The older generation isn't terrified of COVID, they are terrified their complacency fucked up the country so bad that they'll be blamed for inaction.

It is basically a built in fear for the elderly that they didn't do the right things and they allowed all this bullshit to embed itself in the country under their watch, so they will claw and scream and blame anyone but themselves when it looks like things are turning to shit.

The idea that they are possibly at fault for enabling these politicians and behaviors is so abhorrent for someone within spitting distance of death that they'd rather deny and destroy then come to terms with their own poor decisions and inaction.