“2018-2019 was about 61k for instance. No small number and influenza doesn’t just pick on the old or the weak.”
You have brought up an interesting point about comparison with influenza.
When we look at Flu deaths in America, those are in the presence of vaccination? I seem to recall instances of the vaccination being “wrong” for a given season. Are the deaths higher, in that case? Do we have to expect that, untreated, deaths from this virus will be worse than we see for the Flu, then, even if Flu and COVD-19 acted similarly in the body, since there has been no vaccination?
Also, with the Flu, is there such similarity from year to year, that our immune systems have some capability to respond, even to a new flu?
That is a reasonable assumption but, IMO, still an unknown.
Also, with the Flu, is there such similarity from year to year, that our immune systems have some capability to respond, even to a new flu?
Possibly. I have only had the flu once in the last 37 years and it was a three day minor annoyance I didn't bother to treat. Prior to that I had the flu twice a year. Once in the early fall and once in the spring.