An empty highway to Russia at the Belarus-Russia border near Redki, Belarus, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Russia announced partially closing the border with Belarus on Monday in a move that elicited criticism from Belarus' leader Alexander Lukashenko. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some it can cause more severe illness, especially in older adults and people with existing health problems.(AP Photo)
March 18, 2020
Stories this photo appears in:
Travel grinds to a halt, plants close, as virus takes hold
The number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus worldwide surpassed 200,000 for the first time Wednesday and the damage being seeded in the global economy is growing more clear by the day. Furloughs and job cuts, from dog walkers to oilfield workers, have begun. Governments around the world are pushing drastic countermeasures to help workers, particularly those who live paycheck to paycheck.