[Farm93]

Not during a global pandemic with a novel virus we don't understand, but have reason to believe is long term damaging to health if you survive it's initial strike.

You are applying adult logic to the situation.  From the perspective of a 20 year old, they're thinking they're not going to get it... and even if they do get, they will be mostly asymptomatic, and even if they are symptomatic, they will recover quickly.  And they are mostly right.  The concept of tail risk is not one generally grasped at that age, and while you and I wouldn't view a 5% chance of winding up significantly affected by it as acceptable, that's not the calculus that's in the mind of a 20 year old.

BC

BC - That's about right

Michael Jordan's risk assessment described during The Last Dance comes to mind.   Where he basically was willing to take a risky bet on his health/survival if the game was on the line.  It was a joke, but not quite, as I recall.

I don't think your average 20 year old would take the risk noted.
I don't think your average 20 year old athlete would take the risk noted.
But I do think that a few 20 year olds with a decent chance at winning a national title in 2020 might take on the risks.

[Farm93]

Not during a global pandemic with a novel virus we don't understand, but have reason to believe is long term damaging to health if you survive it's initial strike.

You are applying adult logic to the situation.  From the perspective of a 20 year old, they're thinking they're not going to get it... and even if they do get, they will be mostly asymptomatic, and even if they are symptomatic, they will recover quickly.  And they are mostly right.  The concept of tail risk is not one generally grasped at that age, and while you and I wouldn't view a 5% chance of winding up significantly affected by it as acceptable, that's not the calculus that's in the mind of a 20 year old.

BC

BC - That's about right

Michael Jordan's risk assessment described during The Last Dance comes to mind.   Where he basically was willing to take a risky bet on his health/survival if the game was on the line.  It was a joke, but not quite, as I recall.

I don't think your average 20 year old would take the risk noted.
I don't think your average 20 year old athlete would take the risk noted.
But I do think that a few 20 year olds with a decent chance at winning a national title in 2020 might take on the risks.