Current Events in May 2021

Consumers who have been turned off by higher prices and smaller selections of new cars and trucks are now finding the same situation on the used car lot. The shortage of computer chips that has limited new vehicle production has spurred demand for previously owned vehicles, with supplies falling and prices rising.

Industry sources show that the average price paid for a new vehicle was more than $40,000 in March, and the average paid for a used car or truck hit an all-time high of $25,463 in April. With automakers cutting production because they can’t find enough computer chips, there are fewer new cars in new car showrooms, and dealers aren’t cutting the deals they used to.

At the same time, dealers are struggling to replenish supplies of used cars and trucks. At wholesale auctions, they’re now having to compete with rental car companies that can’t buy enough new cars and are replenishing their fleets with used ones.

The COVID-19 effect

You can blame the whole issue on the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. When the economy shut down a year ago, carmakers canceled their computer chip orders. Because of the long lead-time necessary to produce semiconductors, chipmakers haven’t been able to catch up.

The pandemic also caused Hertz and other rental car companies to sell off vehicles in the face of plunging demand. But now that the economy is reopening, people are traveling again.

“These rental-car companies sold off large chunks of their fleet in order to right-size for rental demand,” David Paris, senior manager at J.D. Power, told the public radio program Marketplace.

Consumers don’t appear to be balking at these higher prices. With stimulus money flowing freely, many families are feeling flush. The online automotive marketplace TrueCar reports that used car and truck sales rose to 3.4 million units in April, a 58% increase year-over-year. That added to the used car squeeze because dealers started the month with declining inventories.

How consumers might benefit

While the situation might appear to pose challenges, Kelley Blue Book (KBB) suggests that there is a way consumers might turn lemons into lemonade. Assuming they can find a new vehicle they like, their trade-in vehicle has never been worth more.

"There has never been a much better time to sell or trade in your car than right now during this strong seller's market," said Matt DeLorenzo, senior managing editor for KBB. "Dealerships are seeking more used-car inventory, and prices are reaching sky high. If you're in a position to sell, it's a great time to command top dollar for your old car.”

While there may be fewer dealer incentives attached to a new car purchase, DeLerenzo says the increased value of your used car will help take some of the sting out of a potentially higher price point. 

Getting into a good sleep routine can be difficult for many consumers. However, a new study conducted by researchers from the American College of Cardiology explored how doing so may be beneficial for consumers’ heart health. 

According to their findings, healthy people who struggle with sleep -- either sleeping too much or too little -- may be at an increased risk of heart complications. The findings emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy sleep routine as a way to boost consumers’ heart function. 

“Sleep is often overlooked as something that may play a role in cardiovascular disease, and it may be among the most cost-effective ways to lower cardiovascular risk,” said researcher Dr. Kartik Gupta. “Based on our data, sleeping six to seven hours a night is associated with more favorable heart health.” 

Maintaining good sleeping habits

To understand the impact that sleep can have on consumers’ wellness, the researchers analyzed data from over 14,000 participants enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The respondents completed surveys that assessed their sleep habits, and the researchers followed up with them over the course of nearly eight years to determine their health outcomes. 

The team was primarily interested in two health measures: the level of the C-reactive protein (CRP), which has been associated with heart disease, and athersclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, which measures a person’s risk of developing heart disease. 

The researchers learned that the participants’ sleeping patterns impacted their heart disease risk. While CRP levels were a stronger indicator of heart disease than ASCVD risk, sleep remained an important component. Participants who slept less than six hours or more than seven hours had higher CRP levels, and they also had a higher risk of cardiovascular-related death. 

“Participants who slept less than six hours or more than seven hours had a higher chance of death due to cardiac issues,” Dr. Gupta said. “ASCVD risk score was, however, the same in those who sleep six to seven hours versus more than seven hours. The effect of sleep probably accrues over time; it takes time for damage to happen.” 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that these findings spark conversations between consumers and their doctors about adopting healthy sleep habits. Finding ways to get more quality sleep each night can greatly benefit consumers’ long-term heart health. 

“It’s important to talk about not only the amount of sleep, but the depth and quality of sleep too,” Dr. Gupta said. “Just because you are lying in bed for seven hours doesn’t mean that you are getting good quality sleep.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles Health Sciences explored the bone health risks common among postmenopausal women who experience an injury. According to their findings, one bone fracture anywhere in the body can increase the risk of future fractures.

“Current clinical guidelines have only been emphasizing hip and spine fractures, but our findings challenge that viewpoint,” said researcher Dr. Carolyn Crandall. “By not paying attention to which types of fractures increase the risk of future fractures, we are missing the opportunity to identify people at an increased risk of future fracture and counsel them regarding risk reduction.”  

Protecting bone health

The researchers came to their conclusions after analyzing health records for over 157,000 women between the ages of 50 and 79 enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative study. They learned that postmenopausal women who experience one fracture are three to six times as likely to experience a subsequent fracture. 

This was true regardless of where in the body the first fracture occurred; this study analyzed bone breaks in the hip/pelvis, upper and lower wrist, lower leg and upper leg, shoulder, knee, and ankle. 

“Postmenopausal women and their physicians may not have been aware that even a knee fracture, for example, is associated with an increased risk of future fractures at other locations of the body,” Dr. Crandall said. 

The researchers found that ethnicity played a role in subsequent bone fracture risk. Women of Hispanic, Black, and Asian Pacific Island descent had a higher risk for multiple bone fractures in later life than white women. The team hopes these results lead to future changes regarding health care policies and protocols for postmenopausal women’s bone health. 

“Aggressive follow-up of postmenopausal women who experience initial fracture is indicated,” the researchers wrote. “Our results will inform counseling, future guidelines, and the design of intervention trials regarding the selection of appropriate candidates for pharmacotherapy.” 

Ford Motor Company is recalling nearly 621,000 model year 2016-19 Explorers.

The roof rail covers may become detached from the vehicle while it is being driven, and become a road hazard, posing the risk of a crash.

Base and XLT trim levels, as well as Police Interceptor and Sport models with roof rail covers that are painted Silver, Black or Absolute Black are included in the recall.

What to do

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will secure the roof rails with plastic push pins.

The recall is expected to begin the week of June 28, 2021.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is is 21S22.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 32,562,841 (32,514,808)

Total U.S. deaths: 579,358 (578,524)

Total global cases: 155,373,584 (154,469,379)

Total global deaths: 3,245,391 (3,230,336)

CDC expects ‘sharp decline’ in COVID-19 cases by summer

The worst may be over. That’s the principal takeaway from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) latest projections for the track of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The agency said there could be a “sharp decline” in cases by July if the current pace of vaccinations keeps up.

The CDC said its optimistic projections are based on how many Americans have been vaccinated so far. CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said there could be "an even faster decline if more people get vaccinated sooner." The daily rate of new cases is now at a seven-month low.

"The results remind us that we have a path out of this and models, once predicting grim news, now offer reasons to be quite hopeful for what the summer may bring," Walensky said.

Jobless benefits claims hit new pandemic low

As the economy continues to reopen, there are fewer people heading for the unemployment line. The Labor Department reports that initial claims for jobless benefits fell again last week to 498,000 -- the lowest number since the pandemic began more than a year ago.

Claims dropped sharply from the previous week’s 590,000. The four-week moving average also moved lower, declining to 560,000, a decrease of 61,000 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 14, 2020, just before the economy shut down.

While unemployment appears to be disappearing, businesses in a variety of industries complain that they can’t find enough workers. Restaurants are having a particularly hard time. Denny’s recently announced that it would not require franchisees to remain open 24-hours if they can’t fill the overnight shift.

U.S. backs waiver on vaccine patents

In a surprise move, the Biden administration said it would support a proposal from the World Trade Organization (WTO) to temporarily waive drug companies’ patents on COVID-19 vaccines. India and South Africa made the proposal, saying it would lead to a much-needed increase in supply.

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures," said U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. But she cautioned that the process could take some time.

Some have advocated negating Moderna’s intellectual property rights to its vaccine because it used some U.S. government funds in its research and development. Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson did not use government funds.

Moderna says its vaccine is 96% effective with teens

Now that health officials are preparing to vaccinate younger Americans, how effective will the current vaccines be with that group? According to Moderna, trials with volunteers 12 to 17 years old show that its vaccine is 96% effective at providing protection from the virus.

The company made that revelation as it released its first-quarter earnings report. A day earlier, the company released preliminary data on its booster shot, showing promising results against the B.1.351 and P.1 variants first identified in South Africa and Brazil.

“New variants of concern continue to emerge around the world. And we believe that over the next six months, as the southern hemisphere enters the fall and winter, we could see more variants of concern emerge,” Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel told analysts.

Experts: Treatments as important as vaccines

Even though the CDC now thinks cases of the coronavirus will be significantly lower by July, there will still be some cases -- especially since not everyone plans to be vaccinated. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers Jonathan Dordick and Robert Linhardt say that’s why it will be important to have plenty of antiviral treatments available.

They are currently developing a new antiviral approach that uses a decoy to trap the virus before it can infect a cell. They say the approach has shown promise against different types of infections.

In their most recent test of this viral decoy strategy on mammalian cells, the scientists say they demonstrated that a compound derived from edible seaweeds was highly effective and “substantially outperforms” remdesivir, the current standard antiviral used to combat COVID-19. 

Around the nation

• California:CVS locations in California that are administering the vaccine are now providing the shots without an appointment. The retail pharmacy said walk-ins are now accepted at 1,115 locations in California, though people can still sign up for same-day scheduling at CVS.com.

• Missouri: The pandemic has been hard on most occupations, but teachers in Missouri say they’ve felt so much stress that they’re considering a career change. A new survey of educators in the state shows that about 10% are considering moving into another line of work.

• Washington: Gov. Jay Inslee has announced a two-week pause in the state’s phased system of reopening, citing data showing the state’s surge in cases has hit a plateau. “The decision was made in consultation with the Department of Health, and reflects current data suggesting Washington’s fourth wave has hit a plateau,” the governor said in a statement.

There may be plenty of flowers for Mother’s Day, but the selection may be smaller and bouquets may cost more. Like many things, the floral industry has reportedly taken a hit from the coronavirus (COVID-19).

CBS News reports that the virus has adversely affected the floral supply chain. Some of the most popular flowers in the U.S. are grown and harvested in South America, where COVID-19 is currently raging.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Columbia, a major flower-growing region, is dealing with national strikes. The flowers that finally make it to U.S. ports are encountering delays before they are loaded into trucks, which are reportedly in short supply. The result has been a delay in retail outlets obtaining some popular flowers, such as cut hyacinths and other imported flowers.

Industry experts say some of the problems go back almost a year to when the pandemic shut down economies around the world. It hit growers especially hard since their product is perishable and demand dried up almost overnight. Many had to curtail operations or shut down completely.

"It's a story that goes back to the beginning of the pandemic," Seth Goldman, CEO of UrbanStems, told CBS News.

Consumers still want flowers

Now that the virus appears to be retreating in the U.S. and millions of Americans have been vaccinated, demand for flowers for Mother’s Day is as strong as ever. The Society of American Florists (SAF) estimates that nearly 70% of U.S. shoppers will purchase flowers as part of a Mother’s Day gift.

An SAF survey of members found concerns about supply but also optimism for significant growth over Mother's Day in 2020, which occurred during the initial surge of the pandemic. Survey respondents also said they would counter supply constraints by designing unique and unusual arrangements for the holiday.

“It’s time to capitalize on our talent and creativity as opposed to cookie-cutter designing so that we can show that we still can create even in a shortage,” one respondent wrote.

Despite the shortage, consumers will still find plenty of flowers for Mom this year. But industry sources suggest that consumers should be prepared to accept substitutes and to pay more for them. 

Florists are quick to point out that the higher costs really aren’t for the flowers but rather the transportations costs, which have risen an estimated 10% to 15% over the last couple of months.

On Wednesday, Moderna said its booster doses appear to be effective in reinvigorating the immune system’s response to COVID-19 and its variants. The vaccine maker said a booster shot delivering a half-dose of its vaccine (50-micrograms) bolstered the immune response to both the B.1.351 and P.1 variants, as well as the original COVID-19. 

Company officials said data from the ongoing Phase 2 trial showed that half of the previously vaccinated participants had generated a low antibody response against the B.1.351 and the P.1 variants (the South African and Brazilian variants, respectively) before they got the booster shot. But two weeks after they received the booster dose, their antibody levels had increased. 

“The strong and rapid boost in titers to levels above primary vaccination also clearly demonstrates the ability of mRNA-1273 to induce immune memory,” said Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel. “Our mRNA platform allows for rapid design of vaccine candidates that incorporate key virus mutations, potentially allowing for faster development of future alternative variant-matched vaccines should they be needed.” 

As far as side effects go, Moderna said the “majority of adverse events were mild or moderate in severity.” Commonly cited side effects included pain at the injection site, fatigue, and headache, as well as muscle and joint pain.

Promising trial results

Moderna is currently testing three different methods to boost the immune response to the virus and its variants. The first approach would be to “strain-match” the booster shots by specifically targeting each variant with a specially formulated booster shot, but at a lower dose than the original vaccine. Moderna is also evaluating the potential of combining the original vaccine with a variant-specific vaccine into one shot (50-micrograms or lower). Finally, the company is testing a third shot of the initial vaccine at a lower dosage. 

Moderna explained that its vaccine is built on mRNA technology, which enables scientists to tweak the genetic code in a way that helps the body learn how to produce antibodies to fend off a specific virus. 

“As we seek to defeat the ongoing pandemic, we remain committed to being proactive as the virus evolves,” Bancel said. “We are encouraged by these new data, which reinforce our confidence that our booster strategy should be protective against these newly detected variants.”

Moderna said the preliminary results of its most recent trial will soon be published online. They have not yet been peer-reviewed. 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it’s sending more than $273,500 in refunds to consumers who fell victim to a student debt relief scheme. 

The scammers, who operated under the business name Manhattan Beach Venture, charged consumers upfront fees of up to $1,400 and tricked them into believing that the payment would go towards permanently lowering or eliminating their student loan payments. 

Consumers were then signed up to finance the fee through a high-interest loan with third-party financier Equitable Acceptance Corporation, which the FTC said is another defendant in its action.

Persuasive sales pitch 

The FTC said the bad actors used a “persuasive” sales pitch, telling consumers they qualified for a federal program that would allow their student loans to be either fully or partially forgiven and that they could get a permanent reduction in their monthly payments. 

“When a Manhattan Beach telemarketer had an interested consumer on the phone, the telemarketer sent the person a contract via email to sign electronically. If the consumer met Equitable Acceptance’s prescreening requirements for financing, the telemarketer also emailed the consumer a contract with Equitable Acceptance and directed the consumer to sign immediately,” the FTC said. 

Consumers ended the call with a new monthly payment that they thought was going toward their student loans, the complaint alleged. Instead, the defendants pocketed the payments. 

The FTC has put a stop to the scheme and barred the defendants from selling any kind of debt relief product or service. Consumers who were duped into giving money to the scam operators will receive a refund check. The agency said it’s sending checks to 2,889 people, averaging about $95 each.

In a statement published Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said cruise ship operators can start doing “simulated voyages” with fully vaccinated volunteer passengers. 

The new guidance is part of the CDC’s COVID-19 “Conditional Sailing Certificate application,” which aims to make sure cruises have all the necessary health and safety protocols in place.

“With the issuance of these documents, cruise ship operators now have all the necessary requirements and recommendations they need to start simulated voyages before resuming restricted passenger voyages,” the agency said. 

The CDC said all volunteers will need to be fully vaccinated and will have to agree to be tested for COVID-19 three to five days after their voyage to ensure that they didn’t contract the virus while on the cruise.  

The agency’s new guidelines further state that cruises can skip the “test cruise” phase if 98% of its crew and 95% of passengers have been fully vaccinated. Health officials also recommended that all port personnel and passengers get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they’re able to. 

“COVID-19 vaccines play a critical role in the safe resumption of passenger operations, but not all cruise ship operators have announced plans to mandate passenger vaccinations,” the CDC stated. “As more people are fully vaccinated and more drug therapeutics are available, the phased approach allowed CDC to incorporate these advancements into planning for safe resumption of cruise ship travel.”

Moving toward resumption of normal operations

Cruise operators and cruise lovers alike are eager for cruise lines to resume normal operations. However, the CDC has been cautious in lifting restrictions imposed on the industry amid the pandemic. 

In its most recent statement, the federal agency acknowledged that it’s “not possible for cruising to be a zero-risk activity for spread of COVID-19.” 

“While cruising will always pose some risk of COVID-19 transmission, CDC is committed to ensuring that cruise ship passenger operations are conducted in a way that protects crew members, passengers, and port personnel, particularly with emerging COVID-19 variants of concern.”

Now that COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted and airlines are filling up flights again, carriers are also bringing back fees as a way to generate revenue. Travelers who are anxious to jump on a flight and celebrate their escape from cabin fever should double-check terms and conditions before clicking the buy button. 

In fact, major domestic airlines have already reimplemented fare restrictions, particularly with basic economy fares. If you’re concerned that the pandemic may reignite, you’d be smart to book a flight at a higher fee level just for the sake of sanity and flexibility.  

Fee waiver updates

If you’re a bargain shopper and want to book a flight now, here are the fee changes you should look for:

American Airlines: The first to flip the switch on waivers was American. The company reverted back to making basic economy fares non-changeable and non-refundable for tickets bought on or after April 1, 2021. However, the airline is leaving the change fee waiver in place for all domestic, short-haul international, and select long-haul international flying on Premium Cabin, Premium Economy, and Main Cabin fares.

Delta Air Lines: For travelers who purchased a Basic Economy ticket under Delta’s COVID-19 travel waivers on or before April 30, 2021, you can still make changes or cancel your ticket and receive an eCredit (not a full cash refund). All Basic Economy fares purchased after April 30, 2021, are final, meaning these tickets are not changeable or refundable and you will not receive an eCredit upon cancellation. Delta did include one caveat about Basic Economy tickets originating from Europe, Africa, and other international markets. Those “may be changeable for a fee.”

United Airlines: Basic Economy fee waivers have also been scrapped by United, but other fare levels are still waiver-worthy. “We’re permanently getting rid of change fees for most Economy and premium cabin tickets for travel within the U.S. This includes Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands,” the company stated. “There also won't be change fees for other international travel originating in the U.S.”

However, the carrier did leave the door on Basic Economy fee waivers slightly ajar. It stated that “most Basic Economy tickets are excluded” and that travelers “may be able to request a refund online or by contacting us if your flight has been affected by a significant schedule change or if your flight was canceled without another option.”

Several studies have looked at the risks associated with premature birth. Now, a new study is looking at the link between preterm birth and developmental delays. 

According to the findings, infants born before 35 weeks are at an increased risk of struggling with developmental difficulties through childhood. This could translate to motor skill issues, sensory impairment, or cognitive dysfunction, among other concerns. 

“In this large, contemporary cohort of preterm-born children, we report development at age 5.5 in a broad range of areas, the need for educational assistance, complex developmental interventions, and parental concerns about their child’s development,” the researchers wrote. 

Understanding the developmental risks

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 3,000 children enrolled in the France-based EPIPAGE-2 study. All of the children were born preterm, and they were divided into three groups based on the length of their mothers’ pregnancies: 24-26 weeks, 27-31 weeks, and 32-34 weeks. The researchers compared their developmental outcomes with 600 children who were born at full term. 

Ultimately, the researchers identified a clear relationship between preterm birth and developmental difficulties -- the further away women were from carrying their pregnancies to full term when they gave birth, the higher the risk of their child having developmental issues. 

Infants born between 24 and 26 weeks were nearly 40% more likely to develop a mild disability and 28% more likely to have a neurodevelopmental disability. Infants born between 32 and 34 weeks were nearly 35% more likely to have a mild disability and 12% more likely to have a neurodevelopmental disability. 

Children with mild disabilities often require extra assistance at school, including speech or physiotherapists, and parents in the study expressed high levels of concern for their children’s long-term development, well-being, and behavior. 

While this was an observational study, the researchers hope these findings highlight the ways that preterm births can have long-term impacts on children and their families. 

“This global perspective is important when advising parents, health personnel, and teachers, and also when designing follow-up and intervention programs for children born preterm,” the researchers wrote. “Extra educational assistance and complex developmental resources were often used, even for children born moderately preterm with no, or mild, neurodevelopmental disabilities. Difficulties faced by these groups of children and their families should not be underestimated.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Bath explored what factors might influence adults’ generosity. 

Their findings showed that the presence of children can impact adults’ charitable donations. According to their findings, adults are more likely to donate when they’re around children versus when there are no children present. 

“While previous evidence has shown that we are typically more helpful and empathetic towards children, no research has been done to data to examine whether the presence of children alone encourages us to be more prosocial towards others in general,” said researcher Dr. Lukas Wolf. “Our research addresses this gap by showing that the presence of children elicits broad prosocial motivation and donation behavior towards causes not directly related to children.” 

How children impact donations

For the study, the researchers combined findings from eight experiments that included data from over 2,000 participants. In one of the experiments, the researchers analyzed how often adults made charitable donations when approached on a street, both with and without the presence of children. 

It was clear that being around kids impacted the adults’ willingness to give, with donations happening twice as often. It’s important to note that this was the case regardless of whether or not the adults had children with them; just the presence of children in the general area was enough to prompt adults to donate more often. 

The researchers accounted for high foot traffic in the area, and the results still held up. The participants’ lifestyles also didn’t influence their donating habits; things like marital or parental status, age, or gender didn’t sway the results.

“Children are indirectly dependent on how adults behave towards each other and towards the planet,” said Dr. Wolf. “Yet, children are also separated from many adult environments, such as workplaces and political bodies where important decisions affect their futures.” 

Because of this, the team hopes these findings can be used to direct future initiatives. If kids can impact adults’ charitable contributions, there are certainly other important ways that they can help. 

“Our findings showing the importance of children for compassionate behavior in society provides a glimpse of a much bigger impact,” said Dr. Wolf. “The finding that the presence of children motivates adults to be more compassionate towards others calls for more integration of children in context where adults make important long-term decisions, such as on climate change.” 

The real estate market is red hot. With more homes changing hands, more people are hiring moving companies -- and when that happens, scammers take notice.

In Florida, where homes are selling faster than just about anywhere else, Attorney General Ashley Moody reports the 5.6% increase in home sales in 2020 has been accompanied by a corresponding increase in moving-related scams.

“If you are a Floridian buying a new house or moving here from out of state to enjoy our great weather and growing economy, be wary of moving scams,” Moody said.

She said there are a number of red flags. If a company refuses to provide a written estimate of the cost or if it demands a large, upfront payment in cash, you could be on the road to a scam.

Another moving nightmare involves the truck arriving at your new home but the driver tells you it won’t be unloaded unless you pay an extra amount.

Research moving companies carefully

One way to protect yourself is to be very careful about choosing a moving company. ConsumerAffairs has collected thousands of verified reviews on the top moving companies, rating the top seven moving companies. 

Steve Weitekamp, president of the California Moving and Storage Association (CMSA) says consumers preparing for a move need to choose carefully. He says the group has found most of the abuses result from moves that are booked online without any preliminary research.

To avoid these types of situations, here are some dos and don’ts:

• Never sign any blank or incomplete documents or contracts;

• Obtain moving estimates and quotes from the company in writing and make sure the estimates are binding;

• Determine whether the movers will perform the move alone or if the company will be subcontracting with another carrier;

• Beware if movers show up in rental trucks without uniformed personnel.

A recent study by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) found that scams are widespread, especially when it comes to moving across state lines. The organization said it logs an average of 13,000 complaints and negative reviews about movers each year.

In what could be another sign of life getting back to normal, first-time claims for unemployment benefits dipped below 500,000 for the first time since the pandemic put an estimated 9.6 million U.S. workers out of work.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the total number of unemployment insurance (UI) claims dipped to 498,000, a decrease of 92,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020, when total claims were 256,000. 

There were 37 states that showed a decline in UI filings, led by Virginia (-9,669), Indiana (-5,893), and New Mexico (-5,893). The prospects of returning to work are particularly good in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Georgia, where fewer layoffs are being reported in the accommodation, food services, waste management and remediation, and manufacturing industries.

Unfortunately, layoffs are still rising in some states. The Labor Department reports that job prospects in Michigan, California, and West Virginia are still looking bleak due to their various connections to the automotive, service, utility, educational services, and public administration industries. 

Workers are needed

It might sound odd, but businesses are having trouble hiring people. The reasons people give for not going back to work vary depending on who you talk to. There are working moms and dads who are risk-averse because they have to balance their household budgets with options for child care and schooling. 

Better unemployment benefits are another incentive that might be keeping some folks happily unemployed. If true, that scenario might not change until September when the Biden administration’s unemployment relief package ends. It currently allows for an additional $300 per week to UI recipients on top of their state aid. Until then, businesses like restaurants may continue to have a harder time finding workers.

“Finding new hires is a skillset that it was not 16 months ago,” Matt Glassman, co-owner of The Greyhound Bar & Grill in Los Angeles, told CNBC. “We have had an unbelievable amount of people schedule an interview and not show up. We have never had this problem before.”

Manufacturing industry continues to struggle

On top of hesitancy to go back to work, many business leaders say there is a scarcity of qualified people to fill job roles. A new study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute found that 77% of surveyed manufacturers believe they will have ongoing difficulties in attracting and retaining workers in 2021 and beyond. 

Survey responses suggest that the ongoing challenges of attracting entry-level and skilled workers are made worse by misconceptions about manufacturing work and whether it can deliver rewarding career experiences with work-life balance. Deloitte’s Paul Wellener says manufacturers will either have to change the narrative or stay stuck in this position.

“Attracting and retaining diverse talent presents both a challenge and solution to bridging the talent gap. To attract a new generation of workers, the industry should work together to change the perception of work in manufacturing and expand and diversify its talent pipeline,” he stated.

What started out as a lawsuit against baby food company Beech-Nut has mushroomed into an all-out campaign to get the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to pick up the pace with setting mandatory limits on levels of toxic heavy metals in baby food. 

More than 100 organizations -- ranging from pediatricians to environmental councils and 22 state learning disabilities associations -- wrote FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock expressing their collective concern that the current implementation date the agency established is too lax and doesn’t set firm enough standards.

Under the FDA’s proposal, final levels for some metals may not be set until 2024, and deadlines have not been proposed at all for two metals, mercury and cadmium. 

“While we share FDA’s commitment to reducing the presence of toxic metals in food consumed by children, we urge FDA to set clear and more urgent deadlines for action.” the group wrote. “Each day, 10,000 babies start eating solid food. If the FDA waits until 2024 or later to set final levels food companies must meet, millions of babies will be exposed to metals that threaten their health and development.”

U.S. Congress is also taking up the issue

In a separate effort, an investigation by a House subcommittee found that several brands of widely sold baby foods were tainted with dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury.

Those findings led Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) to introduce legislation called the Baby Food Safety Act of 2021. If approved, the Act would provide a temporary fix by setting rigorous interim limits for toxic metals in baby food within one year.

The legislation also calls for a formal review every five years to reevaluate if the agreed-upon levels of heavy metals should be lowered further.

How do heavy metals get into baby food?

If you’re a parent, you may be asking yourself how toxic chemicals get into baby food in the first place. And, more importantly, what can be done to prevent it? ConsumerAffairs asked Clean Label Project Executive Director Jackie Bowen that very question.

“It is important to recognize the impact that our societal choices have on both the environment and our health. Although some heavy metals are naturally occurring in the earth’s crust, human causes including mining, fracking, industrial agriculture, and wastewater used for irrigation exacerbate the problem,” Bowen explained.

“These heavy metals — in the form of pollution — end up in the air, the water, and the soil. Plants have no choice but to suck up the contaminants in the ground. If ingredient sources go unchecked by baby food brands, these contaminated plants will end up in the finished products being consumed by the most vulnerable populations.”

Charlotte Brody, the national director for Healthy Babies Bright Future and a registered nurse, also raised a concerning historical perspective. 

“Lead was banned in paint and gasoline in the U.S. almost 50 years ago. So parents are right to be asking why the FDA needs three years to set an action level for lead in baby food,” she told ConsumerAffairs.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 32,514,808 (32,477,368)

Total U.S. deaths: 578,524 (577,671)

Total global cases: 154,469,379 (153,676,825)

Total global deaths: 3,230,336 (3,216,016)

Despite slowdown, U.S. vaccination numbers still rising

The rate of vaccinations against the coronavirus (COVID-19) has slowed, but the numbers continue to steadily rise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 44.5% of the U.S. population has received at least one shot of vaccine and 32% are fully vaccinated.

Most of the population that’s 65 and older -- 82.9% -- have received at least one shot, while 69.8% have completed the vaccination process. Health officials believe that is one reason case counts and deaths have fallen in recent weeks.

President Biden increased his vaccination goal this week, asking that 70% of Americans be at least partially vaccinated by Independence Day. He urged pharmacies administering the shots to open the process to walk-ins, suggesting more people might get vaccinated if they didn’t have to make appointments.

Los Angeles County moves to loosen restrictions

Just a day after the three states that are part of the New York City metro announced plans to loosen COVID-19 restrictions, parts of the nation’s second-largest metro are taking similar steps.

New cases of the virus threatened to overwhelm Los Angeles hospitals just weeks ago. Now, Los Angeles County is preparing to move into the “yellow tier,” the designation with the fewest restrictions. Bars that don’t serve food will be able to reopen with more indoor seating.

"This has been a long and difficult journey and we are so heartened to arrive at this latest milestone,” the LA County Board of Supervisors said in a joint statement.

You should get that second shot, but…

U.S. health officials are urging Americans to get the second shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for maximum protection against COVID-19. But a new South Korean study shows that the first shot is up to 87% effective at preventing infections in people age 60 and older.

The study focused on the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines, both of which are administered in two shots several weeks apart. The study was based on more than 3.5 million people in South Korea and included more than a half-million people who received the first dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine.

Even so, former U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said people should get the recommended second shot. While the first shot will provide protection, he said the second dose builds up a longer-lasting immunity.

Study suggests asymptomatic people don’t spread the virus

There’s more evidence that people who test positive for COVID-19 but don’t display symptoms are not a threat to those around them. It reverses previous assumptions that asymptomatic people were very dangerous because no one was aware they were infected.

A study published by the JAMA Network focused on young, healthy male basketball players who remained isolated with fellow players for weeks at a time. The study found that those who tested positive but were asymptomatic did not spread the virus to their teammates.           

"This real-world experiment gives us even more important evidence into how the disease is transmitted," said Francesco Pompei, Ph.D., CEO of Exergen Corporation, which conducted the study. "The idea of transmission without symptoms is largely a fallacy and the only effective way to screen for fever, the number one COVID-19 symptom, is with an accurate thermometer.”

No pandemic baby boom

Nearly 14 months ago, when Americans were ordered to stay home and hunker down for a while to “flatten the curve” of the infection, there were plenty of predictions about potential consequences. In nine months or so, the predictions went, hospitals would be packed with newly born pandemic babies. 

It didn’t happen. In fact, government statistics show that the U.S. birth rate fell to its lowest point since 1979.

The CDC reports that there were 3,605,201 births in 2020, down from 3,747,540 during the year prior. That’s a 4% decline, suggesting that perhaps all that togetherness didn’t make the heart grow fonder.

Around the nation

• Florida: Gov. Ron DeSantis is getting some pushback from local government officials in his state after he lifted all statewide virus mitigation rules this week. St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman says DeSantis moved prematurely and should have waited until more people have been vaccinated.

• Louisiana: Getting a vaccination is suddenly easier because demand has plunged in recent days. “People are over it and you had people that were not going to do it,” Health Educator Dr. Eric Griggs told a Louisiana TV station. “We’re finally reaching that threshold, no matter what you say, we still have people that are hesitant and we are dealing with younger populations.”

• Michigan: After dealing with a surge of cases last month, state officials have lifted mask requirements for outdoor gatherings of fewer than 100 people. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services credits the pace of vaccinations with getting the state over the hump.

Security researchers have discovered that Dell has been pushing a firmware update for the last 12 years that contains “five high severity flaws.” Experts at SentinelLABS say those flaws impact hundreds of millions of Dell desktops, laptops, notebooks, and tablets.

Although the vulnerabilities could allow hackers to exploit Dell computers and do further damage, SentinelLABS says it has not discovered evidence of any “in-the-wild abuse.” 

As for owners of non-Dell computers, there’s good news: this specific vulnerability affects only Dell-specific systems.

Dell steps up to fix the issue

Even though SentinelLABS hasn’t uncovered any widespread abuse, Dell isn’t taking any chances. Just to make sure nothing goes wrong, the company has sent a security update to its customers to address the exposure. It recommends that every Dell computer owner apply the patch as soon as possible.

Dell warns owners that a hacker could use phishing techniques to gain access to their computer if it is left unpatched. “To help protect yourself from malicious actors, never agree to give remote control to your computer to any unsolicited contact (such as from an email or phone call) to fix an issue,” the company advises.

SentinelLabs also says customers should not waste time installing the patch. “It is inevitable that attackers will seek out those that do not take the appropriate action. Our reason for publishing this research is to not only help our customers but also the community to understand the risk and to take action,” said SentinelLABS’ Kasif Dekel.

A federal judge has overturned the moratorium on evictions put in place by health officials during the pandemic. 

D.C. District Judge Dabney Friedrich issued a 20-page ruling on Wednesday that stated, in part, that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) overstepped its authority with the temporary eviction ban. 

"The question for the Court is a narrow one: Does the Public Health Service Act grant the CDC the legal authority to impose a nationwide eviction moratorium? It does not," Friedrich wrote. 

The nationwide halt on evictions was enacted last September and extended twice this year under President Biden -- first until April, and then through June. Health officials said allowing renters to remain in their homes would keep millions of cash-strapped Americans from being displaced and prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from worsening again.

DOJ reviewing the decision

At her daily news briefing, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that the Department of Justice "is reviewing" the decision and would offer further comments on it later in the day.  

"We also recognize of course the importance of the eviction moratorium for Americans who have fallen behind on rent during the pandemic. A recent study estimates that there were 1.5 million fewer evictions filed during 2020 than would be expected due to the eviction moratorium so it clearly has had a huge benefit," Psaki said.

In her ruling, Dabney said the coronavirus pandemic has “triggered difficult policy decisions that have had enormous real-world consequences.” 

“The nationwide eviction moratorium is one such decision," Friedrich wrote. "It is the role of the political branches, and not the courts, to assess the merits of policy measures designed to combat the spread of disease, even during a global pandemic."

Diane Yentel, CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, told CNBC that it remains unclear whether lifting the ban will affect the entire country. 

“Several court rulings have attempted to strike down the moratorium, but all had limited application,” she said. “While this ruling is written more starkly than previous ones, it likely has equally limited application, impacting only the plaintiffs who brought the case.”

Now that the money available through the government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has largely been tapped, the program is coming to a close four weeks ahead of its scheduled end date. 

The PPP -- a program created last year to help small businesses weather the pandemic -- ran out of general funding on Tuesday afternoon. The Small Business Association, which runs the program, said Tuesday that most new applications are no longer being accepted. Applications were originally supposed to stop being accepted on May 31. 

Some lenders will still be able to process pending applications if the applicant is part of a struggling community financial institution. The SBA said around $8 billion remains in funding for these establishments, which are typically run by women, minorities, and other underserved communities. 

The National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders wrote in an alert to its members that although the general fund is closed to new applications, lenders assisting community financial institutions will still be allowed to process applications until that money is depleted. Applications that are currently “pending” can also finish being processed, the trade group said. 

Over the past year, around $780 billion in forgivable loans have been given under the PPP to small businesses that were hard-hit by the pandemic. Congress isn’t likely to add new money to the fund since vaccination rates are on the rise and restrictions are easing -- or, in some parts of the country, ending altogether.