US unemployment jumps to 6.6M on virus layoffs

WASHINGTON

U.S. unemployment claims jumped by more than 6.6 million last week as layoffs increase with businesses shuttering or drawing down operations in the face of the novel coronavirus, according to data released Thursday.

Initial jobless claims from last week hit 6,648,000, an increase of 3,341,000 from the prior week's revised figures, marking the highest level of seasonally-adjusted initial claims ever recorded, the Labor Department data showed.

Governments have instituted measures meant to keep people separated in an effort to slow the virus' spread as the number of infections and deaths rise worldwide.

In all, 38 of the U.S.'s 50 states and the nation's capital have issued statewide stay-at-home orders for residents, leaving about two-thirds of Americans living under the directives.

The state of California Governor Gavin Newsom implored states that have yet to implement stay-at-home orders to do so immediately.

"Our message is this: 'What are you waiting for?'" Newsom, who leads the U.S.'s most populous state, said during a CNN interview Wednesday. "What more evidence do you need? If you think it's not going to happen to you, there are many proof points all across this country; for that matter, around the rest of the world."

The U.S. has surged to lead the world in the number of coronavirus infections, with data from Johns Hopkins University indicating it has nearly 216,800 confirmed cases.

A total of 5,137 people have died since Feb. 29, when the first death took place in Washington state.

That nearly doubles the tolls in Italy and Spain, who follow the U.S. with about 110,000 infections each.

China, where the virus was first detected in December has recorded just 82,431 infections, though the country's official numbers have been repeatedly cast into doubt.

After emerging in the Chinese city of Wuhan the virus has spread to 180 countries and regions worldwide.