Why has Covid-19 changed lending?

Why has Covid-19 changed lending? Since we have began this pandemic there have been millions of people who have become unemployed.  When you are applying for any loan the ability to repay that loan is a critical component to the approval.  So the process that we use to verify both W2 employed borrowers and self-employed borrowers has completely changed. Verification of employment for W2 borrowers is being done basically through out the loan process until day of closing. As for a self employed borrower, verification that self-employed individual is generating income is being done days before closing.