NH Coronavirus: 24,000 More File For Unemployment Benefits

CONCORD, NH — If some don't understand the urgency of finding a way to get the country and the state of New Hampshire back to work, in some way, shape or form, while limiting the number of people who become infected or die due to the new coronavirus, the latest unemployment numbers released Thursday reveal a clear indication of why. While the numbers have decreased from previous weeks, the economic collapse is continuing at an unprecedented rate, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. For the week ending April 11, 23,936 people in New Hampshire filed for unemployment, about 3 percent of the total workforce, based on 780,000 in the labor force as tabulated by New Hampshire Employment Security in February.

That number, however, is a drop of about 15,000 claims compared to the data released on April 9, but similar to numbers reported on April 2.

During the last four weeks, around 91,000 Granite Staters lost their jobs or about 11.7 percent of the workforce. Nearly 15 percent — 115,000 — of the total workforce in New Hampshire is unemployed, based on numbers from February through Thursday, pushing the state further into historically high unemployment levels, just weeks after spending the last couple of years with previously record low unemployment figures.

The previous highs for unemployment in New Hampshire were between May 1991 and July 1992, when the rate fluctuated between 7.3 and 7.4 percent. In June 1991, 45,640 people were out of work based on a labor force of 613,820.

The previous high of actual unemployed people in the state was 48,715 in June 2009 but due to a higher labor force (745,324), the rate was 6.5 percent.

Nationally, another 5.2 million filed for benefits — a drop of around 1.4 million from the previous week. During the past three weeks, around 22 million people filed for unemployment benefits.

Stop The Spread Of COVID-19!

COVID-19, not unlike the flu and other respiratory illnesses, is spread through respiratory droplets, usually through coughing and sneezing, and exposure to others who are sick or might be showing symptoms.

Health officials emphasize residents should follow these recommendations:

• Avoid any domestic and international travel, especially on public transportation such as buses, trains, and airplanes.
• Practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet from other people, including distancing while in waiting areas or lines.
• Anybody who is told to self-quarantine and stay at home due to exposure to a person with confirmed or suspect COVID-19 needs to stay home and not go out into public places.
• If you are 60 years or older or have chronic medical conditions, you need to stay home and not go out.
• Avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.
• Employers need to move to telework as much as possible.
• There is increasing evidence that this virus can survive for hours or possibly even a few days on surfaces, so people should clean frequently touched surfaces, including door handles, grocery carts and grocery basket handles, etc.

Take the same precautions as you would if you were sick:

• Stay home and avoid public places when sick (i.e., social distancing).
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

More information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services about coronavirus can be found here on the department's website.

• Guidance to schools can be found can be found here.
• Instructions for returning travelers to self-observe for symptoms of COVID-19 are available are available here.
• For more information on COVID-19 in NH, visit its site here.
• For the latest information from the CDC, visit its site here.

ALSO READ:

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• NH Residents: Check Your Stimulus Payment Status
• NH AG: Protect Your Old Friends From Coronavirus Scams
• NH Coronavirus Update: Nearly 1,100 Positives; Airports Get $15M

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