When to Panic? Not Now!

When panic ensues nothing good happens. 

I am concerned that we are becoming so focused on COVID-19 (a/k/a Coronavirus) that panic is setting in. 

I am seeing panic in the stock markets, and on the news, and in our leaders as they attempt to deal with the impact of the virus. It is hard to miss--but, we need cooler heads and and a calm approach to what is happening around us. 

Let me put the coronavirus in perspective.

Johns Hopkins Coronavirus World Chart
March 11, 2020

As of this morning, according to the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracking chart, there have been 1031 cases in the U.S. with 29 deaths. 

According to the CDC, there have been 18 million cases of the flu, 180,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths in the U.S. this influenza season – including 68 children. 

Here is a headline from USA Today:

Coronavirus is scary, but the flu is deadlier, more widespread

I just had to cancel my April trip to Italy because of coronavirus and I am losing a bundle of money. But I have a better chance of becoming infected with the flu--and no one seems to care. 

Keep calm in the face of ensuing panic. 

Take precautions, be careful and live, live without fear!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD