[hamstercat]

Wild guess here but fatality rate is based on the number of dead and the number of reported cases. High fatality rate means either high number of dead, or low number of reported cases. Knowing the real number of infected is really hard, especially in population less at risk (the young and healthy).

For example, there was this anecdote this week about a woman in the US. She believes she's infected, but none of the responsible authorities will let her pass a test unless she's physically been to one of the high-risk countries. So she either self-quarantine or ignore all of it and go to work. The twist is that she's a health practitioner...

[inetsee]

I would guess that the anecdote about the woman who can't get tested is because of a severe under supply of test kits. The CDC developed a test kit last month, but it is only being sent to approved laboratories, and the tests will only be given to people "who meet CDC criteria for COVID-19 testing." [1]

Test suppliers who develop test for hospitals and doctors offices are ramping up production as fast as they can, but it will take time.

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/testing.html