well, in a sense, it already is a less deadly version:bleys21 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:14 pm There was some hope by researchers that the Coronoavirus would mutate into a less deadly version, since that's what has happened with the flu and other viruses. It kinda makes sense, since if the virus kills its host, the chances of reproducing are zero, so, in theory, the less deadly versions will spread more successfully, since living hosts are better at propagating the virus.
"Data from early in the pandemic overestimated how deadly the virus was, and then later analyses underestimated its lethality. Now, numerous studies — using a range of methods — estimate that in many countries some 5 to 10 people will die for every 1,000 people with COVID-19. 'The studies I have any faith in are tending to converge around 0.5–1%,' says Russell.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01738-2
Compare that to, say, ebola, which kills close to 50% of the people who get it.
