California's increase of unemployment insurance claims is absolutely staggering

As California continues its statewide shelter-in-place order in response to the spread of coronavirus, California governor Gavin Newsom stated that the daily number of unemployment insurance claims in the state has skyrocketed dramatically.

During a press conference Monday night, Newsom reported that the daily average of claims over the last seven days is 106,000. The normal average per day is just 2,500, meaning the number of jobless claims has increased by over 4,000%. The governor called for block grants from the federal government to help the state pay for benefits.

"It is critical that the states get these block grants, that states have the capacity to meet this moment without exhausting their unemployment insurance funds," he said.

MORE: How to file for unemployment benefits in California

A recent report from the state Legislative Analyst’s Office indicated that unemployed workers will likely have to wait more than the usual 21 days before receiving benefits, due to the fact that the system is currently being flooded with new jobless claims.

"Given the extraordinary number of applications received recently, as well as the expectation that claims will continue to increase over the coming weeks, the Legislature should anticipate that first benefit payments will take much longer than 21 days," the report states. "Similar delays occurred during the Great Recession."

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.

• What you need to know about Bay Area shelter in place orders due to coronavirus
• 'I cry every morning': Delfina owner heartbroken over closing restaurants, laying off workers
• Boba Guys founder on what it’s like to fire 400 people, shutter 17 locations in a single day
• UC San Francisco accepting mask donations
• 'Mom, what's happening to our city?': My apocalyptic bike ride on Valencia with my son
• Legendary SF concert venue Slim's to close
• 401-room W Hotel San Francisco temporarily closes due to lack of demand
• Can you leave your county if a shelter-in-place order is in effect in the Bay Area?
• Can you ride your bike in counties with shelter-in-place orders?
• 'Quarantine shaming': People navigate new social norms
• How 'flatten the curve' works in the coronavirus pandemic
• How a mild case of the novel coronavirus can quickly turn deadly
• Study shows how easily coronavirus can potentially spread
• The two most common symptoms in coronavirus patients
• Does smoking/vaping put you at a higher risk of coronavirus?
• How coronavirus compares to epidemics of the past
• The worst myths and misinformation about coronavirus
• Out of hand sanitizer? Here's how to make your own
• Are children at a lower risk for coronavirus complications?
• Are the elderly at a greater risk for coronavirus complications?
• Why Taiwan's COVID-19 death rate is shockingly low

Eric Ting is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com | Twitter:@_ericting