Current Events in November 2021

As many consumers struggle to deal with the stress of climate change, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of South Australia explored how our diets may impact the environment. The team’s work showed that limiting consumption of unhealthy options like sweets, red meats, and processed foods may have positive environmental benefits. 

“It is time we better acknowledge the environmental impacts of the type and amount of food we eat, considering the planet as well as our health,” said researcher Sara Forbes. “By 2050, the world’s population is projected to reach 10 billion people. There is no way we can feed that amount of people unless we change the way we eat and produce food.” 

How diet impacts the environment

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from 20 different studies that included information on consumers’ diets and food-related greenhouse gas emissions. 

The team explained that different types of foods emit different levels of greenhouse gasses. Typically, “core foods,” such as eggs, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, lean meats, and grains, are responsible for higher emissions than “discretionary foods,” such as alcohol, sweets, processed foods, and sugar-sweetened drinks. However, consumers’ eating patterns in different parts of the world can impact the environment in different ways. 

For example, an analysis showed that people in Australia and New Zealand are eating larger quantities of discretionary foods than core foods, which can be detrimental to the environment in several ways. 

“Discretionary foods have higher cropland, water scarcity, and Ecological Footprint,” said researcher Forbes. “Meat also emits greenhouse gases, although its water scarcity footprint is lower compared to dairy products, cereals, grains, fruits and vegetables.” 

Ultimately, the researchers hope these findings encourage consumers to make more sustainable choices when it comes to their diets. Not only can it benefit their long-term health, but it can also positively impact the environment. 

A new study conducted by City University London explored the possible risks of kids frequently playing violent video games. According to their findings, these games may not be linked to an increase in violence among kids. 

“Popular media often links violent video games to real-life violence, although there is limited evidence to support this link,” said researcher Dr. Agne Suziedelyte. “I find no evidence that child-reported violence against other people increases after a new violent video game is released. Thus, policies that place restrictions on video game sales to minors are unlikely to reduce violence.” 

Understanding the impact of video games

The researchers had boys between the ages of eight and 18 involved in the study. They tracked the release of some of the most popular violent video games and interviewed parents to understand how the boys acted. The team was primarily concerned with two types of violence among the participants: the destruction of things and aggression against other people. 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that children weren’t likely to be violent or aggressive towards others following the release of violent video games. However, kids may be more likely to be destructive with the things in and around their homes after playing these types of games. 

While many parents may be hesitant to allow their kids to play these types of games, the researchers believe these findings explain how exposure to violence in this way can affect kids in their day-to-day lives. 

“Taken together, these results suggest that violent video games may agitate children, but this agitation does not translate into violence against other people -- which is the type of violence which we care about most,” said Dr. Suziedelyte. “A likely explanation for my results is that video game playing usually takes place at home, where opportunities to engage in violence are lower. This ‘incapacitation’ effect is especially important for violence-prone boys who may be especially attracted to violent video games.” 

Nissan North America is recalling 7,634 model year 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrids, model year 2015-2016 Murano Hybrids, and model year 2014-2017 INFINITI QX60 Hybrids.

The Hybrid Powertrain Control Module (HPCM) software may shut down the hybrid system and the engine under certain conditions, causing a loss of drive power.

A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will reprogram the HPCM software free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 3, 2021.

Owners may contact Nissan customer service at (800) 867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at (800) 662-6200. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R21B4 and R21B5.

Potandon Produce of Idaho Falls, Idaho, is recalling onions supplied from Keeler Family Farms and sold as Green Giant Fresh whole yellow onions in 2 lb. bags, 3 lb. bags, and 5 lb. bags and whole white onions in 2 lb. bags.

The products may be contaminated with salmonella. A list of the recalled items may be found here.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them. Instead, they can discard or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the firm at (800) 637-8084, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (MT).

General Motors is recalling 550 model year 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and model year 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles.

The driver's airbag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

What to do

Dealers will inspect and replace -- as necessary -- the driver's airbag module free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on November 22, 2021.

Owners may contact Buick customer service at (800) 521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212349040.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 46,346,347 (46,261,126)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 751,776 (750,578)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 248,830,725 (248,311,594)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 5,033,849 (5,025,920)‌

Pfizer says its antiviral drug shows promising results

There may be another drug on the way that could treat patients infected with COVID-19. Pfizer reports that its investigational novel COVID-19 oral antiviral candidate, PAXLOVID, significantly reduced hospitalizations and deaths in clinical trials.

The analysis showed an 89% reduction in risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization or death from any cause when compared to a placebo in patients treated within three days of symptom onset. Only 0.8% of patients who received the drug required hospitalization.

“Today’s news is a real game-changer in the global efforts to halt the devastation of this pandemic,” said Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. “These data suggest that our oral antiviral candidate, if approved or authorized by regulatory authorities, has the potential to save patients’ lives.”

More people returned to work last month

Economists are generally encouraged that the pace of hiring picked up in October. The Labor Department reports that the economy added 531,000 jobs last month, dropping the unemployment rate to 4.6%.

Employment in leisure and hospitality, a sector that has struggled to find workers, increased by 164,000 in October and has risen by 2.4 million so far in 2021. Bars and restaurants scored the biggest month-over-month gain, but jobs in the sector as a whole are down 8.2% since the start of the pandemic.

Professional and business services added 100,000 jobs last month, including a gain of 41,000

in temporary help services. Employment continued to rise in management and technical consulting services, but employment for the sector as a whole is 215,000 below where it was in February 2020.

New study shows vaccines lose effectiveness over time

There may be a good reason to get a COVID-19 vaccination booster as soon as you are eligible. A new study shows that the U.S. vaccines lose much of their efficacy over time.

A study published in the journal Science showed that all three vaccines lose potency when confronted with the Delta variant. The study was based on the records of nearly 800,000 U.S. veterans.

It found that the two-shot Modena vaccine held up the best, falling to 58% efficacy. The Pfizer vaccine fell to as low as 45% effectiveness, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine protection suffered the biggest decline, to just 13% after six months.

Around the nation

• Kentucky: The number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 is lower than originally believed. Gov. Andy Beshear says the actual number is considerably lower since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) counted thousands of Kentuckians twice. Despite fewer people being vaccinated, the state’s COVID-19 numbers have improved in recent weeks.

• Florida: State officials have served notice that they will go to court to try to block the Biden administration’s vaccination mandate from going into effect. Attorney General Ashley Moody called the vaccine requirement unlawful and unconstitutional and said she will be filing suit against the federal government as soon as possible.

• Texas: Authorities are trying to learn how two children in Garland were given adult doses of the Pfizer vaccine instead of the smaller children’s dose approved for kids aged five to 11. They’re also trying to determine why the shots were given two days before approval by the CDC.

• Maryland: State health officials say they are not encountering any vaccine hesitancy among parents, many of whom are eager to get their children vaccinated. While the state is gearing up to give shots to young children, pediatricians report that their phones are ringing off the hook with parents eager to book appointments for their children.

• Hawaii: State health and tourism officials have reached an accord to loosen travel restrictions and begin welcoming visitors back to the islands. Updates to the state’s entry requirements for international visitors will go into effect next week. At the same time, the state has announced the easing of restrictions for some indoor and outdoor activities.

As most of America prepares to “fall back” this weekend, bringing an end to daylight saving time until next March 13, many will be driving longer at night. That could be a problem, says Virginia Tech Transportation Institute expert Matt Camden -- one that could translate to more driver fatigue and even fatal accidents.

Camden says any time change can compound drowsiness as your body tries to transition, and most people need a few days to adjust accordingly. To help drivers avoid fatigue, he offers the following advice.

Avoid driving during rush hour and from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. Camden says the risk of having an accident on the road increases during these time periods. “Driving between 2-4 a.m. is particularly dangerous because a person’s circadian rhythm is at its lowest during this timeframe,” he said. “And when a driver is already sleep-deprived, the desire to sleep during the circadian low is even greater.”

Get a full night’s sleep. Camden also recommends that drivers should try to get a full night’s sleep -- at least seven to eight hours -- in order to avoid drowsiness. For those who have experienced several sleepless nights in a row, getting more rest is crucial. In those cases, he says drivers will need several days of restful sleep to compensate for the sleep debt.

Pay attention to signs of drowsy driving. There are certain signs to look out for when driving during the transition between time changes. They include slow eyelid closures, yawning, gentle swaying of the head, seat fidgeting, difficulty staying in your lane, difficulty maintaining speed, and delayed reactions.

Be aware of other factors impacting drowsy driving. Lastly, Camden says drivers should stay away from situations that can increase drowsiness. His shortlist of suggestions is driving alone, monotonous road conditions (such as long straightaways with limited changes in the environment), long drives, and extended periods of heavy traffic.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has decided that it’s had enough of unruly passengers on airlines. The agency has asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to step in and handle 37 of the most serious unruly passenger cases it has had to deal with in recent months. The action is part of a new information-sharing protocol that the two agencies will use to review and prosecute incidents more quickly.

Even though the FAA saw a reduction in the number of instances after it launched its Zero Tolerance campaign and fined hundreds of passengers for acting up on flights, it still feels even a single incident is one too many. 

In addition to getting the FBI involved, the agency said it no longer will address unruly passenger cases with warnings or counseling. Instead, it will turn up the heat by “pursuing legal enforcement action against any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crew members.” 

“Let this serve both as a warning and a deterrent: If you disrupt a flight, you risk not just fines from the FAA but federal criminal prosecution as well,” FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson said Thursday in a news release.

Adding even more muscle

The FAA is also adding some extra muscle in the way of fines to try to curb bad behavior. In the past, the agency fined unruly passengers up to $25,000 per incident. Going forward, those fines are now set at up to $37,000 for each violation.

Flight attendants -- who have had to deal with the brunt of unruly passenger disruptions -- are also asking for more help. AFA-CWA International, a flight attendants association, has been trying to persuade airlines, airports, and federal authorities to go as far as creating and sharing a list of violators and denying those travelers permission to fly via any airline.

“The vitriol, verbal and physical abuse from a small group of passengers - yet at a steady rate - is unacceptable and puts everyone onboard at risk. This is not a new normal we are willing to accept. The federal government, airlines and airports must redouble efforts to hold every disruptive passenger accountable,” the association said in a Facebook post.

CORRECTION AND UPDATE

According to a Reuters report, Kroger is currently investigating the publication of a press release that falsely claimed that the retailer would be accepting Bitcoin Cash as a method of payment. The release was featured on Kroger's investor relations page and on PR Newswire but was later deleted. 

"This communication was fraudulent and is unfounded and should be disregarded," a company representative stated.

-----

Grocery shoppers at Kroger stores will soon have a new payment option. In addition to cash or cards, the chain will begin accepting payments in Bitcoin Cash on Dec. 1. The cryptocurrency will be accepted both in stores and online.

"Throughout the pandemic, cashless payments have been thriving, and we see cryptocurrency as a natural progression of the trend to deal less with physical money," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "Integrating Bitcoin Cash into our payment platforms lets us do just that—now and in the years to come."

Bitcoin Cash is a cryptocurrency created by a fork of the original Bitcoin blockchain. During the separation, Bitcoin Cash introduced features such as bigger blocks that make it unique.

As a result, Bitcoin Cash transactions are significantly cheaper than bitcoin transactions, with costs often remaining under one penny even for considerable amounts. That means they are also a lot cheaper and more secure than credit card transactions that often carry swipe fees of 3.5%.

Bitcoin Cash is a product of Bitcoin.com, a company set up to make using the cryptocurrency a lot easier. Thousands of stores worldwide already accept Bitcoin Cash and other cryptocurrencies, and Kroger’s stores will add to that total over the coming months.

Easier checkout experience

For customers, the check-out experience might be even easier. Instead of inserting their card or using cash, consumers will be able to scan a QR code provided by the merchant that'll automatically deduct the amount of the purchase at the current exchange rate in Bitcoin Cash.

This isn’t the first change that Kroger has recently made to its accepted payments. Three years ago, it temporarily stopped accepting Visa cards in a dispute over transaction fees. It dropped the ban two years later after it negotiated better terms.

Late last year, the supermarket chain announced its first major cryptocurrency initiative. The company allowed users of Lolli, a cryptocurrency-based rewards platform with more than 1,000 retail partners, to earn Bitcoin as a reward on purchases made at Kroger.

At the end of its rollout, Bitcoin Cash will be accepted nationwide at more than 2,700 Kroger Family of Stores, including Baker's, City Market, Dillons, Fred Meyer, QFC, and other company-owned retailers.

Consumers can use Bitcoin Cash by trading dollars for Bitcoin Cash using a digital wallet. The value of the cryptocurrency will rise and fall since it is linked to Bitcoin itself. Consumers then make purchases using the digital wallet.

Regularly washing and sanitizing your hands has become an even more common practice since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. While this has been found to be an effective way to reduce the risk of spreading germs, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of South Australia suggests that even more needs to be done. 

Based on an analysis of public restrooms across 13 countries, the researchers learned that leaving the toilet lid open and using jet hand dryers can increase the risk of bacterial and viral transmission. 

“Some people have been worried about using public washrooms during the pandemic, but if you minimize your time in the bathroom, wash and dry your hands properly, and don’t use your mobile phone, eat or drink, then the risks should be low, especially if the bathroom is well maintained,” said researcher Erica Donner. “While there is limited evidence of COVID-19 transmission via public washrooms, they are rife with bacteria especially those that are used frequently and not cleaned properly.” 

Staying healthy in public restrooms

For the study, the researchers analyzed nearly 40 earlier studies that came from over a dozen different countries. The main focus of each of these analyses was to better understand the disease risks associated with using public restrooms. 

Ultimately, the researchers determined that the risk of airborne infections, like COVID-19, isn't likely to increase when consumers use public bathrooms. However, there are other disease risks present when using the bathroom in places like restaurants, movie theaters, or office buildings. 

The biggest risks come from poor hygiene habits in these bathrooms. Air hand dryers and leaving the toilet lid open after flushing were some of the prime ways for bacteria to spread in public restrooms. For example, leaving the toilet lid open after flushing may spread bacteria more than one meter around the room for more than 30 minutes. Jet hand dryers proved to be even more of a risk, as bacteria spread as far as three meters when consumers used these devices. 

“Although there is a potential risk of aerosols spreading from toilet flushing and hand drying, we found no evidence of airborne transmission of intestinal or respiratory pathogens in public bathrooms in the literature we reviewed,” Donner said. “However, there is no doubt that thorough hand washing and effective hand drying is critical in stopping the spread of diseases.”

Keeping up with proper hygiene

The researchers hope consumers don’t avoid going into public restrooms. While poor cleaning and hygiene habits certainly increase the risk of infection, there are ways for consumers to stay safe and healthy. 

“As borders open up and cases increase, people can protect themselves against COVID-19 infection by continuing to practice good hygiene,” said Donner. “This includes hand washing and sanitizing, and disinfecting door handles, toilet lids, and other frequently touched surfaces. These habits will not only lower the risk of COVID-19 infection but also limit the risk of bacterial infections.”

​A new study conducted by researchers from the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) explored an interesting factor that may increase older women’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Their findings showed that eating alone may be detrimental to older women’s long-term heart health. 

“This study shows that older women who eat alone are more likely to have symptomatic heart disease,” said researcher Dr. Melanie Faubion. “They are more likely to be widowed and to have lower incomes and poorer nutritional intake. These results are not surprising given that lower socioeconomic status and social isolation contribute to lower quality of life, greater rates of depression, and poorer health.” 

How eating habits impact heart health

The researchers had nearly 600 women over the age of 65 report on their typical eating habits, including how many meals per day they usually ate with other people versus how many they ate alone. The team then tracked the women’s health and paid particular attention to cardiovascular disease and nutrition. 

The researchers learned that there were several health risks that popped up when older women ate most of their meals alone. From a heart health standpoint, regularly eating alone was linked with a nearly 2.6 times higher risk of angina among the women in the study. 

The report showed that women were also more likely to struggle with nutrition when they ate alone often. Not only were their typical diets lacking several key nutrients, including potassium, energy, and dietary fiber, but they generally weren’t as knowledgeable about healthy eating habits as those who were sharing most of their meals with family or friends. 

Given the serious long-term implications of these findings and the prevalence of heart disease nationwide, the researchers hope more work is done to make nutritional information more accessible to all consumers. 

“Given that women live longer than men, finding ways for older women who are socially isolated to engage and create meaningful social ties may not only improve their nutrition but also their overall health while simultaneously reducing health care costs,” Dr. Faubion said. 

Gasoline prices rose again last week, but motorists can take comfort in the fact that the increase was the smallest in the last month.

AAA reports that the national average price of regular gas is $3.42 a gallon, about two cents more than last Friday. It’s more than 20 cents higher than the average price a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $4.02 a gallon, a penny more than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.64 a gallon, two cents more than a week ago.

Gas prices have risen over the last few weeks, along with oil prices. But oil supplies are expected to grow, which could mean gas prices have peaked.

“We have finally seen a little dip in domestic demand for gasoline, which may signal that the seasonal post-Labor Day easing was a little delayed this year,” said Andrew Gross, AAA’s spokesperson. “And if the recent steady increase in crude oil prices takes a breather too, consumers may benefit at the pump with smaller price hikes.” 

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, has already seen the first signs of falling prices. At midweek, he reported “large” declines in spot gasoline prices in all regions of the U.S.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.62) 

• Hawaii ($4.33)  

• Nevada ($3.95) 

• Washington ($3.87) 

• Oregon ($3.78) 

• Utah ($3.73)

• Alaska ($3.72) 

• Idaho ($3.70)

• Illinois ($3.57)  

• Pennsylvania ($3.57)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Oklahoma ($3.04) 

• Texas ($3.07) 

• Arkansas ($3.07) 

• Mississippi ($3.10)   

• Kansas ($3.12)

• Kentucky ($3.13)  

• Missouri ($3.13)   

• Wisconsin ($3.15)

• Tennessee ($3.15) 

•  Louisiana ($3.17) 

Ford Motor Company is recalling 37,625 model year 2020-2021 Ranger Super Cab trucks with rear seats containing fixed head restraints.

The fixed head restraints may interfere with the proper installation of certain types of child seats. Additionally, the child seat may not attach properly to the lower-rear anchors.

An improperly attached child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

What to do

Dealers will inspect the rear-lower child restraint anchorages for correct alignment and adjust as necessary. Separately, dealers will replace the non-removable head restraints with removable head restraints free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on November 15, 2021.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C24.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling three model year 2020 GLS 580s.

The airbag control unit software may be programmed incorrectly, which can cause the driver's airbag to deploy improperly.

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

What to do

Dealers will replace the airbag control unit free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on November 30, 2021.

Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at (800) 367-6372.

What will holiday shopping be like this year with the economy dealing with a chip shortage and supply chain hassles? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says consumers need to take the situation seriously because it could greatly affect the price of certain items, how shoppers will find them, and whether they’ll get them in time.

Retailers are painfully aware of how bad this could be. In a recent KPMG survey of retail executives, 82% of respondents acknowledged that they are either “somewhat” or “very concerned” about inventory shortages.

As a result, the survey reports that retailers are building omnichannel strategies that will allow them to rely on the growing popularity of “last mile” delivery options. Those options include traditional online ordering with delivery included, curbside pickup, ordering online and picking up items in-store, and buying in-store with home delivery.

Five things to do while holiday shopping

In addition to worrying about the chip shortage and supply issues, the FTC says consumers need to look out for scammers who are already setting up fake online shops. To cover all of these issues, the agency laid out five things consumers should do when shopping this holiday season:

Research sellers before you buy. The FTC suggests searching online for the name of the seller and product, plus words like “complaint” and “scam.” You should also read reviews about the seller and their products.

Feed your inner skeptic. Every year, there seems to be one toy that’s higher in demand than everything else. The FTC says if you see an offer for this year’s hottest gift in mid-December from a seller you’ve never heard of, run as fast as you can in the other direction.

Compare products. Shopping for the best deals is bound to save consumers money, and that’s especially important this holiday season. “Even with the chip shortage, shop around to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Comparison shop online, looking at prices, delivery dates, and even discounts or coupon codes,” the FTC’s Carly Johnson suggests.

Pay by credit card. Johnson encourages consumers to use credit cards whenever possible so that charges can be disputed if something goes wrong or a scammer gets involved. “And if someone tells you to pay by wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or by mailing cash, stop and find another seller,” Johnson said. “That’s how scammers tell you to pay.”

Keep records. When you buy something online, print out and save a copy of the order until you get what you ordered and know that you’re going to keep it vs. returning it. 

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 46,261,126 (46,182,380)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 750,578 (748,943)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 248,311,594 (247,799,743)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 5,025,920 (5,017,977)‌

Merck COVID-19 pill cleared for use in the U.K.

Health authorities in the U.K. have cleared the way for doctors to prescribe Merck’s COVID-19 pill to treat symptoms of the coronavirus. Doctors have hailed the release of the drug because it can be taken at home, and tests have shown it can reduce the risk of hospitalization and death among high-risk patients.

“This will be a gamechanger for the most vulnerable and the immunosuppressed, who will soon be able to receive the groundbreaking treatment,” U.K. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said in a statement.

The pill, molnupiravir, could be available to Americans within weeks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing the drug, and an advisory panel is scheduled to meet later this month to decide whether to recommend its approval as a COVID-19 treatment.

Doctors worried about pregnant women who refuse vaccine

Since August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that pregnant women get vaccinated. The agency points to research showing that the vaccine is safe and effective during pregnancy and that unvaccinated pregnant women tend to fare badly when they get infected.

But the CDC reports that only 35% of pregnant women have been vaccinated against the virus. That compares to 68% of the eligible population.

CDC doctors have begun to publicly urge pregnant women to get the shot, saying pregnant women with COVID-19 symptoms are more than twice as likely to be admitted to a hospital intensive care unit. They also have a greater than 70% risk of death.

Aaron Rodgers sidelined after testing positive

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will miss this weekend’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs after testing positive for COVID-19. The Packers placed their starting quarterback on the Reserve/COVID-19 list late Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Rodgers announcement has reportedly triggered an NFL investigation of the Packers’ virus protocol. Rodgers is unvaccinated and should have been subject to strict rules for unvaccinated players.

"The primary responsibility for enforcement of the Covid protocols within club facilities rests with each club," the NFL said in a statement Wednesday, obtained by NFL Network. "Failure to properly enforce the protocols has resulted in discipline being assessed against individual clubs in the past. The league is aware of the current situation in Green Bay and will be reviewing the matter with the Packers."

Around the nation

• California: It’s high school football playoff time, but Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles will be sidelined, not because of their record but because of the team’s vaccination status. Only 13 of Crenshaw’s players are vaccinated. The rules require 18 vaccinated players in order to participate in the playoffs.

• Indiana: Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed two executive orders that will extend Indiana's COVID-19 public health emergency until at least Dec. 1. "I'm extending the public health emergency for another 30 days to maintain critical assistance to our neediest Hoosiers as we come out of this pandemic — all directly tied to its continuation," Holcomb said.

• Tennessee: The state legislature has passed a sweeping bill that would place major limitations on mask mandates and vaccine requirements. It would also put age restrictions on who could get vaccinated without parental consent. The bill now goes to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk.

• Colorado: COVID-19 cases continue to surge statewide, and hospitals say they will probably have to ration health care. Hospital officials say they are having to postpone elective surgery on some patients because of a shortage of available beds.

• Minnesota: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announced that she has tested positive for a breakthrough case of COVID-19. “I wanted to share with Minnesotans that I tested positive for COVID-19 after caring for our 8-year-old daughter who tested positive last week,” Flanagan wrote in a tweet. “While I'm under the weather, our family is doing well, and we're thankful for the support of friends and family.”

The White House is not about to give up on its crusade against COVID-19. On Thursday, President Biden announced new vaccine policies in an effort to move the vaccination rate as high as possible. To do that, the latest Biden rules zero in on federal contractors, health care workers, and larger employers, requiring that they all be vaccinated by January 4, 2022.

As you remember, President Biden rolled out his first wave of vaccination requirements for federal employees and contractors back in July. At that time, he called on employers to do the same. 

“Thousands of organizations across the country have answered the President’s call, and vaccination requirements have already helped reduce the number of unvaccinated Americans by approximately 40 percent since July,” the White House stated. “More vaccinations are needed to save lives, protect the economy, and accelerate the path out of the pandemic.”

The new vaccination rules

Here are the highlights of the vaccination mandate:

Employers with 100 or more employees. White House officials believe that increasing vaccination rates at larger employers is key to increasing the nation’s overall vaccination rate. By federal estimates, there are nearly 84 million vaccination opportunities within larger businesses.

The Biden administration says businesses with 100+ workers must guarantee that every single worker will be fully vaccinated -- either two doses of Pfizer or Moderna, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson -- by January 4, 2022. Workers who are not vaccinated will need to provide a verified negative test to their employer on at least a weekly basis, and employers will need to remove any worker from the workplace if they test positive for COVID-19 or are diagnosed with an infection by a health care provider.

The new rule also requires these employers to provide paid time off so employees can get vaccinated, and they must ensure that all unvaccinated workers wear a face mask in the workplace. Employers may also be required to pay for testing depending on other laws or collective bargaining agreements.

A full list of requirements for businesses with 100+ employees is available here.

Health care workers. The vaccination mandate for health care workers will apply to more than 17 million workers at approximately 76,000 health care facilities, including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, dialysis facilities, home health agencies, and long-term care facilities.

Much like the rule for businesses, workers at health care facilities who participate in Medicare or Medicaid have to be fully vaccinated by January 4th. This applies to all workers regardless of whether their positions are clinical or non-clinical and whether they’re an employee, student, trainee, or volunteer. 

It also includes individuals who provide treatment or other services for the facility under contract or other arrangements.

Federal employees. Federal employees and contractors will need to have their final vaccination dose just like the other workers affected by this change by January 4.

Federal officials say they will not apply additional rules to federal workers who are following mandate rules from agencies like OSHA and the CMS, which will be in charge of enforcing rules for larger employers and health care workers, respectively. However, they say the federal worker mandates “preempt any inconsistent state or local laws, including laws that ban or limit an employer’s authority to require vaccination, masks, or testing.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging physicians to be on the lookout for patients with symptoms of a potentially fatal infection called melioidosis. It’s caused by a bacterial called Burkholderia pseudomallei, found in an aromatherapy spray sold -- and recalled -- by Walmart.

The product -- Better Homes and Gardens-branded Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Sprays with Gemstones -- was tested by the CDC and found to contain Burkholderia pseudomallei. The CDC says its investigation links the product to the deaths of four people in different states.

“The contaminated product linked to the four cases is the Better Homes and Gardens-branded Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones “Lavender & Chamomile” scent,” the CDC said in its health alert. “This product was sold online nationwide through Walmart and distributed to a limited number of Walmart stores between February and October 21, 2021.”

Testing continues

The agency said testing for the presence of B. pseudomallei is underway for the five other scents under the same brand with Gemstones, including “Lemon & Mandarin,” “Lavender,” “Peppermint,” “Lime & Eucalyptus,” and “Sandalwood & Vanilla.”

Last week, Walmart issued a recall for around 3,900 bottles of the aromatherapy product because it was believed to contain a bacteria that is potentially lethal to consumers who are exposed to it. The product was sold at 55 Walmart stores nationwide, as well as online at Walmart.com.

The CDC advises consumers who bought the recalled product to stop using it immediately and keep it closed. Instead of discarding it, Walmart says consumers should double bag the bottle in a clean, clear zip-top resealable bag, place it in a small cardboard box, and return it to a Walmart store. The company said it will give consumers a $20 gift card after they have returned the product.

What to do

In the meantime, consumers who have had the aromatherapy product in their homes should take additional precautions. According to the CDC, affected consumers should:

• Wash sheets or linens that the product may have been sprayed on using normal laundry detergent and dry completely in a hot dryer; bleach can be used if desired.

• Wipe down counters and surfaces that might have the spray on them with undiluted PineSol or a similar disinfectant.

• Limit direct handling of the spray bottle and wash hands thoroughly after touching the bottle or linens. If gloves were used, wash hands afterward.

"If you used the product within the past 21 days and develop a fever or other melioidosis symptoms, you should seek medical care and inform your doctor about your exposure to the spray,” the CDC said. “If you do not have symptoms but were exposed to the product in the last 7 days, your doctor may recommend that you get antibiotics (post-exposure prophylaxis) to prevent infection."

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a warning to businesses that they will be held accountable if they use tricks to sell consumers subscription services and then make it difficult to cancel.

The agency said it has received an increase in consumer complaints about this practice that was quite common more than a decade ago. At that time, businesses that were in decline -- such as dial-up internet providers and magazines -- went to great lengths to replenish their declining customer bases.

In a new policy enforcement statement, the FTC put companies on notice that they will face legal action if their sign-up process fails to provide clear and up-front information, obtain consumers’ informed consent, and make cancellation easy.

“Today’s enforcement policy statement makes clear that tricking consumers into signing up for subscription programs or trapping them when they try to cancel is against the law,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Firms that deploy dark patterns and other dirty tricks should take notice.”

FTC combats negative option marketing

In the early 2000s, this practice was known as “negative option marketing.” When a consumer accepted a “free gift” or “ free trial offer,” the fine print specified that they were enrolling in a subscription plan that carried a monthly fee. When they finally discovered the charges, some businesses made it difficult to cancel.

Since then, the FTC has taken a number of enforcement actions that require businesses using this marketing practice to clearly disclose the terms, not hide them in the fine print. Even so, ConsumerAffairs continues to hear from consumers who sometimes feel they have been tricked.

“I signed up for their 1-week trial offer which they advertised would allow me to ask as many questions as I wanted for 1 week for $5,” Dean, of Windsor, Calif., wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review of JustAnswer.com. “I only wanted the answer to one question, and getting that answer was worth about $5 to me. Instead, after I submitted my question, they said it had been routed to an outside expert who would contact me shortly, which he did, and he sent me an answer, but said it would cost me $34. That is not what I signed up for.”

The FTC says so-called “negative option marketing” tactics are problematic because they are radically different from the way consumers normally do business. "Negative option" refers to transactions under which the consumer has to take some kind of action to cancel a transaction they may not even know exists. Some examples include automatic renewal subscriptions, continuity plans, and free trial programs.