I think this could explai New York and Northern Italy where people are packed in close, and once the virus is circulating you continually get re-exposed and re-exposed and re-exposed, until you get overloaded and really sick.
The NYC subways were still running and still packed as of last week. What a virus incubator! You are elderly, you take the subways and it might as well be a death train for you. And if not death, then lungs that are scarred with fibrous tissue for the rest of your life. Leaving you with 30-50% lower lung capacity.
Also the early days in Wuhan. Sending people home to recover with their families is about as counterproductive as it gets.