News by the Numbers: May 11–17

On Friday, the House voted 208 to 199 to pass a fifth round of stimulus aid called the HEROES Act. The bill, totaling $3 trillion, prioritizes funding for state and local governments, essential workers, and those who are unemployed. The Republican-led Senate called the bill “dead on arrival.”

Another 2.98 million people filed for unemployment benefits the week ending May 9, bringing the total to 36.5 million, according to a weekly report from the Department of Labor.

Confirmed COVID-19 fatalities in the U.S. topped 90,000—28% of the global total, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

Governor Cuomo announced last week that five New York State regions—Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, North Country, and Central New York— may begin Phase 1 of reopening. In order to begin reopening, a region must meet seven key criteria.

The average gas price in the U.S. rose 5 cents over the last three weeks to $1.97 per gallon. The increase comes after almost nine weeks of plummeting prices due to COVID-19. Industry analysts expect prices to rise steadily as more states lift stay-at-home orders.

The Bundesliga—Germany’s premier soccer league—resumed play on Saturday with six live games—the first since the coronavirus pandemic shuttered professional sports in March. Notable differences to sport include empty stadiums, players and coaches in masks, and social distancing of inactive players not on traditional benches, but seated in the stadium.

For many students, last weekend’s commencement ceremonies were anything but traditional. High schools and colleges across the country hosted virtual graduations due to COVID-19. With the virtual celebrations wrapped up, college graduates are entering one of the worst job markets in history.