Thus there may be something about the Wuhan environment which makes this new coronavirus more virulent and more lethal.
One factor for sure is that since wuhan seems to be the epicenter of the outbreak, the virus has had more time to work. This also suggests that the true rate is higher that we were hoping. If they admit 3.4% then the true rate is going to be much higher perhaps 10% or more
Likewise with the numbers outside china. Those are more likely to be true or at least not as likely to be deliberately falsified. Since corona has not had as much time to do its thing, we will see the numbers rise and the percentage of death rise as well. The mortality rate will lag behind the true numbers for a variety of reasons. Right now, since it spreads so fast and takes a few weeks at least to kill, there will be many more new cases than month+ old cases pushing down the apparent mortality rate.
People ask why is china reacting so extremely some say "hysterically" to the outbreak? They did not go to such lengths when it was sars or other deadly diseases. Consider that they have had more experience with corona than anyplace else since it started there. They see first hand what it does and they are very afraid, therefore extreme measures even if they risk a revolt and crash the economy.
The bringing in of 40 large industrial incinerators tells us more than the carefully managed figures they release. Crematoriums can't keep up but bodies can't be allowed to lie in the street, videos of crows eating them have been circulated. They are in a desperate situation as the rest of the world will probably be soon as well.
If they were forced to admit the outbreak of serious disease in dec '19, odds are that it was raging for months before that, probably as far back as sept. Early deaths were attributed to normal disease and when it was finally seen as something new and deadly, the first reaction was to cover it up. By late dec they had to take extreme measures and could no longer conceal it. Other countries now are where china was probably in october with a few cases and a few deaths.
Hysteria will do harm but quarantines are needed. But since its not politically correct to bar all visitors to a country unless the ruler is a dictator, it will spread and spread. What we are hearing about in china will happen everywhere unless some major factor prevents it. Its no longer just those who visited china, the virus has escaped and can't be contained only perhaps slowed down.
The economic fallout will be severe. China is going down the tubes at the moment and no one wants to go there or do business there. What will the post corona world look like? I plan to make my will and to get medical treatment while its still available