Minnesota Unemployment: More Than 109K Claims Filed In 1 Week

MINNEAPOLIS — During the last week of March, there were 109,896 new unemployment claims filed in Minnesota, according to advance data from the U.S. Department of Labor. As the new coronavirus continues to spread, and state officials mandate closures of non-essential businesses, companies are announcing new layoffs around the state.

Nationally, there were 6.6 million unemployment claims filed during the last week of March, double the record number of claims filed the previous week.

After Gov. Tim Walz ordered certain businesses closed to protect the public during Minnesota's "stay at home" order, state officials have scrambled to expand unemployment benefits to more residents.

Don't miss the latest coronavirus updates from health and government officials in Minnesota. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters for what you need to know daily.

On March 16, Gov. Tim Walz ordered the closure of restaurants, bars, and many other public places such as theaters, museums, fitness centers, and community clubs.

On March 27, the stay at home order went into effect and will last through April 10.

In an effort to support Minnesotans affected by the closures, Walz signed Executive Order 20-05 last month to strengthen the state's Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and ensure that workers who are not able to work as a result of COVID-19 have benefits available.

Specifically, the order waives the employer surcharge and allow the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to pay unemployment benefits immediately, providing fast relief to employees who need it.

You can apply for unemployment in Minnesota online here.

COVID-19 continues to spread

The number of confirmed deaths related to the new coronavirus is up to 18 in Minnesota, state health officials announced Thursday. That number is up one since Wednesday.

A total of 742 people have so far tested positive for COVID-19. Of those, 373 people no longer need to be isolated.

Also read:

• MDH Pressured To Release Locations Of Coronavirus Cases
• Coronavirus Update: 373 People Out Of Isolation In Minnesota
• Coronavirus: How To Avoid Robocall Scams In Minnesota

Chris Mosby, Patch Staff, contributed to this report