March 27, 2020

Andrew Campbell 

Amid widespread lockdowns in the US prompted by the Coronavirus pandemic, many states have ordered nonessential businesses to close. In addition, US people are advised to follow social distancing such as keeping 6 feet apart with others. People are also mandated to avoid nonessential travel and gatherings of more than 10 people.

Within these months, the COVID-19 pandemic has already struck down airlines, automakers, gyms, hotels, movie theaters, restaurants, and tourism industries. Under such tough restrictions imposed by the US government, millions of US businesses had turned to furloughs or layoffs. Many economists are concerned that the US economy might collapse into a recession.

As death tolls and infection cases keep soaring in the US, a nationwide economic shutdown has shown a record 3.28 million workers filed an application for unemployment aid by the week ended March 21. The surge in weekly unemployment benefits applications was a stunning indication of the COVID-19 outbreak is hurting to the US economy. Most recently, an economic relief bill has received its approval in Congress and passed by the US legislation to provide $US 1 billion funding to safeguard states and their economy.

Photo:Webshot.