Many banks and investment companies are trying to reassure panicky investors in the wake of sharp market declines related to the spread of COVID-19 this week. The coronavirus was first identified in early January in China but after reports that the contagious virus had spread to Europe stocks began to slip. This past weekend dozens of cases appeared in Italy and Iran dashing hopes that the outbreak would be contained to Asia. Stocks were down again Tuesday dropping nearly 900 points on the Dow and 385 in Toronto. Johns Hopkins world summary of COVID-19 cases
