Part 7/16:
Christakis discusses the multifaceted nature of COVID-19's severity across individuals. He illustrates with a compelling analogy: two worlds—one where 10 out of 1,000 infected individuals die, and another where 100 out of 1,000 are infected but only one dies—highlighting that the latter is objectively worse due to the broader mild illness spread.
He emphasizes that the virus's "protean manifestations"—from asymptomatic to severe cases—confuse societal perceptions, making it hard to gauge the threat. He points out that "about 99.5%" of infected persons survive, but underscores the unpredictable nature and variable risk, especially for the elderly and those with comorbidities.