First of all, it is important to PANIC -
P.A.N.I.C.
P. Prepare for the worst. Although various 'flu viruses result in the death of many thousands of people every year, it seems that there was no need to lock down the country.
A. Ask yourself if you are thinking rationally or being led by media hysteria.
N. Notice what people are shopping for. An abundance of loo rolls is more likely to indicate that the purchaser is a lousy cook.
I. Imagine all kinds of worst case scenarios including hoards of infected zombies whose mere touch will finish you.
C. Compose a list of things you can still do without having to go anywhere.
You must not be CALM -
C.A.L.M.
C. Create an environment of sheer hysteria before any real evidence that things may get a lot worse.
A. Attack anyone verbally who does not share your own fears.
L. Look on the internet at statistics of previous year’s flu virus effects.
M. Magnify the supply problems by panic buying anything - there is only a shortage because of idiots.
On a serious note, I know that some people have not survived the virus but in February 2019 this was a headline " The flu epidemic that has gripped every region of France has already killed 1,100 people and has not yet reached its peak, health officials have warned". As of today 148 deaths from covid 19 have been reported in France. I have to wonder why there was no “lock-down” last year when the 'flu (for which there IS a vaccine) was responsible for at least 5 times the number of deaths.
Finally, just be sensible & cautious.
I’m really surprised that you are still using that comparison between flu deaths and the current situation. I thought that the basic facts about this new virus would have been well known by now. I’m sure that there have been several easy to follow graphs posted on this site explaining the situation.
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Strangely enough… or perhaps not so strange after all… I looked back through my 5-year diary and noticed that in the first 8 weeks of one particular year our little commune had 14 deaths.
This year… we have had 2 church funerals so far… and I know of another 2 which were civil ceremonies at the cemetery…
Does this mean that we are now living a healthier life… or that the weakest have already gone… ???
Whatever… we are certainly taking things seriously… especially since I have pointed out that things often go in 3’s and that after 2 church funerals …it seems that no-one wishes to become number 3… 
And quite right too.
I have had so much advice, facts, figures & doom & gloom thrown at me for the past few weeks I thought I would try a bit of humour to put things in perspective.
I should know better really - despite including the words “non-expert” in the title the first reply referred to “basic facts” being well known. Indeed they are so no need to keep repeating them.
I am not going to put my roguish sense of humour on lock down along with the other activities now suspended.
By the way, I fall into the high risk group too so if things go quiet you will know why…
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We have a very active 84 year old… who was very vocal yesterday morning… insisting she will do everyone’s shopping/prescriptions etc etc … even though folk mentioned that she is in the “at risk” group… and doesn’t even drive a car… I’ll take a taxi she bellowed…
We’ve even told her the Gendarmes might arrest her… for flouting the regulations… this did not alarm her, rather it brought a certain twinkle into her eyes…
mmmm… hope I’m as feisty at her age…
(I think she is going to be manning the phones and organising volunteer rotas… that sort of thing … where she can be useful but not at risk… )
Stella, you are beginning to make me a little anxious for you. The firemen being called out inspires you to murmur “Be still, my beating heart!”, gendarmes at checkpoints manifest “hunkiness”, and now you resonate throbbingly (“mmmm”) with an old bat whose eyes twinkle suggestively at the sight of the boys in blue…
We know Spring is in the air, lambs are frisking, sap is rising etc etc. But some of us men are getting ‘Me Too!’ ideas at all this ogling stuff, so I suggest you settle down with a G&T and read a good improving book on embroidery . Or, better still, bake a cake.
Only thinking of you, dear! 
ha ha… Peter… please stop thinking of me… all is well. 
