Current Events in April 2021

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 32,296,353 (32,235,827)

Total U.S. deaths: 575,270 (574,383)

Total global cases: 150,673,998 (149,766,134)

Total global deaths: 3,169,019 (3,153,812)

CDC issues Johnson & Johnson safety report

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a report on a safety review of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine made by Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. The study was undertaken after a few people who received the vaccine suffered a serious blood clot condition known as thrombocytopenia.

The report notes that nearly 8 million doses of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine had been administered by April 21. A review of safety monitoring data found that “97% of reported reactions after vaccine receipt were nonserious, consistent with preauthorization clinical trials data.”

The CDC counted 17 thrombotic events resulting in at least two deaths. The report concludes that “ongoing monitoring for rare and common adverse events after vaccination is important for evaluating the balance between risks and benefits for each authorized COVID-19 vaccine, including the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.”

Pace of vaccinations continues to slow

Even with all adults over the age of 16 now eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations, the U.S. vaccination rate continues to fall. A month ago, the U.S. averaged 3 million shots a day. This week, the CDC said the rate fell to 2.6 million.

Even at a slower rate, the country is making progress. The CDC numbers show that 30% of the adult population is now fully vaccinated against the virus.

Vaccination levels vary widely by state. Maine appears to be doing the best job, with more than 38% of adults being fully vaccinated. Alabama is lagging in that area, with nearly 23% of adults being vaccinated.

With vaccinations slowing, children are next

Vaccinations have been open to all adults for only a couple of weeks, but health officials are already looking ahead to inoculating children against the coronavirus. Clinical trial data on the administration of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to children could be available soon, paving the way for a new vaccination effort.

“We expect the data at the end of the summer or autumn of this year,” Dr. Ozlem Tureci, the co-founder and chief medical officer of BioNTech, told CNBC.

Once the data has been gathered, Tureci says it will then be filed with regulators. Depending on how fast these officials act, it’s possible that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine might win approval to also immunize younger children.

WSJ: App usage shows that the pandemic is beginning to fade

You see it all around and may have experienced it yourself. As vaccinations increase, people are leaving their homes, movie theaters are reopening, and restaurants are beginning to be filled to their limited capacity.

The Wall Street Journal has analyzed a wide range of apps and social media platforms and determined that the pandemic is indeed beginning to recede from daily life. Here are some clues:

• Use of the restaurant reservation app Open Table is up from average 2019 usage. 

• Ticketmaster usage is up, though it hasn’t reached pre-pandemic levels. 

• Use of travel booking app Kayak is now slightly higher than at the start of the pandemic.

Flu has been missing in 2020-21

Do you know anyone who has had the flu this year? Researchers at the World Health Organization (WHO) are betting you don’t.

According to Scientific American, cases of the flu reported to the WHO have dropped to “minuscule levels.” Scientists credit the public health measures instituted around the world that are designed to contain the spread of COVID-19.

But we could pay a price for that later on. Scientists note that today’s toddlers have missed a chance to have their immune systems exposed to influenza viruses, perhaps making them more vulnerable later in life.

Around the nation

• North Carolina: The state’s requirement that people wear masks while outdoors in public places expires this weekend. Gov. Roy Cooper's latest executive order still requires masks to be worn indoors, but it drops the statewide outdoor mask mandate effective today at 5 p.m.

• Idaho: Vaccination eligibility requirements are no longer limited by age anywhere. In Idaho, the state’s requirement that people live or work in the state has also been dropped. State health officials say supplies of the vaccine now exceed demand.

• Massachusetts: New cases continue to trend in the right direction, but at least five communities continue to see rising caseloads. Health officials have identified Chicopee, Hampden, Palmer, Southwick, and Springfield in the western part of the state as “high risk” communities.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is stepping up its fight against coronavirus-related scams. The agency said it has identified and taken action against 30 more companies that have peddled scam COVID-19 cures, treatments, and products.

Regulators sent letters to sellers that gave them 48 hours to notify the FTC of the specific actions they have taken to address its concerns. If they failed to correct the allegations, the companies were looking at a possible lawsuit under the 2020 COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act. 

That’s bad news for the companies. The good news for consumers is that every single letter recipient has stopped making alleged false or deceptive claims.

No evidence for “cures” or “treatments”

The companies involved were peddling anything and everything they thought might snare them a victim. There were chiropractic adjustments, exercise sessions, nasal mists and rinses, vitamins, supplements, and extracts. 

On the surface, the companies looked legit, operating under names like Family First Medical Center and NeilMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Unfortunately, none of them could offer any evidence that their products worked against the coronavirus -- and evidence is required by law.

One of the providers that the FTC felt crossed the line -- the Texas Center Wellness -- even went as far as trying to align itself with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The FTC objected to language in the center’s online pitch that said it was “issuing a supplementary preventative action to the CDC’s suggestions.” 

Don’t take the bait

As you can see, scammers can pretend to be anyone they want, and that makes things difficult for innocent consumers who believe a company is accredited just because there’s a “doctor” or a “medical center” attached to its name.

The FTC says consumers need to think realistically about the offers and pitches they see. When it comes to fighting COVID-19 and spotting unsupported treatment claims, the agency suggests two considerations:

• When there’s a medical breakthrough to treat, prevent, or cure a disease, you’re not going to hear about it for the first time through an ad or sales pitch.

• Always talk with your doctor or health care professional before you try any product claiming to treat, prevent, or cure COVID-19.

More than anything else, the FTC says consumers should make the CDC and the FDA their first stops for the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 and available vaccines.

Quickbooks said Friday that it recently encountered a “third-party” issue when processing direct deposits. The glitch kept some people from getting their paycheck deposited into their account on time. 

“We identified a third-party issue with direct deposit processing this morning that has delayed the deposit of your employees’ paychecks into their account,” Quickbooks said.

Quickbooks, which is owned by Intuit, apologized to employers for “any inconvenience this may have caused” and said the issue has since been resolved. The company said it’s working on communicating with “impacted customers.” 

The company said those affected by the issue should see the funds available in their account by the end of the day. 

“We know how critical each paycheck is to your team. This is, even more, the case in our current environment,” the company said. “Thank you for your patience as we focus to ensure your employees’ funds are available as soon as possible.” 

Amazon customers in 5,000 cities will be able to get groceries ordered from Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh delivered inside their garage. The new delivery option follows a successful trial of the service in a handful of major cities back in November. 

“Customers who tried Key In-Garage Grocery Delivery have loved the service, which is why we’re expanding it to everywhere Amazon offers grocery delivery,” Pete Gerstberger, Head of Key by Amazon, said in a statement. 

With the new garage delivery option, Amazon is striving to make grocery deliveries more convenient for consumers while also keeping the groceries from being stolen or left out in bad weather. 

How to use it

Customers will need a compatible smart or Wi-Fi-enabled garage door opener to use the new option. Prime members can pair their device to the Key by Amazon app, shop for Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh groceries online, and then select "key delivery" at checkout.

The Amazon driver that brings the groceries will use a handheld scanner to open the garage door, drop the groceries off inside, and close the door behind them. For security purposes, customers are notified about the delivery in real-time, and drivers are only allowed one-time access to open the garage door.

Amazon, which experienced a massive surge in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, is currently looking to expand its grocery business. The company purchased Whole Foods in 2017 and has recently been opening up more Amazon Fresh locations that use its “Dash Cart” technology. 

Through expanding its delivery options, Amazon is hoping to boost the convenience factor and entice Prime members to do more of their grocery shopping through its services. Amazon has also taken steps to increase convenience for in-store shoppers. Earlier this month, the company announced plans to introduce a new way to pay with your palm in Whole Foods stores. 

Pfizer and BioNTech have announced that they have submitted a request to the European Union (EU) to extend a previous indication that allows them to vaccinate adolescents between 12 and 15 years old. 

If approved, the companies will be authorized to offer their vaccine in all 27 member states of the EU. The companies have already submitted a similar request to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and plan to request additional amendments with other regulatory authorities worldwide.

Europe is a big market for Pfizer and BioNTech. The COVID-19 vaccine made by the pair was the first one to be greenlighted by the European Medicines Agency last December. Earlier this month, the companies announced that they will supply an additional 100 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to EU countries, bringing the total number of doses to be delivered to the EU to 600 million.

Why the push for adolescents?

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that only 0.5% of the 18-and-under population in the U.S. has been vaccinated against COVID-19, young people who do eventually get vaccinated will likely be well-protected from COVID-19. A pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of Pfizer’s vaccine demonstrated an efficacy rate of 100% in participants between the ages of 12 and 15. 

Pfizer and BioNTech have a cheerleader in German Health Minister Jens Spahn, who reacted positively when he learned about the companies’ request. “This can make a further real difference to our vaccine campaign, if approval is granted,” he said upon hearing the news.

As part of its ongoing Interim Clinical Considerations, the CDC said that COVID-19 vaccinations are recommended for all people 16 years and older and that the virus can affect adolescents both directly and indirectly. 

“Beyond getting sick, many adolescents’ social, emotional and mental well-being has been impacted by the pandemic. Trauma faced at this developmental stage may have long-term consequences across their lifespan,” the agency wrote.

The CDC has created a resource kit to help parents navigate the social, emotional, and mental impact that COVID-19 can have on their children. It can be found here.

The European Commission has charged Apple with breaking competition rules in the EU with its App Store practices for music streaming. 

The decision comes roughly two years after an initial complaint from Spotify. In 2019, the music platform accused Apple of using its market dominance to stifle competition. The Commission now says it believes Apple has “dominant position in the market for the distribution of music streaming apps through its App Store” based on two rules it requires developers to abide by. 

The first rule is that developers must use Apple’s in-app purchase system, for which it charges a 30% cut. The second rule bars app developers from informing consumers of other purchasing options outside of apps. The Commission said the 30% cut has resulted in higher prices for consumers. 

“Most streaming providers passed this fee on to end users by raising prices,” the European Commission said. “Apple’s rules distort competition in the market for music streaming services by raising the costs of competing music streaming app developers. This in turn leads to higher prices for consumers for their in-app music subscriptions on iOS devices.” 

Initial charges as part of longer process

The Commission’s finding marks the first phase of its formal antitrust proceedings against Apple. The company has been given the opportunity to respond to the Commission’s list of objections within the next 12 weeks. 

If Apple is found guilty of violating EU rules, it could face a fine of up to $27 billion (10% of its annual revenue of $274.5 billion). The tech giant could also be required to change its App Store policies for developers. 

Spotify praised the Commission’s initial findings and called its objections “a critical step toward holding Apple accountable for its anticompetitive behavior, ensuring meaningful choice for all consumers and a level playing field for app developers.”

This case specifically involves the music streaming portion of Apple’s App Store, but the EU said there are other App Store practices that need to be examined. 

“This is not the last case we will have when it comes to the App Store,” European commissioner Margrethe Vestager said at a Friday press conference.

Recent studies have highlighted how many children struggle with getting enough physical activity and sleep. For busy families, incorporating physical activity or making sure kids are sleeping enough can be difficult to plan into already packed schedules. 

However, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of South Australia found that staying flexible and rescheduling activities to fit into each day can lead to better physical and mental health benefits for kids.

“There are many competing time demands in modern families -- whether it’s after-school soccer, music lessons, or simply walking the family dog,” said researcher Dr. Dot Dumuid. “In this research, we calculated how much sleep, sedentary time, light exercise, and moderate-to-vigorous exercise was associated with the same improvements in mental health, physical health, and academic achievement. Exploring trade-offs between children’s activities is a promising way for families to make healthy choices that suit their regular family schedule.” 

Prioritizing balance

For the study, the researchers analyzed the physical and mental wellness of more than 1,100 children between the ages of 11 and 12. The kids completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory and underwent assessments for height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). 

Ultimately, vigorous physical activity was found to be the most effective way for kids to maintain a healthy body and mind. However, there are other ways that parents can maximize their time and ensure their kids are getting the greatest mental and physical health benefits each day. 

“This study confirms that physical activity is the quickest and most effective way to deliver benefits for children’s physical health and mental well-being,” said researcher Trevor Shilton. “But the findings also offer some flexibility for families.” 

The team also found that sleeping for nearly 70 extra minutes can boost mental health, and sleeping for an extra 52 minutes can boost physical health. Similarly, mental health is likely to improve with an additional 35 minutes of exercise, while less than 20 extra minutes of exercise can boost physical health. Kids are likely to see improvements to both mental and physical health when they cut their sedentary time down by roughly 55 minutes. 

“For families with very little available time, small increases in moderate-to-vigorous exercise could be an option to improve children’s health and well-being; alternatively an earlier night could equally deliver the same health benefits -- importantly, it’s the flexibility that these findings offer that make them so valuable.” 

Making the most of the time you have

The researchers explained that their goal with this study was to show parents that there are ways to maximize their time to ensure their kids are getting the most benefits each day. Though there may not be the time to reach sleep or exercise goals every day, there are ways to reallocate activities to make the most of the time that’s available. 

“Helping young people make healthy choices and helping families create an environment that supports them in these choices can improve their quality of life in the future, as well as reducing their risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease,” Shilton said. 

While a lot of attention is currently being paid to the COVID-19 vaccine, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Virginia Health System evaluated infants’ overall vaccination records. 

According to their findings, nearly 30% of infants aren’t vaccinated for common childhood illnesses like measles, chickenpox, or polio. The team is particularly concerned about what this means for kids’ general health and wellness because missing these crucial vaccines can leave them susceptible to serious illnesses. 

“These findings highlight that significant disparities still exist in protecting infants from preventable diseases in the United States,” said researcher Rajesh Balkrishnan, Ph.D. 

Who’s skipping vaccines?

The researchers analyzed data from the National Immunization Survey between 2009 and 2018. Parents reported on their infants’ vaccination records when they were between 19 and 35 months old. 

Perhaps the most important takeaway from this study is that less than 73% of the infants involved in the study had received a full series of seven important vaccines by the time they were three. This includes vaccines for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliovirus, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis b, influenza b, chickenpox, and pneumococcal infections. 

“These findings are particularly important in the context of the current COVID pandemic,” said Dr. Balkrishnan. “Particular attention needs to be paid to vulnerable populations in ensuring the availability and access to important life-saving vaccines.” 

The team learned that several factors can impact the likelihood of parents completing all of their infants’ vaccines, including mothers’ education level, income level, and race. Infants born to mothers who didn’t finish high school were nearly 30% less likely to be fully vaccinated. Similarly, those from low-socioeconomic backgrounds were nearly 40% less likely to complete the full panel of vaccines, and Black infants were less likely to be fully vaccinated than white or Hispanic infants. 

“The low seven-vaccine series rates in low-income families are disheartening, especially with federal programs such as Vaccine for Children, which provides coverage for their service,” Dr. Balkrishnan said. 

How to protect children’s health

The researchers hope that these findings emphasize how important it is for infants to be vaccinated. Their goal with this work is to highlight the assistance that’s available to families in need to ensure that vaccines are available to their young kids. 

“Free vaccination coupled with no physician administration fees, linked with potential programs that are frequently accessed by low-income families, could be a potential solution to increase immunization rates,” Dr. Balkrishnan said. “The role of health care professionals such as pharmacists could also be expanded to provide these services cost effectively.” 

The fast-food industry’s chicken sandwich wars, along with Americans’ general fondness for chicken dishes and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, have led to an increase in demand for poultry.

That, in turn, is creating higher prices and shortages at some restaurants. According to The Daily Mail, there have even been isolated reports of consumers ordering chicken sandwiches at fast-food restaurants and being turned away.

The growth of Chick-Fil-A in the last two decades has fueled demand for chicken. Then in 2019, Popeye’s created a surge in demand when it introduced a new version of its chicken sandwich that created lines at restaurants.

McDonald’s and KFC quickly followed suit, introducing and heavily promoting their own new chicken sandwiches. Suddenly, chicken appeared to be replacing the hamburger as America’s favorite food.

Fewer views, more wings

Just how popular has chicken become? Consider this: The television ratings for Super Bowl LV in January were among the lowest ever but the people who were watching were consuming a lot of chicken.

According to the National Chicken Council, Americans devoured 1.42 billion chicken wings while watching the game, 2% more than the year before’s more highly rated game. The Council cites data from NPD Group showing servings of chicken in restaurants rose 7% in 2020 over the year before, despite an 11% decline in trips to restaurants during the pandemic.

Then came the big freeze in Texas in February which knocked out power across the state for days. The event took Texas chicken producers offline for a time, which is only now beginning to affect the supply chain.

Inflationary impact

The inflationary impact of increased demand and limited supply is showing up first at restaurants, where the wholesale price of chicken wings has nearly doubled in a year, according to industry sources.

Price increases may be less extreme at the supermarket but they posted a significant jump nonetheless in 2020. According to Statista, the average retail price of chicken in the U.S. rose from $1.45 a pound in 2019 to $1.62 last year, the highest price since 1995.

There appears to be no let-up in demand as more restaurants find ways to add chicken to the menu because chicken brings people through the door. KFC told CNBC this week that its new chicken sandwich is selling at twice the volume of its previous version.

And the chicken dishes keep coming, stretching supplies even more. The latest entrant is convenience store chain 7-Eleven, which is moving into the quick-serve restaurant arena and this month opened a new Raise the Roost Chicken and Biscuits restaurant.

The price of gasoline continued to inch higher in much of the nation this week, with motorists in California hitting a milestone. The statewide average is now north of $4 a gallon, with the average in the San Francisco metro now at $4.11 a gallon.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas is much lower, rising a penny a gallon from last week to $2.89 a gallon. That’s about three cents a gallon more than a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $3.49 a gallon, also a penny more than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.07 a gallon, a penny less than last Friday.

Despite fluctuations state to state, the average price of gas has remained relatively stable despite increasing demand from motorists, many of whom are now vaccinated and resuming their normal lives.

At midweek, GasBuddy’s Patrick De Haan reported on Twitter that demand was up 2.7% week-over-week. In fact, demand increased four straight days this week.

“The jump in demand to 9.1 million b/d combined with the small increase in supply pushed the national gas price average two cents more expensive on the week to $2.88,” said Jeanette McGee, AAA spokesperson. “This is the largest one-week national jump we’ve seen in five weeks.”

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 ($4.01)

• Hawaii ($3.78)

• Nevada ($3.47)

• Washington ($3.43)

• Oregon ($3.26)

• Utah ($3.18)

• Alaska ($3.17)

• Illinois ($3.13)

• Idaho ($3.13)

• Arizona ($3.05)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

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

• Mississippi ($2.57)

• Texas ($2.57)

• South Carolina ($2.59)

• Louisiana ($2.60)

• Alabama ($2.63)

• Oklahoma ($2.65)

• North Carolina ($2.66)

• Missouri ($2.66)

• Arkansas ($2.68)

• Tennessee ($2.68)

JBS USA Food Company of Greeley, Colo., is recalling approximately 4,860 pounds of imported boneless beef.

The products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

The following raw, frozen, boneless beef item, imported on or around November 10, 2020, and distributed for further processing, is being recalled:

• 60-lb. cardboard boxes containing “95CL BONELESS BEEF PRODUCT OF AUSTRALIA” with “PACKED ON: 02-SEP-20” and Australian “EST. 4” on the packaging label.

The recalled product was shipped to distributors and further processors in New York and Pennsylvania.

The problem was discovered when FSIS collected a routine product sample that confirmed positive for the presence of E. coli O157:H7.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

What to do

Consumers with questions may contact Kim Holzner at Kim.Holzner@jbssa.com.

General Motors is recalling 2,568 model year 2014-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500s, model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoes, and model year 2014-2015 GMC Sierra 1500s that may have received an incorrect replacement tensioner cable assembly as part of a previous recall remedy or a subsequent repair.

The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle, causing the cable to fatigue and separate.

A broken pretensioner cable reduces the effectiveness of the driver's seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.

What to do

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat belt lap pretensioner free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin May 24, 2021.

Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020, and GMC customer service at (800) 462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212330040.

Finally, after lawsuits, industry pleas, congressional complaints, and nearly 70% of the prime cruising demographic getting fully vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has relaxed its sailing ban. 

In a letter sent to cruise lines on Wednesday, the agency said the industry can set sail again starting in mid-July if they certify that 98% of crew and 95% of passengers are fully vaccinated. The CDC said the change came about after several rounds of meetings with cruise lines. 

The CDC's change also allows cruise lines that have met that vaccination mark to skip the current Conditional Sailing Order (CSO). Until now, cruise lines had to do a trial sailing before allowing passengers on board so that the ship’s COVID-19 mitigation protocols could be vetted.

Many cruise lines were already prepared for the change. When ConsumerAffairs reviewed the CDC’s list of ships that have met surveillance reporting requirements, all the major lines -- Carnival, Holland America, Princess, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean -- all had a “green” status. Green means, among other things, that the ship had “no confirmed cases of COVID-19 or COVID-19-like illness for 14 days, as determined by a qualified medical professional.”

The cruise industry says it’s encouraged by the change

As you can imagine, the cruise industry couldn’t be happier after a year and a half of being at the dock. 

“We are encouraged by the communication from the CDC Wednesday evening and look forward to learning more,” Laziza Lambert, Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs for the Cruise Lines International Association told ConsumerAffairs. “Our technical experts are currently reviewing the information and its implications, but we are optimistic that these clarifications show positive progression—and, importantly, a demonstrated commitment to constructive dialogue, which is key to restarting cruising as we have seen with other governments and health authorities around the world.”

Lambert said that despite the CDC’s change, this is not a fait accompli. “Plenty of work remains in order to achieve our mutual goal of responsible resumption from U.S. ports this summer. Doing so will put hundreds of thousands of Americans back to work and further support the nation’s economic recovery from the pandemic,” she said.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 32,235,827 (32,179,505)

Total U.S. deaths: 574,383 (573,452)

Total global cases: 149,766,134 (148,859,866)

Total global deaths: 3,153,812 (3,138,755)

Moderna steps up vaccine production

Moderna, the maker of one of three approved coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines used in the U.S., says it will spend up to $1 billion to increase production. It said it may triple its annual output of vaccine doses by next year.

Demand for vaccines in the U.S. has begun to decline slightly, but the rest of the world -- particularly India and Brazil -- are desperately in need of more doses. Moderna said the increase in production is aimed at meeting that need.

“As we follow the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, we believe that there will continue to be significant need for our mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and our variant booster candidates into 2022 and 2023,” said CEO Stéphane Bancel.

New daily cases in the U.S. still under 60,000

In a testimonial to the effectiveness of the vaccines, new cases of COVID-19 remain manageable. An analysis of data compiled by The COVID-19 Tracking Project at Johns Hopkins University shows that Wednesday’s reported cases totaled fewer than 60,000 for a fifth straight day.

The pace of vaccinations may also be playing a role. The U.S. has vaccinated almost 40% of its adult population nearly two weeks after eligibility was opened to this group, with even more having received at least one shot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today reported that 301,857,885 doses of the three vaccines have been distributed in the U.S., with 234,639,414 of them finding their way into people’s arms.

Arkansas sees a rise in variant infections of children

While COVID-19 cases are trending lower in many areas of the country, the improvement is not universal. Some states have reported unexplained surges in new cases.

In Arkansas, physicians are expressing concern about a rise in infections among children that has been caused by one of the variants of the virus. Dr. Jennifer Dillaha with the Arkansas Department of Health said there are currently 43 cases of the U.K. variant that she knows of in at least 25 counties. Health officials also found 21 more cases of other variants.

“Every week, you know, we have a larger group that we identify, and that's concerning to us,” Dillaha said.

Researchers discover how the virus turns off the immune system

More than a year into the pandemic, scientists are continuing to learn how SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, operates and why it’s so difficult to contain. Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have found that the virus has the ability to order the immune system to “stand down,” allowing the infection to rage unimpeded.

The researchers say their discovery helps lay the groundwork for new antiviral immunotherapies — treatments that work by boosting a patient’s immune system rather than directly killing the virus.

“It’s very smart of this virus to use host machinery to simultaneously go into stealth mode and get inside more cells,” said Tariq Rana, Ph.D., professor and chief of the Division of Genetics in the Department of Pediatrics at UC San Diego School of Medicine. “The more we know about how the virus establishes itself in the body, the better equipped we are to disrupt it.”

New York to be “100% reopened” on July 1

New Yorkers are marking the date on their calendars. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted and the city will be 100% reopened on July 1.

“We are ready for stores to open, for businesses to open, offices, theaters, full strength,” De Blasio said on MSNBC. 

New York was among the first U.S. cities to curtail business activity because the city was the first epicenter of the pandemic last year. The bright lights of Broadway have been dark since March 2020.

Around the nation

• Wisconsin: The state supreme court has overturned Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide mask mandate, ruling that he exceeded his authority. "The question in this case is not whether the governor acted wisely; it is whether he acted lawfully," Justice Brian Hagedorn wrote in the court's majority opinion. "We conclude he did not."

• Mississippi: Vaccine eligibility has been opened to everyone age 16 and older, but a survey by the state health department suggests that not all young people in the state will get it. The survey showed that 73% of respondents said that they would definitely or likely receive a coronavirus vaccine. However, only 52% of Mississippians intend to vaccinate their children.

• Nevada: Las Vegas is back, baby! The Washington Post cites data from Priceline that shows the entertainment Mecca has been one of the most popular domestic travel destinations so far this year. The number of visitors is up sharply, along with the Strip’s gambling revenue.

U.S. lawmakers are attempting to flip last week’s Supreme Court decision that takes away the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) ability to provide restitution to defrauded consumers. If the new ruling sticks, the FTC’s only avenue to compensate customers who have fallen victim to deceptive business practices would come in the form of injunctions, not money.

Three Representatives -- Frank Pallone Jr., (D-NJ), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) -- are leading the fight. Cárdenas has submitted a proposed bill called the Consumer Protection and Recovery Act that would give the FTC more power to provide restitution to fraud victims.

“The FTC, we know, lost the case, but it’s the American people that will suffer,” Pallone said in a joint Facebook Video conference with Schakowsky. “What my colleagues and I have been saying for over a year was a problem is now unfortunately an emergency.”

“The FTC used section 13(b) for over 40 years to sue in court to get consumers the money stolen from them and to force fraudsters to give up illegal profits,” Pallone continued. “And for over 40 years, it was effective in providing relief.” 

As an example of the FTC taking care of consumers, Pallone pointed to the agency’s distribution of $37.5 million in restitution paid to 167,000 residents of New Jersey since 2018.

Giving power back to the FTC

Timing is everything, and Cárdenas wasted none in tying his proposed bill to the increase in scams and fraud that preyed on consumers’ fears and financial insecurities during COVID-19. The hit that consumers took during the pandemic might go down as the worst in history. As of April 29, there have been 272,650 fraud reports, fleecing Americans out of $420.68 million -- an average of $349 per person.

“The FTC’s ability to return money taken from Americans through scams or fraud is under attack in the courts. Inaction is not an option and will only embolden these bad actors,” Cárdenas said. He stated that his proposed bill will give power back to the FTC so that it can put money back in the pockets of hard-working Americans.

While reversing a Supreme Court decision sounds like a daunting task, Professor Shubha Ghosh from the Syracuse University College of Law told ConsumerAffairs that it’s not unusual for Congress to amend legislation to overrule a Court’s reading of a statute. In fact, the Court’s decision essentially invited Congress to rework the legislation, and this could make consumer protections even stronger.

"As for consumer impact in the long run, if Congress responds as indicated, it can strengthen the power of the FTC to fight for consumers,” Ghosh said.

With platforms like Facebook, Google, and Amazon’s Alexa providing consumers with COVID-19 vaccine information, there’s no shortage of ways to stay updated about the latest news regarding vaccination efforts. 

Now, researchers from Cornell University are exploring the risks associated with consumers not following up with their second dose of the vaccine. They explained that skipping out on the second COVID-19 shot may make the pandemic last longer. 

“It really sunk in that there could be a problem with vaccine attrition even more so than overcoming hesitancy,” said researcher Jillian Goldfarb. “We could end up prolonging the pandemic because people don’t follow through.”  

The importance of following through

The researchers surveyed more than 1,000 adults across the country in February to determine their attitudes about the efficacy of the vaccine and how they ranked the importance of getting the second dose. 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that their findings lined up with recent data from the CDC. They found that roughly 8% of consumers who have received their first COVID-19 vaccine are past due for the second shot. 

“Many Americans, including many of those who have already received a first vaccine dose, remain confused about the timing of protection and the necessity of a second dose,” the researchers wrote. “Moreover, a large proportion of vaccinees report being uninformed about CDC guidelines regarding the need to continue to take prophylactic measures.” 

The team attributes this to inconsistent messaging at vaccination sites nationwide. Very few participants reported that they were given recommendations about continuing social distancing and face mask protocols; less than 20% of respondents said they were given instructions about how long it takes the vaccine to fully kick in. 

“This is an opportunity to take this fragmented system we have and think about how we can ensure people get the information they need to protect themselves and public health, until viral circulation is much lower than it still is,” said researcher Douglas Kriner. “

What does this mean for the future?

The researchers’ goal with this study is to highlight why it’s so important for consumers to follow through with both rounds of the COVID-19 vaccine. Getting fully vaccinated increases a person’s protection against the virus; however, this study found that less than 20% of vaccinated participants were given formal instructions or guidance about vaccine protection or the importance of the second vaccine. 

Moving forward, the researchers worry about the long-term impacts of consumers continuing on this trend of skipping their second shots. They explained that consumers getting fully vaccinated is one of the best ways for the pandemic to reach its conclusion. 

“You can’t understand how this virus will continue to progress unless you understand the behavior of the public that is receiving the vaccine,” Kriner said. 

It’s been talked about for years, and now the government may be ready to ban menthol-flavored cigarettes.

A citizen’s group has filed a petition in federal court to require the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to institute such a ban, and the FDA has to reply by today. Citing “people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reports that the FDA will announce a ban.

Anti-smoking groups have long targeted menthol cigarettes over claims that they promote smoking, especially among young people. The menthol flavoring is said to mask the harshness of tobacco smoke. These groups also contend that menthol cigarette smokers have a harder time quitting.

If the FDA does seek a ban, it won’t happen overnight. Tobacco companies have said they would go to court to block a ban, so it could take years for the fight to play out. 

Should the FDA go in the expected direction, it would first publish the proposed rule so that citizens and stakeholders have the opportunity to comment.

A year ago, the FDA moved to restrict flavored e-cigarette products -- notably fruit and mint flavors. However, it stopped short of placing restrictions on menthol e-cigarettes, which anti-smoking groups oppose for the same reason they want to outlaw menthol cigarettes.

Black smokers

Surveys have shown that the overwhelming majority of Black smokers prefer menthol cigarettes, and organizations promoting Black health have led efforts to get menthol cigarettes off the market. Black men have the highest death rate from lung cancer in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"When you combine high rates of smoking with systematic racism in health care systems, you have a tremendous health disparity," Erika Sward, national assistant vice president for advocacy at the American Lung Association, told NBC News.

The Journal notes that tobacco companies will contest any menthol ban or restriction because so much of their business rests on that flavoring. Smokers who purchase menthol cigarettes tend to be younger and can be expected to be smokers for years.

More harmful?

The American Cancer Society has suggested that menthol cigarettes could be more harmful to smokers because they’re “easier” to smoke, noting that the smoke can be held in the lungs longer than unflavored tobacco.

“This helps to explain why people who smoke menthol cigarettes and get lung cancer often have their cancers located in certain parts of the lung,” the group said in a recent statement. “It also might be a reason why it is harder for people who smoke menthol cigarettes to quit.”

The FCC has announced that enrollment in its emergency broadband benefit program will begin May 12. 

The program gives eligible consumers discounts of up to $50 a month for broadband service and up to $75 a month if the household is on Tribal lands. A one-time discount of up to $100 on a computer or tablet will also be given to eligible households, the FCC said.

"As of May 12, 2021, eligible households will be able to enroll in the program to receive a monthly discount off the cost of broadband service from an approved provider,” the FCC said. The agency added that consumers can also sign up for the subsidies at this website. 

In the announcement, FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the program is intended to help close the digital divide. During the pandemic, a lack of internet access has been a barrier to opportunities for a number of Americans. 

“Families in every corner of the country have been struggling to get online throughout this pandemic, Rosenworcel said. “For those families, we now say help is around the corner.” 

The subsidies will pave the way for more Americans to “access the internet to carry out their day-to-day life, so they can reach the virtual classroom, take advantage of telehealth, and seek new employment opportunities,” she added. 

Helping disconnected Americans get online

Congress approved the subsidies back in December. Although it took several months to set up, the discount program is now set to roll out in less than two weeks. The program is open to: 

• Households that participate in an existing low-income or pandemic relief program offered by a broadband provider; 

• Lifeline subscribers, including those that are on Medicaid or accept SNAP benefits; 

• Households with kids receiving free and reduced-price lunch or school breakfast; 

• Pell grant recipients; and 

• Those who have lost jobs and seen their income reduced in the last year.  

A list of ISP providers participating in the program can be viewed here. The FCC is also launching a "Companies Near Me" tool closer to the May 12 start date.

Amazon has announced that it’s hiking the pay of more than 500,000 of its workers. In a blog post Wednesday, Amazon’s vice president of people experience and technology Darcie Henry said 500,000 workers will see their pay go up between 50 cents and $3 an hour. 

"This is on top of our already industry-leading starting wage of at least $15 an hour and the more than $2.5 billion that we invested last year in additional bonuses and incentives for front-line teams," Henry said.

The pay bump comes during a time of increased scrutiny over the company’s labor practices. Workers and activists have complained that Amazon imposes impossibly high productivity quotas on its employees. 

Attracting workers with higher pay

Amazon saw customer demand skyrocket during the pandemic. To keep up with demand, the company has had to bring on more workers. 

Amazon said it’s currently looking to recruit hundreds of thousands of frontline employees in the U.S. to fill roles in customer fulfillment, delivery, package sortation, and specialty fulfillment. The pay increase represents a total investment of more than $1 billion in its workers. 

Although Amazon will be raising pay for half a million of its workers, the e-commerce giant did not say it would officially raise its $15 minimum wage. Experts say pay bumps are becoming increasingly necessary given the current state of the labor market. 

"An increasing tightness in the labor market means its $15 minimum wage is decreasingly effective at recruitment and retention of qualified workers, and a substantial raise can help with that," Arindrajit Dube, an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, told CNN Business.