COVID-19 Lay Offs

Thousands of Georgians are facing unemployment as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

For a full list of emergency declarations in place... throughout middle georgia ... visit our website, 41nbc.com the conronvirus pandemic is causing financial stress for businesses and employees in middle georgia.

41nbc's peyton lewis has more on the impact in the community, and how the state is responding.

Streets that are usually bustling with life are now empty due to the covid-19 virus.

Local businesses are seeing the effects of this pandemic.

The georgia department of labor division director, denise beckwith, says thousands of georgians are filing for unemployment.

"our call volume has increased tremendously by workers and employers contacting us and letting us know that they will be temporarily laying off their workers in the future or that they have.

And they're asking what they need to do to make sure their workers can receive some kind of payment while they're out of work."

Kiley harden is from laurens county.

She recently lost her job at a local healthcare facility due to a lack of childcare and having to take off work to stay with her children.

"unfortunately the sitter didn't work out.

So when i came in on wednesday i was kind of given the ultimatum, either come to work consistently or be let go.

I work in a healthcare, and i'm in a doctors office front line, so i kind of decided that my kids are more important.

I'm their mom, it's on me.

And so on monday they called me and let me go.

" harden says she could not go to the unemployment office because it's closed.

She instead had to file