COVID-19

MUNDELEIN, Ill. — Medline on Tuesday introduced the Curad Antiviral Face Mask, a face mask that inactivates flu viruses within five minutes of contact, according to the company.

The Curad Antiviral Face Mask was found to inactivate 99.99% of laboratory-tested flu viruses, including imminent pandemic and seasonal strains of influenza viruses, such as H1N1, this year's dominant flu strain in the United States. Traditional face masks act only as a simple barrier or filter and do nothing to neutralize the harmful germs that remain active on the mask itself.

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Thursday reported that same-store supermarket sales growth, without fuel, was 3.5% in the third quarter, marking the 40th consecutive quarter of same-store sales growth. It's a feat that Kroger achieved despite the slow economic recovery. "The resiliency of our Customer First strategy … was on full display during the quarter, even as our internal research shows that customers remain uncertain about the economy," Dave Dillon, Kroger chairman and CEO, told analysts Thursday morning. 

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's same-store sales increased by 2.8% in November, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

The increase included a 0.4% increase in front-end same-store sales and a 3.9% increase in pharmacy same-store sales, offset by 0.81% due to new generic drugs, which can reduce sales because of their lower price, but are good for a pharmacy retailer's margins. Same-store scripts increased by 0.1%.

Total sales for November were $2.434 billion, a 1.6% increase compared with the same period last year.

LAKE FOREST, Calif. — Innovative BioDefense, manufacturer of the Zylast line of broad-spectrum, persistent antimicrobial products, on Tuesday announced an exclusive relationship with Australian-based Picketts Health to provide a modification of their proprietary lotion and antiseptic sanitizer for use in Picketts Health’s patented Orbel hand sanitizer applicator.  

AKRON, Ohio — Using an alcohol-based sanitizer combined with hand hygiene education will contribute to a significant reduction in absenteeism over the cough/cold season, GoJo announced Tuesday. 

EAST HANOVER, N.J. — As many as 56% of Americans who suffer from a cough or cold are still working out at the gym, jumping on public transportation and liberally shaking hands, according to a Mondelez survey in support of its Halls brand. And 43% of Americans continue to go to work when they have a cough or cold. 

And it's not just sick people with unhealthy habits. According to the survey, 23% of healthy Americans make no effort to stay away from cough and cold sufferers.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — One-third (33%) of U.S. families are making less money as a result of job loss, moving to a part-time job and/or working at a lower-paying job.

In addition, according to three recent consumer surveys from America’s Research Group, 40% of parents are trying to save as much money as they can for their children's college education, 38% of families did not take a vacation this year of four days or longer, and 44% of parents will do most of their back-to-school apparel shopping in December when the deals are better.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Nearly 90% of office workers come to work even when they know they are sick, according to the fourth annual Flu Season Survey from Staples. The findings show a growing trend when compared to last year’s findings indicating 80% of workers come to work sick, and up from 60% in the 2011 Staples survey.