Numbers are not friendly... or mean... they just are.

There are roughly164 million people in the US between 30 and 90.  Keep that number in mind.

The coronavirus infection rate seems  to be rather high.  Given an incubation period without symptoms of up to two weeks, and mild cold symptoms to begin, and indications it's airborn and can cross over to animals (ouch).   People coming in contact have a pretty fair chance of contracting it, with medical personnel right on the front line of that.

Add into the situation current estimates on death rates around 3.4%
Add into that the only practical control we have on it spreading right now is the population going to ground and sheltering at home for weeks on end.

Lets do some tactical mathing at the issue.... and you might want to turn away at this point.  On the other hand, feel free to blow major holes through my guesswork here.

Lets be conservative with these numbers, as much as possible.  To that end, let us suppose only 20% of that 164 million people at risk actually contract the virus.  That is 32,800,000 folks who are ill within a month or so of each other.  That sounds pretty bad, but remember that nearly 40,000,000 a year get the regular flu each year in the US.  Most of them self care their way out of it, and don't infect too many of their fellow travelers, with a death rate well under 1%.

But.... that's 32 million people sick all at once, with a highly infectious virus.  Medical care staff will have to preemptively suit up *weeks* before they perceive a personal threat, or they will almost certainly be part of that 32 million.  Once infected, they are off duty and probably self caring at home.... right when everyone needs them the most.

But, lets be a kind as we can and say that 80% of the people who catch the bug have mild symptoms and only need minimal medical care.  The other 20% go the hard route, and need hospitalization.  we'll call these the unlucky folks.  Elderly, immune challenged, just... unlucky.  That is 6,400,000 people who need hospital beds all at once, with medical staff working suited up and most likely suffering it themselves.

But, go back to that unfriendly 3.4% number.   When I hear that WHO number (pun fully intended), I go full 'Murican inside and say to myself  "That cain't happen here, we'uns is 'MURICAN"..... and then I think about the situation outlined above.   Medical care strained way past the breaking point, past even the line where 'Murican magic can handle it.

If the number is only 1%, because 'Murica.... we are just that good..... it means 320,000 people dying of the same virus, in the space of a months time.   That's... like.... a whole lotta Chicago weekend killings piled real high.

Then I think about what would be done to curtail the virus.  Schools shutting down.  Large business shut down.  Industries shut down.  You know, just as China is doing as I write this, and has their air going clear and unpolluted for the first time in living memory.

For two to three weeks.

Or, hell, it could wind up gone tomorrow and the whole thing was just another media hoax full of bovine exhaust.

Um....... I really hate math.