It’s temptation driving most this. Yes the pandemic has hurt buisnesses but please note the FED has dumped over $30 Billion into circulation.
Many businesses received forgivable grants and/or 30 year loans with a 3% rate. At one point an email to the SBA got you a free $100k. These loans/grants ranged from $20k to millions
For larger businesses the FED rolled out the Main Street lending program.
The use of the businesses as a dog whistle is just wrong. The businesses have received monies. The bad ones will fail and the good ones will restructure and come out stronger.
The general public has just decided flout common sense and decency - when asked why the most common response is we want buisnesses to not shutdown.
Truthfully I think the pandemic would have been over if there was a uniform response and people followed the recommendations.
You will never beat the pandemic by locking down NYC and LA. All the people will flock to Miami or somewhere else. If they are not going to quarantine cities/states/districts why bother.
Since the response is not uniform in Nature I recommend opening up fully and hope 70% of the public is vaccinated by May