December 27, 2021
$100 billion minimum.
That’s how much money the Secret Service says was stolen from Covid19 relief programs to help small businesses and stolen in unemployment benefits. As of today—there are 900 active criminal investigations. Every state has been hit.
And if you were one of those people who fraudulently collected a PPP loan, EIDL loan, or unemployment benefits in the last few years– the Secret Service Fraud Recovery Department and the full force of the federal government are comin for you. And they aren’t afraid to use all the tools and personnel to get that money back and punish those responsible.
The majority of the fraud came from people improperly collecting unemployment benefits. The Labor Department says $87 billion was stolen in that way.
The Secret Service has arrested 100 people and has seized more than $1.2 billion so far while investigating unemployment insurance and SBA loan fraud and has returned an additional $2.3 billion of fraudulently obtained funds by simply reversing transactions.
Those cases are on top of the 95 criminal cases of 150 other people who are being prosecuted by the justice department over $75 million in fraudulently obtained money through the paycheck protection program. DOJ says those defendants were fraudulently using those pandemic funds to buy real estate and luxury items. Obviously, you can’t do that.
These investigations are ongoing.
Read the Secret Service announcement here.
The CDC has just updated and shortened the isolation period from 10 to five days for those who have an asymptomatic case of Covid19 or come in contact with a Covid19 positive person. But there are some exceptions.
The CDC says this change comes after the science demonstrates the majority – but not all – transmission of Covid19 occurs early in the course of the illness. Generally, 1 to 2 days prior to onset of symptoms and 2 to 3 days after.
To help us understand the guidance – the CDC released this “if-then” chart.
Scenario one
*If* you test positive for Covid19 regardless of your vaccination status – *then* you should isolate by staying home for five days.
*If* you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after five days *and* you no longer have a fever – you can leave your house but you should continue to wear a well-fitting mask when outside of your house for another five days.
Scenario two
*If* you were exposed to someone with covid19 *and* you have been boosted or completed the two shot Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within six months or had the J&J vaccine within the last two months –*then* you should wear a mask around other people for 10 days and test on day five. *if* you develop symptoms stay home, get a test and go back to scenario one.
Scenario three
*if* you were exposed to someone with covid19 *and* you are unvaccinated, or not boosted – stay home for five days and after that continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others for another five days. If you can’t quarantine, you must wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days. Test on day five and if you develop symptoms stay home, get a test and go back to scenario one.
Read about the guidance from the CDC here.
