We did the same thing at my job. We even sent more than half our workforce home. My boss is far from an idiot. CDC and OSHA was pushing hard. Fear of lawsuits inspired the behavior.
We did lose a co-worker to COVID but back then they were refusing to treat it. The hospital sent him home and told him to wait it out. He died waiting for treatment of any sort.
You know, at least your friend got to die surrounded by loved ones. They kept my brother in complete isolation. I think that being away from family was the worst thing they could’ve done to him. It still grinds my gears. Not even when they knew death was imminent did they let his bride of 49 years come hold his hand. Nope, he died with a stranger tending to him. Barbaric. I will never forgive them for this.