We analyze the relationship between sentiment generated by coronavirus-related news and volatility of equity markets. The ongoing coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) resulted in unprecedented news coverage and outpouring of opinions in this age of swift propagation of information. Ensuing uncertainty in financial markets leads to heightened volatility in prices. We find that overwhelming panic generated by the news outlets are associated with increasing volatility in the equity markets. Our results for individual economic sectors demonstrate that panic-laden news contributed to a greater extent to volatility in the sectors perceived to be most affected by coronavirus outbreak. •COVID-19 pandemic led to media panic sentiment shock.•Media frenzy contributes to investment climate uncertainty.•Panic caused higher market volatility.