I'm not really trying to convince you of anything--you are seriously stupid if you compare an infectious disease to car accidents. The great thing about emergencies is that it makes the idiots and imbeciles much more obvious.
To the non idiots: anyone who compares influenza to this novel virus is the kind of vapid tool that can only exist after years of formal "education" coupled with a complete absence of real world experience.
What is always shocking to me is how poorly people understand systemic risk assessment.
Contagion dynamics imply a different kind of risk assessment...it’s fine until it isn’t. When an agent with the possibility to harm is contagious or able to self amplify you must be extremely cautious and react to signs of “growth” early and decisively. Someone who doesn't recognize pandemic as a MAJOR systemic risk that should be mitigated in an anticipatory way is BLIND to ALL systemic risk.
Better to be wrong 99 times and right once by preparing early than right 99 times and wrong once (where you die).