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A26 U.S. NEWS
Friday 3 april 2020
A record 10 million sought US jobless aid in past 2 weeks

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER Requests for jobless aid
AP Economics Writer soared in all 50 states last
WASHINGTON (AP) — More week. In California, nearly
than 6.6 million Americans 900,000 people sought
applied for unemployment benefits, almost four times
benefits last week — dou- the previous week's figure,
bling a record high set just and equivalent to 5% of the
one week earlier — a sign state's workforce.
that layoffs are accelerat- In Michigan, jobless claims
ing in the midst of the coro- more than doubled last
navirus outbreak. week to 311,000. In Florida,
Combined with last week's filings tripled to 227,000. In
report that 3.3 million peo- South Dakota, they qua-
ple sought unemployment drupled to 6,645.
aid two weeks ago, the U.S. How long the waves of
economy has now suffered layoffs last — an unknown
nearly 10 million layoffs in — will be a key factor in
just the past few weeks — determining the depth of
far exceeding the figure for the recession. Some com-
any corresponding period panies are maintaining ties
on record. to laid-off workers, in hopes
The stunning report Thurs- of rehiring them once the
day from the Labor Depart- In this March 13, 2020 file photo, unionized hospitality workers wait in line in a basement garage to coronavirus outbreak pass-
ment showed that job cuts apply for unemployment benefits at the Hospitality Training Academy in Los Angeles. More than es. Relatively swift rehirings
are mounting against the 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, far exceeding a record high would help the economy
backdrop of economies set just last week, a sign that layoffs are accelerating in the midst of the coronavirus. rebound quickly. But if busi-
in the United States and (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) Associated Press ness shutdowns persist into
abroad that have almost been delayed from the the Great Recession. The have been imposed by the late summer or fall,
certainly sunk into a severe previous week, when state unemployment rate could most U.S. states. This trend many smaller businesses
recession as businesses offices that handle unem- spike to as high as 15% this has intensified pressure on will likely go bankrupt. That
have shut down across the ployment benefits were month, above the previous businesses, most of which would make it harder for
world. overwhelmed by a surge record of 10.8% set during a face rent, loans and other workers to find jobs and
“This kind of upending of of online and telephone deep recession in 1982. bills that must be paid. would prolong the down-
the labor market in such a claims. Yet many of those Employers are slashing their The reversal in the job mar- turn.
short time is unheard of,” offices are still struggling to payrolls to try to stay afloat ket has been dizzying. Four The $2.2 trillion rescue
said Heidi Shierholz, an process all the claims they because their revenue has weeks ago, weekly unem- package that was signed
economist at the Econom- have received, suggesting collapsed, especially at ployment claims amount- into law last week includes
ic Policy Institute, a progres- more claims will be pushed restaurants, hotels, gyms, ed to only 211,000, near $350 billion in small business
sive think tank. into the following week. movie theaters and other a 50-year low. Since then, loans that can be forgiven
Further signs of a surging The magnitude of the lay- venues that depend on they have jumped 30-fold. if the companies use the
wave of layoffs are likely offs has led many econo- face-to-face interaction. “Four years of jobs gains money to retain or rehire
in the coming weeks. Seth mists to envision as many Auto sales have sunk, and have evaporated in the workers. This provision could
Carpenter, an economist as 20 million lost jobs by the factories have closed. span of two weeks,” said help limit future layoffs or
at Swiss bank UBS, esti- end of April. That would Roughly 90% of the U.S. Daniel Zhao, an economist lead some companies to
mates that about one-third be more than double the population is now under at the jobs website Glass- recall employees back to
of last week's claims had 8.7 million jobs lost during stay-at-home orders, which door. work.q

Fauci says he feels safe despite threats,

is focusing on job

admirers that prompted puts "all of that stuff aside." security. It said that Alex
the Trump administration to The Department of Health Azar, HHS secretary, grew
assign him a security detail. and Human Services re- concerned about Fauci's
Fauci, a key member of quested the U.S. Marshals safety as his profile has
the White House coronavi- Service authorize special risen. Fauci is said to have
rus task force who appears agents from the HHS in- received threats online and
almost daily on televised spector general’s office been approached by ad-
briefings and news shows, as part of Fauci's security mirers.
says there are things about detail, according to a per- Asked Thursday if he felt
his job that are "sometimes son familiar with the ar- safe, the 79-year-old Fauci
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and disturbing." rangements, who spoke told NBC, "You know, I do.
Infectious Diseases, speaks about the coronavirus in the James But Fauci, a plain-speaking on condition of anonymity ... I've chosen this life and
Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Wednesday, April expert on the coronavirus because there has been I mean I know what it is.
1, 2020, in Washington, as Vice President Mike Pence listens.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon) who hasn't shied away from no official announcement. There are things about it
publicly correcting Presi- The Justice Department that are sometimes disturb-
By MICHAEL BALSAMO As- cial, said Thursday he feels dent Donald Trump's er- approved the request to ing but you just focus on
sociated Press safe despite reports he's re- roneous statements about deputize nine agents, the the job you have to do and
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dr. ceived online threats and the virus, told NBC's “To- person said. just put all of that stuff aside
Anthony Fauci, the top has had uncomfortable day” that he just focuses on The Washington Post first and try as best as possible
U.S. infectious disease offi- personal encounters with the job he has chosen and reported Fauci's enhanced not to pay attention to it."q