Coronavirus spreads. But don't panic! (topical thread)

[adey67]

"Everyone" is not freaking out.  Some people may be, so the news is obliged to tell them the facts, that it's okay to eat at Chinese restaurants and so on.  Most people are hoping to minimize the deaths, and that's all.

The world needs to stop with the seasonal flu comparison it's completely inaccurate at the moment. In time it might be a highly accurate but not now, eg: how many seasonal flu infections produced the figure of deaths in the Meme can you even equate the two at this early stage?? I think not, at the moment it's a false comparison.

1.25 million people die in car accidents world wide every year, that's over 3000 people dying every day,  yet people hop in their cars and drive around without much panic. People have a false sense of control over their lives and only panic when it's made obvious by something that's contageous.  Over 9.6 million people die from cancer every year and frequently it's not something we have much control over but people aren't going about their daily lives in a panic.  I donno, it just puts things into perspective.

Good points. 
edit: but what does this actually have to do with me saying that a comparison with this new virus and the seasonal flu is fundamentally flawed? , Plus no one here is suggesting panicking it wouldn't solve anything to panic but it is sensible to try and mitigate, after all we mitigate by wearing seat belts while driving and not smoking or giving up smoking with regards cancer. We are still in largely unchartered territory regarding this virus we should err on the side of caution until we know more.