More virus-spurred disruptions to come

The International Monetary Fund forecasts the economy to have grown by zero percent.

There is growing concern among health experts that Covid-19, being a respiratory-borne disease, will find a suitable home in the winter months. Virus surges have forced European countries to impose new restrictions on businesses and other activities. From Spain, Italy and France to England, Germany and Poland, countries are shutting down again—some nationally, some partially. As infections continue to rise in the United States and other parts of the world, the optimism that the pandemic is coming under control is showing cracks. In recent months, global growth was beginning to pick up speed after a collapse in the early months of this year. Yet, resurging Covid-19 worries are clouding the outlook, again.