MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — More than 21,000 new claims for unemployment benefits were filed in Tennessee last week, bringing the total number of jobless people who have sought government payouts during the new coronavirus outbreak to 600,000.

The Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development said Thursday that more than $288 million in unemployment benefits was paid out last week in the form of federal funds distributed under the federal package created to deal with financial effects from the virus response.

Meanwhile, a group of Tennessee doctors that pushed Gov. Bill Lee to issue a stay-at-home order is criticizing the state’s reopening, saying it has led to a spike in coronavirus cases.

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