If we consider the pandemic an exceptional event... Why should we optimize for exceptional events and ignore the cost on a normal day? We should destroy our own

If we consider the pandemic an exceptional event... Why should we optimize for exceptional events and ignore the cost on a normal day? We should destroy our own health and the health of our planet so that you can feel good about not catching once-in-a-century infectious disease? Density has many upsides. Economists have shown that denser cities are correlated with productivity gains at a rate surpassing the density increases. The lack of it has many costs, and not just the economic ones or less efficient use of resources. Increased motor vehicles on a personal scale leads to obesity, stress. On a global scale, it is harmful to the planet. Note the news reports of clearer skies from a very cease in this activity.