It’s a little early for counting just yet, but the tally is still useful.
We don’t know the real denominator - how many thousands just have a bad cold?
How many chose to not even go to hospital, are dying or died at home?
How many in ICU won’t make it?
And of course, China never tells the truth about anything. And in this case they probably don’t know it themselves.
The MOST essential question right now is: Is there asymptomatic transmission?
The US and China CDCs do not agree on this matter. And it should be the very highest priority for the epidemiologists.
After that verify China’s claim it’s transmitted via touch, and even simple proximity with shared air. Apparently the US CDC doesn’t agree with that either.
Ostensibly, the two biggest and richest and technologically advanced countries in the world should be able to agree on these enormously important questions.
Or a mild cold? We don't that number either.
How many chose to not even go to hospital, are dying or died at home?
Dead people are pretty easy to count. Doesn't help that the Chicomms will lie about anything to serve their purposes, but word will get out if there are large numbers of uncounted dead, mass graves, or whatever.