Looking at both the US numbers and worldwide numbers for the Wuhan virus, the mortality rate is much higher than we see for influenza. As of this morning the mortality rate in the US is 2%, more than twice the mortality rate of the flu. Worldwide, the mortality rate is just under 5%.
The argument has been made that the number of Covid-19 cases has been underreported because some folks with mild symptoms didn’t report they were sick (but stayed home) nor were they tested. But isn’t that also true of the annual flu? How many report they’ve had the flu? If I had to guess, the same percentage as those who have had Covid-19 with mild symptoms, assuming they even knew they were positive for the virus. So I’m not buying the ‘underreported’ argument as the reason why the mortality rate is so much higher for Covid-19.
When the White House states we might see between 100,000-240,000 deaths due to Covid-19, it’s an indicator that the Wuhan virus is deadlier than the ‘regular’ flu.
Of course, the argument can be made that the mortality rate is being purposely overstated as an excuse to take extraordinary actions and whittle away at our civil rights. There could be a kernel of truth to that argument. Only time will tell.