There is no such thing as social distance when it comes to international trade, travel and business. What damage the coronavirus pandemic will cause to the global economy—and construction—should be considered. So too should responses by the world's governments so far.
Although some countries have gone into total lockdown as a precaution and at least one major U.K. construction project has temporarily halted due to virus exposure, only one major jobsite in the U.S. so far, a university dormitory project in Snohomish County, Wash., has temporarily stopped work. That project suspended construction after a worker tested positive for COVID-19. The only other place where small projects may have stopped is in New Rochelle, a suburb of New York City, where movement is restricted.