The concern is that a huge chunk of the global economy gets put out of commission as people wait it out,” said Patrick Chovanec, managing director at Silvercrest Asset Management in New York. But they predicted a swift rebound that would return China and the global economy to their pre-crisis trends by midyear. The sanguine forecasts are based in part on a disease outbreak from 2003: The Chinese economy recovered quickly after severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), another fatal flulike infection, temporarily emptied offices and factories. Already, there are indications that while the new virus is less lethal than SARS, it spreads more easily. ADADThree major U.S. airlines — United, American and Delta — suspended flights to China until the end of March.

Source: Washington Post February 02, 2020 23:51 UTC