The number of unemployment claims in Alexandria climbed dramatically in the second half of March, as thousands of city residents lost their jobs over the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Alexandria Workforce Development Center is reporting that there were 33 unemployment claims on March 14. That number rose to 797 jobless claims a week later on March 21, and then more than doubled to 1,683 claims a week after that on March 28.

Across Virginia, there are 112,497 unemployed claimants for the week ending March 28, which is an increase of 66,220 claimants from 46,277 from the week ending on March 21, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. That’s a 5,000% increase, or 110,397 more claims, over the same time last year.

Learn more about filing a weekly or continued claim here.

The City and its partners are working together to provide resources for those impacted by the COVID-19 response, ranging from food assistance and safety net services to help for small businesses. Learn more at https://t.co/Mc74RJkAJ5.

— WDC Alexandria VA (@WDCAlexVA) March 25, 2020