About 7,400 Mainers filed for unemployment benefits for the first time last week.

That’s the lowest number of first-time claims since mid-march.

Overall, about 108,500 Mainers have received unemployment benefits over the past six weeks.

The number of Mainers receiving unemployment compensation will continue to climb.

The Maine Department of Labor announced this week that it will begin accepting claims under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program on Friday.

That expands eligibility and allows self-employed workers, contractors and others to collect benefits for the first time.