Originally Posted by
Fostex
That statement is incorrect.There is a misconception that COVID-19 is no different from common seasonal influenza. Both cause respiratory disease and are transmitted through contact, respiratory droplets and fomites. However they vary drastically in severity. According to the WHO data to date, 80% are asymptomatic, 15% are severe (requiring oxygen) and 5% are critical (requiring ventilation). These figures are considerably higher than what is typically observed in flu.
Similarly, the virology is different. While influenza has a shorter serial interval (the time between successive cases) and therefore spreads more easily, COVID-19 has a higher reproductive number - meaning infected individuals pass the virus onto a higher number of people.
Might I also add that most people who die with influenza don't die
of influenza. They die of opportunistic bacterial infections.
Whereas people do die of COVID-19 directly in most cases.