Current Events in January 2021

President Trump has signed an executive order banning several Chinese payment apps, including Alipay and WeChat Pay. 

A senior administration official said the order, which was signed late in the day on Tuesday, aims to keep American user data from being shared with the Chinese government. The Trump administration cited the possibility that the apps mentioned in the order could be used as a “mass tool for global oppression.”

"The United States must take aggressive action against those who develop or control Chinese connected software applications to protect our national security," the order said.

In total, eight Chinese apps are banned under the order: Tencent QQ, CamScanner, SHAREit, VMate, WPS Office, QQ Wallet, Alipay, and WeChat Pay. 

National security concerns

The U.S. government has concluded that the apps named in the order automatically capture “sensitive personally identifiable... and private information” from millions of users in the United States.” President Trump is concerned that the apps could be used to track and build dossiers of personal information on federal employees.

“At this time, action must be taken to address the threat posed by these Chinese connected software applications,” Trump wrote. 

The order will take effect after 45 days, which leaves open the possibility that President-elect Joe Biden will revoke it. The incoming presidential administration has yet to say how it plans to handle the order. 

The Trump administration has previously attempted to ban Chinese-based apps like TikTok and WeChat over national security concerns. Both attempts were unsuccessful. 

In 2019, the administration launched a trade war against Beijing and blacklisted Huawei Technologies, ZTE, and Chinese firms over national security concerns. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has designated Huawei and ZTE as national security threats, but both companies have denied that they share data with the Chinese government.

Macy’s is reportedly planning to close another 45 stores in the first half of 2021 as the struggling retailer fights to overcome the headwinds from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

CNBC reports that the closings are part of a plan Macy’s announced last year to reduce its brick-and-mortar footprint by as many as 145 stores by 2023. The latest report suggests that as many as a third of the closings will come in the next six months.

A Macy’s spokeswoman told CNBC that the retail chain is “rightsizing” its fleet of stores by looking closely at mall locations across the U.S.

“To that end, we announced several store closures today that align to the guidance we provided in February 2020,” she said. “These closures bring us closer to achieving the right mix of mall-based stores.”

Pandemic speeds up downsizing

Malls have been in slow decline for several years, but the pandemic is speeding up that trend. Restrictions in some areas have kept people away. Even in the absence of restrictions, many consumers have avoided enclosed spaces since the pandemic began in March.

Macy’s announced its plan for a shrinking footprint 11 months ago, just as coronavirus cases began to appear in the U.S. 

“We have a clear vision of where Macy’s, Inc. and our brands, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury, fit into retail today,” Jeff Gennette, chairman and CEO at Macy’s, said at the time. “We are confident in our Polaris strategy, and we have the resources required to return Macy’s, Inc. to sustainable, profitable growth.”

Focus on shopping malls

The Polaris strategy involves analyzing shopping malls across the country and deciding where Macy’s wants to continue a physical presence. Presumably, most (if not all) of the store closings this year will create empty spaces at malls across the U.S.

Since March, Macy’s has shifted much of its focus to its online channel, seeking to boost digital sales as foot traffic in its stores continued a downward trend. 

According to the industry publication Digital Commerce, Macy’s online sales grew 27 percent in the third quarter of 2020. But that was a decline from the second quarter of the year, when online sales were up 53 percent in the early days of the pandemic.

If you’re wondering when you’ll receive your $600 stimulus payment, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requests that you don’t call the tax agency to ask. Instead, it has set up an online portal where citizens can track their payment, much like they do their tax refund.

The portal, part of IRS.gov, is called Get My Payment. At the site, you click on the Get My Payment link that will take you to a page where you enter identifying information.

Only go to the site by typing in the URL “IRS.gov” and do not click on links from email or other sources to reach it. Since you’ll be entering sensitive information, you can be sure that scammers will quickly try to lead people to fake web portals.

Once on the IRS’ main page, click on the link that says “Get My Economic Impact Payment” and follow the directions. The portal will provide useful information, such as:

• That the IRS sent your second Economic Impact payment, also known as a stimulus payment, or when it is scheduled to be sent.

• That it also sent your first payment. Some people received their first Economic Impact Payment in partial payments. If you received partial payments, the application will show only the most recent.

• Your payment type: whether you’ll be paid by direct deposit or mail.

No need to call

Data is updated once per day overnight, so there's no need to check more than once per day, the agency said.

“Please do not call the IRS about the second stimulus payment; our phone assistors do not have additional information beyond what’s available here on IRS.gov and in the Get My Payment application,” the IRS said in a statement.

The federal government began issuing the second round of Economic Impact Payments last week after President Trump signed a $900 billion aid package. The IRS said the direct deposit payments may take several days to post to individual accounts. Some payments may have already shown up as “pending.” The funds became available Monday.

Taxpayers without a direct deposit history with the IRS will receive paper checks. They will continue to be sent during the month of January.

As with the first stimulus payment, sent out in the spring, some people will be mailed debit cards in January, and the IRS urges people to carefully check their mail. Mailed payments will require more processing and mailing time. 

Those who live outside the U.S. will have longer wait times for checks as disruptions to air travel and mail delivery in some countries will slow delivery.

A new study conducted by researchers from Case Western Reserve University explored how young people with behavioral and mental health concerns can benefit from a different approach. 

While kids with severe behavioral issues are often placed in state detention programs, the researchers looked at how things changed when kids were instead enrolled in the Ohio Behavioral Health Juvenile Justice Initiative (BHJJ). As an alternative to traditional detention programs, this community-based program gives young people the chance to contribute something positive to their local areas while working through behavioral, mental health, and substance abuse issues. 

“The majority of justice-involved youth have a history of mental health and/or substance-use issues, and have experienced a great deal of trauma,” said researcher Jeff Kretschmar. “However, local jurisdictions are often ill-equipped to accurately assess youth for behavioral health problems and provide appropriate treatment. Ohio’s Behavioral Health Juvenile Justice Initiative was intended to transform and expand the local systems’ options to better serve these youths.” 

Promoting better behavioral and health outcomes

For the study, the researchers analyzed behavioral and health outcomes for kids between the ages of 10 and 17 who were enrolled in the BHJJ. Since 2006, over 5,300 kids have participated in the BHJJ -- and the experts have noticed significant improvements in kids who complete the program in recent years. 

Between 2017 and 2019, more than 80 percent of the kids enrolled in BHJJ completed the program, and those that did also excelled in several other areas. The researchers found that school suspensions and expulsions decreased by 50 percent, and misdemeanor charges dropped by more than 50 percent. Additionally, nearly 80 percent of the kids who completed the program were less likely to have dealings with the police. 

The kids also saw improvements to their mental health and overall functioning after completing the program. The researchers found that there were fewer trauma-related symptoms reported, and the kids were less likely to be using substances like drugs or alcohol. 

The BHJJ, and other community-based diversion programs, are important for several reasons, but not least of which is that they evaluate kids comprehensively. At the start of the program, health care professionals perform intake assessments to ensure that the treatment program is best suited to the child’s needs. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that more programs like BHJJ become the norm for kids who are struggling with behavioral and mental health issues. The benefits are extensive and could make significant long-term changes in young people’s lives. 

“The breadth of the data provides us with an opportunity to examine outcomes for youth in BHJJ from a variety of angles and provide practitioners with enough information to match programming with behavioral health needs,” said researcher Frederick Butcher. 

BMW of North America is recalling 812 of the following model year 2021 vehicles:

• M340i xDrive,
• M440i xDrive Coupe,
• 530i, 530i xDrive,
• 540i, 540i xDrive,
• 740Li, 740Li xDrive,
• 840i Gran Coupe,
• 840i xDrive Gran Coupe,
• X5 sDrive40i,
• X5 xDrive40i,
• X6 sDrive40i,
• X6 xDrive40i, and
• X7 xDrive40i.

The connection between the 48-volt battery and the starter-generator may not have been assembled properly, which can cause increased electrical resistance at the connections.

Increased electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire.

What to do

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connection between the 48-volt battery and the starter-generator assembly, replacing it -- if necessary -- free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin February 1, 2021.

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

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 26 model year 2019 A220s.

Certain labels containing important information such as tire pressure may not have been installed.

Tires inflated to an incorrect tire pressure may be overloaded, and increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for the labels and apply them -- as necessary -- free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin February 2, 2021.

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

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 20,843,556 (20,649,941)

Total U.S. deaths: 354,263 (351,774)

Total global cases: 85,860,416 (85,327,849)

Total global deaths: 1,858,412 (1,846,764)

FDA not ready to change vaccine dosing instructions

The rollout of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines is not meeting demand, so it’s been suggested that younger people get half the required dose to start. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is throwing cold water on that idea, calling it “premature.”

“Without appropriate data supporting such changes in vaccine administration, we run a significant risk of placing public health at risk,” the FDA said in a statement.

The clinical trials for both vaccines were conducted using the full dose. The FDA said it would need to see data supporting a reduced dose before approving such a move.

‘Human disaster’ in Los Angeles

With the surge in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, hospitals in Los Angeles are nearing full capacity. According to CNN, ambulance crews in Los Angeles County have been told not to transport patients with little chance of survival, and the patients who are transported often have to wait hours before a bed is available.

"Hospitals are declaring internal disasters and having to open church gyms to serve as hospital units," Supervisor Hilda Solis told the network, calling it a "human disaster."

According to Los Angeles County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer, someone in LA County is drying of the virus every 15 minutes.

Mutant strain found in New York

The mutant strain of the virus causing COVID-19 is apparently widespread, and it has been since first identified last month in the U.K. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced that the variant strain has been detected for the first time in his state.

Cuomo said the strain infected a man in his 60s who worked in a jewelry store in Saratoga Springs. According to health officials, the patient had symptoms of the coronavirus and sought treatment. 

The strain has also been detected in a patient in California. According to the New York Times, the strain, which spreads more easily than the original virus, has been detected in 32 countries.

America’s deadliest week

Amid the rapidly rising number of cases of COVID-19, America suffered its deadliest week of the pandemic so far. A Reuters analysis of state and local data shows that the week ending on Jan. 3 saw a record death toll of 18,400 people.

Health officials worry that the record may not stand for long. They note that the large number of Americans traveling to visit family and friends at the end of the year will likely lead to even more cases of the virus. Deaths normally trail infections by about four weeks.

Some areas of the country suffered more than others. Arizona, Tennessee, and South Carolina saw the largest number of new cases per capita last week, according to the Reuters analysis. Kansas, Wyoming, and New Mexico led the nation in per capita deaths.

More stimulus? 

Do you have your $600 stimulus payment yet? The money has just begun to go out to Americans, but in Washington, there’s already talk of another round of payments. Congressional Democrats and even President Trump thought the payments should have been $2,000.

Today’s two runoff Senate elections in Georgia could well determine if there will be a third round of payments in the near future. Should Democrats win both seats, they will control Congress and the White House and have an easier time passing a third stimulus bill.

Democrats have backing from some economists who have said the recently passed second stimulus bill, spending $900 billion, won’t be enough to get the economy back on track as the pandemic finally comes to an end.

Around the nation

• Maryland: State officials are scrambling to find a solution to a rocky rollout of the coronavirus vaccine in the state. “It’s a very complex issue, and it’s not about blame but figuring out where the barriers are so we know how to address them,” Dr. Leana Wen, a former Baltimore health commissioner and a professor of public health at George Washington University, told the Baltimore Sun. 

• Louisiana: While not every frontline health care worker has received the vaccine, state officials are now offering it to residents of the state who are at least 70 years old. Gov. John Bel Edwards has announced that Louisiana seniors can receive the vaccine at local pharmacies.

• Pennsylvania: The state has allowed restrictions on indoor dining and other activities to expire this week. However, Philadelphia is retaining the indoor dining ban while loosening some restrictions on gyms.

T-Mobile’s cybersecurity team is once again being put to the test. On Monday, the phone carrier announced that it experienced its fourth data breach in three years. 

The company did not say what portion of its nearly 100 million user accounts were at risk, but it did confirm that the data accessed did not include names on the account, physical or email addresses, financial data, credit card information, social security numbers, tax IDs, passwords, or PINs.

“Our Cybersecurity team recently discovered and shut down malicious, unauthorized access to some information related to your T-Mobile account,” said Matt Staneff, the Chief Marketing Officer of T-Mobile USA.

“We immediately started an investigation, with assistance from leading cybersecurity forensics experts, to determine what happened and what information was involved. We also immediately reported this matter to federal law enforcement and are now in the process of notifying impacted customers.”

What happened?

In a letter to customers, Staneff said T-Mobile’s cybersecurity team detected -- then shut down -- “malicious, unauthorized access” to “some” information related to T-Mobile accounts. Staneff qualified “some” as customer proprietary network information (CPNI). Collecting CPNI data is a permission given to phone companies by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and typically includes call information like the date, duration of the call, the phone number called, and the type of network a consumer subscribes to -- in short, the type of information that appears on a customer's phone bill.

“We immediately started an investigation, with assistance from leading cybersecurity forensics experts, to determine what happened and what information was involved. We also immediately reported this matter to federal law enforcement and are now in the process of notifying impacted customers,” Staneff said.

T-Mobile users weren’t so lucky in March 2020 when a data breach allowed hackers to gain access to T-Mobile employee email accounts. That, in turn, opened up access to customers’ names, addresses, Social Security numbers, financial account information, phone numbers, billing and account information, and rate plans. 

T-Mobile offers to answer any questions

Staneff said the company is ready to answer additional questions if a customer wants further details. Customers can either contact the company online, ask questions at one of the company’s stores, or go through the customer service team at 1-800-937-8997. 

“We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you. We take the security of customer information seriously and, while we have a number of safeguards in place to protect customer information from unauthorized access, we will continue to work to further enhance security so we can mitigate this type of activity,” Staneff promised.

Scammers are continuing to exploit the pandemic, most recently through schemes claiming to make it possible for people to purchase a COVID-19 vaccine. 

According to European and U.S. government officials, dark web forums are rife with scams related to the pandemic. Many scammers are now attempting to profit off the COVID-19 vaccine distribution program, which has gotten off to a slow start. 

At least seven different offers for supposed COVID-19 vaccines were found online, in dark web forums, and on the messaging app Telegram, Reuters reported. The offers promise people access to legitimate vaccines that sellers allegedly pulled from national stockpiles. 

A user on Telegram claimed to have vials of Moderna’s vaccines for $180 each, vials of the vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech for $150, and vials of AstraZeneca’s vaccine for $110 each.  The seller said the vials could be transported in “regulated temperature packs.” 

On other dark web sites, sellers are offering COVID-19 vaccines alongside stock photos of vaccines. Vials of fake COVID-19 vaccines are listed for between $500 and $1,000 (or the equivalent in bitcoin) on the dark web forum Agartha. Other vials are being offered in exchange for a donation and buyers’ medical history. 

‘No legitimate vaccine is sold online’

Drugmakers are aware of the increase in these types of scams and say consumers should never purchase a vaccine online. Legitimate vaccines will be administered at no cost. 

“Patients should never try to secure a vaccine online - no legitimate vaccine is sold online - and only get vaccinated at certified vaccination centers or by certified healthcare providers,” a Pfizer spokesman said in a statement.

As of Monday, about 4.5 million Americans had received their first COVID-19 shot, according to the CDC. Under the current distribution timeline, most people will likely have to wait until spring or summer to get their shot. 

Self-control is a big part of adulthood. Now, researchers from Duke University are exploring how developing a strong sense of self-control throughout childhood can have long-lasting benefits. 

According to findings from a new study, kids with greater self-control are likely to become middle-aged adults with healthier bodies and minds. 

“Our population is growing older, and living longer with age-related diseases,” said researcher Leah Richmond-Rakerd. “It’s important to identify ways to help individuals prepare successfully for later-life challenges, and live more years free of disability. We found that self-control in early life may help set people up for healthy aging.” 

Promoting better well-being in middle age

To see how childhood self-control affected outcomes in middle age, the researchers had over 1,000 participants involved in the study from the time they were born through their mid-40s. Starting at age three, the participants were interviewed and underwent medical exams every few years until they reached their mid-40s. During childhood, parents and teachers also reported on the participants’ behaviors, including impulse control, inattention, aggression, and perseverance, among several others. 

The researchers learned that the participants with the highest self-control during childhood were healthier both biologically and physically than those with lower self-control. This positive trait was linked with better brain function and an overall slower aging process, and the researchers found that children with self-control were more likely to be optimistic about the future as adults and have greater life satisfaction during middle age.

“Everyone fears an old age that’s sickly, poor, and lonely, so aging well requires us to get prepared, physically, financially, and socially,” said researcher Terrie Moffitt. “We found people who have used self-control since childhood are far more prepared for aging than their same-age peers.” 

While these findings point towards benefits related to greater self-control during childhood, the researchers hope that these findings serve as inspiration for consumers of all ages to adopt better habits for both physical health and emotional well-being -- no matter how old they are. 

“...If you aren’t prepared for aging yet, your 50s is not too late to get ready,” said Moffitt. 

Southwest Airlines kicked off 2021 with a huge fare sale that features $29 one-way fares -- $10-20 less than its previous promotional deals. It’s one of those if-you-want-it-act-now promotions because it only lasts through January 7, and it also only applies to certain markets, seats, and available days; a 21-day advance purchase is also required. 

The company avoided the subject of the coronavirus pandemic in its announcement, opting to focus more on spring travel when more people will have been immunized.

"Southwest is ready to take Customers to their favorite spring travel destinations," said Bill Tierney, Southwest Vice President of Marketing. "Whether it is hitting the slopes or soaking up the sun on the beach, Southwest is your ticket to the perfect getaway. With our legendary Hospitality, flexible policies, and low fares across our expanding network, we look forward to having our Customers onboard again when they are ready to get away."

Where will $29 get you?

The key to any of these deals is watching for trigger words and phrases like “as low as.” In Southwest-ese, its “as low as” includes $29 deals between:

• Atlanta and Raleigh/Durham

• Denver and Salt Lake City

• Phoenix and Palm Springs

• Boston and Baltimore/Washington

However, for $10 more -- $39 -- a one-way ticket between Dallas and New Orleans is available. Paying $89 will get someone from Nashville to Sarasota, and a $99 fare will be available for anyone traveling from San Diego to Hawaii. That last trip appears to be a particularly good deal. When ConsumerAffairs ran searches on Google Flights, most San Diego-Hawaii non-stop fares ranged from $124 to $159.

Southwest was very direct about its fare sale, saying there is “fine print galore.” And that there is. The biggest caveat is that the cheapest tickets are generally available for travel only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and for nonstop flights within the continental U.S. Sale fares for flights to Hawaii, Mexico and Puerto Rico are generally offered on more days of the week.

In an effort to stretch the nation’s supply of COVID-19 vaccines, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials have recently been considering cutting Moderna’s first dose in half. But on Monday, a pair of FDA officials said that any American who gets the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines must get two full doses in order to receive full protection. 

"We have been following the discussions and news reports about reducing the number of doses, extending the length of time between doses, changing the dose [half-dose], or mixing and matching vaccines in order to immunize more people against COVID-19," FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn and Dr. Peter Marks, who heads FDA's vaccine division, said in a statement.

"These are all reasonable questions to consider and evaluate in clinical trials. However, at this time, suggesting changes to the FDA-authorized dosing or schedules of these vaccines is premature and not rooted solidly in the available evidence," Hahn and Marks added.

Preliminary data

Over the weekend, Moncef Slaoui -- chief scientific adviser of Operation Warp Speed, the U.S. government's vaccine program -- told CNN that cutting the dose would allow twice as many people in the 18 to 55 age group to get the initial protection while Moderna ramps up production. 

Slaoui said there was some evidence showing that the vaccine spurred similar antibody responses among volunteers in this age group regardless of whether they received a full or half dose. However, Marks and Hahn said these findings came from data collected from just a few people. It’s not yet known whether the half dose delivered lasting immune responses. 

"The available data continue to support the use of two specified doses of each authorized vaccine at specified intervals," they wrote. They added that it's understandable that people may want to stretch the vaccine supply, but it's not necessarily safe to do so.

"If people do not truly know how protective a vaccine is, there is the potential for harm because they may assume that they are fully protected when they are not, and accordingly, alter their behavior to take unnecessary risks," Marks and Hahn explained.

Could confuse people

In addition to efficacy concerns, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, cautioned that changing the dosage could be confusing to the public. 

"One of the dangers of making a change in midstream is that it could confuse the public," he told the New York Times. Fauci added that changing the dosage was "the right answer to the wrong question.” 

“At the present time, we are not dealing with a shortage of doses -- we are dealing with the need to increase our efficiency in getting people vaccinated," he said.

Microsoft is reportedly planning a massive visual overhaul of Windows in a bid to show users that Windows is back and better than before. 

According to a job listing recently posted by the company, Microsoft has a “sweeping visual rejuvenation of Windows” planned for a holiday 2021 debut. To carry it out, Microsoft has been looking to fill a software engineering role in the Windows Core User Experiences team.

“On this team, you’ll work with our key platform, Surface, and OEM partners to orchestrate and deliver a sweeping visual rejuvenation of Windows experiences to signal to our customers that Windows is BACK and ensure that Windows is considered the best user OS experience for customers,” the company said in the listing.

The company has since pulled references to its “visual rejuvenation,” but it was spotted by several sources over the weekend. Windows Central reported that Microsoft is planning to modernize the Start menu, File Explorer, and built-in apps in Windows 10. Changes to the sliders, buttons, and controls found throughout Windows are also reportedly on the horizon. 

Tablet users are also expected to see a few changes to the operating system, namely in the area of how Microsoft’s Surface line switches between mouse/trackpad usage and touch-based interactions.

Sources told Windows Central that the user interface rejuvenation project is internally codenamed "Sun Valley.”. The changes rumored to be in the works are expected to debut later this year as part of the Windows 10 "Cobalt" release. 

There’s no question that consumers’ social media habits can have a direct correlation on their well-being, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, experts have found that too much time on social media can also affect consumers’ mental health. 

Now, a new study conducted by researchers from Northwestern University has found that social media could be particularly troublesome for medical professionals. According to their findings, around a quarter of doctors have experienced harassment on social media, and these attacks have only intensified since the start of the pandemic. 

“If anything, our data is probably an underestimate of the true extent of attacks and harassment post-pandemic since so many doctors started to advocate for public health measures during the pandemic and have been met with an increasingly polarized populace emboldened by leadership that devalues science and fact,” said researcher Dr. Vineet Arora. 

Doctors need better support online

For the study, the researchers analyzed nearly 500 responses to an online survey that asked physicians to answer yes or no to just two questions: (1) had they had experienced sexual harassment on social media and (2) had they had been generally attacked or harassed on social media. The survey also gave participants an opportunity to go into further detail about their experiences. 

The researchers learned that one out of every four doctors involved in the study had experienced harassment on social media in varying degrees of intensity. While the pandemic has provided the opportunity for health care providers to use social media as a way to encourage consumers to practice social distancing and wear masks, the backlash to these types of posts have been as severe as online death threats or verbal threats at work. 

The study also revealed that online sexual harassment was more common for female doctors, which the researchers think is worrisome. Many doctors, like consumers in any profession, utilize social media as a way to advance their careers, and with this kind of harassment, it wouldn’t be surprising to see many female doctors abandon their online profiles. 

“Women in medicine are already less likely to hold leadership positions or be the first or last authors of research, so disproportionately abstaining from a platform used for collaboration and networking due to sexual harassment and perosnal attacks should be a cause for concern,” said researcher Tricia Pendergrast. 

Protecting doctors online

As important as doctors are in the field, their presence on social media can also be just as important for reaching a wider audience and advocating for better health care practices. The researchers hope that more work is done to better protect doctors on social media so that their messages can spread without the threat of harassment. 

“Doctors and other health care workers are already facing unprecedented stress and mental health challenges from their work,” said Dr. Arora. “Any stress from being online will compound that and put them at risk, especially as doctors are being asked to be more vocal on social media to promote vaccination and more.” 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, restaurants have generally streamlined their menus to increase efficiency during challenging times. McDonald’s is bucking that trend to start 2021 by adding three new chicken sandwiches to its lineup.

Since Popeye’s created a social media sensation in 2019 with its chicken sandwich, chicken increasingly appears to be what draws customers to fast-food restaurants. Though the pandemic is still raging, McDonald’s appears to be preparing for its end while offering up more “comfort food” to help customers get through it.

Linda VanGosen, McDonald’s vice president of menu innovation, said the new menu items are a response to customer feedback.

“We’re confident all chicken fans – from traditionalists to spice enthusiasts – will discover a new menu favorite they’ll come back for time and time again,” she said.

While it’s basically one chicken sandwich, McDonald’s says it will be available in three versions at participating locations starting Feb. 24. The three sandwiches are:

• Crispy chicken sandwich

• Spicy chicken sandwich, with spicy pepper sauce

• Deluxe chicken sandwich, with lettuce, tomato, and mayo

Better chicken sandwich part of the strategy

McDonald’s has actually regained some lost ground during the pandemic, thanks to its existing drive-thru operation and quick pivot to delivery. In 2019, the company told shareholders that it needed a better chicken sandwich to win back customers.

Indeed, the entire industry appears to be in hot pursuit of chicken leader Chick-Fil-A and 2019’s sensation Popeye’s. In October, Wendy’s got a head start on McDonald’s with the rollout of its Classic Chicken Sandwich, with what it said was an improved chicken fillet.

In fact, Wendy’s announced that chicken upgrade would go into its complete line of chicken menu items. Meanwhile, KFC is said to be test marketing a new, premium chicken sandwich.

Each year, United Van Lines issues a study of where Americans chose new homes and the places they left behind. Because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the 2020 study may take on added relevance.

To be clear, the 44th annual migration report is not a scientific study but is based on company moving records for the year, with a focus on trends. It’s not the only moving company in America but its scale suggests it could confirm other anecdotal evidence emerging in the past year. And it does.

According to the study, Idaho was the state with the highest percentage of inbound migration -- 70 percent. That coincides with reports of young apartment dwellers, suddenly working from home, looking for new homes with wide-open spaces.

New Jersey topped the list of states that people left, a spot it’s held for three years in a row. New York, Illinois, Connecticut, and California were close behind on the list of states people abandoned.

Jobs were a big factor

The United survey each year asks customers why they are moving. This year, 40 percent said they moved for a new job or for a transfer. Left unsaid was whether the job could be done from anywhere.

Twenty-seven percent said the move was to be closer to family. Again, the ability to work remotely could have granted more people that flexibility as the pandemic closed offices across the nation.

For customers who cited COVID-19 as an influence on their move in 2020, the top reasons they gave were concerns for personal and family health and wellbeing, the desire to be closer to family, and new workplace flexibility. 

But even though COVID-19 may have had an outsized influence on people’s migration patterns in 2020, the data shows some trends remained consistent with previous years.

Consistent trends

"United Van Lines' data makes it clear that migration to western and southern states, a prevalent pattern for the past several years, persisted in 2020," said Michael A. Stoll, economist and professor in the Department of Public Policy at UCLA. "However, we're seeing that the COVID-19 pandemic has without a doubt accelerated broader moving trends, including retirement driving top inbound regions as the baby boomer generation continues to reach that next phase of life."

People moving to begin new lives in retirement were less affected by the pandemic. Delaware, with a very low state income rate, was number one. Florida, with no state income tax and plenty of sunny weather, was number two.

Bombardier Recreational Products U.S. (BRP) of Sturtevant, Wis., is recalling about 172 model year 2021 Can-Am Outlander and Renegade All-Terrain Vehicles.

A rear wheel can separate from the vehicle and cause a loss of control, posing a crash hazard.

The firm has received two reports of the rear wheel coming loose and falling off the all-terrain vehicles. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves nine model year 2021 Can-Am Outlander and Renegade models listed here.

The vehicles were sold in various colors including red, tundra green, granite gray-octane blue, camo and yellow. The model name is printed on the side panels of the vehicles.

The vehicle identification number (VIN) is printed on the frame under the seat in the middle and on the frame behind the right front wheel.

The ATVs, manufactured in Mexico, were sold at Can-Am dealers nationwide in October and November 2020 for between $8,500 and $15,000.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled vehicles and contact a BRP Can-Am ATV dealer for a free repair. BRP is contacting all known purchasers directly.

Consumers may contact BRP toll-free at (888) 272-9222 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET) Monday through Sunday, or online at https://can-am.brp.com/off-road/us/en/owner-zone/safety-recalls/possible-rear-wheel-loss.html for more information.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 20,649,941 (20,474,163 )

Total U.S. deaths: 351,774 (350,598)

Total global cases: 85,327,849 (84,838,747)

Total global deaths: 1,846,764 (1,839,622)

Hospitalizations begin the year at a record high

Americans were more than happy to say goodbye to 2020, but 2021 is starting off the way the old year ended, with increasing cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and a record number of people being treated in the nation’s hospitals.

On Sunday, health officials counted a record 125,544 people being treated in U.S. hospitals for the virus. There were more than 210,000 newly reported cases of the virus on Sunday.

Deaths attributed to the virus continue to rise at an ever-faster pace. There are a total of more than 351,000 fatalities so far, with nearly 80,000 occurring in December, making it the deadliest month since the pandemic began. 

Officials seek faster vaccine rollout

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering a number of measures to speed up the distribution of vaccines against COVID-19. The agency will meet later in the week to consider a proposal to cut Moderna’s initial dose in half when administered to people between the ages of 18 and 55.

Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific adviser of Operation Warp Speed, the U.S. government's vaccine program, told CNN that the move would allow twice as many people in that age group to get initial protection while the drugmaker ramps up production.

So far, about 4 million people in the U.S. have received either the Moderna vaccine or the one produced by Pfizer and BioNTech. Earlier estimates predicted 20 million Americans would be vaccinated by the end of December.

Air travel hits post-pandemic high

Despite health officials’ pleas not to travel over the end-of-year holidays, Americans apparently did anyway. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reports that more than 1.3 million people passed through its checkpoints on Sunday.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) has warned that cases of the coronavirus are likely to spike in the coming days because of the increase in travel. 

Still, air travel is nowhere what it was before the pandemic struck with full force in March. Airline executives predict passenger traffic will drop sharply again now that the holidays are over.

What to do while waiting for the vaccine

The coronavirus vaccines are going to high-priority groups, and the process is going more slowly than first predicted. That may leave you wondering when you’re going to get the vaccine and what you should be doing in the meantime.

Rehabilitation psychologist Abigail Hardin, PhD., at Rush University Medical Center, has offered a list of five things to do while waiting for the vaccine -- even after getting the first dose and before it takes effect. They include maintaining good health but planning for the eventuality of getting the virus.

“Continuing to take protective measures like social distancing and masking will help protect you, your loved ones, and the community while you wait for your first dose and for the vaccine to take full effect,” she said.

Larry King treated for COVID-19

Broadcast journalist Larry King is one of the latest celebrities to contract COVID-19. King was hospitalized last week in California after being diagnosed with the virus.

On an encouraging note, King’s family said the retired CNN interviewer has been moved out of the intensive care unit (ICU), suggesting his condition is improving. He reportedly got the virus from a health care worker who came to his home.

An increasing number of elderly celebrities have become infected. Country music legend Charlie Pride and actress Dawn Wells, who starred as Mary Ann in the 1960’s sitcom “Gilligan’s Island,” both died of COVID-19 issues in the last 30 days.

Around the nation

• Texas: Three days into a new year, Texas has broken a record for COVID-19 hospitalizations. As of Sunday, there were 12,563 people in a hospital within the state. Health officials say new cases and positivity rates are also moving in the wrong direction.

• Massachusetts: Officials at three large hospitals in Worcester say they have believed for several weeks that a mutant strain of the coronavirus was in the state and spreading. They say the virus spread in spite of strict mitigation protocols.

• Illinois: Restaurants in the state say they’re suffering from the continued ban on indoor dining, a ban put in place in October. Eateries in cities near the border with Indiana say they’ve lost take-out service because many consumers are driving to Indiana where there are fewer restrictions on indoor dining.

Distribution of several COVID-19 vaccines began over the last few weeks. While some consumers have expressed concern over the safety and efficacy of these treatments, the findings from a new study should give consumers some peace of mind. 

A group of allergists from Massachusetts General Hospital explored the risks of the COVID-19 vaccine for people with food or medication allergies, and they found that allergic reactions from the vaccine are unlikely. They explained that vaccine-related allergic reactions are typically rare, and the COVID-19 vaccine is no exception. 

“As allergists, we want to encourage vaccination by reassuring the public that both FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines are safe,” said researcher Dr. Aleena Banerji. “Our guidelines are built upon the recommendations of U.S. regulatory agencies and provide clear steps to the medical community on how to safely administer both doses of the vaccine in individuals with allergic histories.” 

Minimal vaccine risks

Recently, experts found that consumers were most worried about a COVID-19 vaccine because of potential side effects -- including allergic reactions. Now, this team of allergists is working to be as transparent as possible to help ease consumers’ fears. 

For starters, the allergists want consumers to know how rare vaccine-related allergic reactions are; just 1.3 out of every one million people vaccinated typically develop an allergic reaction. This also includes those who are predisposed to food or medication allergies. Because all current evidence indicates that the COVID-19 vaccine operates under this same low allergic reaction rate, the allergists say that consumers with food or medication allergies are likely safe to be vaccinated. 

However, they identified two vaccine ingredients -- polysorbate and polyethylene glycol -- that could be a cause for concern. The allergists encourage consumers with a history of anaphylaxis to either of these ingredients to consult with their doctors before getting vaccinated. 

Protections in place

Though these vaccines are new, and consumers may be worried about how they’ll react, the allergists also explained that patients are monitored by health professionals for up to a half hour post-vaccination to monitor signs of an allergic reaction. 

As the vaccines become more widely available, the allergists hope that consumers utilize this information to help them make the best decisions for their health and wellness.