By the numbers, according to the paper:
There were 15,455 COVID-19 deaths reported in the US during the week ending April 21, 2020.
There were 14,478 COVID-19 deaths reported in the US during the week prior.
There were 351 flu deaths during the peak week (week 11 of 2016) of the flu season in 2015-16.
There were 1626 flu deaths during the peak week (week 3 of 2018) of the flu season in 2018-19.
“These statistics on counted deaths suggest that the number of COVID-19 deaths for the week ending April 21 was 9.5-fold to 44.1-fold greater than the peak week of counted influenza deaths during the past 7 influenza seasons in the US, with a 20.5-fold mean increase,” the authors wrote.

The CDC also recognizes that their COVID-19 death counts are continually revised due to delays in reporting. The authors believed that the ratio of counted COVID-19 deaths to flu deaths will rise. Additionally, they said their ratios are more clinically consistent with the experiences of health care workers on the front lines.

“We infer that either the CDC’s annual estimates substantially overstate the actual number of deaths caused by influenza or that the current number of COVID-19 counted deaths substantially understates the actual number of deaths caused by SARS-CoV-2, or both,” they wrote.[/quote]


Yup, because the CDC has had a good handle on all of this.
You understand all of these COVID numbers are being massively inflated for reasons other than sheer politics?. Hospitals are able to charge insurance companies more if they label a case COVID related.
But again, if you want to live in fear due to media hysteria, that is your right. Sit at home, eyes glued to MSNBC/CNN. But let the rest of us get on with our lives.
Maybe when you come out of your caves in two years when a vaccine is available, your little guy will be ready for some non-contact lax drills.[/quote]

Great answer to the fear monger.