Mass psychosis.
We are all too young to remember the rise of the temperance movement and the 18th amendment. But if we studied the mass psychosis that drove a nation into a complete and total mass hysteria against alcohol, I believe we might begin to understand the irrational fear we now have over COVID-19.
And of course both of these manic phobias were brought to us courtesy of the US government.
As a cigar smoker I have also seen the anti-tobacco mass psychosis.
Some folks think that one whiff of tobacco smoke means instant death.