Current Events in January 2021

Hyundai has expanded its Tucson SUV recall to include an additional 471,000 vehicles. 

In September, the automaker said an electrical malfunction put a significant number of Tucson SUVs at risk of catching fire. Hyundai said Friday that it is expanding its initial recall to include Hyundai Tucson SUVs, model-year 2016 through 2018, as well as some 2020 through 2021 models. 

The company said the vehicles included in the newest recall come equipped with antilock brake system computers that could potentially create a short and start a fire. At least 12 fires have been started due to the problem so far, according to the carmaker. 

Hyundai is urging drivers to park their vehicles outside until the issue is repaired. Towards the end of February, drivers of affected vehicles will be able to take their SUV to a dealer to get a computer fuse replaced. 

Expanded recall

Consumers can find out if their vehicle is included in the latest recall by entering their vehicle identification number on Hyundai’s recalls page. Tucson SUVs with Hyundai’s Smart Cruise control feature aren’t affected by the recall.

Back in September, Hyundai and Kia voluntarily recalled nearly 600,000 cars in the U.S. because of the defect. The automakers said brake fluid could leak inside a hydraulic control unit for the anti-lock brakes, which could cause an electrical short and start a fire. 

The companies have been investigating the issue since 2018. Last year, Hyundai told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it received 15 reports of engine fires caused by the leak. Kia reported eight incidents. 

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 22,429,685 (22,227,722)

Total U.S. deaths: 374,442 (373,331)

Total global cases: 90,435,754 (89,960,893)

Total global deaths: 1,938,004 (1,931,083)

Vaccine producer promises more doses

BioNTech, the pharmaceutical company that partnered with Pfizer to produce a successful coronavirus vaccine, says it plans to ramp up production to help alleviate shortfalls in some areas.

Citing presentation slides that the company produced for a financial analysts’ conference, CNBC reports that BioNTech has set a goal of producing 2 billion doses in 2021. That’s an increase from the previous goal of 1.3 billion doses.

“This is based on continuous process improvements and expansion at our current facilities, and contingent upon adding more suppliers as well as contract manufacturers,” BioNTech wrote as part of its presentation.

More evidence of COVID-19’s drag on hiring

On the heels of the December employment report showing a loss of jobs in the economy, there’s more evidence that the pandemic is taking an increasing toll on hiring. The latest Paychex IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch shows a slowing of 0.24 percent in December’s Jobs Index.

"The winter season brought a surge in COVID-19 cases and with it a retreat in jobs growth," said James Diffley, chief regional economist at IHS Markit.

He says Congress’ new pandemic stimulus package has come at the right time for business owners. Specifically, he points to the second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, simplified forgiveness for new and existing PPP loans, and an extension and expansion of the Employee Retention Tax Credit.

PPP 2.0

Speaking of the PPP, the second round of that small business support program got underway today, with another $280 billion available for struggling businesses. This time, the program administrators say efforts will be increased to make sure it’s fair, with the money going to companies that most need it. 

The updated initiative comes in the form of forgivable loans for small businesses. However, there are some key eligibility differences. When applying for a PPP loan, businesses will also find a new streamlined forgiveness application. 

Another addendum under the new version of the program states that any loan under $150,000 and coming from the Small Business Administration (SBA) will not require documentation.

Dodger Stadium to become mass vaccination site

The City of Los Angeles has announced that Dodger Stadium is being repurposed into a mass inoculation site as early as this week. The move is designed to break the logjam that has slowed the rollout of the coronavirus vaccines.

The stadium has already played a role in trying to contain the virus by becoming a testing venue. Officials say the tests will be replaced by actual administration of the vaccine.

"Vaccines are the surest route to defeating this virus and charting a course to recovery, so the City, County, and our entire team are putting our best resources on the field to get Angelenos vaccinated as quickly, safely, and efficiently as possible," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Beating the lockdown blues

Now that the pandemic has dragged into another year, people are no doubt suffering from lockdown fever and are eager to get outdoors. Scientists say that may be a very good idea and could go a long way toward alleviating anxiety.

Researchers taking part in an international study examined how levels of happiness during a national lockdown were affected by being outdoors, the amount of daily screen time -- use of TV, computer and smartphone -- and feelings of loneliness. The study findings showed that levels of happiness were higher when participants were outdoors rather than indoors. The researchers also found that more daily screen time and higher levels of loneliness were both associated with lower levels of happiness. 

"Our results are important in this context because they show that being able to spend time outdoors under conditions of lockdown has a beneficial impact on psychological well-being,” the author wrote.

Around the nation

• Tennessee: As the state has opened vaccinations to all people age 75 and older, lines have gotten longer. State health officials have now instituted an online appointment system that they say should make the process go more smoothly.

• Arizona: A Tuscon physician is telling state residents who have already had the coronavirus that they should still take precautions. However, she says there is a low risk of getting it again. “Currently, only a small number of cases have been shown convincingly to be reinfection,” said Dr. Elizabeth Connick, an infectious disease specialist with Banner University Medical Center.

• Maine: The pandemic may have slowed things down a bit, but the state’s new marijuana dispensaries are still reporting a brisk business. Stores have reported more than $4 million in sales since retail outlets were legalized in October.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers have had to get creative with the ways they spend their time. While reports have found an uptick in physical activity and pet adoption, a new study conducted by researchers from RMIT University has found the best way for consumers to pass the time while at home. 

According to their findings, consumers are likely to gain the most satisfaction by participating in meaningful activities, rather than trying to complete random tasks to stay busy. 

“[Staying busy] might be distracting, but it won’t necessarily be fulfilling,” said researcher Dr. Lauren Saling. “Rather, think about what activities you miss most and try and find a way of doing them.” 

Finding meaning while at home

The researchers surveyed over 130 adults between May and June, asking them questions about their well-being prior to and during the pandemic. The participants also reported on activities they engaged in both before and during the pandemic and described how important each activity was to them. 

The study revealed that the participants were likely to gain more benefits from meaningful activities instead of simple busy work. The researchers explained that participants who got creative and shifted their usual in-person activities to a socially distanced or virtual format reported the greatest satisfaction during quarantine. 

When it came to engaging in activities designed to just pass the time, it wasn’t a completely negative experience for the participants. The researchers found that doing things just to keep busy was just as likely to have a positive effect on the participants’ moods as a negative effect. However, those who completed tasks simply as a mechanism to stay busy were more likely to experience greater mood fluctuations, and they were never as satisfied as those who were doing things they actually enjoyed. 

“Respondents who simply stayed busy during lockdown reported an increase in both positive and negative emotions,” Dr. Saling said. “This heightened emotionality will tend to shift you away from activity in general and towards meaningful activity.” 

Greater well-being

Participating in meaningful activities not only made the participants more fulfilled, but it also helped them regulate their emotions and led to better overall well-being. 

As social distancing guidelines continue to restrict consumers’ regular activities, the researchers hope that these findings inspire more people to think outside the box when trying to pass the time. 

“Emotions are a mechanism to make you change your behavior,” said Dr. Saling. “But when you’re doing what you love, it makes sense that you feel more balanced -- simply keeping busy isn’t satisfying.” 

Investigators said Monday that the hackers behind the global SolarWinds incident used computer code with links to known Russian spying tools, Reuters reports. 

It recently came to light that cyber criminals hacked SolarWinds to gain access to at least 18,000 government and private networks. It is believed that the cyberattackers’ goal was to collect intelligence. 

Now, researchers at Moscow-based cybersecurity company Kaspersky said the attackers deployed code that closely resembled malware associated with a Russian hacking group known as “Turla.” 

The way in which the SolarWinds hack was carried out had three notable similarities to a hacking tool called “Kazuar,” which is used by Turla, according to Costin Raiu, head of global research and analysis at Kaspersky.

Similarities were noted in how the hackers identified their victims and how they avoided being detected through the use of a specific formula to calculate periods with the viruses lying dormant. Additionally, both pieces of malware attempted to obscure their functions from security analysts.  

“One such finding could be dismissed,” Raiu said. “Two things definitely make me raise an eyebrow. Three is more than a coincidence.”

Connection likely

Raiu said the similarities point to the likelihood of a link between the two hacking tools, but they don’t necessarily imply that Turla played a role in the SolarWinds hack. He said there’s a possibility that the hackers behind the SolarWinds hack were merely inspired by Kazuar, or that they deliberately planted “false flags” in order to throw off investigators. 

Although Moscow has denied involvement in the hack, U.S. intelligence agencies have said that the hackers were “likely Russian in origin.” Security firms in the U.S. and other countries are continuing to investigate the incident in order to determine its full scope, and the Department of Justice has vowed to take serious action. 

“As part of the ongoing technical analysis, the Department has determined that the activity constitutes a major incident under the Federal Information Security Modernization Act, and is taking the steps consistent with that determination,” the agency said last week. “The Department will continue to notify the appropriate federal agencies, Congress, and the public as warranted."

Because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the nation’s shipping industry was nearly overwhelmed during the holiday shopping season. Now, many retailers have taken a novel approach to receiving returned items.

In many cases, they’re issuing refunds and telling consumers not to bother returning the product. That’s because it often costs less to eat the loss than to pay for the return.

Citing data from Narvar, The Wall Street Journal reports that returned purchases jumped 70 percent in 2020 as the pandemic created a huge shift to online purchases. The surge continued into the holiday shopping season, creating a tsunami of returns over the last two weeks.

A big driver of return costs is shipping. If a consumer returns an item to the store where they bought it, the return processing cost is less. But when the product has to be shipped back to the retailer, the costs quickly rise.

A number of larger retailers have apparently determined it’s more cost-effective to let the customer keep the item and just issue a refund. According to The Journal report, it can cost as much as $20 to process a return, even before paying for freight on top of that.

How retailers decide

A Walmart spokeswoman told the newspaper that the “keep it” policy primarily covers items it doesn’t plan to put back on the shelf and resell. Other factors that go into the decision to write off the purchase is the customer’s purchase history, the cost of the item, and the cost of accepting the return.

Target said it employs a similar policy in a small number of cases when it determines it is more efficient to just write a check. It says it urges consumers to donate unwanted items.

Because retailers have not adopted a hard-and-fast rule, consumers won’t know whether they will be told to keep the unwanted item until they begin the return process. But in a growing number of cases, they are being told to do so.

Naturally, this trend has not gone unnoticed in the scammer community. Retailers have more narrowly refined their algorithms to detect fraud. The most common tactic criminals have employed so far is to claim the item never arrived and that they are fearful of going to a physical location to ask for a refund because of the pandemic.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2021 kicks off today in a virtual venue. There will be no shortage of “gee-whiz” gadgets, but attendees will view them -- and in some cases, interact with them -- from their computer screens.

The massive annual show is usually held in Las Vegas, where attendees would wander through millions of square feet of exhibit space. Because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this year’s show is entirely online.

Besides being virtual, this year’s show will also be smaller. The Consumer Technology Association, the annual host of CES, has reported nearly 1,800 exhibitors have signed up to take part in the show, about 41 percent fewer than last year’s show in Las Vegas.

Besides technology companies, automakers will have a strong presence at CES 2021, which runs through Jan. 14. As cars became more computer-driven, automakers have used CES in past years to show off the latest in infotainment systems.

In transitioning to a virtual exhibition, Fiat Chrysler (FCA) will offer three-dimensional product tours and videos related to the company’s latest advancements. A Virtual Brand Ambassador will communicate with visitors, guiding them through various visual and interactive experiences.

Computer chip shortage

While showing off the latest developments in electric vehicles and in-car technology, FCA and other carmakers are grappling with a technology challenge that threatens production. There is a growing shortage of microchips that make today’s fleet of cars and trucks function.

Nissan has been forced to reduce the production of its Note subcompact, one of its best sellers. Executives at Honda and Volkswagen have reported similar issues. Other automakers may soon be affected.

According to Kelley Blue Book (KBB), this chip shortage hasn’t affected the prices consumers pay for new cars but it could in the future. If the shortage has the effect of reducing how many cars assembly plants send to dealers, supply and demand could cause incentives such as attractive financing and cashback to disappear.

The chip shortage is another byproduct of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Chip factories shut down in the spring, along with auto assembly plants. Automakers have only now begun to replenish their inventories of new cars, but chipmakers have struggled to keep up with demand.

Ford has suspended operations at its Louisville, Ky., assembly plant because it cannot get enough semiconductors. The plant makes two popular SUVs -- the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair. The shutdown will put 3,900 people out of work, at least temporarily.

Honda and Volkswagen have told KBB they are considering which factories to shut down or slow production until the chip supply recovers. As yet, however, no decisions have yet been made.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling nine model year 2020 AMG GTs.

The headlights may have been incorrectly aimed too high.

Incorrectly aimed headlights can reduce the visibility of oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will check the headlight aim, and correct it -- if necessary -- free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin February 9, 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: 21,617,462 (21,342,187)

Total U.S. deaths: 365,882 (361,900)

Total global cases: 88,339,935 (87,384,218)

Total global deaths: 1,904,122 (1,887,970)

Pfizer says its vaccine works against new virus strain

When a new variant of the coronavirus (COVID-19) was discovered in the U.K. last month, health officials’ worst fear was that it would be resistant to the newly released vaccines. That doesn’t appear to be the case, at least as far as one vaccine is concerned.

Pfizer said this week that the vaccine it developed with BioNTech appears to be effective against this new mutation of the virus. 

The company’s research, published Thursday but not yet peer-reviewed, suggests that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine worked to neutralize the so-called N501Y mutation, which causes the virus to spread more easily.

Virus takes a toll on the job market

As cases of the virus mounted last month, causing new restrictions to be placed on businesses, layoffs resumed with greater frequency. The Labor Department’s December employment report displays the damage in graphic detail.

The economy lost 140,000 jobs during the month, the first time the report has posted a negative number since April. Since then, employers had restored about 12 million of the lost jobs.

It came as no surprise that the biggest job losses came in the hospitality industry, especially bars and restaurants. The sector lost a total of 498,000 jobs last month.

FDA warns of faulty test

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an alert to tell patients and health care providers about problems with a commonly used COVID-19 test. Specifically, the agency warns that there is a risk of false results, particularly false-negative results, with the Curative SARS-Cov-2 test. 

Patients getting a false negative could face delayed treatment and run the risk of spreading the virus to others, since the patient would have no reason to take precautions. The lack of treatment could allow the symptoms to worsen before the patient finally seeks treatment.

“To reduce the risk of false-negative results, it is important to perform the test in accordance with its authorization and as described in the authorized labeling, e.g., the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers,” the FDA said in its alert. “When the test is not performed in accordance with its authorization or as described in the authorized labeling, there is a greater risk that the results of the test may not be accurate.”

Supermarkets to the rescue

The nation’s supermarket pharmacy chains are being asked to come to the rescue of the nationwide rollout of the coronavirus vaccines, which admittedly hasn’t gone as smoothly as planned.

Originally, this network of pharmacies was being held in reserve until after the high-priority population was inoculated and the vaccine was opened up to the general population. But federal and state officials have concluded that their help is needed now to complete the first phase of the rollout.

“We’re getting calls just because of the need,” Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger’s health care business, told The Wall Street Journal. 

Gottlieb: One-third of the population infected by the end of January

January’s going to be a tough month, according to former U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottleib. He predicts that by the end of the month, one-third of the U.S. population will have been infected since the start of the pandemic.

That would be a huge increase between now and the end of the month, but Gottlieb told CNBC he believes many more than the 21 million people in the official count have actually had the virus.

Meanwhile, the death toll keeps picking up speed. According to the official count, there were more than 4,000 deaths from the virus on Thursday.

Around the nation

• Nevada: State health officials are expressing concern about what they call a potential “surge on top of a surge.” The state reported 3,402 new cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday, a single-day record.

• Arkansas: Despite the fact that cases of the coronavirus are surging, several Arkansas bar owners have filed a lawsuit against the state in an attempt to have some COVID-19 restrictions thrown out. Specifically, the suit seeks to overturn a state-mandated closing time of 11 p.m.

• Michigan: An analysis of coronavirus cases in the state backs up Michigan’s decision to impose stringent measures to control the virus. “I’d rate [lockdowns] among our more effective tools right now simply because they stop people from coming into contact with each other,” said University of Michigan epidemiologist Ryan Malosh. "It reduces a susceptible person from coming into contact with an infectious person. That’s going to cut the number of infections down pretty much no matter what you do, pretty much no matter how you look at it.”

With winter rolling in and the pandemic still hanging around, many seniors are looking to find more ideal vistas to retire to. The hard part is finding a close-to-perfect fit and wading through the thousands of options available with niche retirement communities.

Coventry Direct, a company specializing in life insurance, analyzed over 2,600 55+ communities, assigning numerical values for factors like affordability, amenities, and security features. Out of that came an overall score for each community which Coventry used to determine the “top retirement communities” in the U.S.

Winners and losers

When ConsumerAffairs took a look at the raw data the analysts had to pore through, it was apparent that retirees simply can’t make a snap judgment when it comes to picking somewhere to move to. There’s the cost of housing, the contemporary wrinkle of being tech-friendly, and a countless number of amenities that seniors want to make sure are available to them to make their move worthwhile.

"One of the biggest takeaways from this project that we want to emphasize is that while many of the top-performing communities are located in traditional retirement locales like Florida, Arizona, and California, our analysis uncovered vibrant, high-quality communities teeming with the kinds of amenities that make life after 55 a dream throughout the country,” Josh Koebert, a research assistant for Coventry Direct told ConsumerAffairs.

“With a little research, most people should have no problem finding a 55+ community that checks all the right boxes for their lifestyle and geographic preferences."

Taking home the top spot in the survey was ‘The Villages’ -- a site US News & World Report called “Disney World for Adults.” Situated between Orlando and Ocala, Florida, the location was rated as the “best retirement community,” scoring 95.3 out of a possible 100 points. In second place is the 11,000-acre ‘Sun City West’ in Arizona, about 30 miles from Phoenix. It received a total score of 91. 

When it came to the illusion that all retirees wind up in Florida, the analysts did some myth-busting of their own. “Our rankings actually show that it is possible to find incredibly high-quality retirement living all across the nation,” they wrote. 

“Only three of the top ten communities were located in the Sunshine State, with just as many Arizona locations showing up at the top of the rankings. Nevada, South Carolina, Texas, and California also make appearances in the top 10.”

Full rankings

From top to bottom, here are how the top 25 stacked up overall:

1. The Villages (The Villages, FL)

2. Sun City West (Sun City West, AZ)

3. Sun City Anthem (Henderson, NV)

4. On Top of the World (Ocala, FL)

5. Sun City Palm Desert (Palm Desert, CA)

6. Robson Ranch (Denton, TX)

7. Canoa Ranch (Green Valley, AZ)

8. Sun City Hilton Head (Bluffton, SC)

9. Quail Creek (Green Valley, AZ)

10. Lely Resort (Naples, FL)

11. Heritage Village (Southbury, CT)

12. Bella Vista Village (Bella Vista, AR)

13. Lake Ashton (Lake Wales, FL)

14. Stonecrest (Summerfield, FL)

15. SaddleBrooke Ranch (Oracle, AZ)

16. Sun City Peachtree (Griffin, GA)

17. Green Valley Recreation (Green Valley, AZ)

18. Sun City Grand (Surprise, AZ)

19. Pelican Preserve (Fort Myers, FL)

20. Sun City Shadow Hills (Indio, CA)

21. Sun City Lincoln Hills (Lincoln, CA)

22. Timber Pines (Spring Hill, FL)

23. Tellico Village (Loudon, TN)

24. Oak Run (Ocala, FL)

25. Siena (Las Vegas, NV)

Amenities scores vary from community to community

When it comes to amenities, the researchers say seniors favor three import factors -- exercise and wellness, entertainment, and outdoor activities. In the overall amenities ranking, there were six communities that had perfect scores:

• Sun City Anthem (Henderson, NV)

• Sun City West    (Sun City West, AZ)    

• Sun City Palm Desert    (Palm Desert, CA)

• Laguna Woods Village (Laguna Woods, CA)

• Heritage Village (Southbury, CT)    

• The Villages (The Villages, FL)

The national rollout of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines hasn’t gone as smoothly as planned. Now, the nation’s supermarket pharmacy chains are being asked to come to the rescue.

Under the original distribution plan, this network of pharmacies would have been deployed after the high-priority population was inoculated and the vaccine was opened up to the general population. But federal and state officials have concluded that their help is needed now to complete the first phase of the rollout.

“We’re getting calls just because of the need,” Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger’s health care business, told The Wall Street Journal. 

This week, Kroger responded to requests for help in Georgia and South Carolina. It has begun administering the shots to health care professionals at its stores there. Kroger pharmacy professionals have also been deployed to long-term care facilities in Arkansas, Alaska, Texas, and West Virginia.

Lagging distribution

Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report that they’ve shipped out more than 17 million doses of the two vaccines -- the drug developed by Moderna and the vaccine jointly produced by Pfizer and BioNTech. But so far, they say only 5.3 million of those doses have ended up in people’s arms.

Aside from distribution bottlenecks -- only two pharmacies have been administering the vaccines -- officials point to confusion among state health authorities about who gets the vaccine. Two states -- Louisiana and Florida -- moved beyond the high-priority groups this week and made the vaccine available to the older population in general.

HHS officials also began reaching out to the pharmacies that have been on standby this week, waiting for the expansion of the vaccination effort. Rite Aid said it has begun giving vaccinations to health care workers in New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York City, and Delaware.

Larger vaccination venues

Executives at Giant Eagle say they have talked with health officials in several states about ways to expand the company’s footprint beyond its retail locations. They have asked for help in taking over unused spaces, like fairgrounds and courthouses, for temporary clinics.

Officials in several states have repurposed abandoned Sears locations in shopping malls as temporary vaccine distribution centers. Officials selected the retail sites for what they offer -- open floor plans, huge parking lots, and easy access to major highways.

Kroger says it is also exploring ways to hold large events that can inoculate large numbers of people in a short period of time. Lindholz told The Journal the retailer has the capacity to vastly increase the number of vaccines it can distribute but needs greater access to the vaccines.

Intuit TurboTax says its customers should see their stimulus payments in their bank accounts in the next few days. 

The company said Friday that the speed required to send out the latest stimulus payments led to a glitch that caused a delay in payment distribution for many of its customers. 

“Millions of payments were sent to the wrong accounts, and some may not have received their stimulus payment,” said TurboTax spokesperson Ashley McMahon.

The IRS said Friday that it’s aware of the error and assured consumers that it’s taking immediate steps to redirect payments to the correct accounts. 

“We are happy to share that stimulus payments will begin to be deposited on January 8th for millions of our customers affected by the IRS error,” TurboTax said in an update. “We expect most of these payments to be available that day, but banks could take a few business days to process.” 

Issue fixed

For many TurboTax customers, the IRS’ “Get My Payment” tool -- which lets consumers track the status payment -- has been displaying the message, “Payment Status #2 – Not Available.” TurboTax said it has fixed that issue, but it could take time for the tool to display the correct information. The company said customers should check their bank accounts for the payments.

“We have been working tirelessly with the Treasury and IRS to get stimulus payments to our customers,” TurboTax stated. “We know how important these funds are for so many Americans, and we regret that an IRS error caused a delay.” “Customers receiving a stimulus payment will receive an email from TurboTax informing them of the deposit.”

TurboTax said the stimulus payment will be deposited into the same bank account that customers received their 2019 tax refunds.

Misinformation is widely circulated around the internet. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, falsehoods about the virus and potential vaccines have populated social media platforms like YouTube on a regular basis. 

Now, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of California at Davis found that social media sites that call out misinformation about vaccines and provide a credible fact-check are most likely to positively influence consumers’ attitudes about vaccines. 

“What approaches are most effective at targeting vaccine misinformation on social media among users unlikely to visit fact-checking websites or engage with thorough corrections?” said the researchers wrote. “This project shows that seeing a fact-checking label immediately below a misinformation post can make viewers more favorable toward vaccines.”  

Setting the record straight

To see how effective fact-checking messages are at changing consumers’ attitudes about vaccines, the researchers showed nearly 1,200 participants various vaccine-related posts that contained misinformation and were flagged with different styles of fact-checking. 

The study revealed that posts containing fact-check tags right beneath them had a positive impact on consumers in terms of vaccine hesitancy. Prior to this study, all of the participants had reported some level of skepticism about vaccines in general. However, seeing the fact-check directly underneath a post was an effective way for the participants to develop more positive attitudes about vaccines. 

The team found that the source of the fact-check also played a role. Participants who deemed the source of a fact check as the most knowledgeable were more likely to experience the greatest shift in their perceptions. 

“In fact, fact-checking labels from health institutions and research universities were seen as more ‘expert’ than others, indirectly resulting in more positive attitudes toward vaccines,” said researcher Jingwen Zhang. 

Sharing facts on social media

The goal of this study was to highlight the ways that misinformation permeates social media and to discover effective ways that fact-checking can be utilized to most benefit consumers. 

“Because both individuals and groups can post misinformation, such as false claims about vaccines, social media have played a role in spreading misinformation,” Zhang said. 

As consumers across the country continue to get vaccinated for COVID-19, it’s more important than ever that they have all the facts. Moving forward, the researchers hope that more progress can be done in this area to ensure that any and all misinformation is flagged and fact-checked. 

“The most important thing I learned from this paper is that fact-checking is effective...giving people a simple label can change their attitude,” said Zhang. “Secondly, I am calling for more researchers and scientists to engage in public health and science communications. We need to be more proactive. We are not using our power right now.” 

As part of its effort to streamline its grocery delivery offerings, Amazon has announced that it’s discontinuing Prime Pantry. 

Prime Pantry was Amazon’s first grocery delivery offering. When it first launched in 2014, customers could use the service to get a box of up to 45 pounds worth of household items and non-perishable goods delivered for a $6 delivery fee. Amazon later began offering Pantry to subscribers willing to pay $5 per month (on top of regular Prime fees) for unlimited deliveries. 

On Wednesday, the company announced that it’s shutting down the service as part of an effort to consolidate its grocery delivery offerings. 

“As part of our commitment to delivering the best possible customer experience, we have decided to transfer Amazon Pantry selection to the main Amazon.com store so customers can get everyday household products faster, without an extra subscription or purchase requirement,” an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement. 

Amazon ramps up grocery delivery

The spokesperson told Bloomberg that the products previously available through Pantry have been integrated into its main retail site. The customers who were paying $5 a month for Pantry were notified last month about the impending service shutdown. 

Amazon has ramped up its grocery delivery offerings significantly over the past few years. In 2017, the company purchased Whole Foods and made it possible for Amazon Prime members to get groceries delivered from the store in as little as an hour. 

The company also still offers Fresh, a free service that allows customers to get fresh food delivered in two hours or less. 

Hyundai Motor says it has held discussions with Apple about the possibility of developing an electric car. An unnamed spokesperson for the South Korean automaker confirmed to CNBC that the talks have happened but that they are still in the early stages.

“We understand that Apple is in discussion with a variety of global automakers, including Hyundai Motor. As the discussion is at its early stage, nothing has been decided,” the spokesperson said. 

The announcement followed a Korea Economic Daily report that said Apple was the one that suggested that Hyundai team up with it to develop a car, as well as batteries. The report said Hyundai was still looking over the terms but that the car could potentially be released in 2027. 

An Apple electric car? 

Rumors about an Apple car have been swirling since the tech giant created an internal group called Project Titan in 2014. Last month, Reuters reported that the Project Titan self-driving electric car effort could produce a vehicle with a battery that features a “breakthrough” design by 2024. 

”It’s next level,” a person with knowledge of Apple’s battery technology told Reuters in December. “Like the first time you saw the iPhone.”

Speculation about a Hyundai-Apple electric car collaboration sent Hyundai shares up 19 percent. The automaker later released a statement without mention of Apple. Hyundai emphasized the fact that nothing has been decided. 

“We’ve been receiving requests of potential cooperation from diverse companies regarding development of autonomous driving EVs, but no decisions have been made as discussions are in early stage,” the company said. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California at San Diego found yet another health risk associated with smoking e-cigarettes. 

According to their findings, consumers who vape are increasingly more susceptible to a condition known as leaky gut. This happens when holes have developed in the gut lining that bacteria can leak through, which can ultimately cause inflammation throughout the entire body. 

“This is the first study that demonstrates how chronic exposure to e-cigarettes increases the gut’s susceptibility to bacterial infections, leading to chronic inflammation, and other health concerns,” said researcher Soumita Das, PhD. “Given the importance of the gut barrier in the maintenance of the body’s immune homeostasis, the findings provide valuable insight into the potential long-term harmful effects chronic use of e-cigarettes [has] on our health.” 

Risks to gut health

To better understand how gut health is impacted by e-cigarettes, the researchers created 3D models of the human intestinal system using stem cells. They then used the models to mimic the process of smoking an e-cigarette and analyzed the effects of smoking on the models’ gut reaction. 

The researchers found that chemical additives used in e-cigarettes -- specifically propylene glycol and vegetable glycerol -- are responsible for damage to the intestines. Ultimately, these chemicals damage the gut’s protective barrier, which is what initiates gut inflammation. 

While this is concerning for overall gut health, the researchers explained that it can also have greater complications for consumers’ immune systems. Once these chemicals break through the intestines, they have direct access to the immune system, which can make consumers more susceptible to infections. 

“The safety of e-cigarettes has been debated fiercely on both sides,” said researcher Dr. Pradipta Ghosh. “Nicotine content, and its addictive nature, has always been the major focus of those who argue against its safety, whereas lack of chemicals in the carcinogens that are present in the cigarette smoke has been touted by the makers of e-cigarettes when marketing these products as a ‘healthy alternative.’ In reality, it’s the chemicals making up the vapor liquid that we should be more concerned about as they are the cause of gut inflammation.” 

Though vaping rates have declined in recent months -- especially for young people -- the researchers hope that consumers understand the severity of the long-term risks associated with smoking e-cigarettes. 

“The gut lining is an amazing entity,” said researcher Dr. Ghosh. “It is comprised of a single layer of cells that are meant to seal the body from trillions of microbes, defend our immune system, and at the same time allow absorption of essential nutrients. Anything we eat or drink, our lifestyle choices in other words, has the ability to impact our gut microbes, the gut barrier, and overall health. Now we know that what we smoke, such as e-cigarettes, negatively impacts it as well.” 

The nation’s economy lost jobs last month for the first time since April, when the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic threw the economy into lockdown.

The Labor Department reports that nonfarm payrolls shrank by 140,000 in December. To find the main source of the damage, one needs to look no farther than the hospitality industry. These COVID-19-sensitive businesses -- particularly restaurants -- lost nearly a half-million jobs.

December marked the end to what had appeared to be a recovering job market. The economy began adding jobs in May and had restored more than 12 million jobs until last month.

Despite the setback, two numbers remained unchanged last month. The number of people who were out of work remained at 10.7 million, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.7 percent.

In addition to the huge loss of jobs in the hospitality industry, private education shed 63,000 jobs and 45,000 government jobs disappeared.

Some industries added jobs

On the plus side, retailers added 121,000 jobs in December, even as more holiday sales moved to online channels. More than half the gain came at general merchandise stores and warehouses.

Employment in business and professional services grew by 161,000 last month, but a large number of those jobs were temporary in nature. Construction added 51,000 jobs in December, but employment in the industry is 226,000 below its February 2020 level, just before the pandemic.

Economists say the employment report shows there was a need for the coronavirus stimulus/aid bill Congress passed last month. It includes an extra $300 a week in unemployment benefits and a one-time $600 direct payment to every American.

President-elect Biden has served notice that more aid/stimulus will be coming in the weeks ahead now that Democrats control the White House and both chambers of Congress.