U.S. jobless claims soar past 3 million amid COVID-19 crisis

A view of the nearly deserted Bourbon Street, which is normally bustling with tourists and revelers, is seen in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., March 19, 2020. /AP

Weekly jobless claims in the U.S. have soared to a record-breaking 3.28 million, compared to the expected 1.5 million, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Thursday.

The normally routine report reflects the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, which has forced widespread closures of restaurants, shops and hotels and brought air travel to a near halt.

By comparison, there were 281,000 first time filers in the previous week. The increase blows away the previous record of 695,000 set in October 1982.