I'm not saying this as fact - but my thoughts on the topic is that it is a carefully planned over-reaction that has little to do with health.

Context: San Diego is not experiencing it as bad as most of CA or the world.

My bride and I live healthy, hygienic lifestyles pre-Wuhan Virus and we are educated on the power of our natural immune systems and God-given natural healing powers. ♥

Consequently many of our friends and family are the same as us, we're like minded tribesmen. So, my views are echoed in my tribe and beyond my tribe I'm live and let live. If "you" do not offer me or put upon me your unsolicted opinion, I don't put mine anywhere. Where it's asked of me (like here) or where I post on my sites-I give my views freely and I'm not seeking followers.

You do not have to like what I post, but if you choose to post your opposing opinion on my turf, buckle up and wear a cup-I love to debate. 😂🤣😁

So, because you asked...yes, we feel many are over reacting, but that's on them. We also feel some are being very foolish about trying to act "normal". We do not wear masks outside, but we do not go to where the public congregates when we hike or dog walk. We keep to our selves outdoors. We do us and we're happy; mask-free 95% of the week and active outdoors and healthy. 5% of the time we do wear masks is my respect for others when shopping or touring their homes. 

Natural selection will take the unhealthy, the pre-existing conditioned and the weak. It always has with fate, viruses, diseases, famine, war,etc. We have friends and family in and not in those categories; still I say, let the cards fall where they may☮; we're living our lives as good people, being good to other people❤, our opinions and yes my sarcasm very much part of that package deal. 😁

We are happy we are who we are, we allow others to be what they are, just do not try to impose it upon us. ☮ I'm so over this topic my sarcasm and wit prevails as a means of dealing with the preoccupation of the doom and gloom vs. the opportunity and blessings.☮♥👍

At first I thought (as did the UK and US Governments) this would be a much bigger deal than it has been, on the health front.  I do know people who have died, have worked with people who have been infected and I'm pretty sure I've shaken hands and hugged people had it back in February.  Heck, I had the start of a cold for a day or two back in March and I wonder if I may have had it and fought it off.

Where I think this will be the most impactful is it's detremental effects on the economy and it's very convenient timing right before a special election in California and only a few short months before the national elections.  Interesting how the economy has practically collapsed after three failed coups to overthrow a legally elected President of the United States.

This virus seems to be far more contagious and deadly.

If taking the appropriate measures to avoid  being tagged by the highly infectious virus is over-reacting...count me in.

The only way the over-reaction gets dialed back is by each and every one of us acting accordingly and letting our local governments know that draconian measures are not going to be tolerated. 

Richie,

We each have our own theories.  I rarely felt treatened by any disease, and the same goes for now.  And we all used to run with scissors, kids did not have car seats, etcetera, etcetary, and we knew not to iron while wearing our clothes...LOL A

I can only speak for myself, but whenever I encountered a client or customer in the past, who was activly experiencing a case of chicken pox, measles or flu, I would keep my distance or reschedule until they were recovered.

In every crisis, whether health related or otherwise, whether a personal crisis or worldwide crisis, there are always people who overreact.  In those same situations, there are always people who will not take the threat seriously enough.  In hindsight, it's easy to tell which is which.  But while it's happening, it is difficult to tell.

I'm not going to judge anyone for taking this current crisis more seriously than I am taking it.  I won't judge anyone for taking it less seriously than I am.  Everyone needs to do what makes them feel comfortable.

People do a lot  of irresponsible things to endanger their neighbors, why not add some drunk driving to the list.

I'm capable of taking care of my health with my doctors without all this government over reach.

I tend to agree that it is a little bit over the top but for people with pre-existing conditions, they are safe staying home. I had a stroke 7 years ago and I don't know if that is considered to be a pre-existing condition but I only wear a mask when I go to the market or meet with clients. Otherwise, I'm staying home as a precaution.

not many people died from chicken pox or colds.  We have a flu vaccine that at the least helps  you survive the flu, most people for decades have had the measles vaccine.  And we're scientifically advanced over the Spanish flu where we didn't distance and lost 2 million souls because we didn't distance and not touch.

I have a dear friend in Dallas, TX who thinks our strict guidelines in Monterey County, CA are silly and keeps trying to argue her point of view. I do not envy that she's going to restaurants, and socializing with her friends. Go for it but be willing to take the consequences. We are not.

Dan Pittsenbarger has my vote.  And I will add, very little. 

I think the Summer Sun will kill this thing

The virus is real, YET, for some reason, the media has really hyped & politicized it. In my mind, things do not add up. When I was a kid one of us got the disease of the day my mother would quarantine all of us and put a sign on the door SICK HOUSE

They were 'concerned' with measles a few years ago I remember. 

I think some of the answers here are just plain off the wall wacko. We shall each form our own opinion. 

Thomas pretty much said all. I think the computer models were off by a massive amount. I think we need natural immunity. I also think those most susceptible should be taking more caution than those not.

And "back in the day", Moms purposely held play groups so that "patient zero" could literally infect the rest of their friends. 

I think that those areas significantly impacted need to take the appropriate precautions & allow other areas to respond with common sense.  From a personal perspective, I live HOURS from NYC but have to follow the same rules... WHY??

Meanwhile, the timing is all just way too intersting for all of it...  

This virus has caught our attention. After extended shelter in place, a few more days can't hurt!

The under-action from the top is what is causing the over-reaction from the public.

     Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.  We are seeing levels of tryanny that the Founders could not have dreamed of.   Now that governors and mayors and commissioners have tasted absolute power, they will never relinquish it.

While I feel like MANY have over-reacted, I will still practice safe distancing and wear masks when around others. It takes very little effort to do the right thing - even if we feel it isn't really warranted.

I could never live with myself if I transmitted this virus to someone who became ill or worse, didn't survive. 

Way too much over- reacting Richie.  Your Governor seems to have gone over the edge - again. Good luck over there.

A most beloved uncle passed away two days ago. Not from having the Wuhan flu but from being isolated in a re-hab facility. Unable to visit with his family for several months, his birthday passed with little notice, pushing him further into a depression and dementia. He is the other side affected from the nationwide shutdown and may be counted among the people who passed from having the Wuhan flu to further skew the numbers.

Taking precautions is necessary to avoid the spread. The U.S. and the rest of the world didn't get the memo about how deadly this respiratory virus could be until it had reached global saturation. China needs to be held accountable for holding back information that would have avoided many, many thousands of deaths and for now spreading two deadly contagions globally.

Take great care and protect your health and life.

My thought are that we need to get through this as soon as possible and if a little bit of pain today can avoid a catastrophe in the future let's do it.

I have to say that I'm disappointed with the ignorance and selfishness in many of the comments here.  All that aside, I don't know what the answer is.

Clearly, this can be deadly and clearly it spreads quickly.

Varies by area. Clearly here in Metro NYC, we are not ready.

Many of us, who either have compromised immune systems or loved ones who do, wish that people wouldn't though:

In the US, in 2018 490,561 people were hospitalized as a result of the flu and nearly 35,000 died. The season before, 61,000 Americans died. Luckily, in Canada, our numbers ( on average 3,500 ) are much lower but any death seems senseless from an illness that should be so easily vacinated against.

It is estimated 3 to 4 million people in the United States were infected each year. Also each year, among reported cases, an estimated 400 to 500 people died, 48,000 were hospitalized, and 1,000 suffered encephalitis (swelling of the brain) from measles. More than 140,000 die worldwide annually from measles. Again, in Canada, most have been vacinated for measles so cases are far more rare. 

Everyone has their own degree of comfort in how they interact. I honor each person's concern and try to adjust my actions to accommodate them. However, I am also frustrated that in our county, with 73 confirmed cases (most all healthy now) and no deaths, that we continue to have businesses closed with no even partial reopening scheduled by an overly cautious governor. Oregon has had roughly 2300 cases and only 103 deaths in the entire state - most of these in the Portland area.  Why in the world can't rural counties open?