June 11, 2020

2.2 million people applied for unemployment last week; Covid-19 hospitalizations increase in 12 states; New study says lockdowns averted 62 million virus cases

0:08 – The latest filings show 1.5 million new unemployment claims in the U.S. — and that’s not including 700,000 people who applied for pandemic unemployment assistance, because they don’t qualify for the state UI programs. Together, that’s 2.2 million people who applied for unemployment last week. Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute points out that this is the 12th week in a row that the U.S. has had unemployment claims worse than the “worst week” of the Great Recession.

0:34 – Dr. John Swartzberg is clinical professor emeritus of infectious diseases at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health. California is adding more Covid-19 cases than any other state. Dr. Swartzberg joins us to talk through what the virus could look like in October and November. He says the state’s fire season — which in a drought, is predicted to stretch later into the year — will impact respiratory airways and state residents’ vulnerability to viruses, along with the beginning of influenza season.

1:08 – What has happened to people arrested during protests, unrest and mass uprisings over racial injustice? We talk with Jeff Wozniak, a volunteer attorney with the National Lawyers Guild helping to defend and free people arrested during the uprisings, including people charged with looting and burglary.

1:18 – Teresa Drenick, assistant district attorney for Alameda County, responds to questions about the county’s charging decisions for people arrested during the racial justice uprisings and charged with looting and burglary. “Looting” is a charge that can only be applied during a state of emergency.

1:34 – A new paper published in Nature estimates that lockdowns in China, South Korea, Iran, France, Italy and the United States may have averted 62 million confirmed cases of Covid-19. We talk with one of its authors, Andy Hultgren.

1:45 – Assemblymember Ash Kalra is part of a group of lawmakers taking issue with parts of Gavin Newsom’s deep-cutting California budget that they say put austerity measures on the backs of workers. Kalra suggests reforming Prop 13, introducing a wealth tax and other measures to balance the budget. He says California shouldn’t pass a budget that relies so heavily on cuts for workers and social services — but the state is facing a $54 billion deficit and federal aid is not currently on the way.

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June 11, 2020

2.2 million people applied for unemployment last week; Covid-19 hospitalizations increase in 12 states; New study says lockdowns averted 62 million virus cases

The post 2.2 million people applied for unemployment last week; Covid-19 hospitalizations increase in 12 states; New study says lockdowns averted 62 million virus cases appeared first on KPFA.

...more