The problem is that we just don't know everything about how this virus behaves.Yes some are confident that they know just what should be done.problem is even the number of cases already is not really known.A lot believe that the Chinese numbers are very rubbery.
Again this could become a pandemic but that is not a given.So a couple of other opinions.
I think it is likely we will see a global pandemic. If a pandemic happens, 40% to 70% of people world-wide are likely to be infected in the coming year. What proportion is asymptomatic [presenting no symptoms of disease], I can't give a good number.’
Professor Marc Lipsitch
Professor of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health
Head, Harvard Center Communicable Disease Dynamics
‘I think this virus is probably with us beyond this season, beyond this year, and I think eventually the virus will find a foothold and we'll get community based transmission and you can start to think about it like seasonal flu. The only difference is we don't understand this virus.’
Dr Robert Redfield, Director, US Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
Even when it comes to mortality rates there are uncertainties.The mortality rates usually quoted are probably wrong.They are calculated by the percentage of deaths compared to total cases.Though those newly diagnosed haven't got to the stage of risk of death.So if you take deaths + people cleared the mortality is a lot higher than commonly stated.
So some numbers.First compared to SARS and MERS.
.
Cases with outcome known.
.
Those still infected.A few days out of date.
.
On the other hand we have no information on how many people with this virus have no symptoms.If a considerable percentage the mortality is obviously a lot lower.
Don't expect definitive answers in the near future.