NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — With the Coronavirus forcing a record-number of people to file for unemployment, Governor Bill Lee is making adjustments to unemployment benefits and regulations to adjust to the high demand.

More than 250,000 claims were filed in the last three-week period, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Bill Lee directed the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to conduct the following actions to support Tennesseans facing unemployment due to COVID-19, among others:

• Extend unemployment benefits to those who are quarantined by a physician for COVID-19

• Suspend certain regulations to speed up payment time

As the rate of unemployment claims escalates, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development is projected to pay more than 100,000 claims this week. The department is employing additional resources to make this system run more smoothly.

Congress has made more funding available and greater flexibility for Tennesseans during the pandemic with the passage of the CARES Act, and officials say certain provisions are on track to be implemented as early as next week.

Governor Lee says the state is also working with the federal government to get help for those who are self-employed or those who file 1099 forms. The state is expected to obtain Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.

Tennesseans out of work can apply for unemployment benefits at www.Jobs4TN.gov. Paycheck Protection Program and Support for Small Business The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.

The Small Business Administration will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. The Program authorized $350 billion in fully forgivable loans to help small businesses maintain payrolls during the coronavirus pandemic. The program went live on April 2, 2020 and is being run through local financial institutions. Additional information can be found here.