Is Coronavirus hype by the media?”

“So far, the new coronavirus, dubbed 2019-nCoV, has led to more than 20,000 illnesses and 427 deaths in China, as well as more than 200 illnesses and two deaths outside of mainland China. But that’s nothing compared with the flu, also called influenza. In the U.S. alone, the flu has already caused an estimated 19 million illnesses, 180,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”

Scientific American, January 27, 2020  https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-does-the-new-coronavirus-compare-with-the-flu/

Rush Limbaugh opined today that the media are looking for the next “bombshell” to bring down President Trump.  If it has to be a panic over a virus or an economic recession, so be it—they hate him that much. In India, the President said the U.S. had the situation well in hand, but we are vigilant.  The media responded predictably—well, he lies so maybe he is lying again. One opinion-maker observed that Obama during the Ebola crisis had taken a world view.  Trump does not see himself has world manager or king.  Maybe Obama did. https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/479301-trump-says-us-has-coronavirus-totally-under-control

That said, the media need to do some research on the old fashioned, annual flu which changes and evolves each year. They never say much about it because it’s many the elderly and immune compromised.   I got my flu shot, did you?

And some media wonk complained that Trump’s gathering of coronavirus medical experts wasn’t diverse enough.  I think it was CNN, which has if photos don’t lie, an all white editorial board.