joedirt wrote:
The reason there are more issues with the flu is because the flu is more widespread. COVID is twice as easy to transmit and is more fatal than all but perhaps H1N1 flu strains. If it becomes as established as the flu (where it recurs ever single year as it moves from the Northern to the Southern hemisphere and back each year), It has the potential to remove a significant chunk of the human population. Tell us how insignificant it is once you, your parents, your grandparents, etc. have their first case of it. I have relatives that work in the hospital in Seattle that has seen at least one of the patients, and they don't feel it is as over blown as you do.
I' ll add that a report from China today says 3.4% fatality rate. Yes, it may be lower overall with all the unreported cases that are minor. What about the seasonal flu? Why would it not also have many minor cases that are not reported that would make its' fatality rate also lower? With 5 to 15% fatality rate for those older and those with underlying issues the hospital ICU units may become overwhelmed. They may not have enough equipment, rooms, and employees to deal with new medical issue in addition to all those seasonal flu cases and everything else. Hospitals don't have a lot of excess capacity. The addition of corona virus cases could affect everyone who needs other medical attention. Those with none life threatening issue may have to wait many weeks or months for surgery. All here most likely have parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents that are in the higher risk categories that begin with those over 50 and those with underlying health issues which may well be most over 60 since there are so many who are smoked, had smoked, or are obese and likely have some underlying issues. The closing of schools and universities will do more to protect the staff that is older and more likely to have underlying issues than it will do to project the students that will have mild, if any, symptoms unless they are part of the small percentage at their age group with underlying issues.
I am not over weight and I can run a 1:30 half marathon but being in my mid 50's, taking medication for hypertension and having higher cholesterol level for much of my life I too am likely in a higher risk category. I was obese for 10 to 20 years so I don't know what my risk level may be.
My father is 79. I also have two uncles and an aunt who are are high risk. Luckily none of them live in a assisted living or nursing homes. As we learned from the Washington State facility and from the Diamond Princes this virus can spread widely in such situations.