S.

Today, just from Cove it 19 and it's especially difficult to know that there will be more deaths today.

The president's briefing.

We were told again that the number of American deaths could reach as high as 200,000.

The president warning of painful weeks ahead in Detroit.

The rush to build a hospital As concerns rise about that city becoming the next hot spot here in New York, makeshift morgues are being built to handle the crush of bodies.

All the most imminent threat of this virus is to our physical health.

For many Americans, there is another existential threat.

How do I pay my rent?

How do I put food on the table at the end of this trying month?

We begin tonight with Clayton Sandal on the growing economic woes facing our country.

The Corona virus pandemic is slamming the U.

S.

Workforce like an iceberg striking the Titanic.

And now the race is on to help millions of workers before the entire economy sinks.

My name is Chris Rhys Spitaleri on, um, I'm a server slash later from Roosevelt Island.

Um, New York, like so many others.

Kris Spitaleri is out of a job these days.

He's spending most of his time on the phone.

Desperate to sign up for unemployment.

I worked in a diner named Niecy on I'm sorry.

I'm currently on the phone with unemployment like I am every single morning process on hold.

Yesterday I was on hold for 173 minutes after 100 I think 50 something minutes.

It was disconnected, so I'm hoping for a different turnout today.

Last week, 3.3 million Americans filed for unemployment, the largest number ever recorded three times the number of people employed by Apple Target GM bowing and McDonald's combined on March, March 16th.

On Monday, my diner was shut down along with all other restaurants in New York City and bars.

And I lost my job.

Um, so my savings is running very, very, very low.

And I need money.

Thio, I need money to pay my bills.

Um, so are not a claimant.

If somebody would just pick up the phone and try to, you know, talk to me.

It would be really nice for many.

April 1st is no joke.

Rent is due.

We need a rent freeze, a rent suspension if they're not gonna do it in New York or state by state that they have to do it federally.

So many Americans rent their homes and rent their small businesses.

$12 is not enough to get by.

All right, thank you all.

The stimulus package passed last week is bringing some relief today.

The federal government said small businesses can begin applying for loans as part of a $349 billion paycheck protection program aimed at helping businesses cover payroll individuals making less than $99,000 a year.

We'll also get a check, but Alice Stanford says it won't be enough.

Supposedly, they're sending us $1200 from the federal government, which will not pay my rent.

I guess it's better than nothing.

Some private companies air helping to Tyson Foods announcing it will pay out $500 bonuses to more than 115,000 frontline workers.

Uber will give 10 million free rides and free food deliveries, toe health care workers and seniors in need.

Millions of others have a different problem still employed, but now Maur exposed as they work to keep essential businesses like grocery stores and hospitals like the one where J.

R.

Le Blanc works running.

I have to go in and I have to clean the rooms.

I have to take the garbage oath.

And you know, you're always concerned about bringing something like that home.

So my message to everybody out there is stay warm and I'm risking my life and the nurses.

I'm just asking you to please listen to what they're telling you.

Stay home.

Whole Foods employees today called for a mass sickout demanding corporate owner Amazon provide health care for all part time workers guaranteed hazard pay and to shut down any location where a worker test positive for covert 19.

Walmart says it's adding safety features to stores and taking the temperature of every worker.

In Southern California today, L.

A county supervisors voted to require mandatory safety upgrades for grocery and delivery company's, requiring employees to wash hands every 30 minutes, security to enforce social distancing and access to Corona virus testing or something.

Chris Spitaleri says the kindness of others is helping him survive.

If only he could reach that unemployment office, and I was just disconnected from non appointment line once again, and Clayton Sandal joins us now.

Certainly a lot of pain right now, and for many is still in the days and weeks ahead.

We heard from that restaurant worker who was not able to get through to the unemployment office.

A staggering as the new jobless numbers are.

Could that really be indicative that we're not even getting the full picture off?

The true unemployment numbers yell into the short answer is yes.

And one thing to keep in mind is that traditionally those freelance those part time workers were not eligible for unemployment benefits.

But with the stimulus package that was passed last week, they are now eligible.

So you may see ah lot of new people applying.

And if you're looking for estimates of where these unemployment claims might end up this week, the numbers are not good.

It's anywhere from around four million.

That's a Citigroup estimate all the way up to 6.5 1,000,000 that comes from picked it wealth management.

So even that low estimate Lindsay would still be another unemployment record.

Clayton Sandal.

Thank you so much for that report.

Hi, everyone.

George Stephanopoulos here Thanks for checking on ABC News YouTube channel.

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