DATA: North Carolina – The Skinny – NC Dept of Commerce Issues New Claims Information – Only Half the People Have Been Paid?

North Carolina Department of Commerce has changed the way it is publishing its information.

From the Bureau of Labor and Statistics:

“The North Carolina smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in March, increasing 0.8 of a percentage point from the previous month and growing 0.3 of a percentage from March 2019. Over the month, the number of persons unemployed increased by 35,020 (19.2%). The civilian labor force fell by 145,255 (2.8%) to 4,969,407. Nationally, March’s unemployment rate was 4.4 percent. The number of persons unemployed was 7,140,000, while the civilian labor force was 162,913,000.”

The North Carolina Division of Employment Security made a small, but meaningful change to its website today. Instead of highlighting the cumulative claims figure, the division is now breaking out how many individuals have filed claims.

In the illustration below, we can now see that 1,129,775 claims have filed.

861,713 individuals in North Carolina have filed claims.

Why the discrepancy?

A spokeswoman for the division said the duplications come from people filing for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (independent contractors and self-employed), who had to be found ineligible for state unemployment before qualifying for the PUA.

There are some drastically huge numbers reported.

A number to point out is there have been 861,713 individual filing claims. However, only 494,251 claimants received payment.

To make matters worse is when you compare them directly to March 2020’s unemployment numbers. The chart above indicates a start date for tracking on March 15, 2020. That should mean this chart below would encompass the above chart’s data since it is reporting through the end of the month.

At the end of March, there were 210,268 people unemployed. Fast forward to today with the stated unemployment numbers of 861,713. More than 840,000 individual claims were file from the end of March until now. During that time, only 494,251 claimants received their compensation.

Since March 15, the Division of Employment Security has paid unemployment insurance benefits to more than 470,600 people and provided $1.4 billion in #COVID19 related unemployment insurance payments, including federal benefits. More data: https://t.co/G3QP5wptuu pic.twitter.com/2WnY3eizRW

— N.C. Commerce (@NCCommerce) May 11, 2020

Citizen Media News is interested in knowing more in-depth data about these numbers that have caused such a catastrophic impact on North Carolina.

In further comparing numbers with these charts, there are arguably about 16,000 cases known in North Carolina. Most of which have occurred in institutions such as nursing homes and the like. Combine this with the total number of deaths of less than 600. Something does not seem correct in so much, we would self-inflict such hardship on many people as we have over the past few months.

“It’s only an island if you look at it from the water.” Chief Brody, Jaws (1975).

For the 600 families dealing with the supreme issues, we don’t make light of their situation. We remember them.

We do ask our state government to release better numbers concerning the true meaning of their transitions. Specifically, what are the rates of transition of people these past three months versus the same period last year?

Listed below are links to news stories from ABC and CBS news addressing issues in prisons and a different report on the data for children.

 By the Numbers:

• 15,516 known cases in NC (as of 4:32 p.m.)
• 15,346 positive casesconfirmed by NCDHHS
• 1,359,319 cases in the U.S. (as of 4:32 p.m.)
• 202,244 completedtests in North Carolina
• 9,655,039 completed tests in the U.S.
• 475 people currently hospitalized due to COVID-19
• 596 deaths in North Carolina
• 82,105 deaths in the U.S. (as of 4:32 p.m.)
• 99 counties in NC with cases (Avery County remains the one county without a case)

Latest Developments

• ICYMI: We received a response/guidance from the Governor’s Office on outdoor and indoor worship services.The N.C. Sheriffs Association is also asking for Gov. Cooper to amend his Executive Order to allow indoor services.
• Free COVID-19 tests are available at two Walgreens in North Carolina, one in Durham and one in Greenville, with eight other counties slated to open up testing sites. The testing sites are part of NCDHHS’ push to test more individuals in North Carolina.

• Prison officials in North Carolina say the majority of inmates that tested positive for COVID-19 are “presumed to have recovered.” Across 11 prisons in the state, 642 inmates tested positive, and more than 500 are “presumed recovered.”

• State health officials are monitoring an illness related to COVID-19 that affects children. So far, no confirmed cases have been found in North Carolina. 

Quick Hits

• S. House Democrats released a new $3 trillion coronavirus bill today. The bill includes $1 trillion for states and local governments. Per The Wall Street Journal, it’s unlikely the Senate will vote on the bill: “Many GOP lawmakers have said they want to see the nearly $3 trillion that has been approved by Congress be disbursed before passing more legislation.”

• The U.S. budget deficit is at a record $1.935 trillion in the 12 months through April. From The Wall Street Journal: “The annual deficit was almost double the $1.037 trillion budget gap for the year through March. Spending rose to $5.2 trillion, while revenues fell to $3.265 trillion.”

• The California State University System announced classes would not be held on its 23 campuses this fall. Instruction would be “almost exclusively online.”

• A study published this week found a smartphone app that allows people to track COVID-19 symptoms “was remarkably effective in predicting coronavirus infections among the 2.5 million who were using it between March 24 and April 21.”According to the study, the loss of taste and smell were the top predictors of whether someone was going to get sick with COVID-19.