Good read, thanks. I have inserted the part I find informative. So, let's not make the mistake of brushing this off as less lethal than the flu.
World Health Organization: too early to make conclusive statements
The World Health Organization (WHO) had mentioned 2% as a mortality rate estimate in a press conference on Wednesday, January 29 [
1][
2] and again on February 10. However, on January 29 WHO specified that this is a very early and provisional estimate that may change. Surveillance is increasing, within China but also globally, but at the time:
- We don't know how many were infected ("When you look at how many people have died, you need to look at how many people where infected, and right now we don't know that number. So it is early to put a percentage on that."[1][2]).
- The only number currently known is how many people have died out of those who have been reported to the WHO.
- It is therefore very early to make any conclusive statements about what the overall mortality rate will be for the novel coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization [1][2]