U.S. stocks plunge on coronavirus fears even as U.S. ramps up fight against spread

People walk into a pharmacy to buy N95 masks in advance of the potential coronavirus outbreak, in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 27, 2020. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. stocks plummeted on Thursday as fears about the effect of the coronavirus outbreak on economic growth flared even as U.S. officials pledged that they were stepping up efforts to safeguard Americans from the virus' spread.

A day after President Donald Trump told Americans that the risk from coronavirus remained "very low," the S&P 500 logged its fastest correction in history in a sixth straight day of declines.