In other words, a
mandate.
There was no necessity for lockdowns because parents gladly got their children vaccinated. Remember, those were the days before FaceBook encouraged false conspiracy theories.
You still haven't addressed how "Covid is ... being used politically for governments to implement greater control over the lives of people".
- What does "the government" gain by shutting down businesses?
- What does "the government" gain by insisting that airline passengers be vaccinated?
Or, if you are really paranoid, what do the elites running the world gain by insisting that businesses be closed and airline passengers vaccinated?