As an upfront disclaimer, I am NOT offering medical advice or suggesting that you ignore the dangers of the latest flu – the Coronavirus.  You should listen to the advice of your doctor and even television doctors.  Do what you think is right, reasonable and sensible.

Before offering my analysis, I should note that I am one of those individuals in the high-risk category by virtue of age and medical conditions — but I am able to maintain a vigorous lifestyle of tennis, bowling and trips to the gym.

So, rather than offer medical advice – for which I am not qualified – I will just share my own personal opinion as it relates to my conduct – and why I have arrived that that opinion.

In short, I am not changing any of my habits whatsoever.  I have caught various flus in the past – some more severe than others.  In most cases, I self-medicated without having to see a doctor.  In one case, I got sick enough to head to the emergency room.  After an examination, I was told that a lot of folks were coming down with the same bug.  The doctor gave me a prescription and sent me home.

I do not see the Coronavirus as much more serious than those flu outbreaks in the past.  The big difference seems to be the response.  In past outbreaks they may have been mentioned on the news with a recommendation to get flu shots and pneumonia shots.

While the top-of-the-hour news reports are scary, it seems to me that they are needlessly so – and are causing more panicking than necessary.  People are running around with masks even though every doctor and medical authority says that is not necessary – or even beneficial as a preventative – for those without the disease.  It is advised for those WITH the disease and the health workers who attend to them.

While some doctors suggest limiting human contact and assembly, most of the authorities in the field make no such recommendation.  We can travel, go to work, eat out and participate in sports.

There are two very important statistics that lead me to my “what me worry?” attitude.  The first is that 80 percent of those who contract the Coronavirus will suffer only a “mild case” – not needing medical attention and some will be without any notable symptoms.

This means that your chance of getting the Coronavirus is extremely low.  Some report as low as 1 in 200,000 – compared to 1-in-50 of the normal flu.  And if you do contract it, you have only a 1-in-5 chance of getting a severe case.  If you contract the virus you have at least a 98 percent chance of surviving it.

If you do not live in proximity of one of the hot spots in California or Washington State – or you are under 60 and healthy – your odds are much better.

So, it is extremely unlikely that I will catch the Coronavirus, even less likely that I would get a severe case and even less likely that I would die from it.  I find the odds so much in my favor that I see no reason to change my habits or to live in fear.

Life is a crap-roll and anything can happen.  All one can do is play the odds.

So, there ‘tis.