It's been worse, so why panic over this coronavirus?

In 2019, 14,000 people died from influenza. In 2018, 61,000 people died from the flu.

And in 2017, 80,000 people died from the flu That year, hospitals were so overrun that hospitals set up tents to treat patients.

Yet, there was none of the hysteria that is going on now with this coronavirus.

You did not see the stock market plunging, you did not see stores selling out of hand sanitizers or masks. And you certainly did not see people in a panic wearing a mask or a company like Boeing sending their workers home, parades being cancelled, live shows cancelling their audiences or sporting events prohibiting fans.

None of these things happened with any of the other flu outbreaks, not even swine flu.

So, why now?

Dede Boyer

Ritzville