Here’s What Life Is Like For the Millions of Unemployed Americans
More than 3.1 million Americans filed for unemployment in the last week, according to new numbers published by the U.S. Department of Labor today. Now, roughly 33.5 million people nationwide have been unemployed for at least some time since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. That’s the equivalent of one out of every five Americans. At this rate, if you haven’t been laid off, you probably know someone who has. Personally, my aunt, who is the primary caregiver for my grandparents, was laid off about a month ago, and my youngest brother lost his job this week.
Much of this pandemic experience is record-breaking, from unemployment to monthly death tolls, and it’s easy for numbers and data to become abstract figures that are hard to process. To help give a voice to the millions suffering economically because of the pandemic, TIME senior economics correspondent Alana Semuels spoke to dozens of people willing to share their experiences. “It seemed like a good time to talk about how the inequality that has come to characterize the U.S. economy was really laid bare by this pandemic,” Semuels says. TIME also deployed photographers to take stunning portraits of the people hard hit by job losses. They range from a janitor at the Silicon Valley offices of Tesla to a couple in Las Vegas who impersonate Elvis and Lady Gaga for a living.
“I interviewed a lot of people who didn’t make it into the story but whose stories are just as painful,” Semuels says. They include a truck driver who only made $48 last week and a delivery driver who says she can’t get any shifts since so many people have flooded into the gig economy seeking income, among others.
More than 3.7 million people around the world had been sickened by COVID-19 as of 8 PM eastern time last night, and more than 263,000 had died.
Here is every country with over 40,000 confirmed cases:
As the U.K. weighs easing the country’s lockdown, the Bank of England said today that the British economy could shrink to a point not seen since 1706. Meanwhile, a new study has found that Black, Asian and other ethnic minority groups in the U.K. are 2 to 3 times more likely to die of COVID-19 compared to the general population. Elsewhere in Europe, Poland has postponed its presidential election indefinitely. It was set to take place on Sunday, but will now likely take place in June.
China today declared that all areas of the country are now considered “low” risk for COVID-19 as new cases fall to nearly zero and no new deaths have been reported in nearly three weeks, the Washington Post reports.
The United Nations today announced that it is seeking an additional $6.7 billion to “to stave off the most debilitating effects of the pandemic in 63 low and middle-income countries,” according to a press release. The agency had initially asked for $2 billion six weeks ago, and only about $1 billion has been raised so far, according to the U.N. That money has so far been used to install handwashing facilities in refugee camps and other vulnerable places, and to provide countries with medical supplies such as gloves, surgical masks, N95 respirators and testing kits, the agency says.
The Situation in the United States
The total number of COVID-19 diagnoses in the U.S. rose to more than 1,228,000 as of 8 PM eastern time yesterday, and the death toll surpassed 73,000.
Unemployment continues to increase in the U.S.; 33.5 million people have now filed for federal assistance since the start of the outbreak. In light of that, restrictions in some parts of the country have started to ease, and tomorrow even more measures will start to loosen. In Texas, for example, salons and tattoo parlors can reopen for business beginning tomorrow, so long as they abide by social distancing measures. Republican Governor Greg Abbott announced today a relaxing of his executive order so that now anyone found in violation of coronavirus restrictions would not face jail time. The relaxing of the order is retroactive, which means a woman who was arrested in Dallas County for keeping her salon open—whose case has become a rallying cry for those opposing continued social distancing requirements—will now be freed from jail.
The AP reported today that the Trump Administration decided not to release step-by-step guidelines for when local authorities should reopen businesses. The 17-page report, prepared by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was supposed to be published last Friday, according to the AP, but was instead shelved by the White House.
Yesterday, two McDonald’s employees in Oklahoma City asked two customers to leave their restaurant when they would not abide by social distancing restrictions. Those two customers then allegedly became upset and shot the employees. Luckily, both gunshot victims are expected to live. The two suspects were arrested nearby.
The Defense Department announced today that it will bar potential military recruits who have been hospitalized for COVID-19 from enlisting, according to the AP. Those who tested positive for COVID-19 but didn’t have to be hospitalized may still enlist, but only if they meet other health criteria.
Lastly, Neiman Marcus today became the first major department store retailer to file for bankruptcy since the outbreak began.
All numbers are from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, and are accurate as of May 6, 8 PM eastern time. To see larger, interactive versions of these maps and charts, click here.
Goldman Sachs' new video series featuring insights on the implications of COVID-19 across markets, industries and the global economy.
WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW
Scared to Return to Work Amid the Pandemic? These Federal Laws Could Grant You Some Protections
As of May 6, at least 23 states are partially re-opening their economies, despite warnings from public health experts that the U.S. lacks the testing and contract tracing capability to support such measures. So what should you do if you’ve been called back to work? Read more here.
Why America Could Still Emerge Stronger After COVID-19
America will stumble through this crisis with less lasting damage than other nations can expect to sustain, writes Ian Bremmer, TIME foreign affairs columnist, and president of Eurasia Group. Read more here.
TIME for Kids ya Disponible en Español (TIME for Kids is Now Available in Spanish)
Inscríbete para obtener acceso gratis a una biblioteca de cuatro ediciones digitales para diferentes grados de TIME for Kids. (Subscribe for free access to a library of four digital editions of TIME for Kids, available for different age groups). Lee más aquí.
People Who Rely on Food Assistance Struggle to Get Groceries Safely
While many other Americans have turned to ordering groceries or food delivery online during the pandemic, that’s not always an option for those who rely on food stamps. So far, only six states allow for food stamp recipients to order groceries online. Read more here.
Mental Distress Among Americans Has Tripled During the Pandemic Compared to 2018
Among adults living at home with kids under the age of 18, the rate of severe distress rose from just 3% in 2018 to 37% in April 2020, according to new research from San Diego State University and Florida State University. Read more here.
Employees May Have to Get Tested for COVID-19 Before Coming Back to Work
Testing could be a way to maintain safety as employers weigh their reopening options. But that’s easier said than done in parts of the U.S. where testing availability is spotty. Read more here.
Doctors Explain Why COVID-19 May Be More Dangerous for African Americans
Katie Couric talks to experts about why the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black Americans. Watch the video here.
Thanks for reading. We hope you find the Coronavirus Brief newsletter to be a helpful tool to navigate this very complex situation, and welcome feedback at coronavirus.brief@time.com.
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Today’s newsletter was written byJasmine Aguilera and edited by Elijah Wolfson.
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