People only thought it was a "death sentence" because the government and the media did everything they could to make it look like one. It's why they forced old folks homes to take in residents that tested positive. It's also why they counted anyone who might've had the wuhan flu as a death caused by it, even if the cause of death was something completely unrelated, like a car crash.

"But, those businesses will lose money from opening with no customers and being forced to pay expenses as normal."

This take is completely backwards. The lock downs did far more harm to businesses than ending them. Their expenses didn't go away with the customers when they were forced to shut down.