Coronavirus, what's all the fuss?

[HelloHelloHelloHelloHelloHello]

I know this will sound ignorant, but I'm struggling to understand!

Flu kills many thousands of people each year. So far, the coronavirus is not looking to be as deadly as most annual strands of flu.

So why the mass panic?

I'm vulnerable. Had my flu jab but I'm prone to chest infections/tonsillitis/respiratory type stuff. And I don't really have an immune system of any sort so yes, a little concerned

A mere cold virus nearly killed my son when he was 3 so this "only flu" stuff is infuriating to read

I'm not worried. We don't know for sure what the death rate is because a lot of cases won't have been reported, due to some people only getting mild symptoms. So the death rate is probably lower than we think for that reason.

I'm not worried about it mutating either. That is just hypothetical. The same way a third world war could hypothetically break out, or an asteroid could hypothetically hit Earth.

I can't seem to get DD the flu jab. She was off school the day they had it and the doctor wont do it but the school wont repeat it. Its infuriating. Not coronovirus related but since we're talking about flu...

I had exactly the same thought this evening watching the news until they said ‘no vaccination’ - that’s the difference.
Was at post office today and three in queue were sending parcels of masks etc to Hong Kong/China. Then popped into work where a colleague asked me if I knew where closest dhl was. He was sending hand wipes and masks also. Finally a friend told me hi dp (from HK) had been abused on a bus (London) - pushed and told to keep away by someone ‘because of germs’.
All worrying.

@shinyredbus

Technically, normal flu doesn't have a cure if you catch it. There is flu vaccines, but even then they aren't foolproof.

Why are you saying it's less deadly than flu? It's many times more deadly than flu and it's very contagious. It has no vaccine and has been killing previously healthy people including medics.

A mere cold virus nearly killed my son when he was 3 so this "only flu" stuff is infuriating to read
Flu can be deadly. I know someone who had flu aged 16, the virus attacked his heart and he needed a heart transplant.

@KenAdams have you tried going to a pharmacy? That said, the flu vaccine won’t prevent coronavirus as they are two different things.

Our local authority had catch up clinics for flu vaccine for kids. Had to phone and book and explain why needed (close relative with cancer). They have the nasal spray not the jab like adults and pharmacies just have jab I believe.

@Confuseddotcommm I know it won't do anything for Coronavirus I only mentioned it as we were discussing flu. This thread has prompted me to make some more calls to get it sorted though :)