Might seem meta but by bringing this up you nailed it. This uncovers the pattern in use. The favorite trick for population behavior design. If social engineers exists, then this is the technique they are advising the ones in power to use the most.
"Not having cholera" is also social engineering. And real physical engineering. Insisting that people drive on only one side of the road is population behavior design.
Like everything from firearms to nuclear weapons to face recognition, the questions should focus on who is using the power, for what purposes, how they are held accountable, and so on.
Yes, the anti-COVID measures are social engineering. They're trying to engineer people into not getting COVID.
