The Economic Impact Of An Infectious Disease

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The coronavirus is spreading internationally, and parts of China are under strict quarantine and travel lockdown. Businesses are being heavily impacted; restaurant chains like McDonald's, Starbucks, and KFC have closed thousands of locations across China, while major airlines are canceling flights to the region. Automakers are shuttering plants in Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus.

As panic grips the country, its economy is further impacted by sheer emotion. We wanted to find out what it looks like when one of the world's largest economies is shut down by a public health crisis. Today on the show, we speak with NPR Beijing correspondent, Emily Feng, who was recently reporting on the outskirts of one of the most affected areas in China.

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