Briefly with OZY

To stop the spread of coronavirus, President Donald Trump blocked travel from continental Europe Wednesday while the World Health Organization finally designated COVID-19 a global pandemic. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped another 5.9 percent Wednesday to cross into bear market territory.

The U.S. has now recorded more than 1,000 cases of coronavirus, while infections in locked-down Italy have surpassed 10,000, as new clusters expand around the world. Meanwhile, with at least four victories in primaries yesterday, Joe Biden pulled further ahead of Sen. Bernie Sanders in the race for the Democratic nomination.

Stocks around the world bounced back Tuesday after U.S. markets

suffered their worst single-day drop since 2008 on Monday — but many remain

worried. Meanwhile, after Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced his

country would face sweeping restrictions on travel and public gatherings, Chinese President Xi Jinping finally visited coronavirus epicenter Wuhan.

American schools and businesses are closing their doors to contain

the spread of coronavirus, offering remote classes and letting employees work

from home. Meanwhile, crude oil plummeted by around 27.5 percent after a weekend decision by Saudi Arabia to boost production and cut prices.

As global coronavirus cases surpassed 100,000, the first U.S. East Coast deaths were reported in Florida. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump acknowledged Friday that Afghanistan may fall under Taliban control after all foreign forces withdraw in 14 months.

As the number of coronavirus cases approaches 100,000 there

are few signs of the global coordination the World Health Organization has demanded. Meanwhile, after Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s withdrawal from the race for

the Democratic nomination, her peers are wondering when voters will see women

as electable.

Authorities are holding a cruise ship with at least 21 coronavirus cases offshore near San Francisco, while California has declared an emergency after learning the same ship previously brought home infected passengers. Meanwhile, billionaire Mike Bloomberg’s withdrawal leaves firebrand Sen. Bernie Sanders and a rejuvenated ex-Vice President Joe Biden to dominate the primaries.

Former Vice President Joe Biden swept the South — plus Massachusetts and Minnesota — during yesterday’s 14-state contest, jolting his campaign back to life. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has announced the

outbreak’s mortality rate, previously believed to be around 2 percent, is actually

3.4 percent.

Former rivals Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar both backed

ex-Vice President Joe Biden yesterday, bolstering the Democrat’s chances in today’s 14-state primary bonanza. Meanwhile, as China reported its lowest singleday number of new coronavirus infections in more than a month, four more Americans in the Seattle area died.

The Seattle suburb of Kirkland has become the focal point of a potential American outbreak after a local hospital recorded its second death Sunday. Meanwhile, a day after ex-Vice President Joe Biden’s commanding victory

Saturday in South Carolina’s primary, upstart contender Pete Buttigieg announced he’s out of the race for the Democratic nomination.