Current Events in February 2022

Imposter scams – in which criminals pretend to be from government agencies, law enforcement, or various companies – are among the most common and successful scams.

Believe it or not, these schemes are not against federal law. But nearly every state attorney general in the country says they should be. The attorneys general from 49 states have signed a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that urges the agency to draft a national rule to target impersonation scams. 

“Though the methods may vary, imposter scams cause financial harm to consumers, drain resources from regulators tasked with protecting the public, and may cause loss of trust in government services,” said Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. 

The FTC reports that losses from imposter scams last year totaled $2.3 billion. Moody says various state laws address this type of fraud, but she’s calling for more clarity at the national level to help states stop imposter scams. 

In their letter to the FTC, the state officials say a national rule that encompasses and outlaws such commonly experienced scams would assist attorneys general and their partners in reducing harm to consumers.

Social Security scam

According to the FTC, one of the most common imposter scams involves a criminal pretending to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and targeting seniors. Seniors who are dependant on Social Security often become alarmed when they are told their monthly check is in jeopardy.

But the FTC says seniors should remember that the SSA will never call and ask for their Social Security number. It won’t also won't ask them to pay anything or threaten their benefits.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron says his office received over 1,500 reports of impersonation scams in 2021, totaling $9 million in financial losses.

“These scams range from scammers impersonating businesses and charities to family members and loved ones,” Cameron said.  “Regardless of the form these scams take, they are harming Kentucky consumers and businesses.”

Common scams

Other common imposter scams include:

• Grandparent scam: The caller pretends to be a grandchild in trouble

• Tech support scam: The caller pretends to be from Microsoft and says your computer is compromised

• Jury duty scam: The caller threatens you with arrest for failing to appear for jury duty

• The electric company scam: The caller threatens to cut off your electricity for an unpaid bill

In their letter, the state officials say there is a “pressing need” for action at the federal level. They say such a rule would allow states to access the resources of the U.S. government in “holding bad actors to account.”

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia explored the long-term link between mental health and heart disease. According to their findings, adolescents who are more optimistic and positive are less likely to develop heart disease as adults. 

“Here, we are recognizing the role of the environment and lifestyle in heart disease,” said researcher Anand Chockalingam. “Some prior research has shown that more than 80% of all heart attacks can be prevented with a few simple lifestyle interventions at any point in the individual’s life. 

“Although a heart attack may occur at the age of 55, the underlying build-up of plaque or atherosclerosis starts much earlier, often in teenage years. By exploring healthy habits and connecting with optimistic peers in the impressionable teenage years, it becomes intuitive to sustain a good lifestyle.” 

How mental health affects heart health

The researchers analyzed data from over 20,000 participants enrolled in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) study. Participants were first surveyed at 15 years old about their psychological, social, economic, and physical health. The team followed up with the participants every few years with new surveys.

The researchers identified a clear link between psychological wellness in adolescence and heart health in adulthood. Participants who reported feeling more positive overall and generally optimistic when the study began were less likely to struggle with heart health by the end of the study. 

“Adolescents are simultaneously understanding the world as well as their own inner nature and mindset,” Chockalingam said. “Therefore, parents and other caregivers have a substantial role in their lifetime resilience and outlook of children. The biggest legacy that anyone can pass on for subsequent generations in optimism.” 

Finding ways to improve well-being

The researchers hope their findings will help experts come up with strategies to detect and prevent cardiovascular disease. 

“There are several step-by-step techniques established by industrial engineers that help with early detection of problems in the manufacturing and service industries,” said researcher Sharan Srinivas. “This is an opportunity to adapt some of these techniques to enable health care practitioners to monitor the well-being of an adolescent over time, because that’s the formative stage where your outlook on life is established, and it doesn’t change much after that.

“We want to use these techniques to help predict the long-term risk for CVD among adolescents, and uncover the impact that underlying factors can have on a person’s chance to develop CVD, including the influence of a person’s well-being.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Penn State explored the factors that go into kids’ eating habits. 

According to their findings, knowing what foods kids don’t like may be more important than knowing what foods they do like. Their work showed that when kids are given a meal, their dislikes are more likely to motivate what they eat than the things they like. 

“For 50 plus years, we’ve known liking and intake are positively correlated, but this often leads to the mistaken assumption that if it tastes better, you will eat more,” said researcher John Hayes. “Reality is a bit more nuanced. In adults, we know that if you really like a food, you may or may not eat it. But if you don’t like it, you’ll rarely or never eat it. These new data show the same pattern is true in young kids.” 

Understanding kids’ food habits

The researchers had 61 kids between the ages of four and six participate in an experiment that tested their eating habits. The children were given trays with seven foods and two drinks – broccoli, cherry tomatoes, chicken nuggets, ketchup, cookies, grapes, chips, milk, and fruit punch. The kids ranked each item on a scale from super bad to super good, and then they consumed as much of the foods and drinks as they wanted. 

The researchers learned that the foods the kids disliked proved to be a stronger indicator of what they ate than the foods they ranked as their favorites. 

“In other words, rather than high-liking driving greater intake, our study data indicate that lower-liking led children to avoid some foods and leave them on the plate,” said researcher Kathleen Keller. “Kids have a limited amount of room in their bellies, so when they are handed a tray, they gravitate toward their favorite thing and typically eat that first, and then make choices about whether to eat other foods.” 

Others’ opinions can influence kids 

While kids have certain foods that they naturally are more inclined to eat, the researchers also explained that they may be swayed by those around them. They believe kids’ perceptions of different foods and drinks, mainly what they hear from their family members and friends, can also influence their opinions. 

“They pick up on what is said around the table about what foods are good, and while that may not actually correspond to kids eating them, they are taking it all in, and that’s affecting their perceptions of foods,” Keller said.

“Milk is a good example of that – for some families, there may be a health halo effect around milk. Kids learn from an early age that drinking milk will give them a strong body, so they may drink milk even if it’s not their favorite beverage.” 

Valco Baby of Brooklyn, N.Y., is recalling about 1,290 Valco Baby Snap Duo Trend Strollers.

The stroller’s front wheels can break off while in use, causing the strollers to fall unexpectedly. The issue could pose a fall hazard to children in the stroller.

The firm has received 207 reports of the strollers' front wheels cracking or breaking. No injuries have been reported.

This recall includes Valco Baby Snap Duo Trend strollers in charcoal, gray, night, and denim colors. The recalled strollers have an order, model, or batch number printed on the label permanently affixed to the strollers’ frame.

Strollers with order numbers 7884, 7885, or 7886 and model numbers N9938, N9939, N9872, or N0001 are included in the recall.

The strollers, manufactured in Taiwan, were sold at juvenile product stores nationwide and online at www.albeebaby.com, amazon.com, and www.pishposhbaby.com from February 2020, through October 2020, for about $700.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled strollers and contact Valco Baby to receive a free replacement front wheel assembly and instructions for replacement.

Valco Baby is contacting all known purchasers directly.

Consumers may contact Valco Baby at (800) 610-7850 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday, online at www.valcobaby.com, or by email at recall@valcobaby.com for more information and to order a replacement set of wheels.

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 354 model year 2020-2021 Accents under an expansion of an earlier recall.

The front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment in a crash.

An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and causing injuries or death.

What to do

Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on February 25, 2022.

Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 219.

BMW of North America is recalling four model year 2022 330i, 530i, X3 xDrive30i, and X4 xDrive30i vehicles.

The mechatronics unit inside the transmission may not have been assembled properly, which could result in an internal leak.

An internal transmission leak can result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

What to do

Dealers will replace the transmission mechatronics unit free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 4, 2022.

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

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 78,662,631 (78,532,101)

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 939,788 (935,992)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 428,641,858 (426,551,362)

Total ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 5,912,478 (5,897,875)‌

CDC withholds significant amounts of data, report says

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published a lot of information about COVID-19 over the last two years, but a report in the New York Times says the health agency is sitting on a lot of unpublished data.

As an example, the Times said the CDC published information about the effectiveness of vaccine booster shots for people under age 65 earlier this month. However, the report notes that the agency did not release data about people between the ages of 18 and 49, the age group least likely to benefit from boosters.

Health experts told the newspaper that releasing all available data could have helped local and state health authorities respond during different stages of the pandemic and make better decisions about how to protect people. 

Obesity creates severe symptoms in young people

Many young adults have passed up a COVID-19 vaccination by arguing that young people have less to fear from the virus. While that may be true in many cases, a new study found that young people who are obese or overweight are highly vulnerable.

The study, published in the journal Obesity, showed that men with a high body mass index (BMI) when they were in their late teens had an elevated risk of severe COVID-19 that required hospitalization later in life.

“For those with teenage obesity, the risk of admission to an intensive care unit is more than twice as high as for those with a BMI of 18.5–20,” said Josefina Robertson, a researcher at the Sahlgrenska Academy of the University of Gothenburg.

Aaron Rodgers regrets COVID-19 vaccination controversy

Now that COVID-19 cases are in sharp decline across wide areas of the country, some of the heat is dissipating from arguments about vaccination mandates. Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers took the opportunity this week to express regret at his involvement in one such case.

Rodgers was roundly criticized in November when he missed a game because of COVID-19 after saying he was “immunized” against the virus. He later confirmed that he had not been vaccinated.

"One thing that I am sad about and definitely apologetic is I didn't realize in the midst of the Covid conversations how much my situation was affecting my loved ones and my people," Rodgers said on the Pat McAfee Show. 

Around the nation

• New York: State health officials now say they will not enforce the state’s COVID-19 vaccine booster mandate for health care workers. New cases of the virus are in decline while hospitals continue to grapple with staffing shortages. 

• North Carolina: North Carolina State University is updating its COVID-19 policies. Because cases of the virus are falling rapidly, the university is dropping its mask requirement in indoor spaces on campus except for high-density areas.

• Maine: The U.S. Supreme Court has dismissed a challenge to Maine’s vaccination mandate for health care workers. It was the second time the court rejected a suit by a group of hospital workers who were trying to get a religious exemption.

• Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott has resisted mask and vaccination mandates, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want tools at his disposal to counter COVID-19 if the virus makes a resurgence. Abbott this week renewed the disaster declaration imposed at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

• Iowa: The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week in the case of a Des Moines restaurant that is suing its insurance company because it refused to pay loss-of-business damages when the restaurant was forced to close. The insurance company argued that the policy had an exclusion for viruses causing a closing.

Apple hasn’t wasted any time following up on its promise to AirTag users that it has their back. In the company’s latest beta for its iOS 15.4 operating system, new anti-stalking alerts have been added to AirTags and other Find My accessories.

9to5Mac reports that users will now see a new message when setting up an AirTag. The message informs the user that the accessory is connected to their Apple ID, the data container where their personal data is kept.

Apple points out that stalking or tracking someone without their knowledge or consent is a crime in many regions of the world, and doing so with an AirTag will trigger law enforcement officials to respond.

There are also two additional upgrades that should make AirTag users a little more comfortable: for one, notification settings in the Find My app update now allow users to modify specific options for Find My and Tracking separately. Secondly, Apple is making it clearer exactly which type of accessory was detected moving with someone.

If these improvements sound like something you want ASAP, you’re probably going to have to wait until later this spring. For now, the iOS 15.4 update is in beta and only available to developers and public beta users. 

“Would you like a peppermint Frappuccino or a chai tea latte with your grocery order, ma’am?” Don’t laugh – later this year, Target shoppers will be able to add a Starbucks order to their Target curbside pickup in select markets.

The innovation is part of Target’s plans to enhance its pickup services and differentiate it from the pickup humdrum of its competitors. When the company puts the idea into action – most likely this fall – guests can add a Starbucks order or make a return within Target’s free, contactless curbside service through the Target app. Target said it will also expand its “backup item” functionality in additional categories to allow guests to pick up everything on their lists.

The idea for the Starbucks marriage sort of fell in Target’s lap. The retailer said placing an order for Starbucks was a top request when it surveyed shoppers on things they’d like to see. 

The pandemic changed a lot about retail shopping as we knew it to be, but companies that paid close attention to how consumers changed their routines are starting to reap the rewards. Target said its digital business has more than doubled during the last two years, and Order Pickup, Drive Up, and Same-Day Delivery have accounted for more than half of those sales.

“Ongoing investments in our same-day services have built trust and relevance with our guests, while meeting their needs — no matter how they choose to shop,” said Mark Schindele, Target’s chief stores officer. 

Items brought to customers' cars

When the new feature becomes available, guests will simply let the store know that they’re on their way via the Target app. That’s where they’ll have the option to place their Starbucks order.

When consumers get to the store, a Target Drive Up team member will bring their full order to the car. The same will hold true for the return process, giving guests the ability to initiate a return via the Target app and complete it at the Drive Up lane.

With expanded “backup item” functionality, guests will also be able to select from a wider assortment of categories — including beauty and household essentials — to designate secondary backup items for their Drive Up and Order Pickup orders in the event that their first-choice items are unavailable.

In the months since the option rolled out for food and beverage orders, Target said its teams have successfully substituted backup items 98% of the time to help guests pick up even more of what they need — including high-demand items.

Other innovations that Target has already rolled out include wine and beer pickup; “Shopping Partner” – a feature that allows guests to send someone else to pick up their Drive Up or Order Pickup order; and “Forgot Something” – a feature that allows guests to easily order forgotten items after they’ve placed a Drive Up or Order Pickup order.

Consumers remain in an unhappy mood this month, as measured by the Conference Board’s monthly Consumer Confidence Index. After falling in January, the index declined again this month, with rising prices being a chief concern.

"Concerns about inflation rose again in February, after posting back-to-back declines,” said Lynn Franco, the Conference Board’s senior director of Economic Indicators. “Despite this reversal, consumers remain relatively confident about short-term growth prospects. While they do not expect the economy to pick up steam in the near future, they also do not foresee conditions worsening.”

But there are plenty of things to worry about, especially regarding inflation. The price of gasoline is now averaging around $3.53 a gallon for regular, 23 cents a gallon more than at the beginning of the year. Sanctions against Russia could reduce the amount of oil on world markets and push prices up even more.

Housing concerns

Rents are skyrocketing. In many markets, the payment on an entry-level home is cheaper than renting. But Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors, says finding an entry-level home is getting harder.

"There are more listings at the upper end – homes priced above $500,000 – compared to a year ago, which should lead to less hurried decisions by some buyers," Yun said. "Clearly, more supply is needed at the lower end of the market in order to achieve more equitable distribution of housing wealth."

Yun says the median existing-home price for all housing types in January was $350,300, up 15.4% from January 2021, making the housing affordability issue even worse.

Credit card worries

In another measure of the financial stress that many consumers face at the start of 2022, personal finance site WalletHub has published a study showing that about 42 million Americans expect to miss at least one credit card payment this year.

"The financial stress caused by the pandemic has reshaped the way people look at money,” WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez told ConsumerAffairs. “However, according to WalletHub's economic index, consumers are significantly more confident about their financial outlook now than they were at the end of 2020. This is an indication that the overall economy is recovering from the effects of the pandemic."

Despite that recovery, growing economic concerns appear to be reflected in the Conference Board’s latest survey. Fewer consumers expect an increase in income in the next six weeks, while about 12% expect their incomes to go down.

Franco says the results suggest that confidence and consumer spending will continue to face headwinds from rising prices in the coming months.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California at San Diego explored how older women’s habits around the house may affect their heart health. 

According to their findings, keeping up with daily household activities, like washing dishes, cooking, or even taking a shower, may lower the risk of heart disease in older women. 

“The study demonstrates that all movement counts towards disease prevention,” said researcher Steve Nguyen, Ph.D. “Spending more time in daily life movement, which includes a wide range of activities we all do while on our feet and out of our chairs, resulted in a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.” 

All movement helps disease risk

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 5,400 women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health study. For one week, the women wore accelerometers to measure the frequency and intensity of their daily movement. The team was primarily interested in analyzing movement that wouldn’t be considered traditional exercise, such as movement related to daily chores or activities. 

The study showed that activity that the team defined as “daily life movement” is an integral part of heart health. They classified daily life movement as any activity that occurs while standing or walking indoors, such as cooking, gardening, changing clothes, taking a shower, or doing dishes. 

The researchers learned that women who logged at least four hours per day of daily life movement had stronger heart health than those who did less than two hours of these activities. Women in the former group were 43% less likely to develop heart disease and more than 60% less likely to experience a heart disease-related death. They were also 43% less likely to develop coronary heart disease and 30% less likely to have a stroke. 

With many older women struggling with heart health, the researchers hope these findings bring some positive news. While traditional exercise is important for heart health, this study shows that staying active in the home throughout the day can also significantly benefit older women’s hearts. 

“Much of the movement engaged in by older adults is associated with daily life tasks, but it may not be considered physical activity,” said researcher Andrea LaCroix, Ph.D. “Understanding the benefits of daily life movement and adding this to physical activity guidelines may encourage more movement.” 

As climate change continues to pose a threat worldwide, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published the Sea Level Rise Technical Report for 2022. 

Among several important points related to sustainability, the report highlighted that coastlines across the U.S. are likely to see sea levels rise by 10 to 12 inches by the year 2050. 

“This new data on sea rise is the latest reconfirmation that our climate crisis – as the President has said – is blinking ‘code red,’” said National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy. “We must redouble our efforts to cut the greenhouse gases that cause climate change while, at the same time, help our coastal communities become more resilient in the face of rising seas.” 

Rising sea levels can increase flooding

For the report, experts from the NOAA combined data from satellite observations, tide gauges, and findings from the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Their work spanned all 50 states, and the group made projections for what coastlines will look like over the next century and beyond. 

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the report is the prediction for rising sea levels within the next 30 years. Experts anticipate that sea levels will rise by 10 to 12 inches by 2050, but this figure could vary by region. 

“This report supports previous studies and confirms what we have long known: sea levels are continuing to rise at an alarming rate, endangering communities around the world,” said researcher Bill Nelson. “Science is indisputable and urgent action is required to mitigate a climate crisis that is well underway.” 

In addition to rising sea levels across the country, the report predicts that flooding will also become more prevalent nationwide. The authors anticipate coastal areas will experience the brunt of these floods, with these events occurring more than 10 times as often as they do today, regardless of heavy rains. 

“These numbers mean a change from a single event every 2-5 years to multiple events each year, in some places,” said researcher Nicole LeBoeuf. 

Experts hope this report is helpful to consumers, particularly those who run businesses or live near the coast. The team says having access to this information is critical so that everyone can make the best decisions that positively impact the environment moving forward. 

“This is a global wake-up call and gives Americans the information needed to act now to best position ourselves for the future,” said researcher Rick Spinrad. “As we build a Climate Ready Nation, these updated data can inform coastal communities and others about current and future vulnerabilities in the face of climate change and help them make smart decision to keep people and property safe over the long run.” 

BRP U.S. of Sturtevant, Wisc., is recalling about 400 Ski-Doo snowmobiles.

The snowmobile’s speedometer may display half of the vehicle’s true speed, which could result in loss of control that increases the risk of a crash.

The firm has received four reports of the vehicle's speedometer not displaying the correct speed. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Ski-Doo 2022 Expedition, Grand Touring, Renegade, Skandic, and Tundra snowmobiles sold in a variety of colors. "Ski-Doo" and the model name are printed on the side panels of the vehicles. The vehicle identification number (VIN) is on the decal located on the right-hand side of the tunnel underneath the seat.

A list of the recalled models may be found here.

The snowmobiles, manufactured in the U.S., were sold at Ski-Doo dealers nationwide from June 2021, through December 2021, for between $9,300 and $9,900.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled snowmobiles and contact a Ski-Doo dealer for a free repair.

BRP is contacting all known purchasers directly to coordinate the free repair with dealers to update the engine control module.

Consumers may contact BRP toll-free at (888) 272-9222 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET) Monday through Sunday or visit the company's online page here for more information.

AT&T began saying goodbye to 3G on Tuesday. It’s an expensive proposition, as it projects to cost the company around $130 million to sunset the service. But with 5G now becoming the industry standard, the telecom likely feels 3G is an albatross it no longer needs.

The shutdown will create immediate problems for an estimated 10 million people who have older phones, smartwatches, Kindle readers, roadside assistance systems, and home alarm systems.

AT&T is the lone wolf in saying goodbye to 3G at the moment, but that won't last for long. T-Mobile is shuttering its 3G systems on March 31, and Verizon is retiring its 3G service on December 31. With its purchase of Sprint, T-Mobile will reportedly phase out that provider's LTE network on July 1.

The impact on services and customers

ConsumerAffairs took a look at who and what may be impacted short term by AT&T's move. Here's what we found:

Impacted phones: AT&T has released a laundry list of all the phones that WILL continue to work on its network after 3G goes away. That list is available here. It’s a safe bet that if a phone is NOT listed and the user has an AT&T account, then it will either need to be replaced or the user will have to find another service provider that will support the device.

An important side note to people who have aging parents – many of the millions of consumers who have 3G in their lives are older users. Adult children may be called on to help their parents find a new provider or update their phones.

Other impacted devices: Other than phones, people who have 3G Kindles, fall protectors (medical alert systems), and some automotive systems (such as in-car crash notification systems and roadside assistance systems like OnStar) will also have to update their devices or find replacements.

CNN reports that General Motors (GM) – the company behind OnStar – started pushing out updates to Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac owners months ago.

“As a general rule, most cars built in the last five years with connectivity are using 4G modems. If the car does run on 3G, the manufacturer may offer an upgrade program or the wireless carrier can provide an adapter with a modem that can be plugged into a vehicle,” CNN reported.

Alarm/security systems: In advice to its customers, Vector Securitysaid that alarm system providers should have already reached out to their subscribers to ensure that there is no lapse in service for your system.

The company has published a list of questions that consumers can ask their providers if they want to start the process of updating their system. Those questions include:

• Will the 3G sunset impact my security system?

• When are cellular carrier changes expected to roll out in my area?

• What is your company’s timeline and plans for customer updates?

• Can I update my system in advance, or do I need to wait for a tiered rollout?

• Will I be charged a service fee to upgrade my system? If so, how much?

• Do I need to purchase new equipment, or will it be provided free of charge?

• How can I schedule a service call to update my system, if needed?

Is AT&T offering special deals to help impacted customers?

The company hasn’t said whether it’s giving any special discounts or compensation to customers affected by 3G’s sunsetting, but they did for at least one ConsumerAffairs reviewer. 

Jason, from Angelgrove, Del., said he wasn't being given a direct answer about whether his phone/plan was impacted by the 3G change. Finally, he ended up speaking to a supervisor who gave him a one-time $10 credit “out of their infinite generosity and remorse.”

The bottom line? Just ask if AT&T can provide you with assistance. The worst thing the company can do is say no, right?

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 78,532,101 (78,312,881)

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 935,992 (934,796)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 426,551,362 (425,430,279)

Total ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 5,898,442 (5,892,174)‌

Research suggests vaccine protection still strong at six months

Researchers who have analyzed various COVID-19 studies found that while COVID-19 vaccines lose some effectiveness in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection, the vaccines retain nearly all of their ability to prevent severe disease up to six months after full vaccination. 

The study, which appears online on in The Lancet, was a joint effort by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the World Health Organization. It examined research conducted before the Omicron variant showed up in late 2021.

“There is an indication here of waning vaccine effectiveness over time, though it is encouraging that protection from severe disease, the most worrisome outcome, seems to hold up well,” said Melissa Higdon, the study’s co-first author.

Children have better innate immunity than adults

Since the start of the pandemic, children infected with the COVID-19 virus have generally fared better than adults who get the disease. Doctors haven’t known why.

But in a new study, Yale University scientists found that children are better at managing the first line of defense known as the innate immune system than adults. That’s not to say that some children don't get very sick and even die from the virus, but most of them have very mild symptoms if they have symptoms at all.

Scientists say innate immunity serves to coordinate the first response when a patient is infected with the virus. It’s different than adaptive immunity, which develops more slowly and usually targets a specific disease or ailment. 

Health expert sees little threat from Omicron subvariant

Health officials expressed concerns earlier this month when a subvariant of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, called BA.2, began to appear. But now one health expert says it doesn’t appear that the new subvariant is going to be much of a threat.

“I think it’s important to note that while case numbers of BA.2 are increasing, they’re not increasing anywhere close to the way that the BA.1 cases increased,” Dr. Andy Pekosz, professor at Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health, told WTOP Radio in Washington.

While the Omicron variant spreads very easily, that doesn’t appear to be the case with the subvariant. Pekosz said early evidence suggests that BA.2 may not be as efficient when it comes to how it spreads.

Around the nation

• Connecticut: Gov. Ned Lamont has released a COVID-19 update that underscores the progress the state has made in the last two weeks. The report shows that the rate of positive tests has dropped to 3%, about the same as it was in the early days of the pandemic.

• Louisiana: In a sign that things are getting back to normal in New Orleans, organizers say the French Quarter Festival will go on. The event had been canceled for the last two years because of the pandemic. The event will serve as the lead-in to three weeks of music, including the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in March.

• New Mexico: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has lifted the statewide requirement for face coverings to be worn in most indoor spaces, effective immediately. The governor says the state appears to have turned the corner. “I want to express my gratitude to every New Mexican who has steadfastly worn a mask, gotten vaccinated, and done everything in their power to protect their neighbors,” Grisham said.

• Illinois: State officials say they are on track to lift the statewide mask mandate on Feb. 28, but Chicago remains on the fence. However, city health officials now hint that they may follow suit. Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said she is "feeling optimistic" and could make a formal announcement this week.

• Nebraska: Nebraska has suddenly gotten a lot healthier. The state’s 81% drop in cases over the past two weeks is the nation’s largest. Nebraska’s infection rate is down 94% from when the wave caused by the highly contagious Omicron variant peaked a month ago.

There was a surge in home improvements during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic because millions of Americans were trapped at home with little to do. But many of those improvements were cosmetic, such as updated kitchens or bathrooms.

Today, many important home improvements and repairs are not being done. A survey by finance company Figure found that more than six in 10 new homeowners are delaying needed repairs to their homes because of a lack of money.

Some of these needed repairs are important structurally and should not be postponed, experts say. A roof leak, for example, will only get worse over time. Damaged or ineffective gutters will cause water to collect around the foundation and cause expensive damage.

Bill Dallas, president of Finance of America Mortgage, says he believes the home improvement trend will continue because the nation’s housing stock is getting old, homes are continuing to rise in value, and interest rates are still relatively low.

“That said, many of those who seek out funding for home improvement projects are working to address major issues that need to be addressed in their homes,” Dallas told ConsumerAffairs. “In this case, I’m referring to critical projects that may require immediate attention, either from a safety, code compliance, or basic functionality perspective.”

These projects include things like changing out a broken HVAC system, replacing the roof, or upgrading outdated plumbing and electrical systems. These projects have two things in common: they are vital to the structural integrity of a home, and they are expensive.

Using equity to pay for repairs

Fifty-seven percent of the homeowners who were surveyed indicated that they would use savings to pay for any repair projects. Dallas says another option is to tap the equity of the home.

“In my opinion, given the record $9.4 trillion in tappable equity, many homeowners could benefit from a cash-out refinance or a HELOC (home equity line of credit) to access funds that can be put toward home improvements if they don’t have the savings or the cash on hand,” Dallas said.

According to Bankrate, home improvements are the single best use of a home equity loan. That’s because the additional debt is being used to add value to the home or to prevent a loss of value. 

Under recent tax law changes, the interest deduction on HELOC loans has been limited to expenses to improve the home that secures the loan. Using the loan to buy a boat doesn’t provide a tax break, but replacing a roof does.

ConsumerAffairs has gathered useful information on HELOC loans here.

Family Dollar has temporarily closed 404 stores in the southern U.S. after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found a rodent infestation at a distribution center in Arkansas. The FDA said it acted after receiving a consumer complaint.

The affected stores are in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. The agency said it acted because it believes some of the products from the distribution center might be contaminated.

“Families rely on stores like Family Dollar for products such as food and medicine. They deserve products that are safe,” said FDA Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs Judith McMeekin. “No one should be subjected to products stored in the kind of unacceptable conditions that we found in this Family Dollar distribution facility. These conditions appear to be violations of federal law that could put families’ health at risk.”

Concern about potential contamination

The FDA’s concern is that some regulated products stored in the distribution center may have become contaminated and now pose a threat to the health and safety of the public. The FDA said it is working with the company to initiate a voluntary recall of the affected products that were shipped since Jan 1, 2022.

Some examples of the recalled products include food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, baby oils, animal foods, medical devices. and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. The FDA is advising consumers not to use these products if they are subject to the recall.

Food in non-permeable packaging, such as undamaged glass or all-metal cans, may be suitable for use if thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Consumers should wash their hands immediately after handling any products from the affected Family Dollar stores.

“To date, Family Dollar is not aware of any consumer complaints or reports of illness related to this recall,” the company said in a statement. 

However, Family Dollar said the presence of rodents could cause illnesses such as Salmonella infection, which can pose a serious threat to some people.