A really bad flu year is a 0.14% fatality rate so .80% for COVID-19 is 5.8 times worse than regular flu.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/2017-2018.htm
That is assuming that we have an accurate read on the total number of cases. The actual number of cases (the denominator) is likely much higher and comprised mainly of people who are asymptomatic or those who are showing minor symptoms, all of whom have not been tested. This will drive the actual fatality rate lower. It would also be intellectually honest of the media to report that the majority of the deaths are of those who were elderly and/or those who had existing health issues.
Anecdotal - I know - but, I doubt that Tom Hanks and his wife are in hospice care or critical condition right now. The media has everyone believing that if you test positive for the virus, it is an automatic death sentence, thereby creating this panic we have now.
Yes, but the 0.8% is still for recorded cases, there are probably 2-4x as many unrecorded, so the rates are closer than you think so its closer than you think. That 0.14% in a bad year is an estimate not based on recorded cases. Bottom line if you are under 65, this virus is either equal to or less risky than the flu, 65-75 a bit riskier and over 75 a lot riskier.