That's the most exasperating thing about the pandemic for me. The deniers, for lack of another word, have a multilayered approach to ignoring reality. Simply calling it "fake news" is the first layer. Downplaying the percentage of fatalities is the next. But aside from the pure fantasy element of making up your own facts, the reality is you don't have to die to be greatly affected. You might just suffer permanent heart damage (or as Bingley points out, damage that lasts long enough to change your life). It appears to cause something akin to mild dementia in some people, of unknown duration. Lastly is the financial toll. My trip to the ER for Bell's Palsy was $4k, and I'm waiting to see how much insurance covers. I shudder to think how an uninsured person would deal with a two week stay in the ICU!