COLUMBUS — New unemployment claims in Ohio continue to skyrocket as local employers grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 virus.

There were 139,468 claims filed from Sunday through Thursday, according to the Ohio Dpeartment of Job & Family Services. That’s an average of 27,894 per day.

During the same five-day period last week, there were 4,815 new unemployment claims, an average of 963 per day.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services urges individuals to file their claims online, if possible, at unemployment.ohio.gov.

Helpful FAQ Sheets General Information: jfs.ohio.gov/unemp_comp_faq/index.stm

Coronavirus-Specific Information: jfs.ohio.gov/ouio/CoronavirusAndUI.stm

Ohioans without computer access should call 1-877-644-6562 (OHIO-JOB).

Extended call center hours for those without internet access or who have case-specific questions can call 1-877-644-6562 (OHIO-JOB) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. (The call center formerly was operational from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.)

Coronavirus-Related Claims Workers who lose their jobs as a result of the coronavirus can enter the mass-layoff number 2000180 on their applications. However, if affected individuals have already submitted claims without this number, they do not need to add it.

As a reminder, mass layoff notices are posted at jfs.ohio.gov/warn/current.stm.