The spread of the coronavirus across Asia is putting the brakes on China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, with dozens of infrastructure projects slowed or halted entirely due to limitations on supplies and travel.
Nearly 60 countries have confirmed cases of the Covid-19 virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, late last year. Since then, China has imposed quarantines and limited travel to contain the disease, while dozens of nations around the world having imposed entry restrictions on Chinese citizens and those who recently visited the country. As a result, many workers who traveled home for Lunar New Year celebrations in January have been either unable to return to their projects, or face weeks-long quarantines as a condition for re-entering the country.