Current Events in March 2022

The rush to buy a home in early 2022 has further reduced the number of home listings and sent prices to record highs.

In February, the U.S. median listing price increased 12.9% year-over-year to a new all-time high of $392,000, surpassing the 2021 peak of $385,000 in July, according to real estate marketplace Realtor.com.

While there was some improvement in the number of homes for sale, inventory levels remain near historic lows. That, along with a jump in interest rates, posed affordability issues for buyers last month.

"Historically low interest rates"

Ryan David, owner and lead investor at We Buy Houses In Pennsylvania, says he has witnessed significant changes in the housing market over the last two years.

“Historically low interest rates are driving home sale prices,” David told ConsumerAffairs. “This is creating additional buyers and hurting already low housing inventory.”

But David notes that the COVID-19 pandemic is also a factor. He says it’s created a “tidal wave” of buyers – a wave that he says has yet to crest.

“Inflation coupled with more regulation and a sluggish U.S. economy is also driving fewer homes being built than demand calls for,” David said. “Add up all these factors, and it's become exceptionally difficult to buy a home.”

A decline in new home construction over the last decade has been a major contributor to shrinking inventory levels. Builders complain that the costs of land, materials, and labor have risen dramatically, leading to the construction of new “affordable housing.”

Inventory levels have plunged

Realtor.com reports that the inventory of active listings declined 24.5% year-over-year in February, improving slightly over January’s numbers. However, there were still 122,000 fewer available listings than during a typical day in February 2021, and inventory was down 62.6% from February 2020.

Danielle Hale, Realtor.com’s chief economist, says the fact that a record listing price has been set this early in the year is not a good sign for would-be buyers.

"This is the first time the record has been broken in February, signaling that competition is already heating up weeks before the start of the spring buying season,” Hale said. 

But Hale says there may be hope on the horizon if inventory levels continue to improve and there is a slowdown in rising home prices.

The price of gasoline, which had slowly moved higher since the start of the year, shifted into overdrive this week as Russian forces fought to take over Ukraine. In the U.S., nearly every state experienced a double-digit increase in gas prices.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $2.83 a gallon, an increase of 26 cents a gallon in the last seven days and a 10-cent increase since Thursday.

The average price of premium gas is $4.38 a gallon, 20 cents more than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $4.26 a gallon, 29 cents a gallon higher than a week ago.

Gasoline prices are surging because the price of oil has risen sharply in the wake of Russia’s invasion. It’s expected that Western sanctions against Moscow will reduce the amount of Russian oil sold on world markets.

On Twitter, GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan reported that the average price of gas had broken $5 a gallon in San Francisco. Within hours of DeHaan’s post, the average price of regular rose past $5 a gallon for the entire state of California.

DeHaan said GasBuddy had raised its “forecast for the yearly national average to $3.99 gallon from $3.41, with the average household to spend $2,745 on gasoline, up from $1,977 in 2021.”

AAA reports that another driver of retail gasoline prices is rising demand from U.S. motorists, which is occurring while fuel supplies are declining.

States with the most expensive gas

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

• California ($5.07)   

• Hawaii ($4.66)      

• Oregon ($4.29) 

• Nevada ($4.28) 

• Washington ($4.22)       

• Alaska ($4.18)   

• Illinois ($4.10) 

• New York ($4.05) 

• Arizona ($3.90)      

• Pennsylvania ($3.88)   

States with the cheapest gas

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

• Arkansas ($3.44) 

• Oklahoma ($3.45)

• Missouri ($3.48)
• Texas ($3.49)

• Mississippi ($3.51)

•  Kansas ($3.53)

• Wisconsin ($3.54) 

• Wyoming ($3.57)      

• North Dakota ($3.58)

• South Dakota ($3.59)   

A new study conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine explored one of the risk factors that may contribute to colorectal cancer. Their work showed that taller consumers may be more susceptible to developing this condition than shorter consumers. 

"This is the largest study of its kind to date,” said researcher Dr. Gerard Mullin. “It builds on evidence that taller height is an overlooked risk factor, and it should be considered when evaluating and recommending patients for colorectal cancer screenings.” 

How height impacts cancer risk

The researchers gathered information from nearly 50 earlier studies that included data on over 280,000 cases of colorectal cancer. They also looked at data from nearly 1,500 colonoscopy patients who were enrolled in the Johns Hopkins Colon Biofilm study. The goal was to understand the link between height and colorectal cancer risk by taking information from both datasets.

Ultimately, the link between height and colorectal cancer risk was clear. The researchers learned that taller patients had a higher risk of being diagnosed with the disease than shorter patients. 

“The findings suggest that, overall, the tallest individuals within the highest percentile of height had a 24% higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than the shortest within the lowest percentile,” Dr. Mullin said. “Every 10-centimeter increase (about 4 inches) in height was found to be associated with a 14% increased risk of developing colorectal cancer and 6% increased odds of having adenomas.” 

The researchers speculate that this relationship between height and colorectal cancer risk may come down to organ size. They explained that taller people have larger organs, which may increase their risk of abnormalities that become cancerous. 

Identifying those at the highest risk

Age and genetics are currently the two biggest risk factors associated with colorectal cancer, so health care professionals analyze them to determine which consumers have the most risk. Based on these findings, the researchers hope that height is now used to identify patients who may be most likely to develop colorectal cancer. 

“For instance, tall athletes and individuals with inherited tallness, such as those with Marfan syndrome, could be screened earlier and the impact of height further explored,” said researcher Dr. Elinor Zhou. “We need more studies before we can definitively say at what height you would need earlier colorectal cancer screening.” 

“Greater awareness by the public and the government will help promote more interest and funding for research, which ultimately could change guidelines for physicians to consider height as a risk for cancer,” Mullin added. “There are well-known modifiable dietary associations for colorectal cancer, such as processed red meats and smoking, but guidelines currently are fixated on family history, and height is clinically neglected when it comes to risk screening.” 

Concord Farms of Vernon, Calif., is recalling enoki mushrooms imported from Korea.

The product may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes.

No illnesses have been reported.

The recalled product, lot #045633 in a 5.25-oz (150g) with UPC barcode number 001958939091, was sold at retail stores in California.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should not consume it. Instead, they should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at (323) 582-6000 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PST).

Daimler Vans USA (DVUSA) is recalling 2,564 model year 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans.

The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) may be improperly stated on the tire and loading label.

As a result, the operator may overload the vehicle, causing excessive tire wear and increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will inspect and replace the tire and loading information label as necessary. The tires will also be inspected for excessive wear and replaced as necessary. All repairs will be conducted free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on March 28, 2022.

Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at (877) 762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3RE58HIN.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 79,154,499 (79,092,912)

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 954,893 (952,518)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 441,563,391 (438,982,432)

Total ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 5,979,222 (5,967,756)‌

Study finds vaccines offer limited protection against Omicron

Scientists writing in the New England Journal of Medicine report that the mRNA vaccines are more effective against the Delta variant of COVID-19 than the Omicron variant. They say that’s why so many vaccinated people tested positive for Omicron in December and January.

But while two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine provided little protection against symptomatic Omicron, the researchers noted that people who also had a booster were significantly better protected, though the protection decreased over time.

The scientists began the study in January after doctors became concerned that the Omicron variant was rapidly spreading across the globe, even among those who were fully vaccinated.

CDC drops contact tracing recommendation

In another sign that federal health officials are joining states in reducing COVID-19 requirements, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised its guidelines and no longer recommends universal COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing.

The guidance, which was updated this week, now encourages health departments to prioritize tracing efforts for only high-risk situations. In 2020, the CDC enlisted 100,000 people to carry out contact tracing in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. The CDC is now encouraging health departments to deploy their resources in high-risk settings, such as long-term care facilities, correctional institutions, and shelters. 

"The updated guidance is in response to changes in the nature of the pandemic and the increasing availability of new tools to prevent transmission and mitigate illness," said Kristen Nordlund, a spokesperson for the CDC.

FDA begins releasing documents on vaccine approval process

After losing a court case in Texas, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is beginning the process of releasing hundreds of thousands of documents that shed light on how the agency approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.

A non-profit group, Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency, sued to obtain the documents and has already begun releasing them on its website.

Medical professionals who have begun reviewing the documents say it’s unclear if they will provide any new insight into the vaccine’s safety or efficacy, especially since there is real-world data on the vaccine that’s already been published in major medical journals.

Around the nation

• Iowa: Gov. Kim Reynolds must return nearly $450,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds that were used to pay for 21 governor's office staff members for three months in 2020. That’s the ruling from State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, who ruled that the funds were used improperly.

• Georgia: It’s taken some time, but Georgia’s COVID-19 positivity rate is nearing the levels recommended by federal health agencies. As of this week, Georgia's COVID-19 testing positivity rate has dropped to between 3% and 5%.

• New Mexico: Cases and hospitalizations are dropping to the lowest levels seen in months in the state. Health officials say they are seeing improvements across the board. “That meteoric drop in case counts and even hospitalizations has persisted,” said New Mexico’s acting Department of Health secretary Dr. David Scrase. “Hospitalizations were in the five-hundreds (but) they’ve dropped by more than 50% and you can see improvement there.”

• New York: Gov. Kathy Hochul says the COVID-19 pandemic has likely ended the traditional five-day workweek, at least as far as commuting to the office is concerned. But the governor said she hoped offices would be occupied at least three days a week to maintain economic recovery.

• Idaho: Two state legislators have offered a bill that would lead to the termination of the COVID-19 emergency declaration that Gov. Brad Little established nearly two years ago. House Concurrent Resolution 40 would end Little’s disaster emergency declaration if it is adopted by the Idaho Legislature. 

The U.S. Senate has taken a proactive approach to combat possible cybersecurity threats in the face of the Russia-Ukraine situation.

In a package authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), the Senate has passed the Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act of 2022. The legislation would require infrastructure entities and federal agencies to report cyberattacks to the government within 72 hours; ransomware threats would also need to be reported within 24 hours. The bill awaits passage in the House of Representatives.

“The legislation is urgently needed in the face of potential cyber-attacks sponsored by the Russian government in retaliation for U.S. support in Ukraine,” Peters stated.

“As our nation continues to support Ukraine, we must ready ourselves for retaliatory cyber-attacks from the Russian government. As we have seen repeatedly, these online attacks can significantly disrupt our economy – including by driving up the price of gasoline and threatening our most essential supply chains – as well as the safety and security of our communities.”

Guaranteeing online security in the U.S.

Peters said he will continue his efforts to make the bill a law. He's urging his colleagues in the House to “urgently” pass the legislation to ensure that the nation's online security is kept safe.

Danielle Jablanski, an operational technology cybersecurity strategist at Nozomi Networks, told CNN that the reporting deadlines written into the legislation may be difficult for some companies to handle because information sharing may not be the top priority in a crisis.

Tight or not, the potential consumer impact could be monumental, as the U.S. found out when the Colonial pipeline was hacked. The breach led to increased gas prices and gas shortages. Meat producer JBS was also hit by a cyberattack that prompted shutdowns at company plants and threatened meat supplies all across the nation.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody says her office has learned that personal information stolen during last year’s T-Mobile data breach has begun showing up for sale on the dark web.

Hackers stole the data last August, obtaining consumers’ names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license information. It’s estimated that the thieves hauled in personal information on as many as 53 million people.

“It is extremely important that consumers who had their personal information exposed during last year’s T-Mobile data breach take immediate action to secure and protect their identities,” Moody said. “A large subset of the information is being sold on the dark web, increasing the likelihood that the data breach victims could have their identities stolen and personal finances compromised.”

Credit monitoring

Some affected consumers have obtained the services of one of the credit monitoring companies to alert them to fraudulent activity.

Paul, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, opened an account with Identity Guard and was initially unimpressed with the company's service. However, he improved his rating for the company after a representative reached out and offered to provide personal assistance.

"We appreciate the feedback as we always make sure to review and research all issues and concerns. We will have a specialist from our Alerts and Restoration department reach out to you to obtain more details and to offer assistance," the company told Paul.

Unfortunately, that kind of turnaround doesn't happen for everyone. Richard, of Boulder, Colo., signed up with AllClear ID and hasn’t found that service to be that useful, even though the company informs him when his data is found on the dark web.

“They'll also say ‘password found,’ but ‘For your security, we do not display your password in an effort to stop further exposure.’ Because there's not even a hint of which password it was, and there's also not an indication of which site(s) it was associated with, there is literally nothing to do with this notification except feel bad -- unless you want to change your passwords across every single site you use,” Richard wrote.

Actually, security experts say that isn’t a bad idea. They saw all passwords should be changed on a regular basis.

Credit Freeze offers the best protection

Moody says there are other proactive steps consumers can take to protect their identities. She suggests placing a credit freeze on credit reports. That will block identity thieves from opening credit accounts in the victim’s name.

To place a credit freeze, consumers must contact each of the three credit bureaus to request it. Here’s the contact information:

Equifax: Visit: Equifax.com/Personal/Credit-Report-Services/Credit-Freeze/ or call 1(888) 766-0008.

Experian: Visit: Experian.com/Freeze/Center or call 1(888) 397-3742.

TransUnion: Visit: TransUnion.com/Credit-Freeze or call 1(800) 680-7289.

A less extreme step is to place a “fraud alert” on all three credit reports. A fraud alert tells lenders and creditors to take extra steps to verify a consumer’s identity before issuing credit. Fraud alerts can be placed by contacting any one of the three major credit bureaus.

An increasing number of taxpayers are completing their tax returns themselves and turning to online software packages to do so. The appeal is faster speed and lower cost.

But a study by tax preparation company Jackson Hewitt suggests that some taxpayers are often presented with an unpleasant surprise. Among online tax filers, nearly 30% of respondents in the study reported that they paid more for online tax preparation services last year than they expected. 

The study further makes the case that many free or reduced-price filing options come with unexpected charges. The study found that once a filer starts the process, they find that the cost may steadily increase based on the complexity of the return or other factors, making the total price once completed higher than they originally anticipated.

It might be partly explained by the difference between a human tax preparer and a software package. Jackson Hewitt and competitor H&R Block built their businesses around human tax preparers, but both also offer an online do-it-yourself software option. And it’s not always unexpected costs that give consumers heartburn.

No way to change a mistake

Stephen, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., told us he switched to H&R Block’s software a few years ago with good results – until last year when the software told him he owed thousands of dollars.

“It was counting a Roth IRA as income, but I couldn't find any way to change it,” Stephen wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “The online site has gone too far at shielding you from forms so that I couldn't just check a box to check it.”

Patricia, of Springfield, Va., also hit a speed bump last year when preparing her tax return using Intuit TurboTax.

“The online service made errors in my federal tax return for 2020,” they wrote in a review. “My refund was withheld for two months and then when I received it, it was only $147, much smaller than the refund amount that Turbo Tax reported. I received a letter from the IRS a week later, stating that a miscalculation was made on my 1040SR which affected recovery rebate credit.”

Flat price

Jackson Hewitt says it eliminates surprise charges by offering a no-frills, $25 flat price for filing federal and state taxes, regardless of the tax return's complexity.

“Despite the rising cost of living due to inflationary pressures, we're committed to providing a flat price for all online filers," said Zachary Cohen, head of Digital Products at Jackson Hewitt.

Some taxpayers have another free but often-overlooked option. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Free File is a partnership between the tax agency and several commercial tax preparation software companies.

By registering at Free File, taxpayers can use the same software they would otherwise pay to use to complete their returns. It’s available at no charge to taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes (AGI) of $73,000 or less. The IRS explains how it works here.

Amazon is saying goodbye to its 68 physical bookstores, pop-up shops, and home goods stores and putting all its brick-and-mortar eggs into its grocery and fashion baskets. 

The news, first reported by Reuters, is somewhat of an ironic move given Amazon’s beginning as a bookseller. But as Borders, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers have found out, that market has almost completely shifted online.

Amazon said it would focus its physical presence on grocery stores and a department store concept that it’s working on going forward.

The right move to make

Michael Pachter, a Wedbush Securities analyst, told Reuters that this was a smart move on Amazon’s part. He believes Amazon and physical bookstores were as bad a match as electric car maker Tesla opening gas stations.

Pachter said Amazon's new chief executive, Andy Jassy, probably made this call as he reviewed the retailer's various businesses. "Retail is hard, and they're discovering that," he said.

Reuters reports that Amazon hasn’t issued a firm timeline on when its 4-star, pop-up, and bookstore locations will close their doors, but the company plans to notify customers via signage at the various locations. Workers will reportedly be given a choice between severance pay or receiving help finding jobs at any nearby company stores like the Amazon Fresh grocery locations it announced last year.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Georgia explored the cost of fungal infections across the United States. Their findings showed that health care costs reached nearly $7 billion in 2018, with hospital stays for these infections surpassing $37 billion. 

“Fungal infections are much more than a yeast infection or athlete’s foot,” said researcher Emily Rayens. “These infections can have a very big impact on people’s lives and have a very high mortality rate.” 

Rising health care costs

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from the National Inpatient Sample, which tracks hospitalizations and in-patient care in the U.S. This allowed them to evaluate the number of infections, the associated costs, and the health risks associated with fungal infections. 

Ultimately, there were over 666,000 recorded cases of fungal infections, with some of the most common types affecting the respiratory system and the bloodstream. The study also showed that consumers with immune system disorders may have a higher risk of contracting a fungal infection. 

Overall, the researchers learned that fungal infections accounted for 1.1% of all health care expenses in the U.S. in 2018. Hospital stays accounted for more than $37 billion in health care costs. 

Antibiotic resistance poses a threat

The researchers explained that the biggest concern with treating fungal infections is antibiotic resistance. There are currently only three types of drugs used to eradicate these kinds of infections, and they’re becoming less successful over time. 

“Our data show that the number of fungal infections and the costs of treating those infections are going up,” said Rayens. “The currently available antifungal drugs are not doing a good enough job to reduce mortality due to fungal infections.

"To address this growing clinical problem, our laboratory is focused on developing a preventive antifungal vaccine that would target multiple fungal infections. We believe a vaccine-based preventive strategy for vulnerable patients would be of great benefit in terms of reducing disease burden, mortality, and health care costs.”

A new study conducted by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital explored one of the potential side effects of long-COVID. According to their findings, long-term nerve damage may be one of the symptoms associated with a long COVID-19 infection. 

“This is one of the early papers looking into causes of long-COVID, which will steadily increase in importance as acute COVID wanes,” said researcher Dr. Anne Louise Oaklander. “Our findings suggest that some long-COVID patients had damage to their peripheral nerve fibers, and that damage to the small-fiber type of nerve cell may be prominent.” 

Immune system issues lead to nerve damage

The researchers had 17 participants involved in the study who had long-COVID. The team analyzed and tracked their health outcomes for over a year, including neurodiagnostic test results, general symptoms, and medical exams. 

The study found that nearly 60% of the patients had symptoms related to peripheral neuropathy. This can manifest as pain in the hands and feet, weakness, fatigue, and sensory changes. The researchers believe that this neuropathy is related to long-term immune system dysfunction rather than long-term symptoms from the initial infection. 

In terms of treatment and recovery, the team found that more than 50% of the participants noted improvements in their symptoms; however, no one in the group fully recovered during the study period. Many of the participants responded well to current immunotherapies, including corticosteroids and IV immunoglobulin. 

The researchers hope these findings highlight some of the lesser-known risks associated with long-COVID. 

“Research from our team and others is clarifying what the different types of post-COVID neuropathy are, and how best to diagnose and treat them,” Dr. Oaklander said. “Most long-COVID neuropathies described so far appear to reflect immune responses to the virus that went off course. And some patients seem to improve from standard treatments for other immune-related neuropathies.” 

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 79,099,412 (79,048,702)

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 952,759 (950,684)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 439,214,303 (437,422,661)

Total ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 5,968,316 (5,959,306)‌

Government offers more free tests

Learning to live with COVID-19 may mean more frequent tests to confirm whether those sniffles are a common cold or the virus. President Biden used last night’s State of the Union Address to announce that Americans can order more free tests starting next week.

"Even if you already ordered free tests, tonight, I am announcing that you can order more from covidtests.gov starting next week," Biden said. He reported that the government has already made hundreds of millions of tests available for free.

When distribution began in January, households were limited to four free tests. Under the expansion, households will be able to order four additional tests.

Many hospitals still struggle despite declining cases

New cases of COVID-19 are declining in nearly every part of the country, but that hasn’t let hospitals off the hook; many still struggle under large caseloads.

“I think people are under the misconception that because COVID has peaked and it’s on the downturn that staffing issues will go away,” Louise Dobbins, director of capacity management for Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, told the Wall Street Journal. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

Much of the problem is caused by staff shortages. A third or more of hospitals in 15 states reported a critical staffing shortage last month, according to the American Hospital Association.

CDC estimates 140 million infections in the U.S.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an estimate stating that it believes there have been 140 million COVID-19 infections in the U.S. since the start of the pandemic. That’s considerably higher than the unofficial count maintained by Johns Hopkins University.

The estimate stems from an analysis of blood samples that track coronavirus antibodies produced by an infection rather than a vaccination. It says the higher number is not a surprise since many mild and asymptomatic cases go unreported.

By the CDC’s estimate, about 43% of the U.S. population has had the virus as of late January, including almost 60% of children up to age 18. The largest percentage of cases likely occurred among Americans between the ages of 18 and 49. 

Around the nation

• Louisiana: The streets of the French Quarter were jammed Tuesday as New Orleans celebrated Mardi Gras, the first full-tilt celebration since the pandemic began. The celebrations were scaled back somewhat in 2020, but the city suffered a COVID-19 outbreak anyway. The celebration was modified last year, with no spectators on the parade routes.

• Utah: COVID-19 case numbers are falling across the state, but Dr. Angela Dunn, executive director of the Salt Lake County Health Department, stated that residents should still mask up in some situations. “If you enter a business and they require or recommend masks, please respect this and wear a mask; they may have a colleague at high risk who needs that additional protection,” Dunn said. 

• Virginia: As he released an updated action plan, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said his state will continue to offer vaccination events. However, he noted that things need to start getting back to normal. “As we have learned to live with the coronavirus pandemic over the past two years, we know that we can protect lives and livelihoods,” he said. “With increased immunity to Omicron, and a decline in cases and hospitalizations, now is the time to chart a path to normalcy.”

• Michigan: Little by little, the state has reduced or eliminated COVID-19 restrictions. Starting Thursday, most state employees will no longer be required to mask up while at work. The exceptions are employees working in health care and in corrections.

• California: State officials say rules requiring indoor masking at California schools and child care facilities will expire Friday, March 11, a move that comes as the state continues its emergence from the Omicron wave of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Individual school districts may continue the mandate, however.

Ford Motor Company says it’s reorganizing its operations by splitting its gas-powered vehicles and its electric vehicles into two different divisions – a move intended to strengthen operations and take full advantage of the accelerating growth of the EV market.

While this may sound like a striking change for the 117-year-old company, it’s actually not. “This isn’t the first time Ford has reimagined the future and taken our own path,” said Ford Executive Chair Bill Ford, echoing similar changes Henry Ford made when his company began focusing on its Model T.

“We have an extraordinary opportunity to lead this thrilling new era of connected and electric vehicles, give our customers the very best of Ford, and help make a real difference for the health of the planet.”

The possible changes Ford customers will see

The two new businesses will be called Ford Blue and Ford Model e. The company said the idea for the Ford Model e division came from the smaller, mission-driven teams that developed the Ford GT, Mustang Mach-E SUV, and F-150 Lightning pickup. Company officials said having smaller, more nimble teams will enable Ford to incubate ideas quickly and develop them faster. 

Electric vehicle customers will also see a different Ford when they go to purchase a Model e product. The company didn’t pull the curtain back all the way on its planned changes, but it did say Ford Model e buyers will have an “exciting new shopping, buying and ownership experience.” It also hinted that showrooms may become a thing of the past for the electric vehicle crowd, saying that “simple, intuitive e-commerce platforms” will be the standard purchasing method going forward. 

As for Ford Blue, Ford President and CEO Jim Farley said having the company's F-Series, Ranger and Maverick trucks, Bronco and Explorer SUVs, and Mustang cars in a separate division will allow the company to focus on consumers who prefer branded vehicles and experiences like off-roading and family activities – a niche where internal combustion-driven vehicles thrive.

Ford Blue will also purportedly be able to use the electric division’s breakthroughs by building in new, connected, personalized, and always-on experiences that Ford Model e develops.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that Fitbit is recalling approximately 1.7 million Ionic brand smartwatches because the lithium-ion battery in the watch can overheat and burn wearers.

Fitbit reported that it’s received at least 115 reports of the watch overheating in the U.S. and 59 internationally. Seventy-eight of the reports included details of burn injuries, including two reports of third-degree burns and four reports of second-degree burns in the U.S. Another 40 reports of burn injuries have occurred outside the U.S.

Fitbit's Ionic device tracks physical activity, heart rate, and sleep. The CPSC reports that about 1 million of the watches were sold in the U.S., and another 693,000 were sold overseas. The product was sold at Best Buy, Kohl’s, Target, Amazon.com, and Fitbit.com from September 2017, through December 2021, for between $200 to $330.

What Fitbit Ionic owners should look for

The Commission says the recall involves only the Fitbit Ionic Smartwatch and no other Fitbit device. To identify the exact model being recalled, Ionic owners should look for the model number (FB503) on the back of the device near where the band attaches to the wristband.

Consumers who have a recalled device can visit Fitbit's refund site and enter their information to receive a return kit with instructions on how to return their device for a refund. 

“Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Ionic smartwatches and contact Fitbit to receive pre-paid packaging to return the device,” the CPSC stated.

Once Fitbit receives the watch, a refund of $299 will be issued, as well as a discount code for 40% off select Fitbit devices.

Drugmaker Viatris has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit over the pricing of its EpiPen allergy device by paying $264 million. The suit was brought by a coalition of consumers and health insurance providers.

The company, which recently changed its name from Mylan, got caught up in the debate over prescription drug prices in 2008 when it hiked the cost of the EpiPen, which is used to treat severe allergic shock, from $100 to $600.

The plaintiffs brought a lawsuit against the drug company, charging that it engaged in a scheme to pay generic drugmakers to put off production of a generic version of the Epipen. Originally, the plaintiffs sought $1 billion in damages.

A large part of that case was dismissed in court last year. The judge, however, left intact the suit’s claim that Mylan’s 2012 patent litigation settlement with generic drugmaker Teva Pharmaceutical included a “pay-for-delay” agreement. 

Seventeen price increases

The 2017 suit claimed that Mylan increased the list price of the EpiPen 17 times after acquiring the rights to market and distribute it, increasing prices from  $90.28 to $608.62. This caused some patients to resort to carrying expired EpiPens or using syringes to manually inject epinephrine, the drug that helps counteract severe allergic reactions.

The plaintiffs charged that this once-affordable drug that has been available for more than 100 years and costs pennies to produce is now out of reach for many patients. Since then, the company and its widely used product have been at the forefront of a consumer backlash about the high cost of prescription drugs.

Viatris said in a statement that by agreeing to the settlement, which is pending court approval, the company does not admit any liability.

Exercising regularly can help guarantee a longer life, but consumers can often fall off the wagon and go through stages of being more sedentary. When they try to get back into their exercise routines, it can sometimes be a lot harder to get back into shape. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Leeds explored why exercise feels harder after you haven't done it in a while. Their findings showed that a protein that's important to blood flow, Piezo1, is deactivated when we stop exercising regularly. The researchers say compromised blood flow can make trying to get back into exercise more strenuous.

“Exercise protects against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and cancer,” said researcher Fiona Bartoli. “Unfortunately, many people fail to exercise enough, for reasons such as injury and computer usage. This puts people at more risk of disease. The less people exercise, the less fit they become, often leading to a downward spiral. 

“Although many responses to exercise are known, how the benefits of exercise are initially triggered at a molecular level is mysterious. Our study highlights the crucial link between physical activity and physical performance made at this level by Piezo1. Keeping our Piezo1s active by exercising may be crucial in our physical performance and health.”  

Consistency is key with physical activity

The researchers conducted their study on mice to better understand how the body responds to lapses in physical activity. Over the course of 10 weeks, one group of mice was left to exercise as they normally would while another group had their Piezo1 levels disrupted. 

The researchers explained that the Piezo1 protein acts as a sensor for blood flow and moves blood to the muscles. When the protein was deactivated in some of the mice, the researchers observed important differences in their physical activity and overall health outcomes. 

The mice in the experimental group weren’t running as fast, and they weren’t able to make as many complete trips around an activity wheel. This group wasn’t less willing to exercise, but their bodies weren’t as capable of performing as well.

These findings emphasize the importance of the Piezo1 protein in exercise and why consistency is so important. Less exercise weakens the production of the Piezo1 protein, which ultimately limits blood flow to the muscles. This makes the body feel weaker and makes exercise feel more difficult. 

“Our work sheds light on how Piezo1’s role in blood vessels is connected to physical activity,” said researcher David Beech. “A lot was already known about its role in blood vessel development, but far less was known about its contribution to vessel maintenance in adults. 

“Our discovery also provides an opportunity to think about how loss of muscle function could be treated in new ways: if we activate Piezo1, it might help to maintain exercise capability."