President Trump reportedly planning second coronavirus task force focusing on U.S. economy

Trump administration to pay hospitals to treat uninsured coronavirus patients

President Donald Trump is reportedly considering another coronavirus task force, this one focused on reopening the American economy.

The news comes as the nation continues to reel from the economic effects of the global pandemic. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor said 6.6 million more Americans filed jobless claims since last week.

The new numbers show roughly one in 10 American workers have lost their jobs in the past three weeks, constituting the largest and fastest string of job losses in records dating to 1948.

The viral outbreak is believed to have erased nearly one-third of the economy’s output in the current quarter. Forty-eight states have closed non-essential businesses. Restaurants, hotels, department stores and small businesses have laid off millions as they struggle to pay bills at a time when their revenue has vanished.

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In the past three weeks, 16.6 million Americans have filed for unemployment aid. The surge of jobless claims has overwhelmed state unemployment offices around the country. And still more job cuts are expected. The unemployment rate could hit 15% when the April employment report is released in early May.

Nearly 10 million people have applied for benefits in the previous two weeks because of business shutdowns from the coronavirus.

Shortly after Thursday’s numbers were released, the Federal Reserve announced an emergency program providing more than $2 trillion in lending to businesses of any size, as well as struggling state and city governments.

This story will be updated with the latest details.