As we suggested earlier, unresolved (existing) cases (E) tend to resolve into recovery rather than death. The table below shows this clearly. Between 28 February and 1 March, there were 79 deaths in Hubei, but 5,133 recoveries. By the same token, the apparent fatality rate also falls.
| Place | Date | C | D | R | E | D/(D+R) |
| Hubei | 28-Feb-20 | 65,914 | 2,682 | 26,403 | 36,829 | 9.22% |
| Hubei | 29-Feb-20 | 66,337 | 2,727 | 28,930 | 34,680 | 8.61% |
| Hubei | 01-Mar-20 | 66,907 | 2,761 | 31,536 | 32,610 | 8.05% |
Note again that the percentage of cases is small compared to the population. The population of Hubei is about the same as the UK. So about 1 in 1,000 have been diagnosed with the disease since it began. Only because of draconian isolation measures, however, which is why the impact on the economy is so severe.