Global powers unleash trillions of dollars to stem spiraling coronavirus crisis

Commuters wait to board a Northern Line tube at Clapham North underground station during rush hour, as the number of Coronavirus cases grow around the world, in London, Britain, March 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

WASHINGTON/LONDON (Reuters) - The world's richest nations prepared more costly measures on Tuesday to combat the global fallout of the coronavirus that has infected tens of thousands of people, triggered social restrictions unseen since World War Two and sent economies spinning toward recession.

With the highly contagious respiratory disease that originated in China racing across the world to infect more than 196,000 people so far, governments on every continent have implemented draconian containment measures from halting travel to stopping sporting events and religious gatherings.