“No one is saying it’s “just the flu”, bro.”
Someone on a thread a short while ago called it “a cold that gives some elderly people pneumonia”.
Technically, a Coronavirus is in fact the cause of many cases of the common cold. Also factual is that for those aged 15 to 44, the fatality rate was 0.5%, though it might have been as low as 0.1% or as high as 1.3%. For people 45 to 64, the fatality rate was also 0.5%, with a possible low of 0.2% and a possible high of 1.1%. For those over 64, it was 2.7%, with a low and high estimate of 1.5% and 4.7%.
The chance of serious illness from coronavirus infection in younger people was so low, the scientists estimate a fatality rate of zero.
Since it’s an upper respiratory disease, the description you cited was pretty accurate, if a bit flippant. I am not saying we should go on as if there’s no danger. Prudent measures are necessary. Burning down the house to kill the termites is not.