Nearly 300K Georgians Seek Unemployment Relief | Patch PM

There was plenty of news across Georgia on Thursday. If you missed any of it on your local Patch, here's a roundup of the top stories from the past 24 hours.

GA Unemployment Claims Reach Record High In March: Coronavirus

Unemployment claims in Georgia showed an increase of 290,000 claims or 1,292 percent in March and were up by 294,000 claims or 1,567 percent from March 2019. The monthly total was higher than the annual total for each of the previous two years, 292,000 in 2019, and 310,000 in 2018.

GA Coronavirus: Testing Now Offered By Local Health Departments

All symptomatic people are now eligible for coronavirus testing by local health departments, the GA Department of Public Health said.

No Georgia Students? No Georgia Football: Coronavirus

College officials made it clear: If college football players are students, football games won't be played until colleges reopen to students.

Coronavirus Not Enough To Bond Out Alleged White Supremacists

Three north Georgia men alleged to have plotted murdering a Bartow County couple asked for bond over coronavirus fears in jail.

MARTA To Cut Bus Routes, Double Up On Essential Service

MARTA announced Thursday it will be implementing an "essential service" plan that will reduce bus routes in order to serve busier routes.

Johns Creek Rep. Kausche Donates N95 Masks To GA Hospital

State Rep. Angelika Kausche was recently part of a donation of 1,200 N95 masks to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Dougherty County.

County, school district updates:

• DeKalb County Coronavirus Update: 1232 Cases, 18 Deaths
• Cobb County Coronavirus Update: 970 Cases, 46 Deaths
• Cobb County Coronavirus Drive-Thru Testing Site Expands Criteria
• Cherokee Coronavirus Update: 238 Cases, 8 Deaths; School Update
• Atlanta County Coronavirus Update: Remote Learning, Drive-Thru Testing
• Forsyth Coronavirus Update: 162 Cases, 5 Deaths; School Update
• North Fulton Coronavirus: 1916 Cases, 63 Deaths; Schools Update

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Also Worth A Look Today:

• No Senior Final Exams: Paulding Schools Coronavirus Grading Plan
• Cornhole Vs. Coronavirus: Douglas Company Helps With Face Shields
• Buckhead Restaurants Donate Meals To Coronavirus Front Lines
• Smryna Community Programs Offer Assistance During Coronavirus
• 12 Marietta School Buses Now WIFI Hotspots, Will Park Around Town
• Drake House, North Fulton Charities Receive Relief Funding

Across America

• Brian Dennehy, Tony-Winning Stage, Screen Actor, Dies at 81
• Record 22M In U.S. Have Sought Jobless Aid Amid Coronavirus
• Coronavirus Brings Overhaul Of Military Health Care To A Halt
• 401(k) Raids Tempting Amid Coronavirus — But Beware, Experts Say
• Coronavirus Stimulus Tracker: See Where Your Payment Is