That's the problem. It appears to be highly contagious, like a cold, and it is likely to mutate rapidly, like the cold viruses, but unlike a cold the coronavirus causes very serious, and sometimes fatal consequences.
Published descriptions of the virus indicate that significant numbers of people who are exposed to it require extensive medical care, and even with that care significant numbers of them die. That is why the Chinese government has taken many steps to fight back against further transmission of the virus, and other nations are doing so as well.
One way to gauge the risk of anything is to observe what people with first hand knowledge are doing. Take a look at what is happening in Wuhan. And then ask yourself - would they all be doing that for nothing?
They’re talking about it like it’s the worst plague the world has ever seen.
(Reminds me of like watching the weather channel website, where every day of the week they feature apocalyptic storms and Noah’s flood.)
Meanwhile, we already have worse seasonal infections, causing thousands of deaths, in our country every single year.