Current Events in April 2021

The Biden administration laid out its blueprint for a corporate tax overhaul on Wednesday -- one that would require large companies to pay more.

The White House’s schematic for the tax hike is to help fund its economic agenda, which includes the refurbishing of 20,000 miles of roads and 10,000 bridges; upgrading ports, airports, and transit systems; building a renewed electric grid; and delivering high-speed broadband to all Americans. Biden said the corporate tax increase would also be used to address climate change and racial inequities.

If all goes according to plan and the tax increase is enacted by Congress, the U.S.’ coffers would see an additional $2.5 trillion in revenue over 15 years. 

To make his plan work, Biden proposes raising the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 27 percent. While that may sound high, it’s actually been much higher. As part of a 2017 tax law, President Trump reduced the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent.

What resistance will Biden get?

Biden’s plan will likely meet some resistance from American companies that have profited from Trump’s change to the tax code. Google, for example, used two legal tax strategies -- the Double Irish and the Dutch Sandwich -- to save it billions in U.S. taxes by forming a subsidiary in Ireland that turns intellectual property into tax-deductible royalty payments. But Google isn’t the only one using these kinds of tax strategies. A GAO study found that close to 66 percent of all U.S. corporations didn't pay any federal income tax at all. 

While the change may cost U.S. companies more, Biden’s plan may find some early support from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. While Amazon has been successful in softening its tax liability in the past, Bezos gave the notion of raising corporate taxes a personal thumbs-up earlier this week. However, he stopped just short of saying he supports President Joe Biden’s plan for the increase completely.

“We support the Biden Administration’s focus on making bold investments in American infrastructure,” Bezos said in a statement. “We recognize this investment will require concessions from all sides — both on the specifics of what’s included as well as how it gets paid for (we’re supportive of a rise in the corporate tax rate). We look forward to Congress and the Administration coming together to find the right, balanced solution that maintains or enhances U.S. competitiveness."

Ending a race to the bottom

Bezos’ buy-in is meaningful -- both for the economy and the workforce. If the executive’s peers support Biden’s plan, it could end what Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen called a “30-year race to the bottom” of corporate taxation, one she said has been catastrophic for the American economy.

“Together we can use a global minimum tax to make sure the global economy thrives based on a more level playing field in the taxation of multinational corporations, and spurs innovation, growth, and prosperity,” Yellen said in remarks to The Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 30,851,290 (30,798,418)

Total U.S. deaths: 556,578 (555,777)

Total global cases: 132,605,091 (132,019,041)

Total global deaths: 2,876,691 (2,864,366)

Biden confirms April 19 as the date to open vaccinations for all

President Biden has made it official. He is asking that all states open coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations to all adults by April 19. Previously, he set May 1 as the target date for universal vaccinations.

Biden had previously suggested April 19 might be possible as the date to significantly increase vaccinations. He said the rollout out is going well, with 150 million people vaccinated since he took office. But he urged people not yet vaccinated to remain cautious.

“There is a lot of good news. But there’s also some bad news,” Biden said. “The virus is spreading because we have too many people who’ve seen the end in sight, think we’re at the finish line already. Let me be deadly earnest with you, we’re still in a life and death race against this virus.”

Study links COVID-19 to mental issues

A study of nearly a quarter-million COVID-19 survivors found nearly one in three suffered either neurological or psychiatric disorder symptoms after they recovered. The study, published in the British medical journal The Lancet, said the symptoms occurred within six months of infection.

The researchers pointed out that many of the patients had a previous diagnosis of neurological or mental health issues. For 13 percent of the survey group, it was their first recorded neurological or psychiatric diagnosis. The top three symptoms were anxiety, mood disorders, and substance misuse.

“Our study provides evidence for substantial neurological and psychiatric morbidity in the six months after COVID-19 infection,” the authors wrote. “Risks were greatest in, but not limited to, patients who had severe COVID-19.”

Fauci doubts a fourth wave is forming

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House’s principal adviser on COVID-19, now says he doesn’t think the U.S. will face a fourth wave of the virus. Only weeks ago, Fauci, who heads the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), expressed strong concern at the rise in new infections.

The reason for the turnaround? Fauci says he is impressed with the speed at which states are vaccinating their populations.

"As long as we keep vaccinating people efficiently and effectively, I don't think that's gonna happen," Fauci told MSNBC. "That doesn't mean that we're not going to still see an increase in cases." 

Poll shows less worry about catching the virus

Over the last 12 months, most Americans have had at least some concern about becoming infected with COVID-19, which has killed more than 550,000 Americans. A Gallup Poll now shows that concern has dropped sharply.

The poll shows only 35 percent of U.S. adults say they are “very” or “somewhat” worried about contracting COVID-19. That’s the smallest percentage since Gallup began asking the question a year ago.

Gallup officials say the decline in worry may be tied to the increase in the percentage of Americans who are fully vaccinated.

A third of remote workers would quit rather than return to the office

There could be a lot of job openings later this year. A survey conducted by the personnel staffing firm Robert Half found that 34 percent of current remote workers said they would quit their jobs if they are required to return to the office.

Nearly half of all employees surveyed said they would like a hybrid work arrangement, where they can divide time between the office and another location. Even if given the opportunity to be fully remote, professionals acknowledged that productivity could suffer.

"After a year of drastic change, many business leaders are eager to restore a sense of normalcy and welcome staff back to the office," said Paul McDonald, senior executive director at Robert Half. "But reopening doors will bring new obstacles for companies to navigate. Not all employees will be ready — or willing — to return to the workplace, so staying flexible and responsive to their needs will be critical."

Around the nation

• Rhode Island: Rhode Island’s COVID-19 case numbers are down, and officials want to keep it that way. Visitors from states with a COVID-19 positivity rate greater than 5 percent are required to quarantine for 10 days while in the state unless there is proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken in the previous 72 hours.

• Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order on Tuesday to ban the state government and some private entities from requiring COVID-19 “vaccine passports” to access services. The order prohibits any entity from requiring proof of vaccination.

• California: Gov. Gavin Newsom says he has plans for the state to fully reopen on June 15. The full reopening is contingent on two criteria: that California’s COVID-19 vaccine supply is sufficient for all adults who wish to receive the shot and that hospitalization rates remain stable and low.

If you haven’t received your stimulus check -- the Economic Impact Payment from the American Rescue Plan -- your odds for getting it soon just increased. On Wednesday, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service announced that they are disbursing another 25 million payments.

The fourth batch of payments began processing on Friday, April 2, with an official payment date of Wednesday, April 7. The IRS said that some people have already received direct payments in their accounts as provisional or pending deposits. However, the agency did not say whether some payments will be sent as “prepaid debit cards” -- a payment device it has used in the past.

The agency noted two things about the delivery of the checks that might give recipients some added insights when to expect their payments:

• Direct deposits are more likely to be successfully delivered than mailed payments, and the return rate of direct deposits is also lower than in previous rounds of payments.

• Payments to Social Security and other federal beneficiaries are being issued faster than they were during the first round of payments a year ago.

There’s nothing anyone can do to make receipt of their EIP any faster. If you’re curious or anxious, you can use the Get My Payment tool to see if your payment has been scheduled.

When to expect your payment

Below is a rundown of the types of recipients who can expect an EIP in the near future.

Social Security recipients: The largest number of checks -- 19 million -- went to Social Security beneficiaries who didn’t file a 2019 or 2020 tax return and didn’t use the Non-Filers tool last year. More than 19 million payments went to these beneficiaries, which include Social Security retirement, survivor, or disability beneficiaries.

Veterans: The IRS says it’s still processing and reviewing data received from Veterans Affairs, which covers veterans and their beneficiaries who receive Compensation and Pension benefit payments who don’t normally file a tax return.

If there are no further complications in that data handoff, the IRS says it expects to begin processing those VA payment files by April 11. Because the majority of these payments will be disbursed electronically, they should be received by April 14. The IRS projects VA beneficiary payment information would be available in the Get My Payment tool this weekend, April 10-11.

SSI beneficiaries: Another 3 million payments are in the pipeline and going to Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries.

Consumers eligible for additional payments: The new batch of EIPs also includes more than 1 million supplemental payments for people who received payments based on their 2019 tax returns this past March but are eligible for a new -- or larger -- payment based on their recently processed 2020 tax returns. Payments to this group will continue on a weekly basis going forward as the IRS continues processing 2019 and 2020 tax returns.

Consumers that the IRS needed more information on: Apparently, there were more than a million folks whom the IRS previously did not have information to issue a payment but who recently filed a tax return and qualified for an EIP. Payments to this group will continue on a weekly basis going forward as the IRS continues processing tax returns from 2020 and 2019.

Railroad Retirees: Close to 85,000 payments went to Railroad Retirement Board beneficiaries.

People who don’t normally file a tax return: The IRS has a special reminder for those who don’t normally file a tax return. This includes:

• Those experiencing homelessness;

• The rural poor;

• Individuals who didn't get a first or second round Economic Impact Payment;

• Individuals who got less than the full amounts may be eligible for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit; and

• People for whom the IRS still doesn’t have adequate information. Some recipients may need to file an actual 2020 tax return just for the sake of providing information that the IRS needs to send payments to a qualified dependent. Eligible individuals in this group should file a 2020 tax return to be considered for an additional payment for their qualified dependent as quickly as possible.

For anyone falling under that last bullet, the IRS has a special section on its website that covers those who aren’t required to file a tax return. People in that group who would like help in filing a tax return can actually get assistance for free. The IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. Those include:

• People who generally make $57,000 or less;

• Persons with disabilities; and

• Limited English-speaking taxpayers.

Details for that free assistance are available here.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California at Davis Health found that children with Down syndrome may be at an increased risk of developing leukemia. These findings are important because children with Down syndrome are likely to be at a higher risk of several other serious health conditions. 

“One main strength of this study is its large cohort with more leukemia cases in children with Down syndrome than most previous studies,” said researcher Emily Marlow. “This allowed more precise risk estimation, especially for leukemia types such as AML-7, previously estimated from small case reports.” 

Understanding the health risks

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly four million children who were born between 1996 and 2016. The team tracked their health outcomes and looked at what role Down syndrome played in both cancer diagnosis and their treatment success. 

Over the course of the study, nearly three percent of children with Down syndrome were diagnosed with leukemia; comparatively, those without Down syndrome had just a 0.05 percent chance of developing leukemia. The study also found that ethnicity and gender can play a role, as both leukemia and Down syndrome were more likely to develop in Hispanic children and male children. 

It’s also important to note that this association between leukemia and Down syndrome was consistent among different strains of the condition, including both acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL). 

Knowing the signs

The researchers’ biggest advice is for parents and caregivers to be aware of the signs associated with leukemia. Knowing the symptoms, including shortness of breath and extreme fatigue, and starting treatment as early as possible are likely to lead to the best health outcomes. 

“The good news is that childhood leukemia can be very treatable if caught early,” said researcher Diana L. Miglioretti. 

A new study conducted by researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University identified a large uptick in the excess death rate in 2020. 

According to their findings, the excess death rate surged by more than 20 percent over the previous year. While COVID-19 was primarily to blame for this, the researchers say there were also other factors at play. 

“This country has experienced profound loss of life due to the pandemic and its consequences, especially in communities of color,” said researcher Dr. Peter Buckley. “While we must remain vigilant with social distancing and mask-wearing behaviors for the duration of this pandemic, we must also make efforts to ensure the equitable distribution of care if we are to reduce the likelihood of further loss of life.” 

Analyzing the death rate

The researchers analyzed the death rate between the start of 2020 and the start of 2021 to determine how excessive deaths were affected by the pandemic and other factors. 

Ultimately, the excessive death rate rose by nearly 23 percent over the last year; the researchers explained that in a typical year, excessive deaths hover between one to two percent. COVID-19 was responsible for the majority of excess deaths in 2020, but the study also found surges in deaths from conditions like diabetes and heart disease. 

“COVID-19 accounted for roughly 72 percent of the excess deaths we’re calculating, and that’s similar to what our earlier studies showed,” said researcher Dr. Steven Woolf. “There is a sizable gap between the number of publicly reported COVID-19 deaths and the sum total of excess deaths the country has actually experienced.” 

What communities were at the highest risk

In looking at the death rate around the country, the researchers found that certain areas and groups of people were at a higher risk of death than others. States in the northeast were hit the hardest during the early months of the pandemic, and states in the southern part of the country experienced spikes in the death rate after social distancing guidelines began to lighten up. 

“They said they were opening early to rescue the economy,” Dr. Woolf said. “The tragedy is that policy not only cost more lives, but actually hurt their economy by extending the length of the pandemic. One of the big lessons our nation must learn from COVID-19 is that our health and our economy are tied together. You can’t really rescue one without the other.” 

Similarly, the researchers found that the excess death rate disproportionately impacted Black consumers more so than white consumers. 

“This, of course, is consistent with the evidence about COVID-19 but also indicates that excess deaths from some conditions other than COVID-19 are also occurring at higher rates in the African American population,” Dr. Woolf said. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that consumers and health care providers understand the gravity of these findings. They say the impact of the pandemic may continue to be felt in the months to come. 

“Once again, [states] are lifting restrictions, opening businesses back up, and now seeing the COVID-19 variants spread through their population,” Dr. Woolf said. “To prevent more excess deaths, we need to hold our horses and maintain the public health restrictions that we have in place so the vaccine can do its work and get the numbers under control.” 

As consumers increasingly move online to do their shopping, brick-and-mortar retailers are looking for any way to keep up. On Wednesday, Best Buy showed it’s giving its best effort by releasing details of a new membership program.

The program is called Best Buy Beta, and the retail chain says consumers who sign up can take advantage of several benefits. These include:

• Exclusive member sale pricing;

• Unlimited Geek Squad technical support for technology at the member’s home (even if it’s not purchased at Best Buy); 

• Dedicated and exclusive concierge support;

• Up to two years of protection on most product purchases; 

• Free standard shipping and delivery on most products;

• A 60-day extended return window; 

• Ten percent off subscription services billed through Best Buy; and 

• Free installation on most products and appliances.

“As we look to evolve our membership programs, the goal of Best Buy Beta is to create a membership experience that customers will love and to leave them feeling confident throughout their relationship with Best Buy. This pilot offers premium service, complete with support aimed at anticipating our customers’ needs,” said Best Buy Chief Customer Officer Allison Peterson. 

The program became available starting today in select stores in Oklahoma, Iowa, and eastern Pennsylvania, but the company says other stores in Minnesota, North Carolina, and Tennessee will be added this month. The price of a yearly membership is currently $199.99, but consumers who have a Best Buy credit card can get it for $179.99 per year.

Earlier this month, United Airlines announced plans to hire hundreds of pilots to handle an expected increase in domestic travel. Now, the carrier says it will open up an entire flight school with the aim of training and hiring thousands of pilots by 2030.

In a press release, the company said it also has a diversity goal tied to the flight school: It wants half of all students to be women or “people of color.” It will also be providing financing options to students who may have difficulty paying for enrollment in the school. 

"Over the next decade, United will train 5,000 pilots who will be guaranteed a job with United, after they complete the requirements of the Aviate program – and our plan is for half of them to be women and people of color," said United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby. "We're excited that JPMorgan Chase has agreed to support our work to diversify our pilot ranks and create new opportunities for thousands of women and people of color who want to pursue a career in aviation."

United to bring back more flights next month

United became the first airline to own and operate its own flight school back in February 2020, but plans for the United Aviate Academy were put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But with air traffic increasing in recent weeks, company officials say they want to open up travel options and begin the long trek back to “normal.” 

“Internationally, in May United will fly more than 100% of its pre-pandemic schedule to Latin America compared to what it operated in 2019, including more flights to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America,” the company stated. “The airline also plans to resume flights between Chicago and Tokyo Haneda, resume passenger flights between New York/Newark and Milan and Rome, and restart service between Chicago and Amsterdam.

“In total, United plans to operate 52% of its overall schedule compared to May 2019, whereas in May 2020 United operated 14% of its overall schedule compared to May 2019.”

With a surge in home sales in 2020, a record number of Americans packed up and moved last year, according to a new survey from Zillow.

The online real estate marketplace normally just focuses on the buying and selling of houses. But the company, inspired by the migration triggered by remote work during the pandemic, has published its first-ever Mover Report, a “data-based dive into the people and emotions driving moves this spring home shopping season.”

The first thing that popped out of the survey was this startling fact: In 2020, 11 percent of Americans moved and either bought a home or rented one. Among those recent movers, 75 percent said they didn’t have to move -- they wanted to.

Many moved to be closer to family or friends or to live somewhere they've always dreamed of. They could do it because of the new flexibility provided by remote work during the pandemic.

Moving companies likely to stay busy

With the housing market showing no signs of slowing down, moving companies are likely to stay busy for the remainder of 2021. Zillow’s researchers identified “a significant number” of homeowners who said they're more likely to move and sell their homes as a result of the pandemic. That could result in another 2.5 million real estate transactions, the company said.

A new study by Stoneside reached similar conclusions. It found that 34 percent of Americans are considering a move this year. Only 54 percent of Americans have ruled it out. 

Phoenix, Charlotte, and Austin were the top three destinations for people on the move last year. Zillow said those Sun Belt metros are expected to continue to surge in 2021. Data from North American Van Lines confirmed earlier research showing that large cities lost population during the pandemic. New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago were among the metros seeing the most people packing up and leaving.

"The pandemic brought an acceleration of trends we were seeing in 2018 and 2019," said Zillow’s senior economist Jeff Tucker. "More affordable, medium-sized metro areas across the Sun Belt saw significantly more people coming than going, especially from more expensive, larger cities farther north and on the coasts. The pandemic has catalyzed purchases by millennial first-time buyers, many of whom can now work from anywhere." 

What happens if remote work ends?

But what happens if these remote workers who have moved to another state are called back to the office when the pandemic ends? Another survey shows that not that many plan to return, possibly creating turbulence in the labor market.

A poll conducted for personnel staffing firm Robert Half found that a full one-third of remote workers said they would quit their jobs if forced to return to an office setting. 

"After a year of drastic change, many business leaders are eager to restore a sense of normalcy and welcome staff back to the office," said Paul McDonald, senior executive director at Robert Half. "But reopening doors will bring new obstacles for companies to navigate. Not all employees will be ready — or willing — to return to the workplace, so staying flexible and responsive to their needs will be critical."

If you’re planning a move this year, ConsumerAffairs has collected thousands of verified reviews of the top moving companies here.

Audi is recalling 153,152 model year 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedans & A3 Sedans, model year 2016-2018 A3 Etrons, model year 2017-2020 RS3 Sedans, and model year 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolets.

The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger airbag even when the seat is occupied.

A deactivated passenger airbag increases the risk of injury in a crash.

What to do

The remedy program is still in development.

Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed May 21, 2021. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available.

This is an expansion of an earlier recall. Vehicles included in that recall must return for a new remedy

Owners may contact Audi customer service at (800) 253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.

College students, professors, and staff members are being warned to look out for scammers impersonating Internal Revenue Service officials. The Federal Trade Commission reports that malicious actors are sending phishing messages to consumers with “.edu” email addresses in an attempt to collect sensitive personal and financial information. 

The scheme starts with a scammer sending a message to the victim saying they have information about a tax refund. Sometimes the message has a subject line like “Tax Refund Payment” or “Recalculation of your tax refund payment.” In the body of the email, the scammer tries to get the victim to click on a link to submit an online form for their supposed refund. 

Unfortunately, if the recipient clicks on the link and fills out any information on the next page, they’ll give away sensitive data like their full name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, and other personal information that can be used for identity theft.

What to do

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so it’s important for consumers to look out for the warning signs of this scam so they can avoid becoming a victim. 

“The emails can look really real and include the IRS logo. But no matter what the email looks like or says, one thing stays true: the IRS will not first contact you by email. They will always start by sending you a letter. And, to confirm that it’s really the IRS, you can call them directly at 800-829-1040,” advised FTC Consumer Education Specialist Ari Lazarus.

If you’ve already fallen for this ploy, the FTC says to report the fraud to its identity theft website. If you’ve received an email from a potential scammer and haven’t yet taken action, you can forward it as an attachment to phishing@irs.gov and also report it to the FTC’s site here.

According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens -- who are the most vulnerable to COVID-19 -- are leading the way in vaccinations. The CDC says that about 75 percent of Americans 65 and older (30,029,190 total) have received at least one shot, and more than half (41,105,881 total) have completed their vaccination regimen.

During a press briefing at the White House on Monday, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky added another positive finding -- emergency department visits and hospitalizations associated with seniors are also declining. Both trends are something Walensky called “good news with regard to the power of vaccination.”

By contrast, the percentage of the total population who have had one dose of a vaccine is 32.4 percent; the percentage of people who have been completely vaccinated is 18.8 percent.

Vaccinations among youth could be a huge plus

Walensky cited data showing that many of the outbreaks in youth and young adults are tied to sports and extracurricular activities. She feels strongly that these activities should be limited and that the risk of outbreak clusters could be prevented with cadenced testing strategies.

When asked whether getting young people vaccinated at the same levels as seniors could make an impact on new cases, the CDC director gave a resounding “yes.”

“I imagine it would be having a massive impact,” Walensky said. “I think what we’ve seen demographically is when we vaccinate large age strata — large age demographics — that we see less cases in those — in those demographics. So that is just more and more — makes it more and more important that when the vaccine is available, regardless of your age, you roll up your sleeve.”

Don’t be foolish -- stay the course

Walensky says she’s as ready as everyone else to be done with COVID-19, but the pandemic is far from over.

“I understand that people are tired and that they are ready for this pandemic to be over, as am I.  Please continue to hang in there and to continue to do the things that we know prevent the spread of the virus,” she said. 

“If we all continue to wear a well-fitting mask, physically distance, and get vaccinated, America can and will get out of this pandemic. We can meet this moment if we keep doing our part.  Everyone working together, getting vaccinated as soon as possible, is how we can turn the corner.”

To drive home her point, she told the story of a COVID-19 outbreak that recently happened in a rural area of Illinois where roughly 100 people held an opening event indoors. While tables were spaced 6-feet apart and there were signs everywhere encouraging physical distancing and masking, people who attended the event reported that mask use was inconsistent and that keeping 6-feet apart was not enforced or observed.

The result of the attendees’ indifference produced 46 positive COVID-19 cases that resulted in eight households with infections, a school closure affecting 650 children, and the hospitalization of a long-term care facility resident.

“As we work to get more people vaccinated and as community businesses begin to reopen, these findings underscore the vast impact of a single event affecting communities, schools, families, and fragile elderly,” Walensky stated.

“And it emphasizes the impressive transmissibility of this virus and the continued need for layer prevention strategies, including reducing the number of people indoors, improving building ventilation, and utilizing outdoor spaces as the weather allows.”

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 30,798,418 (30,708,630)

Total U.S. deaths: 555,777 (555,021)

Total global cases: 132,019,041 (131,435,555)

Total global deaths: 2,864,366 (2,854,911)

Cases are still rising

As millions of Americans get vaccinated, the number of new COVID-19 cases has continued to rise, although the infection rate is higher in some states than in others.

The seven-day average of new cases this week is sharply higher than the 14-day average, according to an analysis by The Wall Street Journal. That suggests new cases are increasing.

Some health experts believe most of the new cases involve young people who have not yet been vaccinated. They point to the recent death toll, which has been going down. The U.S. reported 603 COVID-19 fatalities for Monday, according to the COVID-19 Tracking Project at Johns Hopkins University.

Variant now present in all 50 states

A more contagious variant of the coronavirus, first identified in the U.K., has now been confirmed in all 50 states in the U.S., according to government health data. Health experts suspect the variants may be responsible for the recent uptick in cases.

Dr. Michael Osterholm, director for the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, worries that people who have not yet been vaccinated are taking too many risks.

"America appears to be done with the pandemic," Osterholm told CNN. "The virus is not done with us."

CDC: Put away the disinfectant wipes

In updated guidance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it’s not necessary to constantly wipe down surfaces with disinfectants, which was the protocol for most of the pandemic.

The CDC says that in "most situations" with no known coronavirus exposure, clearing surfaces with soap and water will “substantially” reduce virus levels on surfaces. Scientists now say the virus is less likely to spread through contact with surfaces than breathing in airborne particles from an infected person.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky says the health agency only recommends the use of disinfectants in indoor settings where there has been a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 24 hours.

Want to travel this summer? Get vaccinated

The whole idea of a “vaccine passport” has become a politically charged issue, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that you’re probably going to need a vaccination if you want to travel this summer. 

Norwegian Cruise Line has asked the CDC to allow it to sail beginning in July, promising that everyone on board would be vaccinated against the virus. The CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker, says his airline will require proof of vaccination to board an aircraft and says he thinks it will become a trend in the industry.

“In the short term, yes, I think that the vaccine passport will be helpful to give confidence both to governments and to the passengers in our industry to start traveling again,” he told CNBC.

Bar opening event may have been a ‘super-spreader’

As COVID-19 cases were declining in February, health officials urged Americans not to let down their guard. A CDC report suggests some people in Illinois weren’t paying attention.

In its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report this week, the CDC traced an outbreak of at least 46 cases, a school closure, and the hospitalization of a long-term care facility resident to a bar-opening event in a rural community.

State health officials identified 29 people who tested positive for COVID-19 or had symptoms after attending the indoor event that celebrated the establishment’s reopening. The CDC did not identify the community.

Around the nation

• Michigan: Health officials say Michigan has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, but no one can figure out why. Dr. Meredith Hill, the emergency room director at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, said the increase has been more drastic than the previous two weeks. "I think there's obviously more community spread right now," she said. 

• South Carolina: Republicans in the state legislature have signed a letter to Gov. Henry McMaster asking him to block any effort to require the use of “vaccine passports” in the state. "The use of ‘vaccine passports’ to restrict commerce is a threat to both personal liberty and medical privacy," the lawmakers wrote.

• Iowa: Cases of the virus are on the rise on college campuses. Another 89 COVID-19 cases were reported at Iowa State University from March 29 to April 4. Seventy students had tested positive on campus the week before.

There’s a certain segment of the U.S. population with “that drawer” in their refrigerator. It’s the one that’s filled with individual packages of mayo, mustard, duck sauce, and other condiments they’ve hoarded from takeout orders. 

Well, those people may need to start rationing the ketchup they’ve collected because they may not get more packets anytime soon. The Wall Street Journal reports that the U.S. is currently facing a nationwide ketchup shortage due to a supply chain issue. 

The shortage stems from many sit-down restaurants adopting a takeout format during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep business going. This sharply increased demand for individual ketchup packets to go with food orders.

Prices rise as demand spikes

How much could those seemingly inconsequential ketchup packets cost? This depends on the scale of your business. 

The Journal cites the restaurant chain Long John Silver’s as an example of one company that’s really feeling the squeeze. The chain has been forced to work with secondary suppliers because of increased demand, and executives say they’ve spent an extra half-million dollars due to inflated prices. Overall, ketchup packet prices have reportedly grown by 13% since January 2020. 

Consumers have already had to deal with several other food-related shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last spring, a nationwide meat shortage led many shoppers to consider meat alternatives. The surge in takeout business also led to a pepperoni shortage among the nation’s pizza restaurants during the fall. 

Are you thinking about claiming the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit on your federal tax return this year? If you already have, the Internal Revenue Service wants you to know that you might be getting a different amount than originally expected.

The sticky wicket that most taxpayers don’t know about is that the first and second Economic Impact Payments were actually advance payments of the 2020 credit. The IRS says that people who have already received the first and second payments shouldn't or don't need to include this information on their 2020 tax return -- the one due May 17.

However, U.S. citizens who didn't receive a first or second EIP -- or received less than the full amounts -- may be eligible for the 2020 RRC. If that is you, then you must file a 2020 tax return to claim the credit, even if you don't usually file a tax return.

The Recovery Rebate Credit process

The IRS probably didn’t count on this can of worms, but it wants to make sure it explains the RRC process to those who want to take advantage of it. Just about everything you need to know rests on line 30 of your 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR. On that line, you need to list the difference between what you are owed and what you received.

For those who claim the credit on their 2020 return, the IRS takes the return and looks at the amount of the taxpayer's credit based on the 2020 tax return information and the amounts of any EIP previously issued. Then, if a taxpayer is eligible, it will be reduced by the amount of any EIPs already issued to them.

However, if the IRS finds a mistake with the credit amount on Line 30 of the 1040 or 1040-SR, the agency will calculate the correct amount, make the necessary correction, and continue processing the return. If a correction is necessary, then that’s where the letter from the IRS comes in -- one they send to the taxpayer explaining any change. The IRS notes that there may be a slight delay in processing the return because of the extra work.

If you haven’t filed your 2020 tax return yet, the agency says the simplest way to calculate any credit due is to start with the amount of any EIPs received. Consumers can then use the RRC Worksheet that came in the 2020 filing instructions.

Reasons why the IRS will correct credit 

There are several reasons why the IRS might correct a Recovery Rebate Credit, but it says these are the most common:

• The individual was claimed as a dependent on another person's 2020 tax return.

• The individual did not provide a Social Security number valid for employment.

• The qualifying child was age 17 or older on January 1, 2020.

• Math errors relating to calculating adjusted gross income and any EIPs already received.

If you get a letter from the IRS

Taxpayers who receive a letter from the IRS saying that it changed the amount of their 2020 credit should read the notice that comes with the letter. At that point, the IRS asks that they review their 2020 tax return, the requirements, and the worksheet in the Form 1040 and Form 1040-SR instructions.

If a taxpayer doesn’t agree with the IRS’ calculation, they have the right to ask the agency for clarification. The only thing the IRS asks is that the taxpayer have the information that the letter requests handy before they contact an agency official.

The IRS has put together a special guide called “Correcting Recovery Rebate Credit issues after the 2020 tax return is filed” to help taxpayers gain a better understanding of what errors may have occurred. That guide is available online here.

With the end of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in sight, a new survey suggests that about a third of consumers will resume running up big credit card bills. However, even more consumers won’t.

For 42 percent of the consumers in the Debt.com survey, the curbs they put on credit card purchases during the pandemic may be lasting. At least, that’s their stated intention.

The survey seems to suggest that many consumers learned valuable money lessons during 2020. In 2019, when Debt.com asked consumers how often they hit their credit card credit limit, 49 percent replied “never” or “rarely.” In the latest survey, conducted at the height of the pandemic, 57 percent gave that answer.

In fact, credit card usage is down despite the fact that so much retail activity has moved online. There was a 10 percent decrease in the number of people who said they used credit cards for shopping. 

Credit card balances declined

The number of people carrying more than $20,000 in credit card debt increased, but only by 1 percent in the first quarter of this year. Overall, the money consumers owed on credit card balances fell last year, according to Experian.

It was the first time in seven years that any major consumer debt category went down. Experian called it “a surprising turn of events” given the broader economic environment brought on by the pandemic.

Before last year, consumer credit card debt had grown for eight straight years, hitting a record high of $829 billion in 2019. In 2020, balances plunged by 9 percent, bringing total U.S. outstanding credit card debt to $756 billion, the lowest point since 2017.

Warning sign

The Experian data dovetails with the Debt.com survey, showing that consumers have reduced their credit utilization and improved when it comes to on-time payments. The Debt.com survey shows the number of people opening new credit card accounts dropped by 1.5 percent last year.

"Opening new credit cards can drag down your credit score and it's a warning sign," said Debt.com President Don Silvestri. "In my experience, it's likely that a person has maxed out their other cards and is seeking more breathing room. Unfortunately, they rarely catch up. Instead, they get trapped with more debt."

Rod Griffin, senior director of consumer education and advocacy for Experian, says consumers tend to make better financial decisions when they understand the factors that influence credit standing.

He says that by reducing credit utilization and delinquencies, consumers have done the two most important things they can to improve their credit scores, which “should position them better to emerge strong from the pandemic."