The fact that the Chinese doctor who first raised concerns was effectively shut down and all his reports removed says all we need to know about China's handling of this.
Not for nothing are the streets empty and the economy all but shut down and hospitals being built within a matter of weeks! Anybody moving around in public has perpetual enforced temp readings taken.
I don't think thr issue here is how many have it, but that its now here and the infection rate is high, particularly worrying that this is also when there are no apparent symptoms.
I think its reasonable to keep public forays to essentials to limit the spread and to apply rigorous hygiene to any outside contacts. Avoiding close contact, although, if its airborne as suggested, masks are the only way.
The use of paper masks has been rubbished, yet everyone in china is wearing them. The only way to wtradicate the infection is to isolate until its gone, in the absence of knowing the source and cause of reinfection.
Newborns are tolerant to much that would kill an adult, their bodies are very different so some attacks won't harm. Lets hope this is one.
Absolutely no point in absolute panic, but stress is a way for the body to optimise its resources, low stress and high stress are not good. Optimum stress and doing things to keep bug free and minimising unnecessary contact while caronavirus is spreading here and around the world.
Its not flu, why the comparison? 
Its unknown, untreatable, and over here so its normal to feel streased about that. There'd be something wrong with you to not give serious consideration to your options when you see what its brought to China in terms of massive shut down (the figures are not worth the paper they're written on).
Theres always some saddos that like to come on threads like these to be nasty to others.