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A comment on Iran lawmaker says 50 dead from coronavirus in city of Qom. Parent comment

Re:Iran lawmaker says 50 dead from coronavirus in city of Qom by WaltPurvis on Monday February 24, 2020 @10:15AM (#22404662)
> If 2% of the people I know died this year, that would be the worst disaster in my country in my lifetime.

Not trying to downplay the seriousness of this virus, but it's very unlikely to kill 2% of the people in any country — it kills (maybe, approximately) 2% of the people who are infected, but far less than 100% of the population in your country will ever be infected.

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Re:Iran lawmaker says 50 dead from coronavirus in city of Qom by macintux on Monday February 24, 2020 @11:44AM (#22405631)
> far less than 100% of the population in your country will ever be infected

Do we have solid information to assert that? SARS and the flu spread from people who are exhibiting symptoms. This new virus is different in that regard, which seems like an open invitation to approach 100% infection rates.

I don’t know either way, but it certainly doesn’t seem unlikely that a solid majority could be infected.

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