"What were public health officials at every level of government doing last year? Were they preparing for a pandemic? Or were they using their office to meddle with your lifestyle choices?"

IMPHHO, they were doing both, in a way. 

How could they be "preparing for a pandemic" which they didn't know was coming? 

Or did they . . . ?

We've only seen one side of this goliath, so far.  Be prepared.  But - - - for what's COMING, they will be sitting on their hands.  Because what's coming is NOT a health crisis, it's going to be far worse.  Only crooked politicians could come up with stuff like what's coming next.

https://thefederalist.com/2020/05/11/public-health-agencies-care-more-about-controlling-you-than-prepping-for-pandemics/