It's an unprecedented
response. Not an unprecedented outbreak.
It's how things should proceed when a new illness emerges.
Right now, the media is having a field day, but if the infection / death statistics are accurate, it currently has a mortality rate of 4%. And if the infection numbers are actually 90k? Unless China is hiding 3600 deaths, then the actual mortality rate is much, much lower. The mortality rate of SARS was 13% in those under 60, and 43% in those over 60 y/o. We don't have statistics for mortality rates of the adenovirus (common cold) because no one bothers to even test for it.
Unless something changes, this is going to be worse than the common cold, but far better than the flu. The flu kills tens of thousands in this country yearly, including a couple hundred pediatric patients - and that's with a substantial portion of the population getting a flu shot and having access to antiviral meds for it. But, no one gets overly excited. It's hard to get people to get a flu shot. And yet, I bet people would line up right now for a coronavirus vaccine, thanks to the media coverage.
I have a feeling that every bit of positive and negative news is going to send the market into gyrations, just like the US/China trade deal did. And the first company with a reliable antiviral for it is going to make a mint just off of panic.
Class of 1998;
Husband of an Aggie, Class of 1999;
Father to future Class of 2029 and 2031
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