The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits has hit a record high for the second week in a row as the economic toll tied to the coronavirus intensifies.
The Department of Labour says more than 6.6 million people filed jobless claims in the week ended 28th March.
That is nearly double the week earlier, which was also a new record.
The deepening economic crisis comes as the number of cases in the US of COVID-19 soars to more than 236,000.
With the death toll rising to more than 5,600, the White House recently said it would retain restrictions on activity to try to curb the outbreak.
