The arguement that this virus has killed less people than other more normal things (seasonal flu, falling down the stairs, etc) doesn't stand up. The more people that the virus infects, the greater the chance of a mutation. The death rate could surge without warning if the spread isn't brought under control.

The 4-24 day incubation period means we are always at least 4 days and possibly as much as 24 days behind the real numbers. The virus could be infecting people in every major city in the UK right now and we wouldn't know about it for another week or so.

The WHO Director General earlier said "Ebola is lousy, this is airborne. Corona is airborne!"

An airborne virus has the potential to infect people up to 250m away and hangs in the air. Thats about two football pitches in length.