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The state Labor and Workforce Development Department said the number of claims is “by far, the most ever recorded” over a similar time frame. The week ending May 2 saw 88,000 new claims, up from 72,000 the week before.
Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo said in a statement that the 1 million claim milestone was “staggering” and that they never thought they'd reach such a figure in so short a time.
“This is an unemployment crisis unlike that which we have ever seen,” Gov. Phil Murphy said, adding that weekly numbers of claims are many times more than the Department of Labor typically deals with across entire months.
The governor acknowledged the frustration many unemployed New Jersey residents are feeling because of an overwhelmed system. He directed people looking for additional help and support to the state’s COVID-19 website.
Murphy calls on the national guard
New Jersey is among the states worst hit by the virus. Health officials have confirmed at least 131,635 cases and 8,801 deaths from the illness. In South Jersey, over 12,000 residents have tested positive, and 580 residents have died.
Despite declines in other areas, the number of positive cases and deaths connected to residents of long-term care facilities continues to grow, Murphy said at Thursday's coronavirus media briefing.
Murphy said the magnitude crisis required him to call on the New Jersey National Guard to send members to facilities throughout the state to help with COVID-19 mitigation efforts. The state’s Department of Human Services is also assisting by providing transportation for COVID-positive residents to and from hospitals.
Murphy reported that hospitalizations for COVID-19 across the state are continuing to trend downward. Over the last three weeks, hospitalizations have been reduced by 40%, the number of patients currently below 5,000 after peaking above 8,000.
Nursing students with the proper qualifications can also step up to work in hospitals and nursing homes as needed.
“Students can work in teams of four to six to supplement the function of certified nurse aides. They will be supervised by the director of nursing or existing nursing staff of the facility which is in place. The students who are matched to a facility will actually be hired and compensated by that facility,” said New Jersey Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli.
He credited the public for following hygienic and social distancing guidelines and said New Jersey residents should continue.
“We cannot let up with our social distancing – the fewer new cases, the fewer people in the hospital.”
The numbers are moving in the right direction, he said, but they are still far higher than they would be in “normal times.”
Assuming progress continues, Murphy expects to make some calls soon on some non-essential business reopenings, along with guidance sought by shore communities on handling the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
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