Current Events in March 2021

Target has introduced a brand of food and beverages aimed at consumers who want to indulge themselves a little, now that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic appears to be fading.

The new brand, called Favorite Day, will include more than 700 products. All will be premium and upscale in nature and include ice cream, beverages, beverage mixers, and bakery items and supplies. They’ll appear on shelves and online starting next month.

This isn’t the retailer’s first foray into a private label brand. It launched Good & Gather in 2019, offering an array of gourmet grocery products. Good & Gather items are made without artificial flavors and sweeteners, synthetic colors, and high fructose corn syrup. Target has broken the items down into several different categories: kids, organic, seasonal, and signature. 

In addition to staples like eggs, milk, meats, ready-made pastas, there are “trend-forward” products like avocado toast, salad kits, and beet hummus. The seasonal category includes items like pumpkin-flavored snacks. 

Building on Good & Gather

“We’re thrilled to build on Good & Gather’s success and the strength of Target’s food and beverage business by debuting our new owned brand, Favorite Day,” said Rick Gomez, executive vice president and chief food and beverage officer at Target. 

Gomez says the company developed the line by tapping into “guest insights” to develop sweet and savory offerings.

“Favorite Day makes life’s little moments of indulgence even sweeter and continues to differentiate Target’s owned brand portfolio,” he said.

It may also be a timely switch from supplying the basic necessities during the pandemic to helping consumers celebrate occasions as people get vaccinated and life begins to return to normal.

Two sections

Target says the new product line will be broken down into two sections -- Favorite Day Bakery, offering a variety of assorted baked goods including cupcakes and breads; and Favorite Day Gourmet, a collection of “decadent”, high-quality sweets.

Thomas Jackson, senior food scientist at Target, says research shows customers are attracted to treats that trigger a sense of nostalgia.

“So, we leaned into the nostalgia trend with a twist,” Jackson said.

He says the nostalgic food products include s’mores that recall evenings around a campfire and trail mix that reminds consumers of the orange cream bars they used to buy from the ice cream truck.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 144,340 model year 2004-2006 Rangers that may have a driver or passenger front airbag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

In a crash necessitating deployment of the front airbag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

What to do

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator -- if necessary -- free of charge.

The recall was expected to begin March 8, 2021.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.

Bravo Packing of Carneys Point, N.J., is recalling all Ground Beef and Performance Dog, a frozen raw pet food.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

No human or animal illnesses have been reported to date.

The recalled products, which come frozen in 2-lb and 5-lb plastic sleeves, were sold in brick-and-mortar retail stores or to consumers directly nationwide.

What to do

Consumers who purchased the recalled products should discard them.

Consumers with questions may contact Bravo Packing at (856) 299-1044 Monday -- Friday, 9:00AM -- 2:00PM, (EST).

J&J Distributing of St. Paul, Minn., is recalling approximately 33 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry salads and wrap products.

The products may be contaminted with Listeria monocytogenes.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

The following fully cooked, not shelf stable salads and wraps, produced and packaged on February 23, 2021, with a “Sell-by” date of February 28, 2021, on the label, are being recalled:

• 9-oz. plastic container of “COBB SALAD” on the product label.
• 10-oz. plastic container of “Because life is delicious. tastebuds Bacon Lettuce Avocado Tomato Wrap” on the label.
• 10-oz. plastic container of “Because life is delicious. tastebuds Turkey Ranch Club Wrap” on the label.
• 10-oz. plastic container of “Because life is delicious. tastebuds Chicken Caesar Wrap” on the label.
• 12-oz. plastic container of “Because life is delicious. tastebuds Southwest Style Chicken Salad” on the label.
• 12-oz. plastic container of “Southwest Style Chicken Salad” on the label.

The recalled products, bearing establishment number “EST. 38450” inside the USDA mark of inspection, were shipped to retail locations in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but discard or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may contact Jason Jaynes at (651) 292-3822.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning people not to take a veterinary drug called Ivermectin to treat COVID-19. In a statement, the FDA said it has received reports that Americans have done so in a desperate attempt to fight the virus. 

"Never use medications intended for animals on yourself. Ivermectin preparations for animals are very different from those approved for humans," the FDA said in a consumer update. 

People with COVID-19 have reported taking a version of Ivermectin that is intended for horses. Those who have done so have required medical care, including hospitalization.  

The FDA said there is some misinformation out there that has led to increased interest in the use of Ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19. In June, Australian researchers found that the drug inhibited the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in a petri dish. However, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has warned that this effect has not been replicated in humans. 

"Despite this in vitro activity, no clinical trials have reported a clinical benefit for ivermectin in patients with these viruses," the NIH said. 

Can cause adverse reactions

The FDA said that Ivermectin, like other drugs intended for large animals, isn’t suitable for the human body because it’s highly concentrated. 

"There's a lot of misinformation around, and you may have heard that it's OK to take large doses of ivermectin. That is wrong," the FDA said. "Even the levels of ivermectin for approved uses can interact with other medications, like blood thinners.” 

The agency cautioned that the veterinary drug can have other adverse effects in humans. 

“You can also overdose on ivermectin, which can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hypotension (low blood pressure), allergic reactions (itching and hives), dizziness, ataxia (problems with balance), seizures, coma and even death," the agency stated.

"If you have a prescription for ivermectin for an FDA-approved use, get it from a legitimate source and take it exactly as prescribed," the FDA advised.

On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was feeling a lot of love thanks to its guidance that gave vaccinated people the all-clear to visit each other indoors without a mask. Tuesday, however, is a different story. 

The CDC woke up to some pushback from the airline industry, which thinks the agency’s guidelines that fully vaccinated people should continue to avoid travel is unreasonable. A lobbying ground for the airline industry -- Airlines For America -- thinks that being onboard an airplane actually poses a low risk of being infected by the coronavirus due to mask mandates, intensive cleaning protocols, and the heavily filtered air that major airlines are employing. 

"We remain confident that this layered approach significantly reduces risk," the group said.

The CDC says it has its reasons

When CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky was asked what the agency’s scientific justification was for not changing the travel guidance so that folks who are fully vaccinated could travel, Walensky presented a strength in numbers viewpoint.

“In terms of travel, here’s what we know: Every time that there’s a surge in travel, we have a surge in cases in this country. We know that many of our variants have emerged from international places, and we know that the travel corridor is a place where people are mixing a lot,” Walensky said.

“We are really trying to restrain travel at this current period of time, and we’re hopeful that our next set of guidance will have more science around what vaccinated people can do, perhaps travel being among them.”

Walensky feels that this all-for-one, one-for-all approach is an important step in resuming a normal everyday life. 

“We remain in the midst of a serious pandemic and still over 90 percent of our population is not fully vaccinated, though we are working hard to get there. Therefore, everyone, whether vaccinated or not, should continue to avoid medium- and large-sized gatherings, as well as nonessential travel, and, when in public spaces, should continue to wear a well-fitted mask, physically distance, and follow other public health measures to protect themselves and others,” she said.

Follow guidance if you have to fly

The CDC fully understands that there are times that people have to fly somewhere. The agency just asks that travelers take a guarded approach. To help travelers make wise decisions, the CDC has put together a travel planner that gives feedback on health requirements and warnings for any destination. That planner is available here.

The U.S. State Department also produces an online planner for international travelers so that those planning overseas visits know what the health situation is for their destination. That travel planner is available here.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 29,042,262 (29,001,272)

Total U.S. deaths: 526,020 (525,136)

Total global cases: 117,268,114 (116,966,556)

Total global deaths: 2,604,487 (2,595,573

New cases barely increased last week

In state after state, the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination effort is picking up speed, with millions now fully vaccinated against the virus. It may be no coincidence, then, that new cases of COVID-19 edged higher last week by only 1.5 percent, the slowest rate since the pandemic began.

Bloomberg News reports that an average of 2.16 million vaccine doses were administered every day in the U.S. last week, putting the total near President Biden’s goal of 100 million vaccinated by the end of April.

On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidance suggesting that people who have been vaccinated can safely visit indoors with other vaccinated people.

House prepares to pass $1.9 trillion stimulus bill

The House is poised to give final passage to a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill that would send nearly every American a $1,400 payment. The measure also extends enhanced unemployment benefits of $300 per week until September.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said it’s possible that lawmakers could bring the package to a floor vote later today. More likely, she said the vote would come Wednesday.

The legislation also includes an increase in the child tax credit, as well as rental payment help and money to distribute the three approved COVID-19 vaccines.

CDC study finds obesity to be a major risk factor

In a new study, the CDC reports that obesity appears to be a major risk factor for people who suffer from the severest effect of COVID-19.

The study looked at 148,494 adults diagnosed with COVID-19 during hospital visits from March to December last year. Of the more than 71,000 who were admitted, slightly more than half were classified as obese; another 27 percent were overweight.

Several states in recent days have modified their eligibility requirements for COVID-19 vaccinations to include those who are obese.

Poll shows seniors among the most willing to be vaccinated

While surveys have shown “vaccine hesitancy” on the part of some people -- including health workers -- a new poll shows that America’s seniors are among the most enthusiastic about getting inoculated.

The survey by Tivity Health found more than 75 percent of people aged 65 and older are willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine immediately, a jump from 47 percent in November. However, only 22 percent believe they will have quick and easy access to a vaccine.

"Now, we need to focus on delivering accurate information about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, and on making the vaccine available in places where seniors typically go, like their doctor's office or pharmacy, to improve access,”.said Richard Ashworth, president and CEO of Tivity Health. 

Study finds virus mitigation steps benefitted children’s health

A nationwide survey of children’s hospitals is showing a sharp decline in the number of children treated for common pediatric illnesses like asthma and pneumonia. The study was led by Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University.

The researchers found that 42 percent fewer children were being seen and hospitalized at 44 children’s hospitals across the U.S. for both respiratory and non-respiratory illnesses. Children under 12 saw the biggest decline.

Researchers attribute the reduction to steps taken over the last year to reduce the spread of COVID-19 -- social distancing, masks, and frequent hand-washing. They also note that reduced school hours and extracurricular activities among children and adolescents likely reduced illnesses.

Around the nation

• New York: New York City Schools will reopen for classroom learning on March 22. "We are ready to go, we have all the pieces we need to bring high school back, and bring it back strong, and of course to bring it back safely," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

• California: Virus cases have been trending in the right direction, but at least one health expert is worried that the state could face a fourth wave before herd immunity takes hold. Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist at UC San Francisco, believes that about 67 percent of the population needs immunity to COVID-19 before herd immunity can be established.

• Montana: Reporters have been digging into the details of the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill passed by the Senate and report that it contains funding for Amtrak’s route through Montana. The provision was added by Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who justified it by saying it would pay for the rehiring of Amtrack workers laid off during the pandemic.

Despite a pandemic that threw the economy into reverse a year ago, Americans managed to pay off a record $82.9 billion in credit card debt, according to the personal finance site WalletHub.

In a typical year, Americans add $54.2 billion to their credit card balances. But 2020 was anything but a typical year. Amid economic uncertainty early in the pandemic, consumers mostly kept their credit cards in their wallets. WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez says it’s just the second time in the past 35 years that U.S. consumers have ended the year owing less credit card debt than they started with.

“Paying off so much credit card debt indicates that consumers have been making the most of the pandemic, by using the stimulus money and COVID restrictions to make their finances more sustainable,” she said.

Average balance: $8,089

Oddly, consumers said the pandemic made it more difficult to run up debt. They didn’t go to restaurants as much, they didn’t take trips, and they didn’t shop as much. As a result., the average credit card balance dipped to $8,089 last year. It rose a little more than 3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020, but that was the slowest increase in a decade.

With the vaccine rollout well underway Gonzelez expects that spending will increase by as much as $50 billion this year, and much of that spending will end up on credit cards.

“A short-term burst of spending is inevitable as pandemic restrictions are lifted,” Gonzalez said. “The question is which way the pendulum swings in 2022 and beyond. My hope is that consumers will internalize lessons learned during the pandemic and showcase a newfound frugality.”

Americans still owe more than $1 trillion on credit card balances, but they appeared to manage better in 2020 than in past years. The credit card “charge-off” rate -- the rate at which credit card companies give up on collecting what they are owed -- was 2.53 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, a drop of 24.3 percent.

Make a budget

Credit card debt is among the most expensive debt consumers take on, with an average interest rate of around 17 percent. Personal finance experts say consumers can avoid increasing their credit card balance by making a budget and sticking to it.

Using a balance transfer card with a least 12 months of 0 percent interest is also a good way to make progress in paying off debt since the entire monthly payment pays down the principal.

ConsumerAffairs has researched the best balance transfer credit cards here.

The final $1.9 trillion stimulus bill being taken up by the House of Representatives doesn’t forgive any student loan debt, but one of its provisions would make forgiving that debt less costly to borrowers.

Under the bill, if and when the government decides to forgive a portion of student loan debt, the forgiven debt would not be taxable. Under current law, any forgiven student loan debt is taxed as income.

Assuming the House passes the measure and President Biden signs it into law -- which are pretty safe assumptions at this point -- any student debt discharged through the end of 2025 wouldn’t be taxable.

The provision was added to the stimulus legislation by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.). The lawmakers say the average student borrower who earns $50,000 in income would save approximately $2,200 in taxes for every $10,000 of forgiven student loans. 

"Now, when student loan borrowers get relief, they will not be burdened with thousands of dollars in unexpected taxes,” Warren said. “This change clears the way for President Biden to use his authority to cancel $50,000 in student debt to provide a massive stimulus to our economy, help narrow the racial wealth gap, and lift this impossible burden off of tens of millions of families."

Unclear how much debt will be forgiven

While Warren and other progressives have pushed for the $50,000 figure, Biden has yet to express support for forgiving that level of student loan debt. At the moment, the administration appears to support writing off up to $10,000 in debt.

It’s unclear whether Biden is prepared to forgive student loan debt through an executive order, which Warren says he can do. White House News Secretary Jen Psaki, when pressed on the issue last month, said the White House would welcome Congress accomplishing that legislatively.

Such a move would involve another round of massive government spending -- on top of the $1.9 trillion bill about to be signed into law -- since the U.S. government would essentially pay the “forgiven” loans.

According to Warren, more than 43 million Americans hold a combined $1.6 trillion in federal student loan debt, and she says many were struggling to make payments even before the current pandemic brought the economy to a halt.

Apple has released an update that it says contains “important” fixes for several of its most popular devices. 

The company says all iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch users should install iOS 14.4.1 right away, as the update patches a “memory corruption issue” in WebKit -- the browser engine that powers Safari and third-party browsers on iOS. 

To researchers’ knowledge, the bugs haven’t yet been exploited. To mitigate future cybersecurity risks, Apple says “all users” should promptly install the update.

“This update provides important security updates and is recommended for all users.” Apple instructs users to visit the Apple security webpage for more details, which has now been updated to include information on iOS 14.41,” the company said in the release notes. 

Users can install the update by going to the Settings app in their iPhone and choosing “Software Update.” The update is available for iPhone 6s and later, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod touch (7th generation).

A COVID-19 variant that originated in Brazil and has now landed in five U.S. states can be neutralized by Pfizer’s vaccine, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. 

Health officials recently warned that the Brazilian strain, known as the P.1 variant, is more contagious than the prevailing COVID-19 strain and has the ability to reinfect the previously sick. Experts have also suggested that P.1 may not be as responsive to vaccines. 

"The P.1 variant is particularly notable because of its ability to evade both vaccine-induced and natural immunity," said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, in a report published earlier this month. 

However, in a study published Monday, researchers found that the neutralization of the P.1 strain was “roughly equivalent” to that of the original strain of the virus. 

The Pfizer vaccine was also found to be effective against the variant of the virus that originated in the U.K. The vaccine’s effect on the South African variant was “robust but lower” compared to its effect on the original strain. 

Further analyses in areas where the variant is spreading are needed, the study authors said.

“Ultimately, conclusions about vaccine-mediated protection that are extrapolated from neutralization or T-cell data must be validated by real-world evidence collected in regions where the SARS-CoV-2 variants are circulating,” the researchers said. 

Twitter has filed a lawsuit against Texas attorney general (AG) Ken Paxton over an investigation into its content moderation practices. The platform claims that the AG misused his power by starting an investigation as revenge for the social media platform’s suspension of former President Donald Trump.

Paxton’s investigation began on January 13 -- six days after Twitter banned Trump from its platform -- when the AG’s office issued civil investigative demands to Google, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon Web Services, and Apple. It asked each of those companies for their policies and practices regarding content moderation. 

Scrutiny was apparently placed on the platforms’ First Amendment rights to determine if private companies have the latitude to remove public officials from their platforms as they deem appropriate. 

Paxton claimed at the time of the investigation’s launch that “the seemingly coordinated de-platforming of the President of the United States and several leading voices not only chills free speech, it wholly silences those whose speech and political beliefs do not align with leaders of Big Tech companies.”

A meeting of the minds went nowhere

In each case, Paxton asked the individual companies to “meet and confer … in order to discuss compliance and to address [an] attempt to resolve all issues.” Twitter took issue with that request and its implications.

“Twitter seeks to stop AG Paxton from unlawfully abusing his authority as the highest law-enforcement officer of the State of Texas to intimidate, harass, and target Twitter in retaliation for Twitter’s exercise of its First Amendment rights,” Twitter wrote.

According to Politico’s coverage of the story, Twitter claims it tried to work out an agreement with the AG to limit the scope of his office’s request, but the two parties weren’t able to pull that off.

“Instead, AG Paxton made clear that he will use the full weight of his office, including his expansive investigatory powers, to retaliate against Twitter for having made editorial decisions with which he disagrees,” the company said.

Twitter and Paxton have history

Paxton has tangled with Twitter before over its content moderation policies, claiming in a Fox News opinion piece in May 2020 that Twitter’s fact checkers were politically biased against Trump.

While Twitter wasn’t alone in taking action against Trump, it is the only hold-out among the group not to have reinstated the former president’s accounts. It was also the first to retaliate against Paxton’s investigation. While the company is alone in that department for the moment, Politico’s Benjamin Din says there is still some angst between the major social media companies and conservatives.

“The court filing is the latest development in an ongoing battle between social media companies and those on the right, who have viewed attempts to fact-check content and de-platform conservative accounts as indicative of a societal cancel culture intent on silencing Republican voices,” Din said.

“Conservatives latched on to accusations against Big Tech as a rallying cry in the aftermath of the [January 6 Capitol Hill] riots, with some predicting that it could be a key GOP issue for the midterm elections and in 2024. The anti-Silicon Valley sentiment is now a defining theme of the Republican Party, which has in recent years hauled in CEOs for hearings. Last fall, Trump appointees filed two major antitrust suits against Google and Facebook.”

A new study conducted by researchers from Washington State University set out to explore the health risks incurred by night shift workers. 

According to the researchers, consumers can increase their risk for cancer when their body’s internal clock has days and nights consistently reversed. They explained that when the circadian rhythm is disrupted from its natural cycle, it damages consumers’ white blood cell DNA expression. This puts night shift workers at a higher risk of developing cancer. 

“There has been mounting evidence that cancer is more prevalent in night-shift workers, which led the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) International Agency for Research on Cancer to classify night shift work as a problematic carcinogenic,” said researcher Shobhan Gaddameedhi. “However, it has been unclear why night shift work elevates cancer risk, which our study sought to address.” 

Circadian rhythm disruptions lead to genetic damages

To understand how night shift work can impact consumers’ health, the researchers had 14 participants stay in a sleep lab for one week. Half of the group spent three days on a day shift schedule while the other half spent three days on a night shift schedule.

The researchers analyzed blood samples collected from the participants during the study period and observed that those on the simulated night shift had significant differences in their white blood cells than those on the day shift schedule. 

The researchers explained that while the body has its own 24-hour circadian rhythm, individual cells throughout the body also operate on their own internal clocks. Their work revealed that disrupting the body’s natural biological clock by being awake during traditional sleeping hours also disrupted the white blood cells’ biological clocks. Operating on a night shift schedule left the white blood cells with more structural DNA damage, which is what increases the risk of cancer. 

“Taken together, these findings suggest that night shift schedules throw off the timing of expression of cancer-related genes in a way that reduces the effectiveness of the body’s DNA repair processes when they are most needed,” said researcher Jason McDermott. 

The researchers’ next step is to see if these findings hold up in a trial of actual night shift workers. If they do, the goal would be to develop potential treatments that could be targeted to night shift workers to protect their long-term health. 

“Night shift workers face considerable health disparities, ranging from increased risks of metabolic and cardiovascular disease to mental health disorders and cancer,” said researcher Hans Van Dongen. “It is high time that we find diagnosis and treatment solutions for this underserved group of essential workers so that the medical community can address their unique health challenges.” 

Researchers continue to confirm the benefits that following a healthy diet can have on reducing consumers’ risk of heart disease. Now, a new study conducted by researchers from McMaster University has found that regularly eating fish can benefit consumers’ heart health. 

According to their findings, those who are at the highest risk of heart disease -- including those who have had a heart attack or stroke -- could boost their heart health by eating two servings of fish per week. 

“This is by far the most diverse study of fish intake and health outcomes in the world and the only one with sufficient numbers with representation from high-, middle-, and low-income countries from all inhabited continents of the world,” said researcher Dr. Salim Yusuf. 

Benefits of eating more fish

To better understand the health benefits associated with eating more fish, the researchers analyzed data from four earlier studies that included information on nearly 192,000 participants from five continents. The team looked at the participants’ diets and compared that information with heart health outcomes for those at varying risks of heart disease. 

Ultimately, the researchers found that regularly consuming fish had protective benefits for those at the highest risk of heart disease. For participants that had previously had a heart attack or stroke, these benefits were the highest. Those with a lower risk of heart disease experienced much milder benefits associated with eating more fish, and those with no previous cardiovascular issues had no added heart health benefits from consuming more fish. 

The researchers explained that fish containing higher amounts of omega-3s produced the best health outcomes. These oils have long been associated with improved heart outcomes, and getting those nutrients through fish can be incredibly beneficial for consumers with recurring heart concerns. 

“There is a significant protective benefit of fish consumption in people with cardiovascular disease,” said researcher Andrew Mente. “This study has important implications for guidelines on fish intake globally. It indicates that increasing fish consumption and particularly oily fish in vascular patients may produce a modest cardiovascular benefit.” 

BMW of North America is recalling 13,858 of the following:

• Model year 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive & 8 Series Coupe, Convertible and Grand Coupe, 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8,
• Model year 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le, 745Le xDrive, X5 xDrive45e, X3 xDrive30e, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 740i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, M760i Drive, M760Li xDrive, 750Li xDrive Alpina, Alpina B7 xDrive, and
• Model year 2021 4 Series Coupe 430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive vehicles.

When shifting into reverse, a small portion of the rearview image may be obscured, or the screen may not illuminate.

If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

What to do

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it -- if necessary -- free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin April 12, 2021.

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

Haro Bicycles of Vista, Calif., is recalling about 510 model year 2017-2020 Masi Evoluzione and Gran Corsa bicycles.

The bicycle’s fork steerer tube can break, causing the rider to lose control, fall and suffer injuries.

The firm has received five reports of the bicycle forks breaking, including three reports of minor injuries including bumps, bruises and scrapes.

This recall involves the following bicycles:

• 2017 Masi Evoluzione Dura Ace (gloss UD carbon/blue/red)
• 2017 Masi Evoluzione Ultegra (gloss white/blue/red)
• 2017 Masi Evoluzione Ultegra Di2 (gloss black/charcoal/white)
• 2017 Masi Evoluzione 105 (gloss black/blue)
• 2017 Masi Gran Corsa (gloss black/blue/red)

• 2018 Masi Evoluzione Dura Ace (gloss TeXtreme carbon/solar chrome)
• 2018 Masi Evoluzione Ultegra (gloss grey/red-orange (Roarange))
• 2018 Masi Evoluzione Ultegra Di2 (gloss TeXtreme carbon/cyan)
• 2018 Masi Evoluzione 105 (gloss Limpet blue/black)
• 2018 Masi Gran Corsa (brushed alloy/black)

• 2019 Masi Evoluzione Dura Ace Disc (chrome/black)
• 2019 Masi Evoluzione Ultegra Disc (teal/fluorescent fade/carbon)
• 2019 Masi Evoluzione 105 Disc (satin black/gloss red)
• 2019 Masi Gran Corsa SL (brushed alloy/black)

• 2020 Masi Evoluzione Ultegra Disc (Antracite/copper)
• 2020 Masi Evoluzione 105 Disc (matte TeXtreme/gloss black)
• 2020 Masi Gran Corsa SL (brushed alloy/black)

The bicycles, manufactured in China, were sold at bicycle specialty stores including Sun and Ski and Erik’s Bikes and Fitness stores nationwide from December 2016, through February 2021, for between $1,400 and $6,200.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bicycles and contact their local Haro Bicycles dealer for a free inspection, and repair or replacement of the fork and compression plug.

Consumers may contact Haro Bicycles at (800) 289-4276 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PT Monday through Friday, bu email at info@masibikes.com or online at www.harobikes.com and click “Recalls and Notices” at the bottom of the page for more information.

Cooper Tire & Rubber is recalling 430,298 Discoverer, Evolution, Courser, Deegan, Adventurer, Hercules, Back Country, Multi-Mile Wild Country and Big O brand tires.

The tires may develop a bulge or separation in the sidewall.

A sidewall separation may cause the tire to deflate rapidly, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Cooper Tire will notify owners, and dealers will replace affected tires free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin March 25, 2021.

Owners may contact Cooper Tire customer service at (800) 854-6288. Cooper Tire's number for this recall is 178.

If you’ve gotten your COVID-19 vaccination and haven’t had a chance to hang out with your friends much since the pandemic began, it might be time to chill the champagne. 

New guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that it’s safe for fully vaccinated people to get together with each other without masks -- as long as it’s indoors.

"If you and a friend, or you and a family member are both vaccinated, you can have dinner together" without wearing masks or without distancing, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said at a Monday press briefing.

Caution still prevails

While the CDC gives vaccinated mask wearers a green light, health experts warn that is not a hall pass for everyone to go wild, especially with new variants of COVID-19 emerging. The agency emphasized that several restrictions remain, including advising against travel and recommending mask wearing in public.

It’s also important to note that people who get their final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine should also wait two weeks before meeting indoors with other fully vaccinated people without wearing masks or social distancing. Such gatherings are “low risk,” the CDC said. The agency estimates that just 10 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated so far.

Bloomberg News also quotes the CDC as saying that fully vaccinated people can meet with those who are not yet vaccinated from a single household without wearing masks or distancing. An example would be vaccinated grandparents who would like to visit their unvaccinated adult child and grandchild, as long as they’re healthy and not at high risk.

However, the CDC said that fully-vaccinated people should still continue to mask up and  socially distance in public in situations where they’re visiting with unvaccinated people from more than one household, or when they’re around unvaccinated people who are at high risk, such as seniors.

“We believe these new recommendations are an important first step in our efforts to resume everyday activities in our communities,” Walensky said.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 29,001,272 (28,985,707)

Total U.S. deaths: 525,136 (524,935)

Total global cases: 116,966,556 (116,712,556)

Total global deaths: 2,595,573 (2,591,264)

Hospitalizations fall 70 percent since January

Vaccinations are on the rise and hospitalizations from the coronavirus (COVID-19) are at their lowest point since mid-October, according to the COVID-19 Tracking Project at Johns Hopkins University. The number of people being treated in hospitals for COVID-19 total just over 40,000 -- down 70 percent from January’s peak.

Meanwhile, the vaccine rollout has picked up speed with the addition of Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine, which has been distributed in nearly every state. More than 17 percent of the adult population has been vaccinated at this point, and some states are expanding eligibility this week.

Some large employers are seeking approval from state health departments to begin offering a vaccine to their employees in the workplace.

Consumers return to the airlines

As more Americans get vaccinated, many of them are getting on airplanes. A recent report shows that airline passenger traffic counts are soaring.

The Transportation Security Administration reports that 1.23 million people passed through security checkpoints at U.S. airports on Sunday. That’s the most since the New Year’s Day holiday weekend.

That’s still well below pre-pandemic levels, but the numbers have the airlines scrambling. They’re rehiring and retraining pilots and other personnel who were furloughed when the pandemic brought air travel to a near standstill.

Baxter will make Moderna’s vaccine

Another pharmaceutical company has agreed to help make a competitor’s coronavirus vaccine. Baxter BioPharma Solutions has announced that it will produce and package the Moderna vaccine with at least 60 million doses this year, significantly increasing supplies.

“We have seen a remarkable demonstration of scientific and health care expertise in the effort to develop vaccines for COVID-19,” said Marie Keeley, vice president, Baxter BioPharma Solutions.

Shortly after Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine hit the market, Merck announced that it had agreed to produce millions of doses of the vaccine.

Senate passes $1.9 trillion stimulus bill

Most Americans will get $1,400 payments from the government under a bill passed by the Senate over the weekend, which is now headed to the House for final passage. The House passed an earlier version of the bill but must now vote on changes made in the Senate.

Under the final bill, Americans would still receive a payment of $1,400, but the payments would be phased out at lower income levels. Single people earning less than $75,000 a year will get the full $1,400 payment, as well as married couples earning less than $150,000.

President Biden is expected to sign the final bill later this week. If past stimulus payments are any indication, Americans can expect to start receiving money before the end of the month.

Expert: Don’t let down your guard

With a number of states relaxing virus mitigation protocols that have been in place for months, one expert worries that the U.S. could be on the brink of a new surge in cases just as vaccinations begin to make their way to the public.

Epidemiologist Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, reports that the sharp drop in COVID-19 cases has leveled off in recent days at numbers that are still dangerously high. He’s also worried about the more contagious variants that are now circulating in the U.S.

"Four weeks ago, the B.1.1.7 variant made up about 1 to 4 percent of the virus that we were seeing in communities across the country. Today it's up to 30 to 40 percent," he told NBC's "Meet the Press."

Around the nation

• New Jersey: Gov. Phil Murphy is defending his administration’s decision to order long-term care facilities to accept residents who tested positive for COVID-19. He also said many facilities defied the state’s order to keep those residents in a quarantined section of the facility.

• Iowa: The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals around the state fell to a multi-month low over the weekend. The 167 people being treated in hospitals for the virus was the lowest since July 8.

• Nevada: Gov. Steve Sisolak has signed a new emergency directive that changes the minimum distance between performers and audience members to 6 feet if performers are wearing masks and 12 feet when performers are not wearing a mask.