I personally know a handful of people that tested positive for COVID, none seem to think it was a big deal relative to any other cold. I've heard about a couple dozen famous people I recognize, they seem to have recovered fine. As close as I can come to someone I recognize, who allegedly died from COVID, is Herman Cain a 74yo with other health issues. I'm not saying it's not "real", but I shouldn't need a TV to tell me it's a "pandemic" if it was an unusually deadly and rapidly spreading thing.