how this compares to the flu. Remember that Flu statistics are based estimates that the CDC has provided meaning since most never go to a doctor or hospital with the flu they are estimating contagion. So remember that COVID will eventually also have an estimated number when all is said and done since not everyone is going to be tested or seek medical help since they will stay home and handle it like they always have.

Flu stats from cdc for 2017-18 was total est cases 48800000 with 79400 deaths or an est rate of 0.16
Flu stats from cdc for 2018-19 was total est cases 42900000 with 61200 deaths or an est rate of 0.14
Of course the Corona Virus will have to run it's course before the cdc can apply whatever formula they use to estimate how many actually had COVID-19. Right now all death rates are based on actual verifiable cases vs an estimate. So if we are using cdc data for verifiable cases than it would look like this:

Flu 2017-18 with 959999 verified with 79400 deaths or a death rate of 8.27
Flu 2018-19 with 647000 verified with 61200 deaths or a death rate of 9.46

so with scare tactics on display with the media with even the help of cdc which may be just the fact that the cdc looks at the world differently and therefore do not or cannot see outside their world of viruses so when they make recommendations it is always about isolating the virus regardless. If they had their way maybe they would recommend the same steps taken for each flu each year not really focusing on the big picture outside of isolating a virus.

What I am saying here is what we are experiencing as far as contagion will most likely be the same as any flu season in terms of it's lethal impact on our society. However this is new territory in how it will impact our society. What my concern is that this may act as a template for future outbreaks that may have a similar societal/financial impact as people become accustom to handling things this way.