When this is all sorted out and we have the spare test kits and a couple years to monitor COVID-19, we're going to find that infected virtually everyone and it has a mortality rate close to the common flu of about 0.1%.
In addition, and we'll find this out a lot sooner than later, we will find that all this economy killing stuff: the self-quarantining, social-distancing, school closings, restaurant closings, daycare closings.... we're going to find that it didn't do anything to "flatten the curve" in any substantial manner.
So we are currently killing our economy and reducing our ability to respond to the impending needs for a snake-oil cure that apparently nearly every world leader has purchased.
Also 100% agree. Because of its long asymptomatic period, ease of transmission, and novelty, it's probably spread pretty much everywhere but only hitting some people especially hard. Symptomatically, it's very weird and frightening if you experience it, and possibly lethal like many viral infections, but it's very likely to be no more of a threat than the regular flu.
To put it another way, it infects more people than other viruses, but results in less hospitalization. However when it does require hospitalization, it is more severe. Scary, but as a threat to the population as a whole, it is equal or less than the flu.
I feel like your description is accurate based on what I am experiencing, although I have not been tested, I feel like I have covid and not the flu. I'm 34 and work in NYC and White Plains.
I had mild runny nose and intermittent sensation in chest that I've never felt before (wasn't painful just noticeable). I developed a flemmy cough from mucus. Would have been fine but my 10 month old son couldn't sleep one night so I didn't either. That next day out of nowhere I noticed a sudden onset of a migraine, body aches, hot and cold episodes, and increase in chest sensation. NSAIDs didn't seem to help. Noticed I was drinking a ton of coffee and eating sugary foods which probably made things worse. The migraine was the worst part. That was last night. This morning I feel pretty good but not 100%. IMO this is worse than a cold but not as rough as a Flu. So far my 28yo wife hasn't gotten sick. My son is sick but probably from daycare. That could be where I got the sniffles.
If there was no mandatory shutdown, at worst I would have stayed home from work 1 day.
Yeah, persistent migraine (weeks long) was something I experienced too. And I never have had a migraine in my life. At one point, the area behind my eye felt inflammed/painful.
In case it helps, if you by chance get a chest x-ray, look for small "lung nodules" (translucent white spots) on the x-ray. Telltale accessory sign of COVID.
After this migraine phase, you may experience a sudden onset of syncope (feeling like you'll faint) along with racing heart and shortness of breath. You might want to go to the hospital for that, but if you're healthy just know that you're not dying. The virus is just fucking with your blood pressure.
That hot/cold may have been vasodilation/constriction associated with blood pressure regulation. I had "hot flashes" during the time I felt like I was going to pass out.
Good luck. Wishing you and your family the best.