Sure they were the ones to make those decisions, but when there are negative or unintended results, they had no choice but to do what they did and therefore are not responsible for any of it. It's always someone else.

"We got bad data!"

"Trump didn't take it seriously!"

"We were overly cautious to prevent a greater catastrophe!"

"The WHO was covering it up with the Chinese Communist Party!"

"George Soros!"

"BYU students are going to parties!"

"Players will die from myocarditis!"