[GOP_Party_Animal]

Americans overestimate the risk of death from COVID-19 for people aged 24 and younger by a factor of 50; and they think the risk for people aged 65 and older is half of what it actually is (40% vs 80%).

People think the risk of death for older people is 40%? And it's actually 80%?? Huh?

[Varda]

It’s written correctly, “half” (40%) of “what it actually is” (80%).

[AZJeep]

No,
This was worded awkwardly. It means that 80% of people dying of coronavirus are over 65 years. On the flip side, if you are over 65 years old and get Covid, your odds of surviving is about 85%. Or 15% of people over 65 are going to die if they get the virus. That are not particularly great odds, but still most older people survive.
As a matter of fact, I do not know the odds within the group of 65+, but looks like the people in 60ties are in lot better shape than in 80 ties. I read that the median age of Covid deats is 80 years. For the Rio Linda folks, it means that half of the covid deaths are folks older than 80.