[burger]

I agree, but as oldalum noted, this virus seems to spread when patients are still asymptomatic. Also, the death rate is not so high that it's killing people before it can spread.  So I doubt that there is much selective pressure for less virulence or mortality right now.  Perhaps that will change as control measures improve.

Actually,  the NEJM conclusion on asymptomatic transmission was later questioned by the Washington Post when it was discovered that the original lady did have symptoms. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/20...ions-loom/

This is really nitpicky.  The woman had mild vague symptoms like back pain?  No one is going to think they have coronavirus based on mild back pain or whatever.  There have also been other presumed asymptomatic cases plus cases with documented high viral loads and no symptoms.  It's far better to assume the worst about transmission and be wrong than to overlook this possibility.

[burger]

I agree, but as oldalum noted, this virus seems to spread when patients are still asymptomatic. Also, the death rate is not so high that it's killing people before it can spread.  So I doubt that there is much selective pressure for less virulence or mortality right now.  Perhaps that will change as control measures improve.

Actually,  the NEJM conclusion on asymptomatic transmission was later questioned by the Washington Post when it was discovered that the original lady did have symptoms. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/20...ions-loom/

This is really nitpicky.  The woman had mild vague symptoms like back pain?  No one is going to think they have coronavirus based on mild back pain or whatever.  There have also been other presumed asymptomatic cases plus cases with documented high viral loads and no symptoms.  It's far better to assume the worst about transmission and be wrong than to overlook this possibility.