Typical bureaucratic response. “We know better than you, we are smarter than you, we are the experts, so you are at our mercy. Like it!”
What is being done now is stupid, irresponsible, dangerous and will be criminal. When the folly is recognized or the public rage demands a change of approach it will be too late.
In emergency response we have a creed that many follow,
IN AN EMERGENCY ALWAYS RESPOND WITH MAXIMUM FORCE AND REDUCE THE APPLICATION OF FORCE AS NECESSARY.
In almost every event I have ever been involved in when this creed is not followed the result is bad.
I hope you can someday say how wrong I am but I am very sadly doubtful of that.