During the current pandemic, most governments have not performed their proper role. It is proper for governments to warn citizens about impending threats, such a deadly virus, and inform them about ways of protecting themselves (physical distancing, hand washing, isolating, etc.). Governments can properly quarantine contagious individuals who are a threat to others, and ban mass gatherings where there are virus breakouts, to prevent the socialized health care systems from collapsing.

However, whether there is a pandemic or not, it is not proper for governments to decide which businesses are essential and which are not and whether and how they should operate. By doing so, governments are violating the rights of business to liberty and property, with destructive economic consequences.