Jobless report: 1.3 million more Americans apply for unemployment
An additional 1.3 million Americans applied for unemployment in the week ending July 11, according to figures released this morning by the U.S. Department of Labor. That number is somewhat higher than expected, though it reflects a decrease of 10,000 claims from the previous week’s revised level, which itself was revised down by 4,000, to 1.31 million claims. Unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic remains at historically high levels and has been over one million each week for nearly four months. The official unemployment rate in June was 11.1%, the Labor Department reported earlier this month. Some economists worry, however, that this figure might rise again as the pandemic forces more businesses to close, including businesses currently re-opening after having closed earlier. More than 17 million Americans are still receiving unemployment insurance benefits as the pandemic continues.
COVID-19 numbers
Here’s the latest data on COVID-19 coronavirus infections and deaths.
Latest reported numbers globally per Johns Hopkins University
Global diagnosed cases: 13,579,581
Global deaths: 584,794. The United States has the most deaths of any single country, with 137,419.
Number of countries/regions: at least 188
Total patients recovered globally: 7,597,786
Latest reported numbers in the United States per Johns Hopkins University
There are at least 3,499,398 reported cases in 50 states + the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. This is more than in any other country.
U.S. deaths: at least 137,419. New York State has the greatest number of reported deaths in the U.S., with 32,427.
U.S. total patients recovered: 1,075,882
U.S. total people tested: 42,521,027
The greatest number of reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is in New York, with 404,006 confirmed cases out of a total state population of 19.5 million. That is the most reported cases than in any other single region in the world.
COVID-19 headlines
Tulsa passes mandatory mask ordinance; OK governor is first gov. in nation to test COVID-19 positive
The Tulsa, Oklahoma City Council on Wednesday passed a mandatory mask ordinance by a 7-2 vote. The ordinance now goes to Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum for his signature, which at last word was scheduled to happen at 9:00 a.m. today. The ordinance vote comes one day after Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced he’d tested positive for COVID-19, making him the first U.S. governor to be confirmed infected. Stitt also attended President Trump’s June 20 rally in Tulsa, where he did not wear a mask, nor has he generally worn a mask when seen in public. Oklahoma on Wednesday recorded 1,075 new COVID-19 cases, a single-day record for the state and the first day that the new case count exceeded 1,000, according to state department of health numbers.
Georgia governor signs executive order banning local mask mandates
As governors of hard-hit states enact mandates to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Wednesday signed an executive order that bans cities and municipalities from mandating the wearing of masks. The order voids mask mandates that were already in place in at least 15 Georgia local jurisdictions. While the executive order declares that anyone in the state is “strongly encouraged to wear face coverings as practicable,” a spokesperson reiterated Gov. Kemp’s stated belief that mask mandates are “unenforceable.” As of Wednesday, Georgia reported 127,838 COVID-19 infections, according to Johns Hopkins University, and had nearly 2,800 people hospitalized statewide with the virus, the highest number on record and nearly double the numbers since the beginning of the month. July 6, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms revealed she’d tested positive for COVID-19, and continues to recover in quarantine.