OPINION:
Let us consider the facts about the coronavirus (“Trump outlines ’strong but necessary’ actions to limit coronavirus spread,” Web, March 11). The virus was first reported in China in late December 2019. The first death from it in the United States was on March 1. As of a few days ago, we have had almost 550 confirmed cases of it and 22 related deaths. Nearly all of the deaths were people who were in poor health and over 70 years old. People under the age of 20 appear to be almost immune to the coronavirus.
In a typical year, there are 36,000 deaths a year in the United States due to the flu, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the winter of 2017-18, the death toll was 80,000. Remember, there is an annual flu vaccine available that takes a year to create based on predictions from the prior year. Imagine the death toll if there were no flu vaccine.
We have only just started to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus. The good news is that 99.5 percent of those who contract the virus and are otherwise healthy beforehand and under the age of 70 are surviving.
While no one knows if the number of cases will ebb with the coming of warmer weather — as many experts expect — the current panic is not warranted based on past pandemics.
CMDR. WAYNE L. JOHNSON
Judge Advocate General’s Corps (retired)
Alexandria, Va.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.