Maybe, but the fear surrounding them is comparable. HIV was a huge deal in the 80s and the Republicans used blunt force solutions while disregarding the human cost of their steps.

Lockdowns extending into May and June in CA, NY, and WA, despite greatly lowered case numbers were a similar blunt force that disregarded the human cost at a different level.

Other countries have controlled Covid better, with less strict lockdowns (Japan) and it otoh failed to control Covid despite draconian lockdowns (India). But this almost-religious fear of Covid retribution and the ostracization of people who show even the slightly lax compliance is just over the top IMO.