It's never even entered my mind that I would be taking a risk by flying (not completely true because I've been on some hairy chopper flights).
However, UA has a PR problem. My extended family, who admittedly over-reacted to the risks from COVID and quit traveling altogether for fear of being exposed to the virus during the outbreak years, now are unwilling to fly on any 737. I try to tell them that it's safe, and they know that I fly around 150K miles a year without incident, but the media markets fear very well, and there's just no reasoning anymore with the majority of the public. Fear sells.