OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The number of Nebraskans filing new unemployment claims appears to be stabilizing but is still far higher than it was before the coronavirus pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Labor says Nebraska state officials received 6,408 new jobless claims during the week that ended March 9. Last week, the state reported 6,418 claims.

The number of claims surged to a record 26,788 in early April and has slowly trended downward since.

Unemployment in Nebraska and nationally has surged as state governments imposed social distancing restrictions to try to keep the coronavirus from spreading and overwhelming local hospitals.

Colorado still paying out record unemployment benefits

DENVER (AP) — Unemployment claims in Colorado edged down for a fourth consecutive week last week. But the state is still paying record jobless benefits as it struggles to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department of Labor and Employment said Thursday that more than 22,000 claims were filed last week, down from more than 28,000 the week before. An additional 9,125 people filed claims seeking benefits for gig and self-employed workers made available under a federal aid package.

All told, about 451,000 people have sought unemployment assistance since the pandemic gripped Colorado two months ago.