatments are unsuccessful. 

Dr. Bhatnagar and her team set out to discover how they could specifically target the TRIM37 gene and ultimately give patients a viable treatment option. She conducted her study on mice and used a combination of nanoparticles and antibodies that were designed to block the cancerous cells and allow healthy cells to flourish. 

“It’s a kiss of death that selectively reduces the expression of TRIM37 in cancer cells and prevents the spread,” said Dr. Bhatnagar. 

The researchers decided to target the mice’s lungs with the nanoparticle treatment, as it is the site of the majority of metastatic tumors for breast cancer patients. The treatment was delivered nasally, and the researchers monitored the mice’s lungs to see how effective this intervention was at slowing the spread of cancerous cells. Ultimately, the researchers observed significant improvements in the mice that were given the nanoparticle treatment. 

“The lungs showed dramatic reduction in metastatic lesions after the treatment in comparison to the mice that received no treatment,” Dr. Bhatnagar said. 

Very effective option

While the researchers plan to continue developing this work, they predict that targeting the TRIM37 gene in this way could be an effective treatment option for nearly 80 percent of those with triple negative breast cancer. They also noted that this could be an effective way to treat other types of cancer. 

“This is a delivery platform, not only for targeting our protein of interest, but for many other chemotherapeutic drugs that can be packaged into the nanoparticles and selectively delivered,” said Dr. Bhatnagar. 

Consumers can approach weight loss from several different angles: keeping a food log, intermittent fasting, or cutting out late-night snacking. Regardless of which option is the right fit, a new study found that consumers shouldn’t let their age get in the way of their weight loss goals. 

According to researchers from the University of Warwick, age doesn’t affect consumers’ ability to lose weight. Making healthier choices is the key to achieving long-term weight loss, and that’s achievable for consumers at any age. 

“Weight loss is important at any age, but as we get older we’re more likely to develop the weight-related comorbidities of obesity,” said researcher Dr. Thomas Barber. “Many of these are similar to the effects of aging, so you could argue that the relevance of weight loss becomes heightened as we get older, and this is something that we should embrace.”  

Reaching weight loss goals

The researchers analyzed data from 242 participants involved in the Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism (WISDEM). The program was designed to help patients make healthier life choices by encouraging a healthy diet and physical exercise. For this study, the researchers assessed the participants’ weight loss outcomes based on their ages: those who were younger than 60 and those who were between 60 and 78 years old. 

The participants were part of the study for between three and four years, and all of them were struggling with obesity when the study began. Ultimately, the researchers learned that age didn’t play a role in weight loss outcomes, as making changes to diet and exercise yielded similar results for all participants. 

The researchers found that those aged 60 and under were able to lose roughly seven percent of their body weight, while those in the older age bracket lost 7.3 percent of their body weight throughout the study. 

Because obesity increases consumers’ risk of several other health concerns -- especially in older age -- the researchers hope that these findings emphasize the importance of prioritizing healthy living. Weight loss is possible at any age, and it’s crucial that consumers are supported by their health care providers during this process. 

“There are a number of reasons why people may discount weight loss in older people,” said Dr. Barber. “These include an ‘ageist’ perspective that weight-loss is not relevant to older people and misconceptions of reduced ability of older people to lose weight through dietary modification and increased exercise. 

“Age should be no barrier to lifestyle management of obesity,” he continued. “Rather than putting up barriers to older people accessing weight loss programs, we should be proactively facilitating that process. To do otherwise would risk further and unnecessary neglect of older people through societal ageist misconceptions.” 

As Americans continue to flock to chicken (pun intended) during the pandemic, they should also be aware that the price of those birds is likely to continue going up.

Chicken purchases have soared since COVID-19 took over everyone’s life. In fact, according to research cited by the National Chicken Council, 75 percent of Americans who eat chicken say they prepare it at home at least once a week. 

Thanks to consumers showing that kind of love, retail chicken sales have increased $1.3 billion during the last nine months of the pandemic -- a 19.5 percent upswing percent over the same period last year. 

Rising prices will likely continue

With chicken fervor reaching new heights, it’s been tough for manufacturers to keep up with the demand. One reason is that there have been several meat processing plant closures. Another reason is that consumers have shown a growing preference for chicken wings since the pandemic struck, and processors have been put in a position of switching their focus on what parts of the chicken to produce.

All of these moves have resulted in a steady rise in the cost of chicken. According to YCharts, the U.S. chicken wholesale price has gone from a four-year low of $1.268 per pound in April to $1.501 at the end of October. 

Urner Barry’s latest Market Briefing confirms that price hike and has the arrow pointing north as we head into December. The United States Department of Agriculture also said buyers can expect to spend more money on most items in its latest national retail report published Friday.

Size, exports, and football matter when it comes to price

However, consumers should be aware that outside of buying a whole chicken, the prices for the different parts of the bird keep changing. At present -- and this can change quickly -- the bigger the piece, the higher the cost. 

According to USFoods’ coverage of the poultry market, the cost of jumbo wings, jumbo breasts, and jumbo tenders are up in price. However, the price of boneless thighs, medium boneless breasts, and medium wings is down.

Analysts are also forecasting that the price of dark meat chicken parts is likely to rise slightly in December due to an increase in export demand. An increased demand for wings during football season could also result in higher prices for that part of the chicken.

Password manager NordPass has released its annual list of the worst passwords, and 2020’s list includes many of the same weak passwords as years prior. 

Consumers are still protecting their data with simple passwords that are infamous for being easy to crack, according to this year’s list. For example, NordPass found that millions of people are still using “password" and “123456” as passwords. The firm said the latter has been breached more than 23 million times. 

Many people may choose variations of the number bar because it’s quick and easy to type, but research has found that these frequently used passwords take less than a second to crack. Combinations of adjacent keys, such as “asdfghjkl” or “qwertyuiop,” have also been found to be highly vulnerable to cracking. 

Worst passwords of 2020

NordPass’s full list contains 200 of the most commonly used passwords, ranked by metrics such as how many times each password has been exposed and how long it would take an unauthorized party to crack it. 

Below are the top 20 worst passwords of the year. 

• 123456

• 123456789

• picture1

• password

• 12345678

• 111111

• 123123

• 12345

• 1234567890

• senha

• 1234567

• qwerty

• abc123

• Million2

• 000000

• 1234

• iloveyou

• aaron431

• password1

• qqww1122

Protecting your data

To keep sensitive data from being exposed, NordPass recommends making sure all passwords are unique and complex. This can be made easier through the use of a password manager or a third-party service like LastPass or Apple’s iCloud Keychain. 

NordPass also suggests enabling two-factor authentication when possible and deleting any old or inactive accounts.