The salt & pepper shakers are the nastiest things in the restaurants.First off, Trump already looks exemplary throughout this and it's translating into a certain landslide victory in Nov. They'll need a body bag for old Joe because of senile shock and hopefully one for Hillary too.Should I even bother here?
First off, Rob, I don't hate Trump, so don't try to claim that I'm attempting to make him look bad or anything like that.
This differs greatly from the flu. Let me count the ways:
1) The flu is very predictable as to who it kills. If you're not very young, very old, or already sick, you are unlikely to die from the flu. By contrast, COVID-19, while also mainly going after the old and already sick, also kills healthy people 45 and older, and occasionally younger people than that. Someone my age who is healthy almost never dies from the flu. COVID-19 is a legitimate threat.
2) COVID-19 spreads more easily than the flu.
3) There is a vaccine for the flu. There is no COVID-19 vaccine.
4) Most people not in the high-risk groups for the flu experience mild symptoms. Some fever, headaches, some fatigue, some coughing, and some body aches. Not pleasant, but it's rarely a terrible, super-memorable experience. Those with COVID-19 have described it as "the sickest I've ever been", "torture", "hell", and many have said they felt like they were going to die. I'm talking about people who WEREN'T hospitalized! If you're over 45 and catch COVID-19, you are likely to have a hellacious experience.
5) COVID-19 is sending a lot more people onto ventilators, due to breathing issues. The ventilators themselves cause all kinds of psychological problems which many people never recover. The flu does not typically bring on the degree of breathing problems that COVID-19 does.
You should be concerned, Rob. You're in a high risk age group. I am in a medium-risk group (I'm 48), and I'm still scared of it, because not many people my age (or older) catch it and escape with only mild symptoms.
You missed the point about the flu. Far more get it EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A VACCINE. THE ONLY REASON THIS VIRUS HAS A SLIGHTLY HIGHER DEATH RATE ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS IS BECAUSE IT HAS NO VACCINE YET. Simple common sense.
Yes, I would worry a little more IF I HAD ANY PRE-EXISTING ILLNESSES OR DISEASES. I believe you have several issues that weakened your immune system, so I'd be a bit more concerned if I were you. Anybody can get this thing if they're not careful. But most people don't know how to train themselves to use hand protection at gas stations, disinfect their hotel rooms and rental cars, use wipes on the handles of grocery carts, use hand sanitizer after touching restaurant menus and ketchup/salt & pepper, hot sauce etc., clean casino machines beforeplaying them, clean around the rims of glasses you get your drinks in when dining out down at least an inch all around inside and out if straws that you open aren't available, wipe off your silverware at restaurants, refuse food if you see an employee sneeze or cough above it then leave, use a towel or some tp to open restroom doors, etc. etc. etc. I've done all the above for over 20 years. Probably a good reason why I don't ever get any kind of sick. So I'm well prepared for the coming new world order.