Steve Fatula
TUG Member
There are numerous differences, davidvel touched on one of them. The death rate is higher at present with COVID19, but it seems to be very age specific as far as who it affects,
Source: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-age-sex-demographics/
Generally it appears to be older people or people with underlying conditions. Thus the recent CDC suggestion that older folks or those with underlying conditions reconsider being in crowds or public places, at least to minimize them.
The flu can kill young children, thus far COVID19 has not.
There is very little info about COVID19 thus far. More every day, but a long way to go. It *could* end up like Sars and die out with the beginning of warmer weather, or, it may not. SARS mostly went away since it's debut (some lab accidents have occurred), COVID-19 may or may not reappear annually. Mers however is still around just not widespread. Only time will tell. Obviously, we all hope it never reappears! There has been one case of a person getting the virus a second time, so, you may well not get much immunity once infected. But who knows. It may change over time, possibly for the better. It may not.
S. Korea has been cited as having a low death rate, comparatively but still higher than the flu, however, the day you detect a patient has been infected may not be the day they die. Thus, the death rate may well go up statistically for them. In the US, very little testing has been done to this point. There are likely many more cases than are currently known due to testing issues to date. That may in turn lower the mortality rate. Trailing deaths may raise it though.
The good news is the same steps people rarely take to prevent the flu (washing hands, etc.) will help with both the flu and the new virus. Though there is no COVID19 shot of course.
Nevertheless, the flu remains a threat as always. But it is winding down (or soon will be) depending on where you live. I would never minimize the impact that the flu has.
Source: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-age-sex-demographics/
Generally it appears to be older people or people with underlying conditions. Thus the recent CDC suggestion that older folks or those with underlying conditions reconsider being in crowds or public places, at least to minimize them.
The flu can kill young children, thus far COVID19 has not.
There is very little info about COVID19 thus far. More every day, but a long way to go. It *could* end up like Sars and die out with the beginning of warmer weather, or, it may not. SARS mostly went away since it's debut (some lab accidents have occurred), COVID-19 may or may not reappear annually. Mers however is still around just not widespread. Only time will tell. Obviously, we all hope it never reappears! There has been one case of a person getting the virus a second time, so, you may well not get much immunity once infected. But who knows. It may change over time, possibly for the better. It may not.
S. Korea has been cited as having a low death rate, comparatively but still higher than the flu, however, the day you detect a patient has been infected may not be the day they die. Thus, the death rate may well go up statistically for them. In the US, very little testing has been done to this point. There are likely many more cases than are currently known due to testing issues to date. That may in turn lower the mortality rate. Trailing deaths may raise it though.
The good news is the same steps people rarely take to prevent the flu (washing hands, etc.) will help with both the flu and the new virus. Though there is no COVID19 shot of course.
Nevertheless, the flu remains a threat as always. But it is winding down (or soon will be) depending on where you live. I would never minimize the impact that the flu has.
