[Nasrudith]

Because virii and reality don't give a damn about human sense or fairness fairness compared to what can and does work. "Making things fair" and forcing non-hazardous businesses to close as well even if they can teleoperate would be counterproductive.

The rents are given locked in periods which change vs the potential real swing in value. It is a "futures contract" sort of situation. If sales at a location increase tenfold over others of comparable nichw and expenses rent raising relative value compared to comparably priced competitors then the landlord cannot instantly raise rent for the contract period. They effectively got stuck renting "undervalued". This situation is a reverse of sorts - the income is down but the price is locked in so the retailers are paying for overvalued rent.

This leads to a bit of rent hardball as the retailers can "call their bluff" as they know if they were evicted they could not be replaced with anyone willing to pay the old value and try to force concessions.