According to official reports, the vast majority of deaths from this virus were people over 80 and/or people with existing health problems.
The severe reaction from China, as I’ve explained before, is due to the embarrassment the Chinese government suffered over their handling of the SARS outbreak. Saving face is extremely important in Chinese culture, far more so than anyone not familiar with their culture would be able to understand. The government is more than willing to let thousands die and millions suffer in quarantined cities if it means they don’t look bad on the international stage for not doing enough to contain the virus, I can assure you of that.