(DATA) Below are the WORLDWIDE numbers for the coronavirus, and they teach us something critical: mortality rate is determined by looking at *closed* (or "resolved") cases only. As to *open* (or "unresolved") cases, the key figure to look at is the "serious or critical" category. 
PS/ What folks with a political agenda in the US are saying is that as we test more, the "closed-case" mortality rate will plummet to far below 1%. It may; I hope it does. But the mountain of worldwide data we have says it might not—and that our "serious or critical" data is off.
SOURCE/ This is *one* of the highly useful websites I've been using for coronavirus data. Link: worldometers.info/coronavirus/
PS2/ I think it's already clear from the thread, but to underscore: more testing certainly does bring down mortality rate, as it lets us see more cases as they arise/are resolved. For instance, with so little testing in the US, it's *not* useful yet to look at our mortality rate.
PS3/ By the same token, *time* certainly *can* bring down mortality rate, as early in an outbreak you have virtually no "resolved" (closed) cases, while a number of people may have gotten very sick and passed away quickly. But as noted, *worldwide* we now have a mountain of data.
PS4/ And *locale* matters. Different countries have different healthcare systems, laws, cultures, community spread patterns (et. al.). My worry is that—as Larry Summers recently noted—right *now* (it could change) America is responding to coronavirus like a *much* poorer country.
