"Letting people believe that they actually can take back some power and control in their lives. When in actual fact they are handing the last of their power over."

Yep, and when we listen to their advice and the virus continues to surge, it will be OUR fault for not doing a good enough job, justifying (in their mind) more draconian measures to control us. None of this is happening in a vacuum imho.. it's part of a bigger plan.

fwiw, short clip from the 1994 movie, The Stand. A comment made about masks