Based on what I'm seeing, that is exactly what has happened.
In my home state of Maryland, significant sectors of business remain closed ... barred from serving customers by the state.
The media has turned into a giant propaganda machine: extolling "social distancing" at every opportunity. Showing how wonderful it is.
It is exactly what happened in the novel 1984. The televisions, the radio stations, the commercials, the social media. Everyone talks about their gatherings, and seems compelled to remind everyone that they are "social distancing". As if to say, Don't scold me! Look, I'm social distancing!
It is nauseating.
The virtue signaling
The attempt at shaming.
