Current Events in January 2021

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 24,737,567 (24,475,210)

Total U.S. deaths: 412,239 (407,111)

Total global cases: 97,901,441 (97,116,661)

Total global deaths: 2,099,562 (2,080,009)

Antibody drug reduced coronavirus cases in nursing homes

While the vaccines to prevent the coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to roll out nationwide, drug maker Eli Lilly reports that its antibody treatment drug appeared to have a protective effect among nursing home residents.

The drug developed to help COVID-19 patients recover faster reduced the number of new infections by 80 percent when given to residents in nursing homes that were experiencing an outbreak.

"We are exceptionally pleased with these positive results, which showed bamlanivimab was able to help prevent COVID-19, substantially reducing symptomatic disease among nursing home residents, some of the most vulnerable members of our society," said Dr. Daniel Skovronsky, Lilly's chief scientific officer and president of Lilly Research Laboratories. 

Biden still signing executive orders

President Biden is scheduled to sign more executive orders today, some targeted at providing relief to Americans coping with the coronavirus. One order is aimed at alleviating food shortages and the other is seeking to boost workers’ pay.

The president will ask the Department of Agriculture to allow states to expand access to enhanced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, a response to the huge lines that have formed at food banks in recent months.

Another order would require federal contractors to pay a minimum wage of $15 an hour and provide paid emergency leave. A number of retailers in the private sector have already committed to a $15 per hour minimum wage.

Pandemic data usage through the roof

The closing of offices and businesses and the overnight pivot to working at home has, as you might expect, had a huge impact on data usage. A report by Comscore shows that overall in-home data usage levels throughout 2020 remained significantly higher than in 2019.

And it wasn’t just people binge-watching Netflix. Data consumption from Comscore Connected Home custom reporting showed increased usage across all connected devices. That includes smart TVs, laptops, gaming consoles, phones, smart speakers, streaming boxes and sticks, and tablets — with all of them seeing strong growth in data usage versus 2019.

The report shows that usage began to level off during the summer months at about 15 percent above normal. However, the authors say smart TVs and home computers continued to see growth rates that were upwards of 30 percent over 2019.

Scientists say pandemic effect on mental health needs study

With shelter in place orders and remote working becoming the norm during the pandemic, scientists say they’re concerned that a sense of isolation is taking a toll on mental health. Writing in the British medical journal The Lancet, they say the risks need to be examined.

“While the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on the nervous system remain unclear, there is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic is bad for mental health,” the authors write. 

To alleviate the impact of both the virus and the measures taken to control its spread, the researchers say doctors need “high-quality information” about the immediate and long-term effects of the pandemic on mental health and which countermeasures are most effective. 

Couple donates 20,000 masks to those in need

Some people think about doing something to help those in need during the coronavirus pandemic. Barton and Kristina Henderson, a New Jersey couple, actually did something.

The Hendersons purchased 20,000 face masks and handed them out to 2,200 families at a food distribution event in Atlantic City. The Hendersons own a factory in California that produces surgical masks.

Company officials say the donation is part of a broader donation of more than 108,000 masks to food banks and various nonprofits in New Jersey, New York, California, Pennsylvania, and Florida. The donation comes as President Biden has asked every American to mask up for the first 100 days of his administration.

Around the nation

• Texas: The City of Dallas has backtracked on a plan to prioritize the coronavirus vaccine for people living in zip codes with mostly minority populations. State officials threatened to reduce the city’s vaccine allocation if they carried out the plan.
• Pennsylvania: The state has observed a coronavirus milestone this week as it surpassed 20,000 deaths since the pandemic began. The state Department of Health reported Thursday that another 260 people died from the virus.
• Arizona: A new WalletHub survey shows that Arizona ranks last in the nation for safety during the coronavirus pandemic. The study looked at five different metrics — rates of vaccination, COVID-19 positivity, hospitalization, deaths, and transmission.

The findings from a new study conducted by researchers from Rockefeller University could provide some hope for consumers who have been affected by COVID-19.

According to the researchers, consumers who have been infected with the coronavirus could have immunity from the virus up to six months after getting sick. 

“This is really exciting news,” said researcher Michael C. Nussenzweig. “The type of immune response we see here could potentially provide protection for quite some time, by enabling the body to mount a rapid and effective response to the virus upon re-exposure.” 

How does the immune system respond?

To see how well the body remembers the COVID-19 infection, the researchers measured the antibody response of nearly 90 participants involved in the study. The first antibody check occurred one month after infection, and then the researchers followed up six months later. 

By the six-month mark, the researchers still detected antibodies in the participants’ blood samples, though in much smaller quantities than during the first evaluation. However, the researchers discovered that the participants had maintained higher levels of memory B cells in response to the virus, which are immune cells created in the body following infection. This is good news because these memory B cells would fight against an infection if it encountered the virus again.

“The overall numbers of memory B cells that produced antibodies attacking the Achilles’ heel of the virus, known as the receptor-binding domain, stayed the same,” explained researcher Christian Gaebler.

The researchers also learned that these memory B cells were stronger and more effective than the original antibodies that were produced after the initial infection -- despite several rounds of mutations. 

“We were surprised to see the memory B cells had kept evolving during this time,” said Nussenzweig. “That often happens in chronic infections, like HIV or herpes, where the virus lingers in the body. But we weren’t expecting to see it with SARS-CoV-2, which is thought to leave the body after infection has resolved.” 

As more and more consumers continue to be exposed and are recovering from COVID-19, these findings should provide some hope for longer-lasting protection. 

There has been no shortage of headlines about the opioid crisis in recent years. While opioid-related deaths and overdoses continue to plague consumers, a new study conducted by researchers from the National Institute on Drug Abuse is exploring why methamphetamines in particular are beginning to draw more concern. 

According to their findings, methamphetamine overdose deaths have become five times more common across the United States over the past decade. 

“Identifying populations that have a higher rate of methamphetamine overdoses is a crucial step toward curbing the underlying methamphetamine crisis,” said researcher Beth Han. “By focusing on the unique needs of individuals and developing culturally tailored interventions, we can begin to move away from one-size-fits-all approaches and toward more effective, tailored interventions.” 

What groups are at the biggest risk?

The researchers analyzed public health data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Vital Statistics System to determine trends that have emerged across the country regarding methamphetamine overdoses. They learned that across the board, methamphetamine overdose deaths have surged in the last decade. 

The study showed that overdose deaths were five times more likely in 2018 than they were in 2011. By demographic, men were more likely to overdose than women. 

The researchers also learned that the biggest increase in methamphetamine overdose deaths occurred in two groups: Alaskan Natives and non-Hispanic American Indians. In 2011, overdoses affected less than 5 out of every 100,000 people in these groups; by 2018, that figure jumped to nearly 21 out of every 100,000 people. Men in these groups were also disproportionately affected by methamphetamine, but women’s overdose deaths were also five times more likely in 2018 than in 2011. 

Finding the right interventions

While there are currently no prescription drugs for treating methamphetamine addiction, the researchers hope that these findings lead to better behavioral interventions. They believe taking a cultural approach to preventative measures for Alaskan Natives and American Indians could be the best way to reduce widespread methamphetamine use. Having community-focused initiatives -- like an education-based or prevention program -- could reach larger groups of people and reinforce the dangers associated with these drugs. 

“While much attention is focused on the opioid crisis, a methamphetamine crisis has been quietly, but actively, gaining steam -- particularly among American Indians and Alaska Natives, who are disproportionately affected by a number of health conditions,” said researcher Dr. Nora D. Volkow. 

“American Indian and Alaska Native populations experience structural disadvantages but have cultural strengths that can be leveraged to prevent methamphetamine use and improve health outcomes for those living with addiction.” 

President Biden has signed an executive order directing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue guidance to employers on keeping workers from getting COVID-19 on the job.

Biden has signed a flurry of executive orders during his first days in office, most aimed at fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on Americans. 

Thursday’s order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety gives OSHA two weeks to provide employers with workplace safety guidance to help keep workers safe during the pandemic. OSHA will also have to determine whether any emergency requirements in the workplace -- such as mandates on masks, physical distancing, and ventilation standards -- are needed. 

In the order, Biden wrote that “ensuring the health and safety of workers is a national priority and a moral imperative.”

“I am calling for the enforcement of more stringent worker safety standards,” Biden said. “Healthcare workers and other essential workers, many of whom are people of color and immigrants, have put their lives on the line” during the pandemic.” 

If OSHA determines that an emergency rule is needed, the regulation should be issued no later than March 15. 

Federal law requires OSHA to conclude that “employees are exposed to grave danger” by a new hazard in order to justify establishing an emergency standard. While Trump was in office, OSHA provided only voluntary guidance to employers on how to equip workplaces in the COVID-19 era. 

Google says it would have “no real choice” but to pull its search engine from Australia if a proposed law requiring the company to pay news publishers for content goes into effect. 

The company said its primary concern is that the law "would require payments simply for links and snippets just to news results in Search," said Google Australia and New Zealand VP Mel Silva.

"The free service we offer Australian users, and our business model, has been built on the ability to link freely between websites," Silva told Australia’s Senate Economics Legislation Committee on Friday.

“If this version of the Code were to become law it would give us no real choice but to stop making Google Search available in Australia,” Silva said. “We have had to conclude after looking at the legislation in detail we do not see a way, with the financial and operational risks, that we could continue to offer a service in Australia.” 

Australia hits back

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison issued a swift response, saying “we don’t respond to threats.”

“Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia,” Morrison said at a press conference in Brisbane. “That’s done in our Parliament. It’s done by our government. And that’s how things work here in Australia.”

The bill, called the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code, would make Google and Facebook pay Australian media companies for using news content they pull from news sites. The law was introduced into Parliament in December to “ensure that news media businesses are fairly remunerated for the content they generate, helping to sustain public interest journalism in Australia.” 

Silva said Google isn’t on board with the law as it stands. Specifically, the company doesn’t want to pay for links and snippets it surfaces in response to users’ queries. Silva suggested that the bill be revised, saying Google feels there is “a workable path forward.” 

“There is a way forward that allows Google to pay publishers for value, without breaking Google Search and our business in Australia,” she said. 

During his second day in office, President Joe Biden is expected to sign two more executive orders -- one focusing on expanding food assistance and delivering stimulus checks to low-income Americans, and the other directing federal agencies to bump the minimum wage for federal workers to $15 an hour. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant financial hardship for many, and those who are out of work or struggling to buy food “can’t afford to wait,” said Brian Deese, the National Economic Council director. 

"We're at a precarious moment in our economy," Deese said on Thursday. "We saw again today 900,000 new claims for unemployment insurance, another week at a level above any week during the Great Recession. "More than 10 million Americans are out of work, 14 million Americans are behind on their rent and nearly 30 million adults and as many as 12 million children are experiencing food insecurity."

"So many are hanging by a thread. They need help, and we are committed to doing everything we can to provide that help as quickly as possible,” he said, adding that the president’s actions aren’t a substitute for comprehensive legislative relief, “but they will provide a critical lifeline to millions of American families.”

Fighting the pandemic 

Last week, Biden proposed a $1.9 trillion relief package to Congress. The plan would give $1,400 in additional direct payments to Americans, offer enhanced unemployment benefits, and provide federal aid to state and local governments, among other measures.

Biden is also pushing to increase access to food for children who are missing meals due to pandemic-related school closures. The directive could provide a family of three with more than $100 in additional support every two months. 

“USDA will consider issuing new guidance that would allow states to increase SNAP emergency allotments for those who need it most. This would be the first step to ensuring that an additional 12 million people get enhanced SNAP benefits to keep nutritious food on the table,” a White House fact sheet said.

Since becoming president, Biden has signed 27 executive orders. He’s made fighting the pandemic and its effects a key focus during his first 100 days. 

Despite being named to Fortune’s 2021 Best Workplaces list and raising $200 million in new funding only three months ago, Instacart has decided to cut about 1,900 jobs, including 10 employees who spearheaded the formation of a union, in favor of more contract workers.

The company said it’s moving towards a newer business model that provides its technology to retailers and lets their own workers prepare customers’ orders. Officials say the new path will be rocky at first but that it’s “doing everything we can to support in-store shoppers through this transition,” according to a statement sent to Bloomberg News. 

Instacart has put together severance packages and says it is doing its best to place the impacted workers in other positions within the company or, if necessary, working directly for retailers. At the end of the change-out, Instacart told Bloomberg that the change will still leave the company with thousands of shoppers classified as employees.

Union blasts company for eliminating jobs

Reacting to Instacart’s news, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) condemned the company for eliminating the grocery workers “who have been vital to protecting food access for Americans during the pandemic.”

“All across the country, Instacart grocery workers have been bravely serving on the frontlines since the pandemic began, putting their own health at risk to ensure Americans have the food they need during this crisis,” the union said in a news release.

“Now, with COVID-19 outbreaks spiraling out of control, it is outrageous that Instacart would fire these courageous and hard-working men and women keeping our food supply secure. … Instacart firing the only unionized workers at the company and destroying the jobs of nearly 2,000 dedicated frontline workers in the middle of this public health crisis, is simply wrong.”

When the man who counts the money says things are bad, you better listen. United Airlines CFO Gerry Laderman says the financial whammy that COVID-19 put on the company was worse than the worst-case-possible scenario that the company had imagined. 

“We weren’t even close,” Laderman commented during United Airlines’ earnings call on Thursday. “Before COVID, we modeled our worst-case scenarios based on the financial impact of 9/11, followed by a recession,” Laderman said. 

The red ink Laderman said the company recorded over the course of 2020 was a loss of $9.9 billion.

No more “return to normal”

United Airlines CEO Scott J. Kirby said that the company was luckier than other carriers because it was “the first airline to recognize the potential severity of COVID-19.” That gave it a leg up on the competition in being able to manage cash flow further out. Had executives not cut fourth-quarter operating expenses by 42 percent year-over-year, who knows how much further the bottom line would have fallen. 

“As we recover from this crisis, we've stopped using the term ‘return to normal’ because it creates an environment where it's just too easy to go back to doing what we were doing before,” Kirby said. “Instead, we want to focus on a return-to-new approach that applies to a wide variety of goals. When this is over, our employees, customers, the general public, and shareholders will see a new United Airlines.”

United is ready if this happens again

If something the size of a pandemic happens again, Laderman says the airline should be ready. “Going forward, we will focus on being ready for sustained destruction of global air travel demand like we are seeing today,” he said.

As company brass watched the company’s 2020 losses mount, “managing liquidity and cash flow became far more important than any other financial metric,” Laderman said, adding that the recovery process could take years. He added that liquidity and debt reduction will be tantamount to success. 

Years? Yes. When the pandemic was still in its infancy, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) took a long look at the global airline industry’s post-pandemic life and estimated that things might not return to normal until 2023. United anticipates being ready if something this catastrophic happens again.

“If anything [we have the] confidence that by 2023 at the latest, though possibly earlier depending on the pace of demand recovery, our [gross earnings] margins … will exceed 2019 levels. [But] I’d just say that nobody, including us, has a perfect crystal ball on how soon this really will be over,” Kirby said.

Even though the U.S. is far from normal times, gasoline prices have begun to behave normally. They’re now moving steadily higher to start the year.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $2.39 a gallon, two cents a gallon higher than a week ago. The price is 17 cents higher than it was a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $2.98 a gallon, up from $2.96 last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $2.63 a gallon, two cents higher than seven days ago.

Even though gasoline demand remains low because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, world oil prices have been rising since the first of the year. Oil traders are increasingly optimistic that COVID-19 vaccines, despite problems with the rollout, will soon get the economy back to normal.

In most pre-pandemic years, gasoline prices slowly rose in January and February in anticipation of seasonal refinery maintenance and the switch to producing more expensive summer blends of gasoline. That factor remains, but analysts say the current price rise is being driven mostly by higher oil prices.

“The higher price of crude is outweighing sustained low gasoline demand and a build in gasoline supply,” said Jeanette Casselano McGee, AAA’s spokesperson. “Motorists can expect gas prices to continue to climb through at least the end of the month.”

California has the highest gasoline prices for the second week in a row, displacing Hawaii, which normally holds that spot. California’s average gas price has risen nearly 16 cents a gallon over the last month.

Over the past week, every state saw an increase in prices at the pump, although all are still lower on a year-over-year basis.

The states with the most expensive gas

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

• California ($3.35)

• Hawaii ($3.33)

• Washington ($2.81)

• Nevada ($2.72)

• Pennsylvania ($2.68)

• Oregon ($2.67)

• Alaska ($2.60)

• Illinois ($2.54)

• New Jersey ($2.54)

• New York ($2.48)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

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

• Mississippi ($2.09)

• Oklahoma ($2.11)

• Texas ($2.11)

• Missouri ($2.12)

• Louisiana ($2.13)

• Arkansas ($2.17)

• Alabama ($2.17)

• South Carolina ($2.17)

• Kansas ($2.18)

• Tennessee ($2.19)

Daimler Vans USA (DVUSA) is recalling one model year 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 vehicle.

The engine hood may not have been installed properly.

The hood could make contact with the windshield in a crash, entering the passenger compartment and increasing the risk of an injury.

What to do

DVUSA will notify the owner, and a dealer will replace the engine hood free of charge.

The recall was expected to begin January 18, 2021.

Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at (877) 762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3SCHAUBE.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 1,143 model year 2019-2020 AMG GT53 4MATICs and AMG GT63 4MATICs.

The wheel-hub caps may detach while the vehicle is being driven and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash or injury for other road users.

What to do

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wheel-hub caps free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin February 16, 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: 24,475,210 (24,273,831)

Total U.S. deaths: 407,111 (402,400)

Total global cases: 97,116,661 (96,396,565)

Total global deaths: 2,080,009 (2,063,594)

Biden plans extensive use of Defense Production Act

The incoming Biden administration says it has found an acute shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) nearly a year into the pandemic. Officials say the president is likely to make extensive use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to alleviate that issue.

Biden today issued executive orders and directed government agencies to use wartime powers to require U.S. companies to produce more N95 masks, swabs, and other equipment to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Defense Production Act gives the president the power to require U.S.l companies to prioritize manufacturing supplies that are necessary to meet an emergency situation. It was devised to meet wartime requirements but has already been used to deal with the pandemic.

CDC expects 100,000 more deaths in a month

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is out with a new, and even more grim, forecast. The health agency says the U.S. could record an additional 100,000 deaths in the next 30 days.

The U.S. death toll went over 400,000 this week, so the new forecast would be a 25 percent increase in the number of people who die in just a month’s time. 

“Truly heartbreaking,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the new director of the CDC. But putting a more optimistic spin on it, she predicted that “healthier days lie ahead.”

National plan for schools

The Biden administration has signaled it will take more of a national approach to combat the pandemic, and that will also extend to policies on school reopenings. Until now, each state -- and sometimes even individual school districts -- have devised their own plans.

The Biden plan includes an increase in testing, stepping up the pace of vaccinations, and providing more funding for schools. Disaster relief funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could be used to pay for those measures.

The White House has called for schools to get more personal protective equipment, sanitation, improved ventilation, reconfigured classrooms, and upgraded technology. It has set the goal of having all kids back in the classroom within 100 days.

Experts say former COVID-19 patients still need a vaccination

Millions of Americans have had the coronavirus and recovered. But if they think they can skip the COVID-19 vaccine, health experts say they’re wrong. They may have some immunity against the virus, but it is probably temporary.

“People shouldn’t have a false sense of security that they’re immune to COVID-19 just because they’ve recovered from the disease,” said Dr. Thomas Bader, vice president of medical quality at Hackensack Meridian Health.

Bader said it isn’t known how long any COVID-19 antibodies that are in your system may protect you from the virus. There have been a few reports of recovered patients being reinfected with COVID-19, suggesting the natural immunity wears off over time. 

How the pandemic will impact 2021 travel

There’s no doubt that the pandemic drastically affected travel last year. Just ask the nation’s airlines and hotels, which have seen business crater. But according to Tripadvisor, 2021 is a new year, and consumers have a different attitude.

The company analyzed first-party search data and sampled traveler sentiment across six major markets. It identified consumers' increasing confidence that they will travel abroad in 2021, particularly in the second half of the year. It found a lot of people are making travel plans.

Not only are consumers thinking about foreign travel this year, but domestic travel also has a prominent place on the agenda. The report concludes that the widespread rollout of vaccines won't just impact travelers' confidence to travel, it will have a major influence on where leisure travelers are prepared to go. 

Around the nation

• Minnesota: Department of Health employees were questioned at a state Senate hearing about a somewhat bumpy rollout of a new vaccination program aimed at teachers and seniors. Lawmakers reported that many people said they got error messages or that their calls didn't connect when they tried to make appointments.

• North Carolina: Two state lawmakers, Rep. Brian Turner, a Democrat from Asheville, and Sen. Bill Rabon, a Republican from Winnabow, say they have tested positive for COVID-19. The two officials were on a duck hunting trip over the weekend with other legislators.

• Connecticut: Since supplies are limited, Gov. Ned Lamont has announced a new "tiered approach" to the state’s distribution of the coronavirus vaccine. People 75 and older may be vaccinated now. Those 65 and older can start getting the vaccine early next month.

When the world gets back to traveling for fun again, consumers will have plenty of things to watch and hope for.

In a recent report by Tripadvisor, experts analyzed first-party search data and coupled that with traveler sentiment across six major travel markets -- the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Japan, and Singapore. They found that consumer confidence toward international travel -- particularly in the second half of 2021 -- is a key trend and is already showing up in the majority of hotel clicks on its platform. 

The most eager of the bunch to venture abroad are German and U.K. travelers. In the first week of January, 85 percent of hotel clickers on Tripadvisor in those countries were planning an international break for later this year. 

The trends

Besides international travel, the other four trends Tripadvisor says to keep an eye on are:

COVID-19 vaccinations: Of all the game-changing situations COVID-19 vaccinations impact, one of the largest will be confidence. Not only will the widespread rollout of vaccines impact travelers' confidence to travel, but it will also have some serious sway on where leisure travelers are prepared to go. 

Globally, the report found that 69 percent of American travel hounds are likely to travel internationally if they receive the vaccine, and 80 percent prefer to travel domestically. In other countries, travelers are a bit itchier to go abroad, with 77 percent wanting to get outside their borders compared to 86 percent who want to stick to domestic travel. 

Making sure they’re extra safe, more than a quarter (26 percent) of respondents globally say that they would only travel to destinations that required visitors to be vaccinated before travel, with U.S. travelers being the most likely to expect destinations to attend to this safety precaution (30 percent). 

In an email to ConsumerAffairs, the U.S. Travel Association dropped an extra vaccine-related hint that now is a terrific time to plan and book a trip. 

“Favorable offers and flexible cancellation policies abound throughout the travel industry right now—and they won’t last as more and more Americans get vaccinated and travel begins to pick up,” a spokesperson said.

Domestic vacations remain high on travelers' wish list: Tripadvisor says not to misread the tea leaves that say international tourism will be the travel category champ in 2021. To that point, it says domestic travel will likely be popular regardless of vaccine status.

In the first week of January, nearly 70 percent of hotel clickers on Tripadvisor were booking future domestic trips. While further out, May through August is still proving to be the most popular months for domestic vacations.

On the global picture, nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of survey respondents say they plan to take at least one overnight domestic leisure trip sometime in 2021, and 34 percent say they’re planning to go somewhere in the U.S. three or more times this year. 

The joy of vacation planning will be stronger than ever as travelers: It’s not as simple as get-out-of-Dodge in 2021. Because travel plans were pretty much wiped out in early 2020, many people have been putting extra effort into contemplating their next big vacation. 

Three-quarters of travelers surveyed globally (74 percent) and two-thirds of travelers in the U.S.  (65 percent) say they will spend more time researching and choosing a destination this year. Upwards of 64 percent will spend more time poring over reviews, selecting their accommodation, and investing more time to find things to do. 

Consumers can't wait to eat out again, but their taste for takeout is not going away: The pandemic may have forced people out of sit-down restaurants, but carry-out and delivery will continue to modify the dining behavior of consumers worldwide.

The numbers in that category break out like this: Nearly half (47 percent) of respondents globally say they plan to dine in-person at restaurants more often this year than in 2020, but a considerable 27 percent say they plan to order more takeout meals. At home in the U.S., 54 percent of respondents plan to dine in-person at restaurants more often in 2021, and 38 percent plan to order more takeout.

"Despite the fact that many countries around the world are still grappling with high infection rates of COVID-19, many travelers are feeling optimistic that they will be able to vacation abroad this year, particularly coinciding with the roll-out of a vaccine. Consumer appetite for travel is as strong as it has been since the start of the pandemic and, as our data shows, many people are already actively planning their next big trip - even for trips more than four months out," said Shibani Walia, senior research analyst, Tripadvisor

"For destinations, brands, and tourism operators, it is so important that they act now to attract this early booking demand, or else they risk missing out to the competition."

On his first day in office, President Biden signed a number of executive orders, including one designed to prevent renters who have fallen behind on their payments due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from being evicted from their homes.

The order, originally part of the CARES Act passed in the early days of the pandemic, was set to expire at the end of this month. Biden’s order asks the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to extend it until at least March 31.

It also takes some pressure off of homeowners who are behind on their mortgage payments. The order calls on housing agencies to continue their forbearance programs and their moratorium on foreclosures. The order applies only to federally backed home loans.

Additional aid for renters

In addition to that unilateral action, Biden has asked Congress to provide some additional aid to renters. His proposed American Rescue Plan would spend $25 billion for rent and utility assistance targeted to low and middle-income households impacted by the coronavirus.

Under the plan, households that lost income because of the pandemic could receive rental assistance for up to 12 months. About $5 billion would be earmarked to help pay overdue utility bills.

Zillow reported last week that renters are in special need of relief because they have borne the greatest burden during the pandemic. The real estate site notes that renters have suffered dramatic job losses because they tend to work in industries that have been most affected economically by the pandemic.

‘Financial wounds’

“There are financial wounds to heal from the three-month period when some renters were sending more than 80 percent of their unemployment benefits out the door on the first of the month,” said Chris Glynn, senior economist at Zillow.

Glynn says renters will need more than temporary eviction moratoriums and unemployment insurance to keep them in their homes long-term. 

“Housing vulnerability for renters will be a top issue for the incoming administration," Glynn said.

Biden also signed an executive order on Wednesday giving student loan borrowers some additional breathing room. The order instructs the U.S. Department of Education to extend its current pause on student loan repayment until at least Sept. 30.

Costco is adding a nice benefit for shoppers who want to avoid crowds and save time on their shopping. Starting at its three stores in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the big-box discounter is offering same-day, curbside delivery.

The service -- powered by Instacart and fulfilled by Costco’s own employees -- is pretty straightforward. Close to 2,000 items are available, including both grocery and non-grocery items. 

The individual product prices will stay the same as in-store, but don’t assume that you can get someone to bring out one of their $4.99 rotisserie chickens and leave it at that. There’s a $10 fee and a $100 minimum purchase amount per order, and tips are not accepted.

Why so late to the game?

Costco didn’t promise a more widespread rollout, but it did acknowledge that curbside pickup is a significant trend. The company told USA Today, which first reported the curbside test, that it’s testing the service on "a limited basis in one market at this time." Just last fall, Costco as much as said it wasn’t all that smitten with offering curbside pickup.

"There's some retailers that are doing it because they feel they have to," Costco CFO Richard Galanti said on a September earnings call. "We don't have our head in the sand on it. We look at it. We have people here that study it and maybe we'll surprise you one day, but at this juncture we're not prepared to do that."

“Costco has remained a holdout — and for good reason,” Grocery Dive’s Jeff Wells writes. “It hasn’t needed click-and-collect to attract and retain shoppers as other companies have. Its stores are shopper magnets built for product discovery. And given how busy Costco’s clubs are, especially on weekends, adding designated parking spaces, order staging areas and extra employees to shuttle orders could disrupt the experience.”

However, Costco had to be looking in the rearview mirror and seeing that its competitors were succeeding with the curbside option. According to Wells’ report, Sam’s Club, Walmart, and BJ’s Wholesale Club expanded curbside pickup significantly over the past year. On the revenue side of the ledger, Target's Drive Up curbside service sales grew 500 percent in November and December.

Getting kids to exercise or engage in any kind of physical activity can be difficult for a lot of parents. But researchers from the University of Jyväskylä have found that poor motor skills aren’t a hindrance to kids’ physical fitness. In fact, they say kids with poor motor skills are just as likely as their peers to have exceptional physical fitness.

“The key message of our study is that even a child who is unfit can be motorically adept and the heart of a clumsier kid can be as fit as his or her more skillful peer,” said researcher Eero Haapala, PhD. “In addition, high levels of varied physical activity and reduced sedentary behavior are central to the development of motor skills and the prevention of excess weight gain since childhood.” 

Keeping kids physically active

The researchers assessed the motor skills, body fat content, and aerobic fitness levels of over 330 kids between the ages of seven and 11 involved in the study. To do the latter, the researchers had the kids take a cycle ergometer test, which requires them to slowly ramp up the intensity of a bicycle workout. As the kids exercised, the researchers measured their VO2 max, which is an indication of physical fitness based on how well the body utilizes oxygen during exercise. 

The study revealed that the kids’ motor skills didn’t play a role in their performance in the aerobic fitness test. Those with weaker motor skills were just as physically fit as other kids in the study who had stronger motor skills. 

The researchers also learned that the kids’ weight wasn’t an indication of their physical fitness. These findings align with those from another recent study, which found that kids being active is more important for their overall wellness than their body mass index (BMI). It’s important for kids to have the tools and information to understand the importance of exercise so they can establish healthy habits that last beyond childhood. 

“Our study clearly demonstrated that aerobic fitness is not linked to motor skills when body composition is properly taken into account,” Dr. Haapala said. “Also, aerobic fitness was not strongly associated with overweight or obesity. Therefore, it seems that the role of poor aerobic fitness as a risk factor for poor motor skills and excess body weight has been strongly exaggerated.” 

The researchers hope that these findings are encouraging for parents -- especially for those with clumsier kids; having a regular exercise routine is both important and possible for consumers of all ages. 

In a letter to President Biden, Amazon offered to help with the COVID-19 vaccine distribution rollout. 

The newly installed president has pledged to vaccinate 100 million Americans in his first 100 days in office, and Amazon said it "stands ready to assist" in that effort. The e-commerce giant’s Consumer CEO, Dave Clark, also urged the president to consider prioritizing its 800,000 U.S. workers during the distribution timeline. 

Many Amazon workers are essential and have worked throughout the pandemic delivering goods to Americans while risking their health. Clark pushed for Amazon employees to be able to receive COVID-19 vaccinations “at the earliest appropriate time. “ 

He added that Amazon has an agreement in place with a licensed third-party occupational health care provider to administer vaccines to employees at its facilities.

"Our scale allows us to make a meaningful impact immediately in the fight against COVID-19, and we stand ready to assist you in this effort," wrote Clark. "The essential employees working at Amazon fulfillment centers, AWS data centers, and Whole Foods Market stores across the country who cannot work from home should receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the earliest appropriate time.”

Clark also said Amazon is "prepared to leverage our operations, information technology, and communications capabilities and expertise to assist your administration's vaccination efforts.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Michigan Medicine found that many summer camps don’t require parents to submit their child’s vaccine records. 

This report comes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the distribution of the vaccine is being used as a tool to help control the spread of infection. Now, experts are worried about what risk this poses to kids’ and camp employees’ health and wellness. 

“While all states require immunizations for children attending public schools, most don’t have the same mandates for summer camps,” said researcher Dr. Carissa Burke. “Campers are often in close contact and sharing common spaces, increasing risk for illness outbreaks. As we think about reducing the spread of infectious diseases, children in camps may be an important population to consider.” 

Protecting kids’ and employees’ health

The researchers surveyed representatives from nearly 400 summer camps to better understand what policies were in place regarding campers’ and employees’ vaccination records. 

They learned that the majority of the summer camps involved in the study currently have no regulations in place that mandate parents to submit their child’s vaccination records, and that number is even lower for employee vaccination records. Just 46 percent of the camps required proof of campers’ immunizations, while less than 40 percent required employees to submit vaccination reports. 

“While 100 percent vaccination rates may not always be possible, camps have a responsibility to take all measures to protect their campers and staff from vaccine-preventable diseases,” said researcher Dr. Andrew Hashikawa. 

The researchers also learned that more than 50 percent of the camps allowed kids who hadn’t been vaccinated -- and didn’t have medical exemptions -- to participate in camp activities. This is in direct opposition to guidelines created by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which has encouraged summer camps to both mandate vaccination records and do away with medical exemptions for vaccines. 

Many of the summer camp personnel that were surveyed for this study shared that they believed all kids and employees should be required to provide immunization records, despite no guidelines currently in place. Moving forward, the researchers hope that these findings can spark change in summer camps across the country, as having all children and staff vaccinated can only benefit personal and public health. 

“Routine vaccination is critical to both individual and public health,” Dr. Hashikawa said. “With the rise in vaccine-preventable outbreaks, future efforts to reduce the spread of communicable diseases should address these findings.”