Current Events in August 2021

It’s a good week for COVID-19 vaccines so far. On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fully approved the Pfizer version. On Wednesday, Johnson & Johnson released data supporting the use of its vaccine as a booster shot for the 14 million people previously vaccinated with its own single-shot vaccine.

The key takeaway in the company’s research is that the vaccine demonstrated neutralizing antibody responses that were “strong and stable” through eight months after immunization. The team said a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine produced a “rapid and robust increase” in spike-binding antibodies that was nine times higher than 28 days after the primary single-dose vaccination.

Hoping for the best and preparing for the worst

Earlier this summer, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said he thinks people who received the single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine may be protected against the Delta variant. 

Backing Dr. Murthy up is recently released data from a clinical trial in South Africa. That trial tracked nearly a half-million health care workers and found that Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalization by 71% and the risk of death by 95% in cases that were linked to the Delta variant.

True, some people who have been fully vaccinated have become infected with COVID-19 -- but those cases are in the minority. The majority of those people only experienced mild symptoms and did not require hospitalization -- a viewpoint shared by the CDC.

As the Delta variant continues to spread rapidly, breakthrough infections are increasing among recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the mRNA vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna. That finding was explained in full by Reategui Schwarz in an article from The Association of American Medical Colleges.

“Right now, all the vaccines are still effective against the variants,” Schwarz says. “We haven’t seen a variant that can fully escape immunity.”

The next step for Johnson & Johnson

As it was with Pfizer, getting more buy-in and FDA approval is a short-term goal for Johnson & Johnson. 

In announcing its new findings, the company said it is engaging with FDA officials, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and other health authorities regarding using its vaccine as a booster. 

The company also said it will continue to “diligently” produce and assess data from ongoing trials and real-world evidence in case the virus mutates further. Medical professionals are championing Johnson & Johnson’s research efforts and applauding the positive effect the company’s vaccine has produced. 

“People who have received the J&J vaccine should be confident they have a high level of protection against hospitalization and severe disease,” Schwarz said. 

Peloton has announced the relaunch of its revamped “Tread” treadmill with new safety features and a lower price tag.

The new version is also smaller than the original, which was recalled in May after a child’s death and several reports of injuries linked to the machine. The recall came after an “urgent warning” from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that advised owners of the company’s treadmill to stop using it. 

The agency said its staff concluded, following an investigation, that the Peloton Tread+ poses “serious risks to children for abrasions, fractures, and death.”

The new version of the Tread goes on sale next week at a cost of $2,495. In addition, customers will also pay a subscription fee of $39 a month to receive interactive workout programs and live classes.

"Our goal is to be the go-to fitness solution and the largest and safest home fitness brand in the world," said John Foley, Peloton's CEO and co-founder. "We've worked hard to make sure the new Tread truly earns its spot in members' homes. We'll always continue to innovate our hardware, software, and safety features to live up to our commitment to member safety and to improving the full member experience."

New design features

Peloton said the new treadmill was “built from the ground up” and equipped with features that make it easier for users at every fitness level to achieve their goals. Design elements include intuitive speed and incline control knobs and jump buttons. The objective, the company says, is to “redefine what a running-based workout can be.”

Other features include a 23.8" HD touchscreen with integrated speakers and a more compact footprint, measuring smaller than most couches.

Not surprisingly, Peloton is emphasizing safety as it introduces its new machine. The company said the new Tread features a four-digit, digital passcode that each authorized user will need to enter to unlock the belt before a workout.

There is also a physical safety key that helps a runner come to a quick stop during a class if needed. The safety key is also removable so that it can be stored away from the Tread to prevent unauthorized use.

Peloton sales boomed during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic as gyms across the country closed and homebound consumers looked for ways to stay active.

Regular physical activity is an important part of living longer. Now, researchers from the European Society of Cardiology have found that it’s never too late to pick up an exercise routine. 

According to their findings, consumers that start exercising at an older age are likely to reduce their risk of mortality at a similar rate as those who have been active for longer periods of time. 

“The results show that continuing an active lifestyle over the years is associated with the greatest longevity,” said researcher Dr. Nathalia Gonzalez. “However, patients with heart disease can overcome prior years of inactivity and obtain survival benefits by taking up exercise in later life. On the other hand, the benefits of activity can be weakened or even lost if activity is not maintained. The findings illustrate the benefits to heart patients of being physically active, regardless of their previous habits.” 

The benefits of getting active

For the study, the researchers analyzed previous studies that included information from more than 33,000 older participants with coronary heart disease. All of the studies tracked the participants’ physical activity over nearly eight years and evaluated what role exercise played in their longevity. 

The study showed that participants who adopted a regular exercise routine over time had better heart health and lived longer than those who either became inactive over time or stayed inactive for the duration of the study. 

Compared to those who never started exercising, participants who started exercising over the course of the study were nearly 30% less likely to die from heart-related complications and 45% less likely to die from any cause. If those participants were able to stay active over time, those figures both increased to 50%.

The researchers hope consumers are encouraged by these findings because they show that starting an exercise program in later life can still be beneficial to heart health. 

“These encouraging findings highlight how patients with coronary heart disease may benefit by preserving or adopting a physically active lifestyle,” Dr. Gonzalez said. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the European Society of Cardiology explored the heart health benefits associated with staying properly hydrated. According to their findings, drinking the right amount of water can help protect consumers against heart failure. 

“Our study suggests that maintaining good hydration can prevent or at least slow down the changes within the heart that lead to heart failure,” said researcher Dr. Natalia Dmitrieva. “The findings indicate that we need to pay attention to the amount of fluid we consume every day and take action if we find that we drink too little.” 

Hydration is key

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 16,000 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. The team compared the participants’ hydration levels with two primary heart health outcomes: heart failure and ventricular hypertrophy, which is the thickening of the left ventricle and an early sign of heart failure. 

To track the participants’ hydration habits over the course of nearly 30 years, the researchers regularly measured their serum sodium concentration. Levels of salt in the body are lower when people are more hydrated. 

“It is natural to think that hydration and serum sodium should change day to day depending on how much we drink each day,” Dr. Dmitrieva said. “However, serum sodium concentration remains within a narrow range over long periods, which is likely related to habitual fluid consumption.”

Ultimately, the team found that there was a clear relationship between the participants’ hydration habits and their heart health. Participants with the highest serum sodium levels were the most likely to develop both ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure by the end of the study. Increases in serum sodium levels were also associated with higher risks of both heart conditions. 

Protecting heart health

Moving forward, the researchers hope these findings highlight the importance of staying hydrated. Hydration habits can affect consumers’ heart health over long periods of time, and drinking more water can help promote better health outcomes into older age. 

“The results suggest that good hydration throughout life may decrease the risk of developing left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure,” Dr. Dmitrieva said. 

“In addition, our finding that serum sodium exceeding 142 mmol/l increases the risk of adverse effects in the heart may help to identify people who could benefit from an evaluation of their hydration level. This sodium level is within the normal range and would not be labeled as abnormal in lab tests but could be used by physicians during regular exams to identify people whose usual fluid intake should be assessed.” 

Marin Mountain Bikes of Petaluma, Calif., is recalling about 3,000 mountain bicycles sold in the U.S. and Canada.

The bottom bracket can break during use, causing the user to lose control, posing fall and crash hazards.

The firm has received nine reports of broken bottom brackets. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves the following 20 different Model Year 2021 Marin Mountain bicycles: San Quentin 1, San Quentin 20”, San Quentin 24”, Wildcat Trail 1, Wildcat Trail 3, Fairfax 1, Fairfax 2, Terra Linda 1, Terra Linda 2, Presidio 3, Kentfield 2, Kentfield 2 ST, Larkspur 1, Muirwoods RC, San Anselmo DS1, San Anselmo DS2, San Rafael DS1, San Rafael DS2, Hidden Canyon 20” and Bayview Trail 24”.

These bicycles were sold in various sizes and color schemes. The model name is printed on the top tube and a “MARIN” decal is on the down tube of the frame.

The bikes, manufactured in Indonesia, were sold at Bike Connection Palo Alto, City Grounds, and The Bike Rack stores and independent bicycle dealers nationwide from August 2020, through April 2021, for between $400 and $1,100.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bicycles and contact Marin Bikes for instructions on receiving a free replacement bottom bracket and scheduling a free repair.

Consumers may contact Marin Bikes at (800) 222-7557 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday, or online at www.marinbikes.com and click on “Recalls/Safety” at the bottom of the page for more information.

Audi is recalling 58 model year 2021 Audi E-Tron Quattros and E-Tron Sportback Quattros.

The right hinge pin for the glove box cover may not be properly secured, allowing the glove box lid trim to interfere with the knee airbag during deployment.

An airbag that does not deploy properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

What to do

Dealers will inspect the glove box, and secure the hinge pin -- as necessary -- free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 1, 2021.

Owners may contact Audi customer service at (800) 253-2834. The number for this recall is 68H6.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 37,954,406 (37,725,260)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 629,739 (628,580)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 212,802,557 (212,073,519)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,446,164 (4,435,581)‌

Disney and unions agree on vaccine mandate

The Disney Company has reached an agreement with its Disney World employee unions. It requires that all employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 22.

After extensive negotiations with the company, the Service Trades Council Union, which represents six affiliate groups, said it is fully on board.

“Vaccines are safe, effective, and free,” the union said in a memo to members. “The Pfizer vaccine is FDA approved and is being offered by the company. Getting vaccinated is the best way for workers to protect themselves from this deadly virus.”

WHO to test new drug treatments

As some vaccinated people get the coronavirus -- along with those who refused to be vaccinated -- health experts say effective treatments against the virus will be extremely important. The World Health Organization (WHO) says it has restarted clinical trials to test the effectiveness of three more potential treatments.

In the previous Solidarity trial, WHO researchers tested four COVID-19 treatments. It reported that none of them achieved an acceptable rate of efficacy.

The rebooted Solidarity trial will investigate three potential treatments: artesunate, imatinib, and infliximab. A panel of WHO experts selected the three drugs because they had demonstrated positive results in previous observational studies. Last week, AstraZeneca said recently completed clinical trials of an antibody drug showed that it was effective at preventing COVID-19 symptoms.

Conservatives harden their stance against vaccines and masks

Former President Donald Trump was no doubt shocked over the weekend when he received a round of boos after telling a rally in Alabama that they should be vaccinated against COVID-19. Recovering quickly, Trump said people are free to do what they want, but he said he was glad he got the shot.

While polls show there is vaccine hesitancy among all political stripes, there is little doubt that it has become a political badge of honor among some conservatives. While many of them increasingly resist wearing masks in public, there was one recent case in which voluntary masking was banned.

During a Sunday sermon at Global Vision Bible Church in Nashville, Pastor Greg Locke threatened to deny entry to any of his flock who show up wearing a mask. “If...you start showing up with all these masks and all this nonsense, I will ask you to leave,” he warned.

Around the nation

• Arkansas: Arkansas has one of the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the nation, and it’s setting dubious records in other areas as well. Health officials say the number of patients on ventilators has reached its highest level, with the addition of 12 patients in the last 24 hours. That increases the number to 349.

• Florida: A state court judge is holding hearings this week on a lawsuit from parents that is challenging Gov. Ron DeSantis’ order prohibiting school districts from requiring students to wear masks in the classroom. It comes as a growing number of Florida school districts have defied the governor’s order.

• New Jersey: The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) is endorsing Gov. Phil Murphy’s requirement that public employees, including teachers, show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or undergo regular testing for COVID-19 during the upcoming school year. The union said it will continue to urge everyone who is eligible and able to get vaccinated. 

• Oregon: Although it was one of the early states to achieve a high rate of vaccination, Oregon is now struggling to contain the coronavirus. The Oregon Health Authority reports a three-day total of 4,701 new cases and 24 deaths. The average number of daily cases and hospitalizations continue to set records throughout the state.

• Ohio: With cases surging within the state, even backers of an anti-vaccination bill are having second thoughts. Republican leaders in the legislature are holding a one-day hearing on the bill today but are taking no action. 

According to researchers, an estimated 38 million records from more than 1,000 apps that use Microsoft's Power Apps portals platform have been exposed. Those records are not only jam-packed with the typical personal data like phone numbers and addresses, but it also includes data from COVID-19 contact tracing efforts, vaccine registrations, and employee databases.

The security leak also reportedly exposed data from large companies and agencies alike, including Ford, American Airlines, logistics company JB Hunt, the Indiana Department of Health, and New York City public schools, according to Wired magazine. 

Caught in the nick of time

Research analysts from security risk platform company UpGuard first uncovered the issue in May when they found unprotected data from several Microsoft Power Apps portals online.

After investigating the matter further, UpGuard sent a vulnerability report to Microsoft in late June. The researchers showed what specific pieces of data were accessible and made suggestions about what Microsoft could do to disable anonymous access to it. 

By mid-July, Microsoft said it had the situation under control and that most of the data from the Power Apps portals had been made private.

Indiana consumers luck out 

In the Indiana Department of Health’s (IDOH) situation alone, there were nearly 750,000 Hoosiers whose data from the state’s COVID-19 online contact tracing survey was accessed. The information supposedly included names, addresses, emails, genders, ethnicities and races, and dates of birth.

While that might seem dire, those people were actually pretty lucky. According to an announcement made by the state, it was able to get the company that accessed the data to sign a “certificate of destruction.” The agreement confirms that the data was not released to any other entity and was destroyed by the company.

“We believe the risk to Hoosiers whose information was accessed is low. We do not collect Social Security information as a part of our contact tracing program, and no medical information was obtained,” said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG. “We will provide appropriate protections for anyone impacted.”

There are another six destinations the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning Americans they should avoid -- vaccinated or unvaccinated.

The most-traveled spot added to the CDC’s "Level 4: Covid-19 Very High" list is The Bahamas. Historically, most of the nearly 6 million tourists who visit The Bahamas each year come from the United States. So far in August, The Bahamas has recorded 2,625 COVID-19 cases -- an increase of 20% since last month.

Joining The Bahamas on the list is its Caribbean neighbors Saint Maarten and Haiti, along with Morocco, Kosovo, and Lebanon. 

Countries with uncertain COVID-19 conditions

The CDC is doing its best to keep tabs on the COVID-19 situation in all countries so that international travelers can stay safe. However, ConsumerAffairs found that the agency’s list is far from complete. There are currently 37 countries in which the CDC says the situation with COVID-19 is “unknown.” Those countries include:

• Algeria

• Antarctica

• Azores

• Bhutan

• Canary Islands

• Christmas Island

• Cocos (Keeling) Islands

• Cook Islands

• Eritrea

• Kiribati

• Macau SAR

• Marshall Islands

• Mayotte

• Monaco

• Nauru

• Niue

• Norfolk Island

• North Korea

• Pitcairn Islands (U.K.)

• Saint Helena

• Samoa

• San Marino

• Solomon Islands

• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

• Sudan

• Syria

• Tajikistan

• Tanzania

• Tokelau

• Tonga

• Turkmenistan

• Tuvalu

• Uzbekistan

• Vanuatu

• Venezuela

• Wake Island

• Yemen

U.S. citizens who plan to visit any of those countries should check the websites of the U.S. State Department and the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) for a complete list of travel advisories and alerts.

It would also be a good idea to sign up for the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Once signed up, consumers will automatically receive important information from the U.S. Embassy about safety conditions in other countries so that they can make more informed decisions about travel plans. 

Take precautions

The CDC has no power to prevent someone from traveling, but it’s in a good position to keep a watchful eye out for Americans. The agency suggests that everyone should avoid traveling to locations designated with the "Level 4: Covid-19 Very High.” If travel to one of these places is unavoidable, the agency says consumers should get fully vaccinated for COVID-19 first.

The U.S. Embassy in Nassau, Bahamas, added another reason why Americans should curtail their Bahamian travel plans. 

“Moreover, even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some COVID-19 variants, and we recommend US citizens delay travel unless absolutely necessary,” it said.

Speed and reliability are two major factors that consumers consider when choosing an internet service. A new study by Highspeedinternet.com, a firm that tracks the pros and cons of internet service providers (ISPs), has rated the major services on their speed.

The study found that Google Fiber is the undisputed leader. It boasts an average download speed of 160 Mbps and advertises a maximum speed of 2000 Mbps. There’s just one problem -- it has limited availability in the U.S. Where it is available, it costs between $70 and $100 per month.

Xfinity is the most widely available internet service, according to the study. It has an average download speed of 131.6 Mbps and advertises a maximum speed of 2,000 Mbps. It has a wide range of plans, but they all have data caps. It costs between $24 and just under $300 a month.

Verizon Fios offers the most widespread U.S. coverage when it comes to fiber-optic connections. Fios’ average download speed clocked in at 138 Mbps and advertises speeds up to 940 Mbps. It costs between $25 and $300 a month.

Metronet also makes the list of the five fastest internet services. It has an average download speed of 135.2 Mbps with a maximum advertised speed of 1,000 Mbps. Its 200 Mbps plan costs right at $50 a month and has no data caps.

Metronet is popular with ConsumerAffairs reviewers, earning 4.2 out of 5 stars. Jacob, of Greenwood, Ind., is a fan.

“MetroNet’s speed is second to none and I haven't had an issue with the service,” he wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. “It’s been great dealing with the reps.”

Cox Internet also gets attention for its speed. Its average download speed is 134.5 Mbps, with a maximum advertised speed of 940 Mbps. Its base package starts at around $30 a month.

Customer satisfaction

But speed isn’t the only thing that makes users happy. Highspeedinternet.com’s customer satisfaction survey, released last month, ranked Earthlink, AT&T, and Verizon as the top three ISPs in terms of customer satisfaction.

While Earthlink gets its share of five-star reviews from ConsumerAffairs reviewers, it actually places behind the other companies in the study. Here’s how ConsumerAffairs reviews and ratings rank the five ISPs.

1. Google Fiber: 4.0 stars out of 5

2. Verizon Fios: 3.9 stars out of 5

3. Xfinity: 3.8 stars out of 5

4. AT&T: 3.8 stars out of 5

5. Earthlink: 3.7 stars out of 5

The study also found that bundling internet services with other media and communication services is popular with consumers. Fifty-eight percent of internet users said they bundle their internet with TV service from the same provider, and they tended to have higher rates of satisfaction than those who buy their services separately.

As the last holiday season graphically illustrated, the pandemic has created bottlenecks and delays when it comes to delivering consumer purchases. Walmart has announced plans to alleviate that.

GoLocal is a new delivery service that will be operated by the world’s largest retailer. But in a twist, the drivers will deliver purchases from other local retailers, not just Walmart. The company said it will be a “white label” service, meaning its vehicles will not carry the Walmart logo.

Operations are expected to begin by the end of this year, meaning the service may be available during the holiday season. There will be several delivery options, from two-hour to two-day delivery.

Walmart plans to leverage its significant footprint in the U.S. to operate the new service. It will use a combination of Walmart employees, gig workers, and even other delivery companies to make the actual deliveries.

“In an era where customers have come to expect speed and reliability, it’s more important than ever for businesses to work with a service provider that understands a merchant’s needs,” said John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S. “Walmart has spent years building and scaling commerce capabilities that support our network of more than 4,700 stores and we look forward to helping other businesses have access to the same reliable, quality and low-cost services.”

Building on its delivery experience

Company officials say GoLocal is built on the experience and success of the delivery service that Walmart operates at more than 3,000 stories. After ramping up, the service is expected to employ drones and autonomous vehicles to move purchases to consumers’ homes.

Amazon launched a shipping and delivery service in 2018 but suspended it last year. However, the online retailer operates a fleet of vans to make deliveries to Prime customers.

Walmart executives made a point of noting that GoLocal will be a resource for local, independent businesses that may lack the resources to deliver purchases immediately. They say it could be especially useful for purchases that are of an irregular size or shape.

“We’ve worked hard to develop a reliable last-mile delivery program for our customers,” said Tom Ward, senior vice president, last mile, Walmart U.S. “Now, we’re pleased to be able to use these capabilities to serve another set of customers, local merchants.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Georgia explored the ways that pecans can improve consumers’ heart health. According to their findings, the tree nut has been associated with better cholesterol levels.  

“This dietary intervention, when put in the context of different intervention studies, was extremely successful,” said researcher Jamie Cooper. “We had some people who actually went from having high cholesterol at the start of the study to no longer being in that category after the invention.” 

Diet change can impact cholesterol levels

For the study, the researchers put 52 adults who were at an increased risk of heart disease into one of three groups for eight weeks: one group didn’t eat pecans, one group swapped 470 calories of one food group for the same caloric value of pecans, and the third group added 470 calories worth of pecans into their existing daily diets. At the end of the eight weeks, the researchers tested the participants’ blood to determine what effect the pecans had on their cholesterol levels. 

The team learned that incorporating pecans into a diet in any way was beneficial for the participants’ cholesterol levels, but those who added the nut into their daily routine instead of just substituting it for other foods had the best health outcomes. The study showed that eating pecans was associated with nearly a 10% reduction in LDL levels and a 5% decrease in overall cholesterol levels. 

“Whether people added them or substituted them, we still saw improvements and pretty similar responses in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in particular,” Cooper said. 

Metabolism and body-processing benefits

The researchers credited pecans’ nutrient make-up for their cholesterol-lowering properties. They say pecans, like many fruits and vegetables, have bioactive compounds that allow them to positively influence our metabolisms and promote healthy processes in the body. 

Many consumers struggle to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, and the researchers hope that these findings can work to change that. Incorporating pecans into your diet may be an easy way for consumers to improve their long-term heart health. 

“The addition of the pecan not only produced a greater and more consistent reduction in total cholesterol and LDL compared to many other lifestyle interventions, but may also be a more sustainable approach for long-term health,” said Cooper. “Some research shows that even a 1% reduction in LDL is associated with a small reduction of coronary artery disease risk, so these reductions are definitely clinically meaningful.” 

General Motors is recalling another 52,403 model year 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EVs and model year 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUVs, expanding an earlier recall.

The high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity, increasing the risk of a fire..

What to do

GM will replace defective battery modules free of charge.

Owners are advised to take the following interim steps:

• Set the Target Charge Level feature in their vehicle to limit the charge level to 90%;
• Charge their vehicle more frequently, avoid depleting the battery to 70 miles range remaining;
• Park outside after charging, and
• Do not charge the vehicle indoors overnight.

Interim lettersnotifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed October 4, 2021. A second letter will be mailed once the final remedy is available.

Owners may contact the Bolt EV Concierge Team at (833) 382-4389. GM's number for this recall is N212345940.

BMW of North America is recalling 50,024 model year 2020 M340i, M340i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, X3 M40i, model year 2020-2021 X4 M40i, 745Le xDrive, model year 2019-2021 Z4 M40i, and model year 2020-2021 Toyota Supra vehicles.

During engine start, the engine management software may cause a loss of braking assist. Full mechanical braking (without assist) remains available.

Loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will update the engine management software free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on October 1, 2021.

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

Ballreich Snack Food of Tiffin, Ohio, is recalling various sized packages of BAR-B-Q Potato Chips.

The product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

No illnesses have been reported to date

The recalled product, sold in 1.5-oz, 2.75-oz, and 7-oz bags with a “Sell by Date” of 10/18/21, 10/25/21 or 11/01/21 printed on the front of the bag Was sold at retail and convenience stores within Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Central Ohio, and around Southern, Michigan, and Northeast Indiana.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should not consume it.

Consumers may contact the firm at (800) 323-2447 from 8am to 4pm, Monday through Friday or by mail at chips@ballreich.com for product replacement or refund.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 37,725,260 (37,678,088)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 628,580 (628,342)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 212,073,519 (211,471,882)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,435,581 (4,429,183)‌

FDA grants full approval of Pfizer vaccine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval to the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer and BioNTech. It, along with the vaccines from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, had been administered under emergency use authorization.

“The FDA’s approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock. “While this and other vaccines have met the FDA’s rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product.”

Health officials said they hope the approval persuades more people to get vaccinated. Some people have based their refusal to be vaccinated on the fact that none of the available vaccines had full FDA approval.

Hospitalizations among children rise sharply

Children under 12 can’t get the COVID-19 vaccine yet, and doctors say that is making them highly vulnerable to the fast-spreading Delta variant. An analysis of recent data shows that hospitalizations among children have risen sharply in the South and Midwest.

Health officials expect even more pediatric cases as schools reopen. While children appeared less vulnerable to the original strain of the virus, the Delta variant is making many children sick enough to require hospital care.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Children’s Hospital New Orleans has treated as many as 20 children for the coronavirus at a time during August. Hospital officials say that last year, the number was never higher than seven.

Another study finds weaknesses in cloth masks

If you have decided to wear masks in public, as many jurisdictions are strongly advising, it just might pay to wear a really good one. A new study concludes that cloth masks aren’t that effective at preventing transmission of the virus.

Canadian researchers at the University of Waterloo found a large buildup of aerosol droplets suspended in the air when it had subjects wear cloth masks in a large room. The researchers found N95 or KN95 masks were much more effective at containing droplets.

“There is no question it is beneficial to wear any face covering, both for protection in close proximity and at a distance in a room,” said Serhiy Yarusevych, who led the study. “However, there is a very serious difference in the effectiveness of different masks when it comes to controlling aerosols.”

Around the nation

• Georgia: A rise in COVID-19 cases could not come at a worse time for the state. Georgia’s chronic nurse shortage is being described as a “crisis” thanks to the pandemic. As of last week, Georgia hospitals had 11,000 job openings for nurses.

• California: Health officials in Los Angeles say the demographics of the COVID-19 outbreak have shifted. They say cases are no longer largely confined to poorer neighborhoods with older people. West Hollywood, Venice, and Santa Monica have become new hotspots for the virus.

• Indiana: State health officials are expressing concerns about the rapid growth in new cases of the virus. They say there were 4,120 new cases reported on Friday. That’s the first time since the height of the pandemic in January that cases have exceeded 4,000.

• Missouri: The City of Joplin is the first municipality in the state to report that at least 50% of its population is fully vaccinated. The state was among the first to be hit by the fourth wave of the virus. Many Missouri residents are still refusing to be vaccinated.

• Mississippi: The state health department has ordered residents who contract COVID-19 to isolate or face prison time. Mississippi is one of the least vaccinated states in the country. It is estimated that only 38% of the eligible population has gotten the shot.

We’re coming up on Big Tech’s new release season, and the gadget swamis are already predicting big changes. At the top of the list is Apple, which is reportedly taking a big step forward in the photography department on its upcoming iPhone 13. 

The new tech offering will sport a big camera if leaked photos of the device are any indication. Among the predicted bells and whistles are a new six-element ultrawide lens with autofocus and a video Portrait mode. As part of its investigation, Bloomberg News found out about a new feature called Cinematic Video that will allow users to record video with portrait blurring effects. That feature may be new to Apple fans, but Samsung phone owners have had it for several years.

Google lovers aren’t being left out in the cold on the phone camera upgrade battle. The new Google 6 has a 50-megapixel camera sensor that gives users nearly five times the performance power as the Google Pixel 5.

How much camera power do we need?

One ConsumerAffairs reviewer -- Prakash from Richmond, Texas -- said their iPhone camera’s quality was “as good as it can be.” Nonetheless, the pixel war rages on. In fact, the camera technology being used on phones today is getting so good that it may soon make interchangeable lens cameras a thing of the past.

“Over the past few years, smartphone cameras in general have improved significantly. So much so in fact, that many people no longer see the need to carry or buy a dedicated camera,” contends Statista data journalist Felix Richter.

“While professionals and photo enthusiasts will (probably) always get better results using high-end cameras and lenses, modern smartphones take pictures that are easily sufficient for the demands of the average consumer.”

The impact on the camera companies of the world has to be concerning. According to CIPA -- a Japan-based industry group that includes Olympus, Fuji, Sony, Panasonic, Canon, and Nikon -- worldwide camera shipments dropped by 93% between 2010 and 2020 and are on another downward trajectory in 2021, wiping out more than four decades of growth. Richter says the cause of that slide could come from only one place -- smartphones. 

“The steep decline was mainly driven by a drop-off in shipments of digital cameras with built-in lenses, the type that casual photographers used to rely on prior to the rise of smartphone photography,” he wrote.