re: How long will it take for most Americans to realize that they have been duped?

I think it was overblown but it’s not a hoax. The threat is real. You can look at New York and see that it’s real.

ETA - the lethality of the virus is yet to be established but there are guesses. The unique thing about this one is how long it lives on surfaces. Look at subways in New York City and Mardi Gras in New Orleans and look at their numbers.