I think you will find that the correct perspective is that the "state" is telling everybody and all organisations what to do and not exclusively singling out Churches, unless you are implying that Churches should be somehow exempt from being told.
Yes, you are absolutely correct. The State is telling everybody and all organisations. This of course is not their prerogative except in a time when big government is the rule. I do think the churches are an exemption. I, unlike you, believe in the separation of powers - of church and state. You obviously don't. I think that the entire doctrine of separation of church and state underlies our democracies - and that this is why the church is and should be exempt from state power over them including this pandemic.
right now, it is arguable the church is probably more essential than any other organisation including the state and yet the state wants to shut it down. If there are underlying spiritual issues then the church should remain open.
And, in light of the current situation, to even imply that Churches remain open for people to gather is completely absurd.
History says otherwise. Throughout every other pandemic or plague in history the church has remained open. Many people within the church died - which is to be expected because church people, like the rest of the nation, have sinned before God. Yet, to shut the church down and to negate meeting together is the worse call.
When people ignore God as the world seems to be doing now - not recognising the clear message, and simply to try and seek refuge in your own homes, while hoping the virus dies out, wont change the underlying problems. Yes, people will die. Many people. Now - but even more in the future.
Of course the church also could decide to close its doors and go online like we have. But it should be the church's decision - not the state telling them what to do. When the state arrogantly overreaches - there are always bad consequences that flow.
And especially in a time of big government - if we do get through this health crisis - we will be in so much debt - and so deep a recession that many of us will have wished we had died in the pandemic.