Economic toll of outbreak deepens, duration remains unknown

The Dow over the past five days: up 1,293, down 786, up 1,173, down 967. The Dow tumbled 800 points at the opening bell Friday. The VIX, an index known as Wall Street's fear barometer, is hovering at levels not seen since banks began to fall during the financial crisis. If there was a week that uncertainty and the potential economic damage from the coronavirus became clear, it may be this one. Sectors that cater to almost any public activity ... movie theaters, business conference organizers, hotels, airlines, amusement parks, have lost billions in value as stockholders flee to safer ground like U.S. Treasury notes, which now payout close to nothing. Following is a brief look at how things are changing in the economy and the workplace today as the outbreak widens.

HEADWINDS: Germany’s Lufthansa and its subsidiaries Austrian Airlines and Swiss plan to cancel all flights to and from Israel for three weeks after Israeli authorities announced tough restrictions on travelers from several countries because of the new coronavirus. The airline industry is among the hardest hit since the outbreak, forcing carriers to reassess their near-term financial expectations. An industry group said the spreading coronavirus could cost airlines as much as $113 billion in lost revenue. That figure, released Thursday, is four times the number released just two weeks ago by the The International Air Transport Association, which is imploring governments for assistance.

SHIPWRECK: Passengers and crew members aboard a cruise ship being held off the California coast are awaiting coronavirus test results Friday. The Grand Princess lays at anchor near San Francisco on Thursday after a traveler from a previous voyage died of the disease and at least four others became infected. There are more than 3,500 people aboard the 951-foot (290-meter)...