Record 22 million have sought US jobless aid since virus

Tim Mossholder on UnsplashClosed sign, Photo Date: 3/8/2018
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The wave of layoffs that has engulfed the U.S. economy since the coronavirus struck forced 5.2 million more people to seek unemployment benefits last week.About 22 million have sought jobless benefits in the past month — easily the worst stretch of U.S. job losses on record.
All told, nearly 12 million people are now receiving unemployment checks, roughly matching