Pandemic: The Dow Jones was created in 1896, which makes it 124 years old and at the top of the danger demographic for the coronavirus. Yesterday the Dow dropped 2013 points, the biggest point drop in its history as investors wrestle with the effect of the pandemic on the world economy.

  Futures indicate a nearly 1,000 point bounce when the market opens this morning.

  The fall was triggered in part by slowing economies, a drop in demand for oil, and Saudi Arabia’s decision not to cut production, causing a 30 percent price reduction. All that and, of course, the press, according to the President of the United States who tweeted, “Saudi Arabia and Russia are arguing over the price and flow of oil. That, and the Fake News, is the reason for the market drop!”

  While claiming to be doing the best job, President Trump is trying to talk his way out of this one, arguing that it’s nothing like the flu. He tweeted, “So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of Coronavirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!”

  Actually it’s 709 cases with 26 deaths and a lot of people are thinking about that but don’t have the answer. Unlike the flu, there’s no vaccine, no treatment, no certain fix on the death rate, and no idea whether, like the flu, it will go away in springtime. It’s that uncertainty that has everyone from investors to schools, universities, employers, event promoters — you name it — closing down and cancelling plans.

  Even Trump’s new chief of staff and several members of Congress have quarantined themselves because they believe they were exposed to a man with the virus.

  A NY Times analysis says, “The mayhem is threatening to roil the underlying global financial system and the abilities of companies large and small to survive a potential economic monsoon.” 

   Struggling to control the uncontrollable, Trump yesterday announced a 

a payroll tax cut and aid for hourly earners losing work because of the outbreak. Once again signing his own report card, Trump told reporters, “This was something that we were thrown into and we’re going to handle it and we have been handling it very well.”

  Political commentator Jeff Greenfield tweeted that, “No political satirist would have written a story line where the response to the coronavirus/oil price war economic crisis is a payroll tax cut.”

  Demonstrating how serious he is about this situation, President Trump spent this last weekend playing golf in Florida and for good measure tweeted that, “The Obama/Biden Administration is the most corrupt Administration in the history of our Country!”

Quarantena Italia: The entire country of Italy and its 60 million residents are basically on lockdown as the government fights the coronavirus. Businesses and restaurant are closed, public gatherings banned, and the streets are empty. Italians must ask permission to move around only for vital work and emergencies. Foreigners can leave the country, but not Italians.

  Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said, ““We all have to renounce something for the good of Italy.” He did not offer an opinion on the Obama/Biden administration. The coronavirus in Italy has killed more people outside of China than any other country to date — at least 463.

Getting Berned: Polling predicts that Bernie Sanders is going to take a shellacking in today’s Michigan Democratic primary.

  One poll has Joe Biden ahead by 51 to 27 percent and another 51 to 36 percent.

  Sanders won Michigan over Hillary Clinton in 2016 despite polling that showed him behind by double digits. It was one of the biggest political polling errors of all time, and the pollsters says they won’t repeat it.

  Five other states also vote on a critical day for Sanders that has 352 delegates at stake. 

The Bulletin Board: Two US special operations soldiers were killed yesterday in an operation against ISIS. The two Marine special operators died working with Iraqi counterterrorism forces clearing a well-defended cave complex. — Britain’s Prince Andrew has “completely shut the door on voluntary cooperation” with the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation, according to a federal prosecutor. Andrew has been accused of enjoying the company of underage girls. — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took part in their last formal event as members of the royal family yesterday. Meghan wore a stunning bright green dress with a flowing cape, almost as if to say “this is what you’ll be missing.” Harry and Meghan are, for the moment, the biggest glamor couple the Brits have, and the royalty business will miss them.

The Obit Page: Max von Sydow, the tall, striking blonde Swedish actor who starred in Ingmar Bergman’s “The Seventh Seal” and William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist,” has died at age 90. He made a lot of pictures, many of them American, and was considered one of the great actors of his time.

Pitch Man: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced yesterday that with store shelves being emptied, the state is going into the business of making its own hand sanitizer to fight spread of the coronavirus. A company that employs prison inmates can make 100,000 gallons a week of what has been dubbed “NYS Clean.” Cuomo said, “It has a very nice, floral bouquet. A little, I detect, of lilac, hydrangea, tulips.” 

-30-