Re:COVID19: U.S. Officials Warn Americans to Brace for Likel...
by stolenmerch on Thursday February 27, 2020 @08:31AM
(#22433044)
No, the flu is still more dangerous. We're not talking about whether I have the choice of being infected with "this year's strain" or Covid-19. We're talking about risk assessment and realistic chances of catching them. The mortality rate of covid-19 outside Wuhan is 0.7% [1]. In the U.S. it's zero so far. I have a MUCH higher chance of getting influenza and dying where I and most people live. This could change and I certainly reserve the right to modify my preparedness and anxiety appropriately.
Alarmism and panic do far more harm in situations like this than the actual virus itself.
[1]https://www.marketwatch.com/story/coronavirus-update-79339-c...
If I gave you the choice tomorrow of being infected with this seasons flu or the coronavirus, which would you pick? Hopefully you're smart enough to understand the difference between a 0.1% mortality rate and a 2% mortality rate.
Leading people to believe the flu is more dangerous has slowed (and is still slowing) the response, reducing preparedness, increasing the spread, and as such will have a part to play in loss of life from this virus.