Michael Hiltzik: Coronavirus fears stem from globalism, doubts about government competence

Viruses are known to be almost diabolically opportunistic - lethal but not too lethal, for example, to keep from killing their hosts so fast as to compromise their ability to be spread.

One might almost think that the coronavirus now making its way around the globe, known formally as COVID-19, deliberately chose its moment of outbreak to wreak maximum human disruption.

It has exploited the interconnectedness of global commerce to threaten havoc on the world economy, as well as skepticism about government competence in America, Europe and China to raise doubts about whether it can be contained.

With some 2,700 deaths among roughly 81,000 reported cases, it has so far wrought disorder in the global supply chain that will interfere with manufacturing worldwide and raised the prospect of lower earnings for consumer and travel and hospitality