U.S. weekly jobless claims rise to 853,000 amid surging COVID-19 cases

Job seekers wait in line to speak with representatives during the TechFair LA career fair in Los Angeles, California, U.S., on Thursday, March 8, 2018. /Getty Images

The number of initial jobless claims in the United States rose again to reach 853,000 last week, as surging COVID-19 cases weigh on economic recovery, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

This week's tally is an uptick of 137,000 compared to last week's figure, reflecting a concerning new spike.

Thursday's economic data from the Department of Labor also comes as new virus cases surge across the country. Health officials said that last week marked the deadliest week for the U.S. since the beginning of the pandemic, with 15,578 deaths.

(With input from agencies)