So, I guess doctor knowledge would come in handy, here are some actual facts about the Coronavirus and you guys can determine from there how you guys want to handle it:

- We've known about Coronavirus being a thing for a lot of years, it just happens this particular strain is a little more potent. The strain changes its genetic composition, which basically means a vaccine for the thing is pretty damn hard to generate due to phases of a clinical trial you have to go through in order to have anything approved in the first place. Coronavirus is the virus responsible for SARS (South Asian Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) that were prevalent however many years ago.

- For most people, this is NOT a deadly virus, and will produce mild flu-like symptoms. The people most at risk are the ones that are elderly and young children who have poor immune systems. Obviously anybody who is immunocompromised (ie cancer, HIV, autoimmune diseases like lupus, etc.) fall in that category as well. The fatality rate for this virus is actually around 2%, which is chance due to chance alone. The risk increases to 10% with a risk factor (ie smoking, diabetes, etc. or any of the conditions above), and 20% with two risk factors. The influenza virus that happens every winter actually has a higher case fatality rate. However, this is where the problem lies, as most people who have it, aren't debilitated by it, and go out into public and end up infecting people.

- The virus is transmitted via respiratory droplets, which means talking, coughing, etc. all those things can easily transmit the virus. The virus also isn't like other viruses where warm weather kills it off, it general does alright in warm weather. The best way to prevent transmission is to practice good hand washing skills. If you get a mask, just know that the mask doesn't really protect you, it protects other people from you more than anything. Also make sure you are wearing the mask properly if you do (or buy stock in 3M who's prices rise a lot during outbreaks, look at the pricing of 3M during the last epidemic of the Swine Flu for example). Don't touch your face, all that good stuff.

Ultimately I would say the severity should be a little above non-chalant, but now as crazy as people are making it out to be. Yes, it is associated with risks, but all viruses are associated with risks. If you fall under the categories above take special precaution, but if you're a young, healthy, human with not a lot of risk factors, even getting this virus wouldn't be that big of a deal. You should definitely avoid going into public if you are feeling sick, as the self-quarantine rules are in place to try to kill off the spread of it. Ultimately, this carries no higher risk than getting the seasonal flu, nor does it cause more deaths than getting the seasonal flu. Practice good sanitation habits, but don't be afraid to carry out your day to day activities.