Nearly 100,000 people worldwide have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the new coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. The human toll of the new virus has already been vast, with 3,300 deaths worldwide attributed to the virus and probably at least hundreds more that were unknowingly caused by undiagnosed infections. As medical experts struggle to limit the virus’ spread and devise treatments, it is already clear that the ramifications of COVID-19 will be visible beyond the sphere of public health. From Wuhan to Washington, the virus will have a major political and economic impact.