Thread by @SharpTusk

Not being satisfied with what I'm hearing regarding the Coronavirus I put my head into reputable/medical information on it this afternoon. Some of the decisions may be a little more understandable while some may not be. Here's what I determined.
A number of sources try to

Explain the difference between #coronavirus & #influenza while there are some similarities. One was from Johns Hopkins. Another details statements made by WHO director. Others are of Washington Post detail.

Stories are in agreement that the viruses are different.

#Coronavirus is a cold virus derivative. I is influenza.

Uniformly the stories say that both viruses have similar respiratory symptoms which you know from the flu.

Both are PROBABLY transmitted the same way, but no one knows whether C can exist for days without a host

And still be found to float around in droplets or remain on surfaces. Said another way, they are not sure if it lingers.

The most striking difference & one which may explain decisions comes with viral shedding/contagiousness. When viruses invade cells, replicate, use up the

Cell, and spread. Some of those cells get into the environment, i.e. contagiousness.
With the flu, the WHO director explained that a person can be contagious DAYS BEFORE being symptomatic.
Because #coronavirus like this is new, most will not have immunity & become sick THEN

Become contagious as the virus replicates & gets into the environment.

For that reason, quarantine & containment appear to work.

#Coronavirus appears to have a longer incubation period 2-14 days. People appear to be contagious Longer with C.

C's respiratory symptoms are

More severe.

Today (3/11/2020) the National Institutes of Health top infectious disease doctor, Anthony Fauci, recommended that large gatherings across the country be cancelled.

The reason for this appears to be that #Coronavirus may be traced & contained unlike the flu where

People who don't even know that they are infected are spreading it.

Initial German studies of #Coronavirus indicate that individuals tested with mild symptoms were contagious after 8 days from symptom onset. Those with more severe forms which caused pneumonia were contagious at

10 & 11 days.

With #CoronaVirus being primarily upper respiratory, the rates of virus escaping into the environment are noted to be 1,000x greater than SARS coronavirus in 2002-2003.

The stories note as I have pointed out that they do not have a grasp on the prevalence of

The #coronavirus. They know of the severe & documented cases but do not know the rates of infection for people who believed they had the flu.

I hope this is helpful.

The point of the last tweet is simply that the percentages claimed are percentages of known cases vs. far more mature and tested influenza data.