“Fine, but you’re not a public official charged with keeping as many people as possible safe.”
Semi, respectfuuly, no public official has that charge. Public officials are charged to faithfully execute Constitutional laws and legal orders emanating therefrom. The charge as you define it is exactly what dictators and tyrants use to usurp power and destroy freedom.
Our public health officials do and suppressing a pandemic is clearly a national security issue. Many would also argue public health is covered by the general welfare clause.