Earlier quoted context omitted.
I take that bet. Easily. 1/ 1000? Ha! Anytime. If it means my kids can go to school, economy doesn't have to crash hard and I don't have to waste a year or more of my life, it's an obvious choice. 1 year is ~1.25% of my life that I will not get back no matter what. Now, anyone is free to stay in their pod and eat bugs, if they're scared.
Make a list of 20 ~40 year olds you know. Are you ok with there being a 2% chance that at least one of them dies of COVID?
How would this society fight any large scale war? Or make any large scale sacrifice like people fixing up consequences of Chernobyl disaster did?
People used to rather die for honor, than live in shame. Had duels, took risky lifestyles, discovering new things and so on. Fought and died for their ideas.
And now what? Wrap yourself in a blanket and lie scared on the bed?
What's the point of living, if we're too afraid to die to actually live?
I am pessimistic on changes of survival of western civilization.