might not be a universal thing, but covid or not there is usually a decent health and safety policy in most places that allows remote work when you are feeling symptoms of the flu.

being from a city where owning personal vehicle is too expensive and impractical, and where public transportation is "good enough" and encouraged, it is the act of commuting, whether work or not, that would have given me more anxiety.

this is what living in the city is though. i would not choose a way of working based on this alone.