Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says the economic destruction from the fallout of the coronavirus has been swift and unprecedented.

Governor Pritzker notes the Illinois Department of Employment Security has now processed over a million unemployment claims since March 1. He says families are emptying their life's savings and individuals are applying for unemployment for the first time.

According to the Governor, historical levels of benefits are being paid. Over $2-billion of claims have been paid out and he says the pain devastation is heartbreaking.

Defending the Department of Employment Security, the Governor says the department has been underfunded, undermanned and it's computers outdated. He says all these things have left families hurting and waiting. 

The Governor says the department is doing everything from bringing on new employees, retired employees, workers working several hours of overtime and increased their phone lines, overhauled their web platform, and used every avenue possible to build on capacities.

The Governor says while there is work to be done, improvements have been made. He says unemployment benefits are being paid to 99.9-percent of clean claims and 75-percent of those claimants receive payments within two weeks.