Very small sample size and a different issue to be sure, but with people I've interacted with that dispute the validity/importance of the Coronavirus, they are

Very small sample size and a different issue to be sure, but with people I've interacted with that dispute the validity/importance of the Coronavirus, they are being driven primarily by denial/dismissal. To accept it and and work from there to adapt and mitigate is terrifying. I think you can probably say the same about climate change. Additionally, I think you could draw a line that these denials are influenced by those protecting their "salaries"