From Kenya to Argentina, untold millions who were already struggling to get by on the economic margins have had their lives made even harder by pandemic lockdowns, layoffs and the loss of a chance to earn from a hard day's work.
More than four out of five people in the global labor force of 3.3 billion have been hit by full or partial workplace closures, according to the International Labor Organization, which says 1.6 billion workers in the informal economy stand in immediate danger of having their livelihoods destroyed.
The toll for families is hunger and poverty that are either newfound or even more grinding than before. Hunkering down at home to ride out the crisis isn't an option for many, because securing the next meal means hustling to find a way to sell, clean, drive or otherwise work, despite the risk.
How the world's poor get through this pandemic will help determine how quickly the global economy recovers and how much aid is needed to keep countries afloat.
In Kenya, Judith Andeka has seen tough times before.
The 33-year-old mother of five lost her husband two years ago and was left to make ends meet on just $2.50 to $4 a day from washing clothes in Nairobi's Kibera, one of the world's biggest slums.
But things were never as tough as they are now. Neighbors aren't going to work because of restrictions on movement, so they can't afford her services. Even if they could, they don't want her handling their laundry due to virus concerns.
I haven't had a good day for the last two weeks, Andeka said. She's been forced to send all five kids to live with relatives who are slightly better off: I had no choice, because how do you tell a 2-year-old you have no food to give them?
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