Countries are now balancing public health with the prospect of an extended recession. Europe’s largest economies, Germany and France, warned on Wednesday that they were expecting the sharpest downturns since World War II.

Now, focus is on contentious talks within the European Union on how it plans to help hard-hit economies recover — a symbol of what solidarity will look like in the future for the bloc.

European finance ministers failed to agree on a list of measures in a marathon meeting that went through Tuesday night.

New: Research shows the coronavirus began circulating the New York area as early as February with travelers from Europe, not Asia, mainly bringing it in. The state has confirmed more than 149,000 cases — a higher number than any country outside the United States.

Markets: Futures markets suggested Europe and Wall Street would open mixed on Thursday.

Here are the latest updates and maps of the pandemic.