1.  The Dow dropped 925 points, to close at 19,160, a more than 4.6 percent dip, while oil fell below $20.  The S&P closed down 4.4 percent and the NASDAQ slid 3.8 percent. Wall Street wrapped up its worst week since the 2008 financial crisis.

2.  3M, a large mask manufacturer, says it will increase its global production by over 30 percent in the next year.

3.  Andrew Cuomo ordered 100% of nonessential businesses in New York State to close Friday morning.  This  follows a similar order by California Governor Newsom on Thursday, who ordered a lockdown for the State’s 40 million residents.  Citizens are still permitted to purchase groceries, prescriptions and health care, as well as commute to essential jobs.

4.  Donald Trump’s approval ratings continue to skyrocket as 55 percent of Americans approve of his management during this crisis.  His take charge leadership has included expanding the European travel ban, advocating against group gatherings of 10 or more, and supporting the disbursement of checks as well as a $1 trillion package to boost the economy.  Both he and Governor Cuomo have risen to the occasion.

5.  Italy’s grim statistics continue as more than 5,986 cases were reported with new deaths at 627-the highest amount yet.  Experts expect this peak to level out within two weeks.  Its death rate stands at 4,032 the largest in the globe-surpassing China’s total of 3,248.

6.  Dr Yisachar Greenberg, a religious doctor from Brooklyn, is in the ICU at Maimonides Hospital with coronavirus.  Those who think this only affects the old are wrong as more than 40% of those hospitalized are ages 20-54.  President of Hatzolah , Eli Beer remains in the hospital in Miami as he battles the virus.

7.  Scientists remain baffled as to why this disease has stricken men more severely than women.   Some explanations include the stronger immunity of women and the protection the female hormone-estrogen provides. In Italy more than 70% of deaths have been men.

8.  Promising studies reveal prescribing the antimalarial Hydroxychloroquine with antibiotic azithromycin can be life-saving.  According to a draft article, all 6 test patients who were treated with both tested negative at day 6 for the virus.  In the control group only 12.5% tested negative on day 6-a remarkable difference.  However, in double the recommended dose the antimalarial medication can be lethal.

9. New York State now has 8,516 cases with 44 deaths as totals in the world exceed 273,000 cases with 11,405 deaths.  The Jewish community must quarantine quickly until this pandemic passes to prevent further spread.  Williamsburg and Borough Park are reporting more than 400 cases as some schools remained open as of Wednesday.

10.  China has eased restrictions as it has reported no new locally transmitted infections for days.  We must remain hopeful this will occur in the United States soon as we continue to social distance and isolate.