When it comes to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, I see a lot of misinformed people in the general public and on social media. Some cite other contagions, such as the flu and previous mass outbreaks, to downplay the risks that we as a whole are currently facing. Some are simply fed up of the constant coverage that they feel is unnecessarily alarmist. These are understandable sentiments but very short-sighted. COVID-19 is a big deal.
To be clear, there is a line between panic and preparation. Armageddon isn't coming. At the same time, dismissing the risks would be a huge mistake. To illustrate why, I'll go over three points of discussion:
1. The disease will be ubiquitous, but its spread may happen quickly or slowly
2. There will be many, many deaths, but they will be highly concentrated to specific demographics
3. Active involvement by the public can mitigate the impact
