The novel coronavirus can cause a very serious illness. It is not like the seasonal flu. 

1. It is many more times more infectious than the seasonal flu (x10 at least)
2. If you get infected there is a very high serious complication rate (1:5 may need to go to hospital)
3. It spreads easily and asymptomatically (before people show symptoms). Spread is invisible.
4. It lives on surfaces for many days
5. It spreads via droplets and aerosols (up to 3 hours)
6. No one has immunity yet
7. It has a long incubation period of up to 27 days
8. Survivors of severe disease may have permanent lung disease