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Blog COVID-19 in Maryland Government & Politics

As Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Rise, So Does Unemployment

Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr (R) announced the largest increase in overnight confirmed COVID-19 infections in Maryland Thursday — from 423 infections to 580.

“We are only at the beginning of this crisis, in our state, in the National Capital Region, and in America,” Hogan said in a statement. “As I have repeatedly stressed, we should continue to expect the number of cases to dramatically and rapidly rise.”

Maryland accounts for just under half of the 1,200 confirmed cases in the Maryland, D.C. and Virginia area.

As the number of confirmed cases rises, so does unemployment.

According to the State Department of Labor, 42,334 Marylanders applied for unemployment insurance last week.

The week before saw only 3,852 claims.

“This battle is going to be much harder, take much longer, and be much worse than almost anyone comprehends,” Hogan said.

The governor has taken a number of steps to protect workers in the state in the face of the public health crisis.

On Wednesday, he officially requested a disaster declaration for the state from President Trump, which would allow people who don’t currently qualify for state unemployment insurance to receive benefits through disaster unemployment assistance. On Thursday evening, the federal government accepted Hogan’s request.

At a news conference earlier this week, administration officials unveiled the COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund — a grant program to help small businesses maintain their staffs through the state of emergency.

At the close of the abridged legislative session last week, Hogan enacted legislation to expand unemployment benefits for workers who may temporarily lose their jobs or find themselves in a situation where they may need to self-isolate or quarantine — the only bill he has signed since the session’s close.

“I want Marylanders to know that if we continue to lead and work together — if we rely on and help each other — together we will get through this crisis,” Hogan said.

Here is a county-by-county breakdown of unemployment claims last week, according to the Maryland Department of Labor:

Claim Filed By Residents of:  Telephone Internet
Allegany 129 719
Anne Arundel 329 4188
Baltimore City 812 4580
Baltimore County 591 6172
Calvert 50 570
Caroline 21 204
Caroll 63 1095
Cecil 64 601
Charles 111 827
Dorchester 22 227
Frederick 113 1616
Garrett 33 253
Harford 129 1909
Howard 97 1490
Kent 11 79
Montgomery 362 3579
Non-Maryland 433 2346
Prince George’s 479 3313
Queen Anne’s 34 421
Somerset 25 103
St. Mary’s 56 491
Talbot 43 413
Washington 121 1117
Wicomico 117 805
Worcester 136 835
Totals by Type: 4,381 37,953
Total Claims:                                     42,334

 

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As Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Rise, So Does Unemployment