It's new and it's spreading slowly but steadily. The estimated real mortality rate is around 1%, when you consider the vast majority of cases go unreported. It's nothing to wink at, for sure.
But it is worth nothing for some perspective that currently 0.00168% of the world's population is reportedly infected.
In the States, that number stands at 0.000428% reportedly infected.
The 1918 flu, at its peak, infected an estimated 1/3 of the world's population. That would be 2.5 billion people. And that was in an era with MUCH less commerce and travel.
As it stands right now (and it's going to change) you have about as much chance being killed by lightning as you do coronavirus.
It probably seems like an overreaction to shut things down the way they have been, but it's necessary if you want to slow the spread. Should we be THAT worried about slowing the spread of a virus that's already spreading slowly as it is? That can be argued. But if we're trying to stop this thing in its tracks, this is how to do it.
But it is worth nothing for some perspective that currently 0.00168% of the world's population is reportedly infected.
In the States, that number stands at 0.000428% reportedly infected.
The 1918 flu, at its peak, infected an estimated 1/3 of the world's population. That would be 2.5 billion people. And that was in an era with MUCH less commerce and travel.
As it stands right now (and it's going to change) you have about as much chance being killed by lightning as you do coronavirus.
It probably seems like an overreaction to shut things down the way they have been, but it's necessary if you want to slow the spread. Should we be THAT worried about slowing the spread of a virus that's already spreading slowly as it is? That can be argued. But if we're trying to stop this thing in its tracks, this is how to do it.