© USA Today file photo Unemployment claims are soaring as the coronavirus pandemic shuts down businesses.

More than 26 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits over the past five weeks, a record-breaking number revealing the devastating toll the coronavirus pandemic has taken on the economy.

About 4.4 million people filed for unemployment benefits last week, the Labor Department said Thursday. Jobless claims provide the best measure of layoffs across the country.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Record 26 million Americans filed for jobless benefits over five weeks as layoffs wind on