COVID-19 and the Economy

Free COVID testing ends on May 11, but you'll still have access to tests with a few differences.

The proposal comes as boosters have become a hard sell.

Delivery company DoorDash is eliminating more than 1,200 corporate jobs, about 6% of its total workforce, saying it hired too many people when demand for its services increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Residents lined up for throat swabs across Beijing as mass testing was expanded to 11 city districts. Beijing has a total of 92 virus cases since an outbreak was discovered five days ago.

President Joe Biden settled for much less in the package despite warnings that the government was running out of money to keep pace with the continued spread of COVID-19 in the U.S.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that they will leave it up to vacationers to decide whether they feel safe getting on a ship. The cruise-line industry is happy about the move.

There are an estimated 10-15% fewer Santa Clauses this year compared to last year due to COVID-19 and many Santas retiring, according to Mitch Allen, head elf at Hire Santa.

Jobless claims fell by 4,000 last week, the Labor Department reported Wednesday.

Unemployment claims in the U.S. reached another pandemic low last week, declining to 290,000.

One reason America’s employers are having trouble filling jobs was starkly illustrated in a report Tuesday: Americans are quitting in droves.

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to 473,000, a new pandemic low and the latest evidence that fewer employers are cutting jobs as consumers ramp up spending and more businesses reopen.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is calling for Washington to immediately stop paying out-of-work Americans an extra $300 a week in unemployment benefits, saying the boost in government aid is giving some recipients less incentive to look for work.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment aid fell last week to 547,000, a new low since the pandemic struck and a further encouraging sign that layoffs are slowing on the strength of an improving job market.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week to 744,000, signaling that many employers are still cutting jobs.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits edged higher last week to 745,000, a sign that many employers continue to cut jobs despite a drop in confirmed viral infections and evidence that the overall economy is improving.

While the IRS and Treasury have distributed the bulk of the anticipated $164 million in second-round of relief payments for Americans faster than the first time, millions have not gotten payments yet or found hiccups in the distribution.

About half of U.S. states have seen their highest daily coronavirus infection numbers so far at some point in October, and the country as a whole came very close to back-to-back record daily infection rates on Friday and Saturday.

Social Security recipients will get a modest 1.3% cost-of living-increase in 2021, but that might be small comfort amid worries about the coronavirus and its consequences for older people.

The Trump administration has announced plans to sharply limit visas issued to skilled workers from overseas.