The novel coronavirus pandemic is no joke. It’s true that the virus has so far claimed less lives than the regular seasonal flu but the way that this bug is popping up all over the globe is really scary. It seems almost unstoppable. And while the mortality rate is low (thank God) this stain of coronavirus seems to spread easily. As well, it’s not just the death toll we should be worried about. There are other concerns when it comes to a global pandemic. People act super shifty when a disease starts emerging. Super markets become bare, gas pumps go empty, martial law becomes enacted and people get squirrelly.

The coronavirus also has a serious economic impact on nations impacted. That also affects movies. The latest outbreak in northern Italy has delayed the beginning of production on Mission: Impossible 7. We don’t know much about M:I 7. Hell, we didn’t even know it was scheduled to film in Italy. But we do know that Paramount Pictures has decided to halt the filming of the film as Italy grapples with this serious issue. Here’s their statement:

The Italy outbreak, which is very sudden and recent, has already infected nearly 300 people. The Italian government is scrambling to figure out how the disease got to Italy and how to stop it and we have already seen parts of the nation completely shut down as people pack up and quarantine themselves, waiting for this whole thing to blow over. Obviously a giant film production can’t go parading around quarantined cities so Paramount made the right call here. It remains to be seen how long this delay will be or if it’ll alter Mission: Impossible 7’s release date.

This isn’t the only production touched by the coronavirus. All TV and movie projects in China have been shut down as the country attempts to contain the spread. The epidemic also comes as China was ramping up for the premiere of Disney’s Mulan, which obviously would get major play there. That movie was already experiencing serious issues because of its lead star’s allegiance with the Chinese government, prompting boycotts from millions. And now it seems that theaters will likely remain closed during Mulan’s scheduled release date. That’s a huge blow to Disney and a huge blow to Chinese theater chains. See, the coronavirus is wreaking havoc in more places than just hospitals. As this virus continues to spread, expect to see it affect economies, governments, business and societal systems in some pretty scary and profound ways. Stay tuned.