The Louisiana Workforce Commission has made changes to unemployment to help workers across the state whose jobs were impacted by the coronavirus.

The changes mean more people may be eligible for unemployment insurance.

Those who may qualify include:

Workers whose hours were reduced because of lack of work due to coronavirus

Employees who are not being compensated despite their workplace temporarily closing

Employees instructed not to go to work, and who are not being paid while at home

Those employees may file a claim online at www.louisianaworks.net/hire/ or by calling the claim center at 866-783-5567. They must answer "yes" to the question "are you filing for unemployment insurance benefits for reasons related to COVID-19 (coronavirus)?"

The changes also waive work search requirements and the one-week waiting period.

If an employee's work hours were reduced, partial benefits could be available providing up to $247 a week. They must report any gross earnings for the week that they work, even if they have not yet been paid, including all income, commissions, tips and gratuities.

Each case is reviewed separately by the workforce commission. The maximum number of weeks that unemployment benefits can be paid per claim is 26 weeks in a 12-month period.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission may also be able to assist employers who are temporarily closing or reducing hours because of coronavirus. Those employers should send an email with their company name, point of contact, phone number and email address along with specifics on assistance needs to employerservices@lws.la.gov.

For more information, visit the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

Public health officials are asking the public to call their primary care provider before going to an emergency room or doctor's office. People without a primary care provider who have questions about COVID-19 or feel like they may be developing symptoms can contact 1-211 or text LACOVID to 898-211 for information.

Contact Ashley White at adwhite@theadvertiser.com or on Twitter @AshleyyDi.