• White House economic advisors predict nationwide unemployment rate will reach 20 percent
  • IRS portal promises speedy delivery of stimulus checks
  • Benefits of telehealth during COVID-19 are prominent at Planned Parenthood
  • Mayor Marty Walsh: No large gatherings in Boston this summer
  • Monday’s Silver Lining: Make Way for Ducklings

 

  1. Three days after the Labor Department reported its highest unemployment figures since the Great Depression, Trump economic advisors and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are projecting that national unemployment number could reach 20 percent by next month. The Massachusetts unemployment rate is already more than 24 percent.

 

  1. Over the last four weeks, 4 million Americans have received federal stimulus checks over but millions more have yet to see any benefit. The Internal Revenue Service is promoting its new online program, Get My Payment, to track the status of economic impact checks from the CAREs Act. Those who haven’t received checks are encouraged to use this program.

 

  1. Jennifer Childs-Roshak, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, said the organization has seen an increase in patient needs during COVID-19 and its first-ever telehealth program has been a significant benefit to the centers. The program has created additional appointment slots and expanded hours on weekends and evenings to support patient contraception visits, problem-based care, gender affirming hormone therapy and more.

 

  1. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced there would be no large gathers in the city this summer, citing the ongoing need to protect against the spread of COVID-19.

 

  1. MAKE WAY FOR CUTENESS: While this past weekend’s annual “Make Way for Ducklings” Mother’s Day parade turned into a virtual story hour, a Weston family had their own real-life duckling parade. Who can name all eight ducklings without Google?