The number of unemployment claims the state received in late March because of business closures from coronavirus restrictions in Lincoln County were nearly eight times normal.

Although regular employment estimates for late March are not yet available, the Oregon Employment Department said Tuesday that during the week of March 15-21 it received about 300 new claims for unemployment insurance from Lincoln County residents. That was nearly eight times the average of the preceding four weeks.

The state says there were 4,280 leisure and hospitality jobs in Lincoln County in February.

Statewide the department processed around 22,800 unemployment insurance claims March 15-21, four times more than the 4,900 processed the week prior.

The agency received a total of 76,500 new claims online and by phone, around 20 times the workload experienced in a typical week.

The department said it is redeploying its staff, making new hires, and opening additional phone lines, in an attempt to address the unprecedented surge in claims.

More information on unemployment insurance benefits can be found on the OED’s website.