News in Numbers
The number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits the week of Thanksgiving, resulting in a drop of 75,000 from the prior week but still nearly 500,000 higher than pre-pandemic levels.
The number of laptops that Connecticut has delivered to pre-K through 12th grade students, making it the first state in the nation to provide devices for all students in need.
The amount of the latest COVID-19 relief bill that was proposed by bi-partisan members of the House of Representatives. The package would include $228 billion in paycheck protection funds for hotels, restaurants and other small businesses as well as an additional $300 weekly to unemployment benefits.
The number of people who traveled through airports on Sunday, the greatest number of travelers since the pandemic hit the U.S. in March. However, the numbers are still half of those who traveled a year ago.
The number of seconds between COVID-related deaths last Tuesday as the U.S. death toll reached 2,157 deaths in a single day, the highest since May.
The number of toilet paper rolls that an Oregon man tried to steal from a residence in Walla Walla County, Wash. The toilet paper has since been recovered.
The proportioned drop in national public transit ridership in the second quarter of 2020 as compared to the same period the year prior. In that same period, New York’s and Chicago’s ridership declined by 87 percent, while it fell 93 percent in Washington, D.C.
The number of Americans who could lose their coronavirus-related unemployment benefits on Dec. 26, if Congress does not extend the pandemic relief bill.
The number of state legislators nationwide who have tested positive for COVID-19. Three have died.
The amount that President Trump’s re-election campaign has spent on a recount in two democratic counties in Wisconsin, despite there being no evidence of fraudulent or irregular voting.
The amount of coronavirus relief funds that Pennsylvania tried to use to lower residents’ property tax bills. The proposal was rejected by the federal government in September.
The amount that the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority has spent on COVID-19 response, including $124 million to disinfect train cars and another $69 million to sanitize subway and railroad stations.
The number of tweets between Oct. 27 and Nov. 11 that Twitter had labeled “disputed and potentially misleading” election information.
The starting price of Rivian’s electric truck that will begin taking orders next week with deliveries to begin in June. All models can travel more than 300 miles on a single charge and go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds.
The amount that California’s Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District is losing in bridge tolls and transit fares each week. The district faces a $48 million deficit despite severe cost-saving measures.
The proportion of COVID-19 patients who developed a mental illness, such as anxiety, depression or insomnia, within the first three months of diagnosis, according to a study.
The number of passengers involved in the Virgin Hyperloop’s test ride that was conducted on Sunday. The company has previously run more than 400 tests at the Hyperloop’s test site in Las Vegas, This is the first test that included passengers.
The proportion of the 376 counties with the highest numbers of new coronavirus cases per capita that voted for Trump. The U.S. has been increasing in new coronavirus cases.
The number of new U.S. coronavirus cases reported on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, breaking the previous single-day record which was set on Oct. 30. This is the first time the nation has surpassed the 100,000 daily cases marker since the coronavirus began.
The amount to which Florida will raise its hourly minimum wage by 2026, after being approved by voters on Tuesday. Currently the state’s minimum wage is $8.56 an hour.
The unprecedented number of ballots that were cast prior to Election Day, which is approximately 71 percent of all ballots cast during the 2016 election.
The number of U.S. election lawsuits that have already been filed across the nation, while experts predict that more will arise after election day. Both parties have thousands of lawyers on standby.
The estimated number of Texas ballots that had been cast as of Friday morning, already exceeding the 8.9 million total ballots cast in the state’s 2016 election.
The amount that hackers have stolen from the Wisconsin Republican Party’s account, which was being used to re-elect President Trump. There have been more than 800 attempted phishing attacks for financial gain against them this campaign cycle, according to a party spokesperson.
The amount that the 21st Century Job Act would invest into the development and research of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, biotechnology and STEM education across 10 years. The proposed legislation is predicted to create 3 million new jobs per year.
The amount that billionaire Michael Bloomberg is planning to spend on advertising for the Biden-Harris campaign in Ohio and Texas during the final days before Election Day.
The average weight, in pounds, of food that the Houston Food Bank distributes daily during the coronavirus pandemic, with some days’ distributions reaching 1 million pounds. Before COVID-19, the country’s largest food bank would only collectively distribute 450,000 pounds each day.
The proportion of Americans who had already voted, either by in-person or vote-by-mail, despite there still being more than a week left before the election.
The number of viewers who watched Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s livestream of her playing the online game “Among Us” this week, making it the third-most views for a single Twitch stream. Ocasio-Cortez used the event to urge people to make a voting plan and to discuss the importance of voting.
The proportion of eligible Americans that usually do not vote in the U.S. presidential election. But this year may be different as 7.3 million infrequent and first-time voters have cast their ballots as of this week, which is more than 2.5 times the number of ballots cast at this time in 2016.
