Thread by @WIRED

News about coronavirus is moving quickly. And you may have heard some people say that the flu is deadlier than the #COVID19; that’s because they don’t really understand the math. Here’s a breakdown of the differences between the two viruses—and how you can protect yourself: 1/

First, let’s get this out of the way: “Flu can kill Amercans by the tens of thousands, but that’s because it’s been around so long and has had so much time to spread. Millions get the virus every year, and fewer than 0.1 percent of them perish from it.” 2/ wired.trib.al/X1DKznU

For comparison, the World Health Organization has estimated #COVID19's fatality rate to be about 3.4 percent globally. 3/
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But without adequate and complete testing (which the US is still behind in), nobody knows HOW many people the novel coronavirus will ultimately infect. The number of people infected will determine what the actual #COVID19 fatality rate turns out to be wired.trib.al/wR9PR2J 4/

Scientists know a lot more about influenza—and have a vaccine against it, too.

Part of what makes the coronavirus so concerning is that it's new. That means we don't have a vaccine for it. And we most likely won't have one for over a year. #COVID19 5/
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To make matters worse, President Trump himself doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to being accurate about #COVID19. At his CDC press event last week, he falsely claimed that anyone in the US could get tested for it. That’s still untrue. 6/
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The US hasn't prepared well to deal with pandemics like this. But after SARS and H1N1, Singapore built a robust system for tracking and containing epidemics. #COVID19 has tested whether that system can actually help "flatten the curve".

So far, it has: 7/ wired.trib.al/L7SfiOJ

If you feel a bit sniffly, please, stay home. Hospitals are concerned about the “worried well”—people who aren’t sick, or who only have mild symptoms, but who come into the hospital anyway and take up valuable resources. 8/
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So what can you do to prevent #COVID19 19? Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. Self-quarantine if you feel sick or have been exposed to someone with the virus. And work from home if you can to limit your social exposure 9/ wired.trib.al/RkEIxof

And if you are in a public restroom, maybe skip that hand dryer. 10/ wired.trib.al/yjPCRgP

While soap and water is actually the best way to kill the coronavirus, hand sanitizer is good to keep with you. But huge runs on stores and price gouging on Amazon can make it hard to find. Here are two recipes for making your own: 11/ wired.trib.al/P8v52SP

Finally, your tech is filthy. Viruses can cling to glass surfaces for up to 96 hours. Here’s some quick tips on how to clean it up safely and effectively. #COVID19 12/
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