I think rumors that every death is counted as a corona death if the person tests positive for the virus is greatly overblown or a myth. I have a friend who works in CA hospital that has had several deaths as a result of the disease, and he confirmed that they only count a death as being caused by corona virus if complications from the virus cause the death (aka pneumonia). He said that a few days ago someone died in a car crash and was corona positive, but that they did not count it in such a way that it adds to the corona-virus death toll. He said the main way a death not necessarily caused by corona-virus might be counted as such is if the person has pre-existing respiratory trouble and dies from it, but in that case, it is still more likely than not the virus played a major contributing role.
He also said that if anything, we are currently under-reacting. There is no need to panic buy (that's stupid), but it is vitally important to stay at home as much as humanly practical. The vaccine is being developed quickly, but do not expect it for another year. It will not save us. What we need is people to stay at home, and many will not without explicit orders and enforcement.
The TSA is security theater. The corona virus is a legitimate threat. If we do everything right, it will look like an overreaction. If we fail, hundred of thousands may die.
We do not have a choice between saving the economy and saving lives. If we continue to work like nothing is wrong, it is almost certainly going to be worse for the economy too as well as causing many needless deaths.
