You can, if you claim you were too scared of COVID to work.

This is not true, the DoL addresses this question specifically: https://www.dol.gov/coronavirus/unemployment-insurance

See the answer to “My employer has remained open because it is essential. I’m not sick, nor is anyone in my household sick. I do not have children or care for someone who cannot care for themselves. However, I’m afraid of getting coronavirus from customers coming to the store, so I quit and filed for unemployment. Can I obtain benefits under the CARES Act?”

Perhaps the ones that quit in op example have children or older folks to care for, these are fairly common scenarios after all.

Sure but I would say that’s a fairly good reason to quit your job, what do we expect people to do in those scenarios? Live on nothing?

I think the reason they had to add that question in the FAQ is because lots of people were saying that that was their situation, while it actually wasn't.

I don't have actual data, which is obviously not a great position to be in, in a discussion, but I saw a TON of stories from restaurant owners who could not open solely because all the employees left since they made better money by not working.

Or they added it because a lot of people like you have misconceptions. Either way they would be rejected applying for unemployment.

I’ve seen restaurant owners saying they can’t hire people, I haven’t seen restaurant owners saying people quit for unemployment. If it’s the case that the restaurant furloughed or laid off people I don’t see why they expect the state to intervene to help them. Socialism for me, but not for thee?

I don't have opinion either way, just saying it might have looked to op they just quit without cause and still collected unemployment benefits, since these reasons are not usually considered causes , op may not have understood it well.