Here are some numbers: 2018-2019 flu season --> est. 42.9 million infected (USA), 61,200 deaths (more absolute deaths than Corona); % of death = 0.14%. Corona: current known infected (China alone): 74,188, with 2012 deaths; % of death = 2.71% -- that's a factor of about 20...No one quarantines because of the flu so infection rates are MUCH higher but the flu is 20 times less lethal. That's not to say if you get this Corona virus you're dead; not in the least. The very old, the very young, those who have compromised immune systems, etc are the most susceptible. There may still be other factors as yet unknown or unannounced. No one should panic but at the same time this shouldn't be ignored. We caution people about the flu every year and this is clearly a notch or so more dangerous. Keep calm and wash your hands...

@Marnie: If you were at all aware of the situation in China, you'd realize that their government has a long history of suppressing any perceived loss of "control" by admitting even to the most obvious threats... Such as viruses. Also, there's no vaccine for coronavirus, whereas flu vaccines can ameliorate if not totally prevent influenza. ..................It's also not uncommon for people to die close together. Read up on immunology, epidemiology, and the Chinese government, and take a look at the stats ----- people of 50 DO die of flu even in the USA, due to crappy health care. With respect? You are dangerously naive.

It depends on where you are, what kind of medical care you have access to, how quickly you have been diagnosed, etc. The 14 day quarantine is because it can take that long from the time you're infected until symptoms show, so if you're walking around infected and don't know it, you could be unknowingly spreading the virus. I'm not sure what "official" reports you're reading, but this lines up with everything I have heard about it.

The presumed death rate doesn't seem high for now, but the way the virus spreads it has the potential to be very deadly in absolute numbers. It's not just about how many people die per infected, it's also about how many are actually infected. If now measures would be taken, this virus would spread with great ease and then a 2% death rate will have a huge impact. Also, the way the virus acts is terrible. It actually causes destruction of lung tissue. People who go through a critical phase and survive end up with permanent damage and an increased risk to further lung disease and because people 40 and up seem more affected than other age groups, it will take a toll on a very specific part of the workforce. So. Yeah. It sucks.