[coconut_crab]

> That being said, with death being so rare among the young, I don't see why most people should panic more than they do about flu season.

This is my thoughts why Covid-19 is much more dangerous than seasonal flu: first it is much more virulent, and hard to detect, many of the infections in Korea were due to one 61 years old woman alone. Secondly the mortality rate is higher too, estimated at 2-3%, with the serious cases at around 10% (please correct me if I am wrong). Those two above combined means if left unchecked, Covid-19 can easily overload our medical system, as what is happening in Wuhan*. So I will most likely won't perish or suffer any long term health problems from Covid-19, but our society as a whole might be devastated if we can't contain it. There is no need to succumb to irrational fear (like what's happening some countries), but we should all be prepared.

Actually I am worried about Iran, the embargo from America means their medical system are lacking all essentials. That's why they have so many deaths, second only yo China.

[SpicyLemonZest]

The mortality rate for hospitalized flu patients in the US is about 10%. Mortality rates of categories like "serious cases" depend on a bunch of arbitrary and unverifiable assumptions, so I don't think this proves the coronavirus is bad or isn't bad, but 10% isn't as high of a number as I think you're intuitively expecting.

[empath75]

The mortality rate for hospitalized corona virus patients is closer to 50%

[asdfasgasdgasdg]

Source? That doesn't match anything I've seen.

[asdfasgasdgasdg]

> Secondly the mortality rate is higher too, estimated at 2-3%, with the serious cases at around 10% (please correct me if I am wrong).

I don't think we actually know that for sure. The flu mortality rates that get tossed around are the overall mortality rates, but for COVID-19 as far as I know we only know the mortality rates among those who have tested positive. Especially in a situation like what's going on, this is going to be a heavily biased sample.

Fwiw I'm not advocating idleness or putting our heads in the sand. I think taking extreme measures to prevent the spread of this disease and eradicate it is smart. I am just hoping people can keep things in perspective.

[jacquesm]

Fair enough, there is still a good amount of uncertainty. But even so with the data available 2-3% seems realistic taking into account that some under-reporting will also be happening because people die that were never tested in the first place. The testing capacity of the countries where the virus has now solidly established itself is maxed out.

[jacquesm]

This is spot on and a pretty realistic way to look at what is happening. What goes for Iran goes for large swaths of Africa, Latin America and Asia as well.