US: Unemployment claims fall in Maine despite more staying home

Unemployment claims have slowed somewhat in Maine, but remain much higher than historical averages.

A total of 11,560 people made initial claims for unemployment compensation in the week that ended April 18, the Maine Department of Labor reported. That was the lowest number of initial claims in the last five weeks.

State labor commissioner Laura Fortman said there is still “no question that Maine people and small businesses are continuing to face significant economic hardship because of the coronavirus.”

Continued claims for the week were more than 66,000, the highest number on record and more than twice the peak during the last recession in early 2009, the department said.

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TRIALS POSTPONED

The number of homicide trials delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic has grown to eight in Maine.

The delays suggest an impending backlog; only one of the trials has been rescheduled so far, the Bangor Daily News reports .

The U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to a speedy trial, but Maine law doesn’t define the length of time a trial may be delayed before a defendant’s rights are violated.

The latest trial to be delayed was that of Dwight Jay Osgood, 38, of Clifton, who’s accused of shooting his girlfriend in the back. It was due to start on June 23. Osgood has pleaded not guilty.

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MODELING

A model projecting the path of the coronavirus outbreak suggests Maine could begin relaxing its rules on social distancing next month.

The model created by researchers at the University of Washington suggests Maine and eight other states could start easing its social distancing rules by mid-May. That’s based on the number of infections falling below 1 for every 1 million residents.

Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control, said decisions on reopening the economy will be based on the state’s on-the-ground experience more than models.

“Right now, what’s driving our decision and our thinking about any reopening is much less about a model and much more the day-to-day figures.”

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STAYING AT HOME

New cellphone data suggests about 40% of Mainers are staying put in their homes on any given day, abiding by the governor’s stay-at-home order.

The percentage of Mainers staying home grew steadily to around 35% after the state’s first coronavirus case was announced on March 12, the Bangor Daily News reported.

The figure rose to its current level after Mills issued a formal stay-at-home order on March 31. The newspaper cited an analysis by SafeGraph.