In every war there is an initial invasion, an aggressive action by one party against another. If one is successful in rolling over another country with little or no resistance, like Germany in WWII with their concept of blitzkrieg, a massive, initial push that overwhelms and crushes resistance, it seems unstoppable and politicians fold ahead of it like dominoes.
The pandemic was the blitzkrieg to sweep in, overwhelm, subvert and conquer. But obtaining territory is often easier than defending it. Resistance groups spring up and start to chip away at the monolithic power of hospitals, doctors, health officials, government agencies, governors, cops, the military and the neighborhood mole, i.e., Karens.
