COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – For the third week in a row, the number of people who live or work in South Carolina saying they lost their jobs because of the coronavirus outbreak increased.
More than 85,000 people in the state filed for unemployment for the one week ending April 4, a 31% increase from the week before, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce said in a statement Thursday.
This past week saw more job losses along the Interstate 85 manufacturing corridor. Earlier weeks saw more job losses along the coast where restaurants and bars help drive tourism.
Nearly 181,000 jobs have been lost in South Carolina over the past three weeks from restaurants, bars, manufacturers, dentist offices and a number of other businesses that have closed.
In January, South Carolina’s unemployment rate was 2.4% with 56,500 people looking for a job.
The unemployment agency said it has had to quadruple the number of call center workers needed to process claims and paid almost $18.5 million since March 15.
Workers who are furloughed but still get some kind of payment or benefit from their employer will be eligible for unemployment benefits, according to an executive order signed Wednesday by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster.
The coronavirus continues to spread in South Carolina. The state reported more than 2,550 cases and 63 deaths as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.
DHEC said 46% of the COVID-19 deaths have been in African Americans, while in 13% of the deaths, the race is unknown. About 38% of coronavirus cases are in blacks, who make up about 27% of South Carolina’s population.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause severe illness such as pneumonia, or even death.
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