Again, I would like to point out that even if it “only” has a similar death rate to the flu, given there is (or at least was at first) no immunity to it, so if it was allowed to run rampant/uncontrolled (in a “business as usual” scenario, which, again, I know you didn’t suggest we do) it could have been a HUGE problem, and could have easily overwhelmed hospitals in densely populated areas, which would have increased the death rates.
TL;DR: even if death rates are “only” comparable to the flu, COVID poses a much bigger threat than the seasonal flu does