AG
This is just not true. It was a justification some later tried to inject, but at the same exact time there were blue cities closing beaches, banning outdoor dining (late into 2020 for LA), banning outdoor fireworks for July 4th. Outdoor funerals in several blue states were limited to 10 people and required everyone to stay 6 feet apart. Outdoor protests against lockdowns were openly framed as dangerous and irresponsible. I can give you citations for each of these. The rules made no sense and everyone knew it.