jMV:
Up to 24 pm 25 Jan 2020, a total 1,975 cases were confirmed infection of 2019-nCoV in China mainland with a total of 56 deaths occurred. The latest mortality was approximately 2.84% with a total 2,684 cases still suspected.The China National Health Commission reported the details of the first 17 deaths up to 24 pm 22 Jan 2020.The deaths included 13 males and 4 females. The median age of the deaths was 75 (range 48-89) years.Fever (64.7%) and cough (52.9%) were the most common first symptoms in deaths.The median days from first symptom to death were 14.0 (range 6-41) days, and tended to be shorter among people of 70-year old or above (11.5[range 6-19] days) than those with ages below 70-year old (20[range 10-41]days, P=0.033).
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This is an ongoing train wreck; the latest fatalities are lagging by this reference by around something less than 14 days from first symptom to death, it appears that from first symptom to confirmation started out at about 10-14 days, and has reduced to around 5-6 days. Using the shorter period, then the number of fatalities today can be assessed against the confirmed cases that existed when the fatal case contracted the virus. Either method can be used, but the basis needs to be known. CNN etc are using current cases, vs current deaths, that is correct in a post event review, but will give a lower figure than looking at how big a problem really exists. Due to the relatively rapid spread of the current cases, surpassing SARS totals in the first month of the known outbreak, then prudence would seem to be worthwhile. This is every bit as nasty as SARS was, and is spreading at a fair rate.
Any other factors that affect transmission or outcome at the present are going to be important to establish promptly, but in the absence of a treatment other than of the symptoms, then basic infection control seems logical to apply. If factors such as age, preexisting conditions etc develop further, then effort may be able to be targeted more effectively, but that remains hints only today.
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Wang, W., Tang, J. and Wei, F. (2020), Updated understanding of the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019‐nCoV) in Wuhan, China. J Med Virol. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi:10.1002/jmv.25689