It could be a lot worse. But it has spread to 28 countries compared to SARS 18.
There were 26 new cases outside of China yesterday and 15 so far today.
There are 3700 cruise passengers under quarantine off the coast of Japan. 10 of the passengers have it, and they are waiting on tests of 100s more.
And a guy from Hong Kong, who lied about his travels went to some city, not sure where, attended several high attendance events including a wedding and now that town of 4000 is under quarantine. He tested positive.
>> 10 of the passengers have it
20 now.
“According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, quarantine of about 3,700 passengers and all crew members were carried out on board the cruise ship Diamond Princess, and 120 people who had symptoms such as fever and cough, We have collected specimens from a total of 273 persons, including 153 persons who have been in close contact, and conducted virus tests sequentially.
On the 6th, results for 71 new cases were found, and 10 of them were confirmed to have been infected with the virus.
The cruise ship will berth at the port of Yokohama, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will send 10 newly infected people to medical institutions in Kanagawa Prefecture.
As a result, the number of infected passengers on the cruise ship has been confirmed to be 20 including the 10 confirmed on the 5th.”
source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/shutoken-news/20200206/1000043608.html (via google translate)
China was not a center of travel and business in 2003 that it is today. That can account for the difference in extent of spread.