THE NUMBER of all initial unemployment claims in Rhode Island since March 9 has reached 232,549. / AP FILE PHOTO/NAM Y. HUH
PROVIDENCE – Unemployment insurance filings related to COVID-19 pandemic rose by 364 Wednesday to 162,812, according to data from the R.I. Department of Labor and Training released Thursday. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance filings increased by 583 to 58,915. The program provides unemployment benefits to the self-employed, small-business owners and contractors who would not normally be eligible.…