VA, DC Unemployment Claims Surge Because Of Coronavirus

WASHINGTON, DC — The number of Virginia residents applying for first-time unemployment benefits was 114,104 for the week ended March 28, more than double from the prior week's number of 46,277.

In the District of Columbia, 14,868 residents filed for unemployment the week of March 28, up from 14,462 the week before.

More than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week — doubling a record high set just one week earlier — a sign that layoffs are accelerating rapidly because of the new coronavirus, the Associated Press reported.

On Wednesday morning, the Virginia Department of Health reported 1,484 positive cases of the coronavirus and 34 deaths. The positive cases jumped by 234 from the number reported Tuesday and the number of reported deaths increased by seven.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam issued a "stay-at-home" order Monday as cases of the new coronavirus topped 1,000. The order calls for residents to stay home except to obtain food and other essential services, obtain medical care, travel to and from work, take care of other persons or care for animals, visit a relative, travel to and from an educational institution, volunteer with a group providing charitable or social services, or exercise outdoors with social distancing.

The order is in effect from Monday until June 10, unless changed or rescinded by another executive order.

Under the order, beaches in Virginia are closed to visitors except for exercise and fishing. Private campgrounds must close for short-term stays, and higher education institutions must halt in-person classes and instruction.

Last week, Northam issued an executive order banning gatherings of more than 10 people, violation of which is a class 1 misdemeanor. The order also closed nonessential recreation and entertainment businesses, ordered restaurants to operate with takeout and delivery only, and allowed businesses considered essential to operate with regular hours. K-12 schools were ordered to close for the rest of the academic year. This order is in effect through April 23.

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And District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser said she doesn't expect Metropolitan Police Department officers to have to issue fines or make arrests for violations to the stay-at-home order she issued Monday to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

People who violate the District's stay-at-home order may be guilty of a misdemeanor and, if convicted, may be fined up to $5,000, or imprisoned for up to 90 days, or both. The order took effect midnight on Tuesday.

Some of last week's jobless claims are likely delayed filings from the previous week, when state offices that handle unemployment benefits were overwhelmed by a surge of online and telephone claims.

The accelerating layoffs have led many economists to envision as many as 20 million lost jobs by the end of April. That would be more than double the 8.7 million jobs lost during the Great Recession. The unemployment rate could spike to as high as 15 percent this month, above the previous record of 10.8 percent set during a deep recession in 1982, the Associated Press said.

More than two-thirds of the U.S. population is under stay-at-home orders, imposed by most U.S. states. That has intensified pressure on businesses, most of which face rent, loans and other bills that must be paid.

How To File VA Unemployment Claim

There are two primary steps to receiving unemployment insurance. First you must file an application to establish or reopen a claim. If you are out of work due to the coronavirus crisis then you will select “Lack of Work” as the reason for separation. Secondly, you access the program each week to claim unemployment insurance payment.

You should file your application or reopen your previous claim by visiting our website at www.vec.virginia.gov. This method is the preferred way to access the unemployment insurance application during this time of very heavy claim activity.

If you used the online system previously, the user name and passwords will remain the same.

You may file your claim through the Customer Contact Center by calling 866-832-2363. (Monday through Friday 8:15am to 4:30pm.) If you must file by telephone, continue to call back if lines are busy.

DC Unemployment Claims

Visit the DC Department of Employment Services website for links to applications forms. You can also call 202-724-7000.

Latest coronavirus updates on DC and Virginia Patch:

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• Coronavirus: DC Mayor Addresses Stay-At-Home Order Penalties
• Liberty University Has Coronavirus Case; Region's Numbers Grow
• 2 New Coronavirus Deaths In DC; 586 Total Positive Cases
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