Pandemic fears fuel 1.8% drop as ASX sheds $33bn

Summary

• The ASX 200 lost as much as 1.8% or $33bn at the open but has since pared losses to 1%
• Wall St closed sharply lower as COVID cases spike in several economically significant states
• Qantas will sack at least 6000 workers and launch a $1.9bn raising in response to COVID-19
• CSL was up 0.6% at a near one-month high after buying into a 'long term' haemophilia treatment for $655m