The power and control Covid fear was granting has run out, so now they want to stop acknowledging the things they made up to get that as valid to avoid having to pay for the days off, justified "weaker" workers, and all the other medical bills they won't pay for it.

That's all this is. They aren't coming to the truth or having a change of heart. They are just trying to chuck the long consequences of their actions now that they don't pay as well.