I think when it comes to public crisis, decisions like this should be made by the public as a whole, and in a democracy that means the elected government.

Private individuals shouldn’t have to parse health statistics or educate themselves to the level of virologists. Instead the government should do this work, and issue a decree. If not this, then when will government be useful?

If the public health authority that they're within the jurisdiction of says closing wont help, then it seems weird to say it's a "screw the consequences" move. More of a "we've been told there wont be consequences" move.