NH Coronavirus Closures Force 36K More To File For Unemployment

CONCORD, NH — The U.S. Department of Labor released New Hampshire's latest unemployment figures Thursday and showed that for the week ending April 4, a whopping 36,214 people filed for claims in the Granite State. The latest figure is 4,834 more than the previous week. Gov. Chris Sununu said Wednesday that Employment Security was working "around the clock" to assist the nearly 67,000 people who had applied for benefits during the past two weeks.

The state's unemployment rate, which was at historic lows for the last couple of years, in the 2.3 to 2.5 percent range, is now up to nearly 10 percent — based on around 680,000 workers in the state.

The labor department also stated a little more than 6.6 million people filed claims nationally for the same time period. It also revised up last week's unemployment claims from 6.65M to 6.87M. Since the closures of businesses around the country due to the new coronavirus, 16.8 million people have lost their jobs — or about 11 percent of the working population.

WalletHub.com also released a study Thursday showing that year-over-year, New Hampshire had the second biggest increase in unemployment claims in the nation. The 36,214 claims number compared to just 497 for the same time period in 2019 — an increase of nearly 7,187 percent.

Jill Gonzalez, an analyst for the company, suggested states hardest his should "aggressively focus" on helping the companies in the most need with federal relief funds, to turn their economies around.

"The federal response will include sending checks to most citizens, even those whose income has not been affected by the coronavirus," she said. "States can use a more targeted approach to divert resources to the companies affected the most, thus having maximum impact for the money spent."

The full WalletHub.com study can be found here.

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.

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• NH Health Commissioner: 5 New Coronavirus Deaths Announced
• NH Coronavirus: 91% Negative: False Tests, Flaws, Something Else?
• Concord Coronavirus: Testing Site Closed Due To 'Lack Of Volume'

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